12 Day Tanzania Forest Plains And Crater

Tall tiered waterfall seen from a railed viewpoint, Udzungwa Mountains National Park

Destinations: Tanzania, Udzungwa Mountains National Park, Mikumi National Park, Ruaha National Park, Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater

Over 12 days this route takes in Udzungwa, Mikumi, Ruaha, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, each stop with its own character. Birders come for the Eastern Arc endemics among the park’s more than 400 bird species. Lilac-breasted rollers sit on every third bush, and the birding is strong year round. The park list runs to more than 570 bird speciesso the river fringe stays busy through the day.

Day By Day

Day 1 Arrival At Udzungwa

You set out from Dar es Salaam after breakfast and drive to Udzungwa Mountains National Park, the country changing as the kilometres pass, reaching camp with time to settle in and take a first look before dark. There are no game drives, the park is walked, on trails that climb through tall forest. Birders come for the Eastern Arc endemics among the park’s more than 400 bird species. Udzungwa is part of the Eastern Arc range, one of the richest patches of forest life in Africa. You settle into camp as the light goes. It is a slower, greener day than a drive.

The Sanje Waterfall drops around 170 metres in three stages through the forest. The mountains hold primates found only here, including the Iringa red colobus and Sanje crested mangabey. 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. Back at camp, dinner is served under a sky thick with stars.

Day 2 Walking Safari In Udzungwa

A full day in Udzungwa Mountains National Park. You are on foot with an armed ranger, 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. Udzungwa is part of the Eastern Arc range, one of the richest patches of forest life in Africa. The Sanje Waterfall drops around 170 metres in three stages through the forest. The mountains hold primates found only here, including the Iringa red colobus and Sanje crested mangabey. On foot the scale of the place lands differently.

There are no game drives, the park is walked, on trails that climb through tall forest. Birders come for the Eastern Arc endemics among the park’s more than 400 bird species. 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. You stop for coffee where the view is good and let the morning warm up.

Day 3 Transfer To Mikumi

A short morning on foot with an armed ranger at first light in Udzungwa, then to the road for the move to Mikumi National Park. The country changes on the way, and you reach Mikumi in the afternoon. You head out out on game drives as the light softens, a first look at the new ground. Its Mkata floodplain draws comparisons with the Serengeti for the way lion, buffalo and elephant sit out on open grass. The Hippo Pools in the north hold pods you can watch on foot from a viewing point. You rest through the midday heat and head out again as it cools.

Lilac-breasted rollers sit on every third bush, and the birding is strong year round. Mikumi is 3,230 square kilometres and the fourth-largest park in Tanzania, reached on the tar road from the coast. Zebra, wildebeest, impala and tall Masai giraffe spread across the plain. Each time out turns up something new, and the pace is yours to set. You stop for coffee where the view is good and let the morning warm up.

Day 4 Transfer To Ruaha

A short morning out on game drives at first light in Mikumi, then to the airstrip and a light aircraft for the move to Ruaha National Park. The country changes on the way, and you reach Ruaha in the afternoon. You head out out on game drives as the light softens, a first look at the new ground. 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. On most drives you will not pass another vehicle.

Ruaha is the largest national park in Tanzania at over 20,000 square kilometresand it sees a fraction of the vehicles the northern parks do. The park holds around ten percent of the world’s lionsin 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 5 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. Ancient baobabs stand over the sand rivers, glowing gold in the low afternoon light. The park list runs to more than 570 bird speciesso the river fringe stays busy through the day. Ruaha is the largest national park in Tanzania at over 20,000 square kilometresand it sees a fraction of the vehicles the northern parks do. Back at camp after dark, dinner is under the stars.

The park holds around ten percent of the world’s lionsin 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. Ruaha is one of Africa’s last strongholds for the endangered African wild dog.

Day 6 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 list runs to more than 570 bird speciesso the river fringe stays busy through the day. Ruaha is the largest national park in Tanzania at over 20,000 square kilometresand it sees a fraction of the vehicles the northern parks do. The park holds around ten percent of the world’s lionsin prides that can top twenty animals.

You rest through the midday heat and head out again as it cools. 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 7 Transfer To Serengeti

A short morning out on game drives at first light in Ruaha, 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 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. On most drives you will not pass another vehicle.

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. 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.

Day 8 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. Back at camp after dark, dinner is under the stars.

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. 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. Around midday the heat sits heavy, and you rest in the shade before heading out again as it cools.

Day 9 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. You rest through the midday heat and head out again as it cools.

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 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. The guide reads the tracks and the birds, and there is no rush to be anywhere.

Day 10 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 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. On most drives you will not pass another vehicle.

Its walls hold around 25,000 large animalsso game viewing is concentrated and reliable. It is one of the best places in Africa to see black rhinocompleting the Big Five in a day. The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact volcanic caldera in the world, about 260 square kilometres of floor. 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 11 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 animalsso game viewing is concentrated and reliable. Back at camp after dark, dinner is under the stars.

It is one of the best places in Africa to see black rhinocompleting the Big Five in a day. Lion, elephant, buffalo and flamingo-lined soda lakes share the crater floor. 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.

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. 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 12-day trip links Udzungwa, Mikumi, Ruaha, 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 animalsso game viewing is concentrated and reliable. It is one of the best places in Africa to see black rhinocompleting the Big Five in a day. 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.

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 Should You Spend Your Holiday on This Tanzania Safari?

This trip earns its place because the stops are nothing alike, and seeing them together makes each one land harder. There are no game drives, the park is walked, on trails that climb through tall forest. Birders come for the Eastern Arc endemics among the park’s more than 400 bird species. The rim sits at 2,300 metres and mornings are cold before the sun clears the wall. Linking Udzungwa, Mikumi, Ruaha, 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 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 Be Covered on a 12 Day Tanzania Safari?

12 days across Udzungwa, Mikumi, Ruaha, 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 12-day trip is balanced and full.

What Is the Expected Cost of This Tanzania Safari?

What you pay turns mostly on the camps and the season. In Tanzania, park fees run from USD 35 to 70 per adult per day depending on the park, with the Ngorongoro Crater charged higher. 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.