Tanzania Big Game Safari December 2023

TANZANIA BIG GAME SAFARI DECEMBER 2023

Join Bluewater Travel in December 2023 for a our big game safari. A wealth of stunning wildlife awaits. We visit the world-renowned Serengeti that offers some of the most breathtaking wildlife viewings in Africa. The Ngorongoro Crater, also known as the eighth wonders of the world, the largest intact collapsed caldera on earth filled with every animal species in East Africa. And lastly, the Tarangire National park is known for its congregating herds of elephants, wooded savannahs, and network of swamps.

Why Join This Trip?

• All-inclusive prices, meals, and accommodations.
• Multiple National Park trips included.
• Private use of a 4x4 safari vehicle, unlimited mileage on game drives, and guaranteed window seat for all guests.
• One of the best destinations for exploring wildlife.

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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. December is the height of the green season and an ideal time to witness the peak of the great wildebeest migration. Grab your binoculars and get ready for the wildlife watching tour of a lifetime!

Click here for our 2022 Tanzania safari trip report.

Images By: Dori Caspi

TRIP TYPE

This trip is a GROUP TRIP. It will be led by an experienced Bluewater trip leader who will manage the trip logistics and ensure your needs are met throughout. While this trip is designed to optimize your photography opportunities, it is not led by one of our photo instructors and so meaningful photography advice from your trip leader should not be expected!

What to expect from our Group Trips

• Meet like-minded travelers - Our Group Trips are perfect for solo travelers who enjoy meeting other divers or photographers and enjoy the support of a pre-arranged itinerary. Your trip leader will arrange group activities such as meals or game nights to ensure everyone feels part of the Bluewater family.
• Problems solved - Your trip leader will be on hand to assist with any issues you may have. From delayed or canceled flights, to lost room keys and dietary requirements. We have dealt with it all before and will ensure that your trip runs smoothly.

Enjoy stress-free travel with like-minded adventurers and the support of your trip leader.

Photos By: Hagai (L) & Dor Caspi (M & R)

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.

Photos By: Hagai (L) & Dor Caspi (R)

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accommodations

¹ Power is available from 6.45am - 10am and from 6pm - 11pm.

² 80 litres of hot water available at a time. Hot water takes 20 minutes to re-heat.

³ WiFi only availble in main area.

⁴ 20 litres of hot water available at a time. Can request more if needed.

⁵ 40 litres of hot water available at a time. Can request more if needed.

⁶ Solar-powered electricity with back-up generator.

Tanzania Overview 

TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK

THE SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

NGORONGORO CRATER

Photos By: Hagai

Visiting Tanzania in DECEMBER

During December, Tanzania's climate is not too hot and the plains are greener than ever. Large herds of wildebeest gather on the plains of the Serengeti, with low-grass areas making them easy to spot. Many migratory birds arrive at this time of year, including cinnamon-breasted buntings, purple grenadier, and red-necked spurfowl.

Inclusions

• Park and Ngorongoro Conservation area entrance fees as required as per your itinerary.
• 1 Half-day Crater tour and Ngorongoro Crater service fee(s) x 1.
• Bed, dinner, and breakfast on the day of arrival.
• Meals and accommodation in lodges/camps on safari as per your itinerary.
• Unlimited mileage on game drives.
• Private use of 4x4 safari vehicle.
• The services of a dedicated professional safari guide.
• Mineral water in vehicle on Safari drives.
• Pickup from Kilimanjaro International airport (JRO) on arrival in Tanzania and transfer to your lodge for overnight.
• Flights from Seronera to Arusha, inclusive of the required airport taxes and fuel supplement; according to your itinerary.
• Lunch in Arusha on the last day of your safari.
• Transfer to Kilimanjaro airport to connect to your outgoing flight.

Exclusions

• Hotel Tax - $5 per day, paid on site.
• Flights not mentioned as included. 
• Airport taxes apart from the one mentioned in the inclusions. 
• Visas. 
• Insurance. 
• Gratuities. 
• Any items of a personal nature. 
• Any items not specifically mentioned in our quote 

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ABOUT THE TRIP LEADER

Gill is in charge of all Bluewater Travel's Photo Workshops and is a PADI and TDI Instructor in her free time. Gill learned to dive in her home country of Scotland and continued with much of her dive education in the UK. She quickly expanded her diving repertoire with trips to the Red Sea, Mexico, and Indonesia, and was surprised to learn that diving didn’t always involve poor visibility and chilly water temperatures.

Gill has a thirst for travel and adventure and spent a year driving around Europe in a motorhome before settling in Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean. After working full-time as a Dive Instructor for three seasons, she now teaches and guides in her free time on the famous Zenobia wreck. When not underwater, Gill can be found paddle boarding, hiking, or rescuing cats.

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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. 

Photos By: Pietro Lurasci

Flight Information

• Guests will be picked up from the Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and transferred to a lodge for an overnight stay.
• For the outgoing flight, guests will also be transferred from the accommodations to the airport.
• Luggage allowance on the domestic flight from Kogatende to Arusha is 20kg. Additional weight is $3/kg and MUST be booked in advance.
• The recommended arrival time to JRO airport is at 2 PM and the earliest departure time from JRO at 5 PM.
• If you have any questions, please email us. We will arrange your transport to the resort.

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PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Deposit: $1,500

Balance: September 15, 2023

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Photo Gallery

Photos By: Pietro Lurasci

Photos By: Hagai

Photos By: Dor Caspi

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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.