10 Day Tanzania South And North Safari
Destinations: Tanzania, Ruaha National Park, Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater
This 10-day trip strings together Ruaha, Tarangire, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, spreading the days across the best of the region. Ancient baobabs stand over the sand rivers, glowing gold in the low afternoon light. It is quieter than the Serengeti and makes an easy first or last stop on a northern trip. Dawn balloon flights drift over the herds where operators offer them.
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. 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. The park holds around ten percent of the world’s lions in prides that can top twenty animals.
You settle into camp as the light goes. On most drives you will not pass another vehicle. 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. Ruaha is one of Africa’s last strongholds for the endangered African wild dog.
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. 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. You rest through the midday heat and head out again as it cools.
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. 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.
Day 3 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. 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. Ruaha is one of Africa’s last strongholds for the endangered African wild dog. On most drives you will not pass another vehicle.
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. The park holds around ten percent of the world’s lions in prides that can top twenty animals.
Day 4 Transfer To Tarangire
A short morning out on game drives at first light in Ruaha, 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. 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. Back at camp after dark, dinner is under the stars.
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. It is quieter than the Serengeti and makes an easy first or last stop on a northern trip. 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 5 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. 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. Tarangire is known for its elephant, in herds that can number several hundred in the dry season. You rest through the midday heat and head out again as it cools.
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. 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 6 Transfer To Serengeti
A short morning out on game drives at first light in Tarangire, 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. 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. On most drives you will not pass another vehicle.
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. It carries the great wildebeest migration, well over a million animals moving in a yearly loop. Around midday the heat sits heavy, and you rest in the shade before heading out again as it cools. The guide reads the tracks and the birds, and there is no rush to be anywhere.
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. 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. Big cats are the draw, lion on the kopjes, cheetah on the plains, leopard in the riverine trees. Back at camp after dark, dinner is under the stars.
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. The guide reads the tracks and the birds, and there is no rush to be anywhere. Late in the afternoon the light turns gold and the game comes back to the open ground. With a drink in hand you watch the day close over the bush.
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. 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. You rest through the midday heat and head out again as it cools.
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. Lion, elephant, buffalo and flamingo-lined soda lakes share the crater floor. Late in the afternoon the light turns gold and the game comes back to the open ground.
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. 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. The rim sits at 2,300 metres and mornings are cold before the sun clears the wall. On most drives you will not pass another vehicle.
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. With a drink in hand you watch the day close over the bush. 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 10 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. 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. This 10-day trip links Ruaha, Tarangire, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, with the travelling done between the wildlife so your days stay on the ground that matters. 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. It is one of the best places in Africa to see black rhino completing the Big Five in a day. With a drink in hand you watch the day close over the bush. Back at camp, dinner is served under a sky thick with stars.
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. 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. The rim sits at 2,300 metres and mornings are cold before the sun clears the wall. Linking Ruaha, Tarangire, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater in one route means you cover more of Tanzania than a single park allows, and the travelling between them is short. On 10 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.
Is a 10 Day Safari Enough to See Tanzania?
10 days across Ruaha, Tarangire, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater 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 10-day trip is balanced and full.
How Much Should You Pay for a 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 3,000 to 6,500 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.
Why the Trip Starts in the South
Opening in Ruaha and finishing in the crater is deliberate, and How Does Ruaha Compare to the Serengeti? explains what that ordering buys you. See also What Makes Ruaha National Park Unique? and Best Time to Visit Ruaha National Park, since the southern and northern seasons do not line up exactly.
Related routes: the 9 Day Ruaha Serengeti And Ngorongoro Safari is the same idea without Tarangire, and the 12 Day Grand Tanzania Safari adds Nyerere and its boat safaris. The Ruaha National Park: Complete Safari Guide covers the first three days in depth.
Nothing is sold here. This is a reference site, so when you are ready to price the trip, take it to the operators who run Ruaha safaris or use the enquiry form on the homepage.