12 Day Grand Tanzania Safari

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

This 12-day Tanzania trip runs through Mikumi, Ruaha, Nyerere, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, linked so the travelling is done between the wildlife. Lilac-breasted rollers sit on every third bush, and the birding is strong year round. Ancient baobabs stand over the sand rivers, glowing gold in the low afternoon light. Unlike the parks up north, Nyerere lets you walk with an armed ranger.

Day By Day

Day 1 Arrival At Mikumi

You set out from Dar es Salaam after breakfast and drive to Mikumi National Park, the country changing as the kilometres pass, reaching camp with time to settle in and take a first look before dark. Zebra, wildebeest, impala and tall Masai giraffe spread across the plain. 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. You settle into camp as the light goes. Back at camp after dark, dinner is under the stars.

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. 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.

Male lion with two lionesses in green grass — A male lion and two lionesses in the green grass of the Mkata floodplain.

Day 2 Game Drives In Mikumi

A full day in Mikumi 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. Mikumi is 3,230 square kilometres and the fourth-largest park in Tanzania, reached on the tar road from the coast. 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. On most drives you will not pass another vehicle.

Zebra, wildebeest, impala and tall Masai giraffe spread across the plain. Lilac-breasted rollers sit on every third bush, and the birding is strong year round. 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 3 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. 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. Back at camp after dark, dinner is under the stars.

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 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. 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. Ancient baobabs stand over the sand rivers, glowing gold in the low afternoon light. You rest through the midday heat and head out again as it cools.

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. As the dry season bites, the shrinking Great Ruaha River pulls elephant, buffalo and antelope down to drink.

Lone cape buffalo bull facing camera in tall dry grass — An old buffalo bull in the dry grass, a fixture of the southern parks.

Day 5 Transfer To Nyerere

A short morning out on game drives at first light in Ruaha, then to the airstrip and a light aircraft for the move to Nyerere National Park. The country changes on the way, and you reach Nyerere in the afternoon. You head out out on a boat safari and game drives as the light softens, a first look at the new ground. The park holds big herds of elephant and buffalo, good lion and leopard, and a strong wild dog population. Unlike the parks up north, Nyerere lets you walk with an armed ranger. You swap between boat and vehicle as the day allows.

The Rufiji, the largest river in Tanzania, fans out through the park into channels, sandbanks and lakes. A boat safari puts you at water level with hippo pods and big crocodiles hauled out on the banks. Nyerere is 30,893 square kilometres gazetted in 2019 from the northern Selous and a UNESCO World Heritage area. With a drink in hand you watch the day close over the bush.

Day 6 Boat Safari In Nyerere

A full day in Nyerere National Park. You are out on a boat safari and 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. Unlike the parks up north, Nyerere lets you walk with an armed ranger. Nyerere is 30,893 square kilometres gazetted in 2019 from the northern Selous and a UNESCO World Heritage area. The Rufiji, the largest river in Tanzania, fans out through the park into channels, sandbanks and lakes. Sundown over the water, with hippo surfacing, closes the day.

A boat safari puts you at water level with hippo pods and big crocodiles hauled out on the banks. The park holds big herds of elephant and buffalo, good lion and leopard, and a strong wild dog population. 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 7 Transfer To Serengeti

A short morning out on a boat safari and game drives at first light in Nyerere, 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. You rest through the midday heat and head out again as it cools.

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. Each time out turns up something new, and the pace is yours to set.

Five giraffes crossing tall golden grass below hills — Giraffe crossing the golden grass, the halfway point of a long circuit.

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. On most drives you will not pass another vehicle.

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. You stop for coffee where the view is good and let the morning warm up. Nothing is promised in the wild, which is what makes a good sighting count. The country is quiet here, and on most outings you have it to yourselves.

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

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. Nothing is promised in the wild, which is what makes a good sighting count. The country is quiet here, and on most outings you have it to yourselves. Your guide has the ground worked out, and knows where the day is likely to lead.

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

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. The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact volcanic caldera in the world, about 260 square kilometres of floor. The country is quiet here, and on most outings you have it to yourselves. Your guide has the ground worked out, and knows where the day is likely to lead.

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 animals so game viewing is concentrated and reliable. On most drives you will not pass another vehicle.

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. 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. You carry a packed breakfast and stay out while the going is good.

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 Mikumi, Ruaha, Nyerere, 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. Nothing is promised in the wild, which is what makes a good sighting count. The country is quiet here, and on most outings you have it to yourselves.

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 Is This Tanzania Safari a Popular Choice?

This trip earns its place because the stops are nothing alike, and seeing them together makes each one land harder. Zebra, wildebeest, impala and tall Masai giraffe spread across the plain. Lilac-breasted rollers sit on every third bush, and the birding is strong year round. The rim sits at 2,300 metres and mornings are cold before the sun clears the wall. Linking Mikumi, Ruaha, Nyerere, 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.

Is a 12 Day Tanzania Safari Worth It?

12 days across Mikumi, Ruaha, Nyerere, 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 Included in the Tanzania Safari Cost?

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.