The Trip

For anyone arriving early, Arusha is well worth a night or two. It's a charming city — proper cafes, great restaurants, padel courts, and the famous Cultural Heritage Centre (home to Jane Goodall's Dream ). Roughly 1hr 15min from Kilimanjaro Airport. Recommended hotels are in the hotels section.

You will be picked up at Kilimanjaro International (JRO) and head straight for Karatu — about 3hrs 40min through the highlands. Settle in at Oldeani Mountain Lodge and join us for our welcome dinner from 5pm. The proper start of things.

SS tip- depending on your flight arrival time make a few stops on the way to the first hotel, there are lovely lunch spots and curio shops along the route

SS tip- get in the night before and stay in Arusha

Rise and shine — we're driving into the cradle of life. The Ngorongoro Crater gate is just 40 minutes away. Jeeps can depart at whatever time your group prefers. Packed picnic lunches on the crater floor. Spend as long as you like; the afternoon is yours. Check in at Serena Lodge Ngorongoro afterwards, sundowners at the observation deck, dinner whenever you're ready.

SS tip- try to leave the hotel as early as possible, it takes 10-15mins to get through the gate and then another 25 to get to the crater floor, best to get in as early as possible for some great sightings.

SS tip- by 3pm you would usually have seen a lot and might be ready to get to the hotel. you are welcome to stay on the crater floor till 5pm, but if you get out by 3 you can still get a walking safari or trip to the boma in too that day before sun downers at the hotel.

The big one. For the keen, an early-morning half-day game drive back into the crater. For the rest, options at the lodge: visit a traditional Maasai boma, explore the Olduvai Gorge Site Museum, brave a walking safari, book a spa treatment, or just chill. Everyone ready by 4pm — the celebrations begin.

SS tip- This morning you are much closer to the crater floor and gives you the best chance of being one of the first jeeps in the crater. YYouou can take a packed breakfast with you if you want to have it in the jeep or at the picnic spots. you can then come back to the hotel for lunch/ just after lunch so you have time to get ready for the main event.

For those of you heading back at this point your transport will be ready to take you to the airport/ Arusha.

For those of you continuing the adventure see PART TWO.

SS tip- It will all depend on your flight time this day, it may take around 4-5 hours directly from the hotel. It may be an option to spend one night in Arusha before you leave.

Late check-out. We say goodbye to the crater and drive deeper — about 3 hours to Serena Lodge Serengeti, with game viewing the entire way. 

SS tip- use this day as a full day game drive through the park seeing everything there is to see along the way and aim to be at the next hotel by 5pm.

Two full days to explore. Go on game drives at your own pace, swim, read by the pool, play boardgames, do nothing. You're in the middle of the Savannah — that's the activity. On the evening of Day 6, we gather for a bush dinner under the stars. The last night together.

SS tip- for these two days you can do game drives as you please- a morning session, an afternoon session, a full day session as much or as little as you like. Remember the hotel itself is pretty cool too and you can just enjoy your time there with some viewing from the hotel itself. 

Bush flight from Seronera Airstrip back to Arusha — it's a genuinely cool way to leave. Prefer the scenic route? The 6–8hr drive back to Arusha (affectionately known as the “African massage” for its bumpy charm) can be arranged. Hearts full either way.

SS tip- the flight is an amazing scenic flight, going over craters, volcanic mountains and plains, you can even see animals from the plane. They are 15-seater Cessna Grand Caravans and flight lasts just under an hour. You will be picked up and taken to the international airport from there (1.5hours) or to Arusha (45ins).

SS tip- we recommend doing one more night in Arusha to wind down from your safari adventure before saying goodbye to Tanzania.