Tanzania Big Game Safari October 2026

Trip Overview

Join our newest itinerary to Tanzania and discover some of Africa's best safari spots. After an overnight stay in Arusha, the group drives south for 3 days of game drives in Tarangire National Park. It's then on to Serengeti National Park, via a tour of the famous Ngorongoro Crater. At the end of the trip, the group will fly from Seronera back to Arusha for their outbound international flight.

Tanzania offers a huge diversity of game species and is one of the best destinations for spotting the Big 5. From the rolling planes of the Serengeti to the dramatic cliffs of the Ngorongoro Crater, the stunning scenery sets the perfect backdrop for photographing the abundant wildlife. February is the height of the wildebeest calving season and and ideal time to witness young animals coming into the world. This also attracts predators who follow the herds. Grab your binoculars and get ready for the wildlife watching tour of a lifetime!

Click here for our Dec 2024 Tanzania safari trip report.

  

  

 

 

Tanzania Overview

Home to Africa's highest mountain Kilimanjaro, Tanzania will sweep you away with its natural beauty and exciting safaris. When we first arrive in Arusha you will already be amazed by Maasai culture, their bold colors, warm smiles, and lively daily lives. The Arusha city is surrounded by stunning scenery from where we start our journey to see all the beauty Africa has to offer. 

Tarangire National Park

Away from the busier areas, Tarangire National Park will promise its visitors wilderness and adventure. You will see herds of elephants and savannahs including baobab and acacia woodlands. Other animals you can see here are herds of buffalo, Thomson gazelle, zebra, wildebeest, gerenuk, and many more. Moreover, there are more than 500 species of birds in this national park like the Yellow-collared lovebirds and the world’s largest bird, the stocking-thighed ostrich. 

The Serengeti National Park

The park has become the synonym of African Safaris with golden sunsets over the savannah, clouds of orange dust, and where you can see the famous Great Migration. You also might be able to see black maned lions, leopards, rhinos, and wild dogs. One of the reasons that this park is one of the most famous ones in Africa, is that its ecosystem is the oldest and most complex in the world. 

Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro Crater is unique for having the highest density of lions in the world, including the black maned lions. It’s an incredible sanctuary for wildlife and you can also see herds of zebra, gazelle, black rhinos, hippos in muddy water, cheetahs, thousands of flamingos, and much more. Besides wildlife, the Maasai tribes live in the area as well, where you can learn more about their culture. 

 

Itinerary

Here's a an example itinerary for this trip. Accommodation and order of visits may vary slightly based on availability. For a detailed itinerary for your specific dates, please contact trips@bluewaterdivetravel.com.

• Day 1: Katambuga House
• Arusha is the safari capital of Tanzania located at the foot of Mt. Meru, close to Mount Kilimanjaro, the Manyara, Tarangire, and Ngorongoro National Parks. From there it’s only a short trip to the Serengeti. Just to the north, on the slopes of Mt. Meru is the Arusha National Park. Built by the Germans as a center of colonial administration because of the temperate climate, Arusha is a good spot to take a day or two off from your safari.
• Day Itinerary
• Arrival at Kilimanjaro International airport. After finishing passport control and customs, you are met by your Safari guide at the arrivals gate. After a brief introduction, your guide takes you to Arusha, for check-in and overnight.
• Driving time is approx. 1.5 hours
• Overnight: Katambuga House 
• Day 2-3: Tarangire Safari Lodge, Tarangire National Park 
• After the Serengeti, Tarangire has the greatest concentration of wildlife in Tanzania, and in the dry season, the Tarangire River is a magnet for thirsty wildlife. Large herds of elephants and migratory wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, gazelle, hartebeest, and eland gather, and not surprisingly the predators follow. This is also the one place in Tanzania where dry-country antelope such as oryx and gerenuk are regularly spotted. Tarangire is also known for its spectacular baobab trees and its breathtaking views of the Masaai Steppe and the mountains to the south. Located just a few hours drive from the town of Arusha, Tarangire is a popular stop for safaris traveling through the northern circuit on their way to Ngorongoro and the Serengeti. The park extends into two game-controlled areas and the wildlife are allowed to move freely throughout.
• Day Itinerary
• After breakfast, depart your lodge with a packed lunch and drive to Tarangire National Park. Enjoy your day with game drives in the park and lunch at a picnic site. Late afternoon arrive at your lodge for check-in, dinner, and overnight. You will stay for 2 nights with game drives.
• This is a full-day activity. The drive from Arusha to Tarangire is about 1.5-2 hours.
• Overnight: Tarangire Safari Lodge
• Tarangire Safari Lodge is located within the national park boundary of Tarangire National Park, approximately 10 km away from the main entrance. Perched at the edge of a natural bluff, the lodge is renowned for its panoramic views of the Savannah and Tarangire River below, providing breathtaking scenery and game viewing. The lodge’s safari tents, with thatched roofs and large, mesh screened windows, provide the ideal opportunity to connect with the sights and sounds of nature. Each tent has a comfortable veranda, ideal for bird and game viewing, or reading a favorite book after a dusty safari. With a choice of twin, double, or triple accommodation, all tents are equipped with en suite bathrooms with solar-heated showers, ample cupboard space, and cultural touch of local textiles. The five circular bungalows, built in a similar style to the Maasai boma, offer a more spacious option for family and triple accommodation. The airy rooms are situated near a large watering hole, creating the opportunity to watch wildlife from the shaded veranda. The bungalows are set away from the main lodge, providing privacy, and all are equipped with large en suite bathrooms with solar-heated showers, and comfortable bedding made from local textiles.
• Day 4: Ngorongoro Farm House, Karatu 
• Day Itinerary
• After breakfast, depart your lodge with a packed lunch and drive to Tarangire National Park. Enjoy your day with game viewing and your lunch at a picnic site. Late afternoon drive to your Karatu lodge for check-in, dinner, and overnight.
• This is a full-day activity. The drive from Tarangire to Karatu is about 1.5-2 hours.
• Overnight: Ngorongoro Farm House
• Ngorongoro Farmhouse Lodge is situated beneath the majestic Oldeani Volcano and boasts easy access to both the untamed wilderness of Ngorongoro Conservation Area, as well as the simple pleasure of a ramble through 500 acres of farmland. Ngorongoro Farm House was inaugurated on February 20th, 2003, and is offering 52 room cottages, 49 standard rooms, and 3 suite rooms, all with ample space inside, built on the style of an old colonial farm and rustically decorated with local materials and full of details of good taste, with the purpose of offering our clients an imaginary journey to the life of the days gone.
• Day 5-7: Lake Masek Tented Lodge, Ndutu
• The Ngorongoro Crater is game viewing gone crazy and it is not surprising that with is one of Tanzania’s major tourist drawcards. Within the crater rim, a daily wildlife drama is played out as large herds of zebra and wildebeest graze nearby lions, leopards, elephants, and black rhinos. Outside of the crater, a similar drama continues in a more spread-out manner with Masai herdsmen thrown into the mix.
• Day Itinerary
• After breakfast, depart from your lodge with a packed lunch and drive through the lush Ngorongoro highlands into the Ngorongoro conservation area, descend into the Ngorongoro crater, and spend half a day on the crater with game viewing. In the afternoon ascend and drive to the Serengeti plains. Arrive at the Ndutu woodlands in the early evening, check in to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
• This is a full-day activity.
• Overnight: Esirai Migration Camp 
• Six large en-suite tents comprise the camp, all with wide comfy beds, a spacious dining area with a free bar, a separate and cozy lounge tent with a solar charging station, and solar lighting throughout. A home away from home in the middle of the bush.
• Day 8-10: Esirai Migration Camp
• The Serengeti together with Kenya’s Masai Mara Game Park forms Africa’s most famous wildlife park. The image of acacia trees on an endless grass plain epitomizes Africa for many, and then add a Masai warrior and some cattle to the picture and the conversation needs to go no further. The annual wildebeest migration through the Serengeti and the Masai Mara is the largest mass movement of land mammals on the planet – with more than a million animals following the rains. But that is not where the game viewing ends; large prides of lions, elephants, and giraffes in grasslands, gazelles, and eland to mention but a few. Aside from traditional vehicle safaris, hot-air ballooning over the Serengeti plains has become almost essential and you can even do a horseback safari.
• Day Itinerary
• After breakfast, depart your lodge with a packed lunch and drive through ndutu woodland.  Explore the short and long grass plains, the river valleys, and the woodlands. Late afternoon arrive at your lodge in the central Serengeti for dinner and Overnight. You will stay for 1 night with game drives.
• This is a full-day activity.
• Overnight: Esirai Migration Camp 
• The golden morning light paints the savannah as we lazily take in the majestic beauty that surrounds us. Esirai Mobile Migration Camp is a real out of Africa experience. Small and intimate, Esirai encompasses only six guest tents and shifts each season following the great migration.
• Day 11: End of Itinerary
• Day Itinerary
• Fly from the Serengeti to Arusha Airport. A transfer vehicle awaits you at Arusha airport to take you for lunch. After lunch, you are transferred to Kilimanjaro Airport to connect with your international flight.

Learn more about our Safari Accommodations. 

  

Visiting Tanzania in October

The trip takes place during the best season to see the most wildlife. From June to October, the Great Migration takes place which is the best time to see much of the wildlife gathering around remaining waterholes due to the low rainfall throughout winter.

Travel Information & What to Pack

Clothing

Bring comfortable clothes and dress modestly to respect the local people and culture. Be prepared with clothes both for warm weather conditions on the plains and colder temperatures on the hilly and mountainous areas. Also, the early mornings and evenings can be surprisingly cool!  Wear neutral-colored clothes on safaris and especially in lighter tones or khaki as the tsetse flies are attracted to dark colors. We also recommend packing light. Most of the lodging offers laundry services at an extra cost, but many of them also do only hand washing and don't accept underwear.

Food & Water

We recommend bringing your own water bottle as many lodges and camps have a water dispenser to fill  your bottle with drinking water. To support the community, local produce is used as much as possible. Trying new foods will be part of the experience!

Electricity

Electricity supplies in rural areas are mostly provided by generators or solar panels. Though the camps and lodges can provide lighting and power in guest rooms, most of the rooms do not have electricity sockets. Ask about the charging facilities in the accommodations. The electricity supply in Tanzania is 200 volts/AC50Hz. The plugs do vary and we recommend taking multi-adapters to cope with 3 square pin sockets and 2 round pin sockets. 

Local Currency

The local currency is the Tanzanian Shilling. All international airports have money-changing facilities and there are banks and ATMs available, but we recommend changing your money upon arrival as it is more difficult to change money whilst on safari. Credit cards are accepted in larger hotels and restaurants, but it is preferable to travel with cash. 

  

Trip Documentation

A resource of information for guests who have signed up for the trip.

About Tanzania

Tanzania Health and Vaccinations

Packing for Safari

About the Safari Vehicles - N.B. Ideally wear sandals or flip flops that can be easily removed to allow you to stand on your seat for the best view. Almost no walking is done during the game drives.

Accommodation Types

All visitors to Tanzania require an entry Visa which costs between $50USD and $100USD depending on your nationality. While this can be purchased on arrival, we highly recommend applying in advance using the eVisa site.