Tanzania: Chimp Trekking & Serengeti Safari — A Luxury Route

Arrival in Arusha

Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, the main gateway to Tanzania's northern safari circuit. A private vehicle handles the one-hour transfer to the Arusha Serena Hotel, a property set among gardens on the shores of Lake Duluti. The day is for settling in and acclimatizing to the elevation and pace of East Africa before the safari begins. The arrival transfer runs about 54 kilometres from the airport.

Cooking and the Crater Floor

The morning begins with a two-to-three-hour, 130-kilometre overland drive in a 4x4 safari vehicle to Mto wa Mbu, a bustling town where communities from across Tanzania intersect. The first stop is a cooking demonstration led by local women, followed by a walk through the town's market and residential areas to understand its unique cultural mix. After a traditional lunch of meat and plantains, the journey continues for another hour or two (60 kilometres), ascending to the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater.

The afternoon is spent on a first game drive, descending to the crater floor. This vast, self-contained ecosystem is dense with wildlife. The search begins for the resident populations of black rhino, elephant, zebra, and prides of lion that patrol the grasslands. As dusk approaches, the drive concludes at a camp situated on the crater's edge.

Hiking the Ngorongoro Highlands

Today offers a rare opportunity to explore the Ngorongoro Conservation Area on foot. There are two hiking options on Mount Makarot, a peak on the crater's western wall. The more demanding route is a challenging ascent to the summit, rewarded with what are arguably the finest panoramic views over the Ngorongoro plains and the crater itself. A second, more moderate trail contours along the mountain's flank, offering a gentler climb with views across the highlands toward Lake Eyasi.

Both hikes offer a perspective on the sheer scale of the landscape that is impossible to grasp from a vehicle. The afternoon is at leisure back at camp, a well-earned rest before dinner and a final night overlooking the caldera.