7-Day Utamaduni Safari – Craters, Culture & Endless Plains

Welcome to Tanzania! Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, your Pita Safaris driver-guide greets you with a warm smile and cheerful karibu sana—“you’re very welcome.” Enjoy a scenic transfer to Arusha, passing coffee estates, banana groves, and red-soiled villages.

Check into Kibo Palace Hotel, a midrange retreat with ensuite rooms, a pool, and lush gardens. Depending on arrival time, relax with a drink, unwind by the pool, or browse Arusha’s craft markets. In the evening, savor a welcome dinner blending Swahili flavors with international cuisine.

Travel Tip: Arrive early? Visit Arusha’s Maasai Market or sip fresh-roasted Tanzanian coffee.
- Rest well—the wild adventure begins tomorrow.

Distance: ~55 km | Drive Time: ~1 hour

After breakfast, drive south to Tarangire National Park, where ancient baobabs tower over herds of elephants. This quieter gem offers uncrowded game drives with lions, zebras, giraffes, and over 500 bird species.

Enjoy a picnic lunch beneath an acacia tree before continuing your exploration along the wildlife-rich Tarangire River. In the evening, arrive at Lake Burunge Tented Lodge, with sweeping lake views and bushland sunsets. Dinner is served under a canopy of stars.

Safari Snapshot: Golden hour in Tarangire is perfect for photographing elephants against baobabs.
- Discover Tanzania’s elephant kingdom with Pita Safaris.

Distance: ~120 km | Drive Time: 2.5–3 hours

Today, travel to the legendary Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and haven for nearly 25,000 animals. Descend 600 meters into the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, where black rhinos, elephants, lions, and hippos roam.

Pause for a picnic lunch by the hippo pool, then ascend to the crater rim. Overnight at Ang’ata Ngorongoro Camp, nestled in the misty highlands, where forest sounds surround your evening under canvas.

Did You Know? Ngorongoro is one of the few places where you might see all Big Five in a single day.
Experience Africa’s Eden with Pita Safaris.

Distance: ~180 km | Drive Time: ~4.5 hours

Journey through the Ngorongoro Highlands, past Maasai villages, and enter the iconic Serengeti National Park at Naabi Hill Gate. En route game drives through the Seronera Valley reveal lions, cheetahs, elephants, and endless plains alive with wildlife.

By evening, settle into Serengeti Heritage Camp, a charming tented camp blending comfort and authentic bush ambiance. After a refreshing shower, dine under a starlit sky as the sounds of the Serengeti echo in the distance.

Safari Moment: Nothing compares to a Serengeti sunset with a drink in hand.
Ready for the wild heart of Africa? Serengeti awaits with Pita Safaris.

Distance: ~145 km | Drive Time: ~4.5 hours (with game drive)

Rise before dawn for a sunrise game drive, the best time to see predators on the move. Enjoy breakfast back at camp—or a bush breakfast under an acacia tree.

Spend the day exploring the Serengeti’s kopjes, rivers, and open plains—alive with giraffes, buffalo, elephants, and, seasonally, the Great Wildebeest Migration. A picnic lunch keeps you in the heart of the action. Return to camp for a fireside evening under a dazzling Serengeti sky.

Photography Tip: Early morning and late afternoon light bring golden tones perfect for wildlife portraits.
Witness nature’s grandest show with Pita Safaris.

After breakfast, bid farewell to the Serengeti and travel toward Lake Eyasi, beneath the Rift Valley escarpment. This afternoon, meet the Datoga people, skilled blacksmiths who forge tools with age-old methods. Learn about their pastoral traditions and intricate jewelry-making.

Stay at Lake Eyasi Safari Lodge, where serene rooms overlook the valley. Enjoy dinner and a quiet evening surrounded by Rift Valley landscapes.

Cultural Highlight: The Datoga are master blacksmiths, crafting tools from scrap metal using centuries-old techniques.
Add culture to your safari with Pita Safaris at Lake Eyasi.

Distance: ~190 km | Drive Time: ~5.5 hours

Rise before dawn for a rare cultural encounter with the Hadzabe, one of East Africa’s last hunter-gatherer tribes. Join them on a short hunt, practice archery, and experience their click-based language and harmony with nature.

Return for breakfast, then journey back to Arusha, stopping for lunch en route before your evening flight from Kilimanjaro International Airport—or extend your stay in Arusha.

Safari Reflection: From Tarangire’s elephants to Serengeti’s predators, Ngorongoro’s Big Five, and the Hadzabe’s timeless traditions—this journey blends Tanzania’s wildlife and culture into one unforgettable adventure.
Inspired to return? Let Pita Safaris craft your next African journey.

Distance: ~220 km | Drive Time: ~5 hours