12 Day Grand Tanzania Safari

Destinations: Tanzania, Ruaha National Park, Nyerere National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Park

This 12-day trip strings together Ruaha, Nyerere, the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire, spreading the days across the best of the region. Ruaha is one of Africa’s last strongholds for the endangered African wild dog. The Rufiji, the largest river in Tanzania fans out through the park into channels, sandbanks and lakes. It carries the great wildebeest migration, well over a million animals moving in a yearly loop.

Day By Day

Day 1 Arrival At Ruaha

You fly in from Dar es Salaam, the flight lifts off from Dar es Salaam and turns inland over the coast, and land near Ruaha National Park, where your guide meets you and the transfer to camp works as your first afternoon out in the park. Ancient baobabs stand over the sand rivers, glowing gold in the low afternoon light. The park list runs to more than 570 bird species so the river fringe stays busy through the day. Ruaha is the largest national park in Tanzania at over 20,000 square kilometres and it sees a fraction of the vehicles the northern parks do.

You settle into camp as the light goes. On most drives you will not pass another vehicle. The park holds around ten percent of the world’s lions in prides that can top twenty animals. As the dry season bites, the shrinking Great Ruaha River pulls elephant, buffalo and antelope down to drink. Greater and lesser kudu, sable and roan show themselves here in ways they rarely do up north.

Day 2 Game Drives In Ruaha

A full day in Ruaha National Park. You are out on game drives, out early while the light is low and the country is at its best, with the guide working the ground slowly and time to stop for whatever the day turns up. Ruaha is the largest national park in Tanzania at over 20,000 square kilometres and it sees a fraction of the vehicles the northern parks do. The park holds around ten percent of the world’s lions in prides that can top twenty animals. As the dry season bites, the shrinking Great Ruaha River pulls elephant, buffalo and antelope down to drink. You rest through the midday heat and head out again as it cools.

Greater and lesser kudu, sable and roan show themselves here in ways they rarely do up north. Ruaha is one of Africa’s last strongholds for the endangered African wild dog. Ancient baobabs stand over the sand rivers, glowing gold in the low afternoon light. The park list runs to more than 570 bird species so the river fringe stays busy through the day.

Day 3 Transfer To Nyerere

A short morning out on game drives at first light in Ruaha, then to the airstrip and a light aircraft for the move to Nyerere National Park. The country changes on the way, and you reach Nyerere in the afternoon. You head out on a boat safari and game drives as the light softens, a first look at the new ground. The park holds big herds of elephant and buffalo, good lion and leopard, and a strong wild dog population. Unlike the parks up north, Nyerere lets you walk with an armed ranger. You swap between boat and vehicle as the day allows.

The Rufiji, the largest river in Tanzania fans out through the park into channels, sandbanks and lakes. A boat safari puts you at water level with hippo pods and big crocodiles hauled out on the banks. Nyerere is 30,893 square kilometres gazetted in 2019 from the northern Selous and a UNESCO World Heritage area. With a drink in hand you watch the day close over the bush.

Day 4 Boat Safari In Nyerere

A full day in Nyerere National Park. You are out on a boat safari and game drives, out early while the light is low and the country is at its best, with the guide working the ground slowly and time to stop for whatever the day turns up. Unlike the parks up north, Nyerere lets you walk with an armed ranger. Nyerere is 30,893 square kilometres gazetted in 2019 from the northern Selous and a UNESCO World Heritage area. The Rufiji, the largest river in Tanzania fans out through the park into channels, sandbanks and lakes. Sundown over the water, with hippo surfacing, closes the day.

A boat safari puts you at water level with hippo pods and big crocodiles hauled out on the banks. The park holds big herds of elephant and buffalo, good lion and leopard, and a strong wild dog population. Back at camp, dinner is served under a sky thick with stars. Each time out turns up something new, and the pace is yours to set.

Day 5 Transfer To Serengeti

A short morning out on a boat safari and game drives at first light in Nyerere, then to the airstrip and a light aircraft for the move to Serengeti National Park. The country changes on the way, and you reach the Serengeti in the afternoon. You head out on game drives as the light softens, a first look at the new ground. The Serengeti runs to nearly 15,000 square kilometres of open plains and scattered kopjes. It carries the great wildebeest migration, well over a million animals moving in a yearly loop. You rest through the midday heat and head out again as it cools.

The Grumeti and Mara rivers hold crocodile and stage the migration’s river crossings in season. Dawn balloon flights drift over the herds where operators offer them. Big cats are the draw, lion on the kopjes, cheetah on the plains, leopard in the riverine trees. Each time out turns up something new, and the pace is yours to set.

Day 6 Game Drives In Serengeti

A full day in Serengeti National Park. You are out on game drives, out early while the light is low and the country is at its best, with the guide working the ground slowly and time to stop for whatever the day turns up. It carries the great wildebeest migration, well over a million animals moving in a yearly loop. Big cats are the draw, lion on the kopjes, cheetah on the plains, leopard in the riverine trees. The Grumeti and Mara rivers hold crocodile and stage the migration’s river crossings in season. On most drives you will not pass another vehicle.

Dawn balloon flights drift over the herds where operators offer them. The Serengeti runs to nearly 15,000 square kilometres of open plains and scattered kopjes. You stop for coffee where the view is good and let the morning warm up. Nothing is promised in the wild, which is what makes a good sighting count. The country is quiet here, and on most outings you have it to yourselves.

Day 7 Game Drives In Serengeti

A full day in Serengeti National Park. You are out on game drives, out early while the light is low and the country is at its best, with the guide working the ground slowly and time to stop for whatever the day turns up. Big cats are the draw, lion on the kopjes, cheetah on the plains, leopard in the riverine trees. The Grumeti and Mara rivers hold crocodile and stage the migration’s river crossings in season. Dawn balloon flights drift over the herds where operators offer them. Back at camp after dark, dinner is under the stars.

The Serengeti runs to nearly 15,000 square kilometres of open plains and scattered kopjes. It carries the great wildebeest migration, well over a million animals moving in a yearly loop. Nothing is promised in the wild, which is what makes a good sighting count. The country is quiet here, and on most outings you have it to yourselves. Your guide has the ground worked out, and knows where the day is likely to lead.

Day 8 Transfer To Ngorongoro Crater

A short morning out on game drives at first light in the Serengeti, then to the road for the move to Ngorongoro Crater. The country changes on the way, and you reach the Ngorongoro Crater in the afternoon. You head out on game drives as the light softens, a first look at the new ground. Lion, elephant, buffalo and flamingo-lined soda lakes share the crater floor. The rim sits at 2,300 metres and mornings are cold before the sun clears the wall. You rest through the midday heat and head out again as it cools.

Its walls hold around 25,000 large animals so game viewing is concentrated and reliable. It is one of the best places in Africa to see black rhino completing the Big Five in a day. The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact volcanic caldera in the world, about 260 square kilometres of floor. The country is quiet here, and on most outings you have it to yourselves. Your guide has the ground worked out, and knows where the day is likely to lead.

Day 9 Game Drives In Ngorongoro Crater

A full day in Ngorongoro Crater. You are out on game drives, out early while the light is low and the country is at its best, with the guide working the ground slowly and time to stop for whatever the day turns up. The rim sits at 2,300 metres and mornings are cold before the sun clears the wall. The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact volcanic caldera in the world, about 260 square kilometres of floor. Its walls hold around 25,000 large animals so game viewing is concentrated and reliable. On most drives you will not pass another vehicle.

It is one of the best places in Africa to see black rhino completing the Big Five in a day. Lion, elephant, buffalo and flamingo-lined soda lakes share the crater floor. Your guide has the ground worked out, and knows where the day is likely to lead. The morning is cool and the animals are moving, so the first hours out are the busiest. You carry a packed breakfast and stay out while the going is good.

Day 10 Transfer To Tarangire

A short morning out on game drives at first light in the Ngorongoro Crater, then to the road for the move to Tarangire National Park. The country changes on the way, and you reach Tarangire in the afternoon. You head out on game drives as the light softens, a first look at the new ground. Tarangire is known for its elephant, in herds that can number several hundred in the dry season. Big baobabs stand across the park, and the Tarangire River is the dry-season lifeline that pulls in game. Back at camp after dark, dinner is under the stars.

The birding is among the best in the north, with over 500 species recorded. It is quieter than the Serengeti and makes an easy first or last stop on a northern trip. It holds good lion, and dry-country species like fringe-eared oryx and gerenuk on its edges. The morning is cool and the animals are moving, so the first hours out are the busiest.

Day 11 Game Drives In Tarangire

A full day in Tarangire National Park. You are out on game drives, out early while the light is low and the country is at its best, with the guide working the ground slowly and time to stop for whatever the day turns up. Big baobabs stand across the park, and the Tarangire River is the dry-season lifeline that pulls in game. It holds good lion, and dry-country species like fringe-eared oryx and gerenuk on its edges. The birding is among the best in the north, with over 500 species recorded. You rest through the midday heat and head out again as it cools.

It is quieter than the Serengeti and makes an easy first or last stop on a northern trip. Tarangire is known for its elephant, in herds that can number several hundred in the dry season. You carry a packed breakfast and stay out while the going is good. Around midday the heat sits heavy, and you rest in the shade before heading out again as it cools.

Day 12 Departure

A final morning out on game drives before you leave, the best window of the trip for anything still on your list. You make the most of the early light, then you drive back toward Dar es Salaam. Tarangire is known for its elephant, in herds that can number several hundred in the dry season. Big baobabs stand across the park, and the Tarangire River is the dry-season lifeline that pulls in game. This 12-day trip links Ruaha, Nyerere, the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire, with the travelling done between the wildlife so your days stay on the ground that matters.

It holds good lion, and dry-country species like fringe-eared oryx and gerenuk on its edges. The birding is among the best in the north, with over 500 species recorded. It is quieter than the Serengeti and makes an easy first or last stop on a northern trip. Your guide has the ground worked out, and knows where the day is likely to lead.

What’s Included

• All internal flights and road transfers on the route
• Full-board accommodation on safari as shown
• Game drives and the activities named in the day plan
• Park entry fees for the days shown
• Airport and airstrip transfers, drinking water in the vehicle

What’s Not Included

• International flights and any visa
• Travel insurance
• Drinks, tips for guides and staff
• Activities not listed and items of a personal nature

Why Choose This Tanzania Safari Itinerary?

This trip earns its place because the stops are nothing alike, and seeing them together makes each one land harder. Ancient baobabs stand over the sand rivers, glowing gold in the low afternoon light. The park list runs to more than 570 bird species so the river fringe stays busy through the day. Big baobabs stand across the park, and the Tarangire River is the dry-season lifeline that pulls in game. Linking Ruaha, Nyerere, the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire in one route means you cover more of Tanzania than a single park allows, and the travelling between them is short. On 12 days you get range without the trip feeling rushed, the set-piece wildlife, the quieter corners, and the change of country from one stop to the next. For a traveller who wants variety over a single famous name, this is a strong, well-balanced way to see the region, and it works whether it is a first trip or a return.

What Can You Expect From a 12 Day Tanzania Safari?

12 days across Ruaha, Nyerere, the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire is a well-judged length, though it is a read of each stop rather than a deep stay. You get a full day or more at the main parks, enough to see the headline wildlife and still catch the quieter moments. It suits travellers who value breadth and do not mind moving every couple of days. What this length cannot do is exhaust any one park, the biggest of them could fill a week on their own, so the remote corners stay for another trip. If a single place is your priority, spend the nights there instead. And if you have longer, the route takes an easy add-on, whether that is more time with the wildlife or a stretch on the coast to finish. As it stands, this 12-day trip is balanced and full.

What Is a Reasonable Price for This Tanzania Safari?

What you pay turns mostly on the camps and the season. In Tanzania, park fees run from about USD 35 per adult per day at Ruaha to roughly USD 70 to 85 in the northern parks, all of those with 18% VAT counted in; Ruaha’s is a USD 30 gate rate before the tax is added, and the Ngorongoro Crater sits at the top of the range. The park authorities review these rates each fiscal year, so treat them as indicative. As a rough guide, most trips of this length run from around USD 3,600 to 7,800 per person sharing, higher in the peak dry months and cheaper in the green season. Camp and lodge level is the big lever, from simple tented camps to the smarter river and bush camps, and a shared vehicle between four brings the per-person cost down. Tell an operator your dates, group size and the standard you want and it can be quoted to the figure.

Reading for the Ruaha Days

On a twelve-day route the first two days set the tone. What Makes Ruaha National Park Unique? explains why the south is worth the detour, How Many Days Should You Spend in Ruaha National Park? is worth reading if you are tempted to add a night, and How Much Does It Cost to Visit Ruaha National Park? breaks down the fees.

Related routes: the 10 Day Tanzania South And North Safari drops Nyerere, and the 14 Day Ultimate Tanzania Safari And Zanzibar finishes on the coast. Everything about the Ruaha leg sits in the Ruaha National Park: Complete Safari Guide.

We publish research, not itineraries for sale. Quotes, flights and camp bookings are handled by the operators who run Ruaha safaris; the enquiry form on the homepage will point you at them.