Tarangire and Ngorongoro,the Serengetiand the Nile
Eleven days from Arusha through Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Crater and the northern Serengeti, then a final stay on the Nile in Uganda.
2Countries
5Stops
10Nights
Luxury to Top LuxuryService level
01Tanzania02Uganda
The storyThe headline tells the journey in a few lines, one after another.
At a glanceThe figures beneath it are the essential facts of the trip.
The legsRead the images left to right: each panel is one leg, in the order you travel it, and each is set out in full below.
The journey
When to go
Tarangire elephants
Ngorongoro Crater
Northern Serengeti
Nile rapids lodge
Tarangire elephants
Ngorongoro Crater
Northern Serengeti
Nile rapids lodge Avoid
June Primary window
The dry season begins and the elephants return towards the Tarangire River. Dry and cooler. Clear mornings on the rim and the crater at its most comfortable. Drier weather, with the herds heading north. The first arrivals can reach the northern plains late in the month. Drier weather and clearer skies over the Nile.
Arusha, Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the northern Serengeti.
Upon arrival in Arusha, an Iconic Expeditions representative will greet you and take you to your accommodation at Hamerkop House. This beautiful private house is located on a wildlife and golf estate, halfway between JRO International Airport and Arusha.
Here you’ll have the afternoon to relax and soak up the sun while enjoying your all-inclusive experience. Play a round of golf, take afternoon tea in the garden, or sip cocktails by the pool. Don’t forget to enjoy the incredible view of both Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru!
After breakfast, you’ll set out to Tarangire National Park for a game drive. Tarangire is home to the largest population of Elephants in Tanzania, with several herds of elephants containing over 300 members!
After your game drive, we’ll continue on to your traditional Maasai village experience. Here you can experience a Maasai cultural dance, take a tour of the traditional boma homes, and purchase handmade jewellery to take home.
In the evening, we’ll head to your all-inclusive accommodations at Lemala Mpingo Ridge Lodge, sitting just above Tarangire National Park with sweeping views of the entire valley. Each of their spacious tented suites contains sunken outdoor lounges where you can enjoy the sunset over the river valley with a glass of wine or take a dip in the outdoor bathtub.
After a delicious breakfast, head out bright and early for another game drive in Tarangire National Park. Besides the elephants, be sure to keep your eye out for lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, and more! With over 2,600 square kilometres to explore, there’s plenty to see.
After our morning game drive, we’ll return to your luxurious lodge to enjoy a relaxing afternoon. Lounge by the pool, enjoy a few all-inclusive drinks at the bar or head straight to the spa for a massage.
After dinner, we’ll venture out again for a night game drive in Tarangire. This will allow you to spot animals that aren’t commonly seen during the day. Once your night safari concludes, we’ll return to your spacious tented suite at Mpingo Ridge Lodge for a good night’s sleep.
Bright and early, we’ll head out for an authentic cultural survival experience with the Hadzabe people, who are still living the same hunter-gatherer lifestyle their ancestors practised. Here you can witness a traditional hunting demonstration to learn how the Hadzabe survive in the Tanzanian wilderness.
After our cultural experience, we’ll stop for a stunning outdoor picnic lunch immersed in the natural environment.
In the late afternoon, we’ll arrive at Ngorongoro National Park where we’ll head to your accommodations at Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp, surrounded by an ancient acacia forest right on the rim of the incredible Ngorongoro Crater. While driving along the crater rim, expect to see plenty of baboons, giraffes, zebras, and more.
Here you’ll enjoy dinner and relax in your luxurious tented accommodations for the evening.
Today we’ll be up bright and early for a drive down into Ngorongoro Crater. You will tick off many animal sightings today, as Ngorongoro Crater is home to all the Big Five, including the endangered black rhinoceros. Here you can also see the famous Makat Lake where you may see large flocks of pink flamingos.
On the game drive, we’ll stop for a scenic picnic lunch near the Ngorongoro hippo pool, where you can observe wild hippos relaxing in the water.
After your day in the Ngorongoro Crater, you’ll head back to your tented camp at Lemala Ngorongoro for an all-inclusive evening of relaxation.
After a delicious breakfast, your Iconic Expeditions driver will take you to Manyara Airstrip, where you will then board a flight to the Kogatende Airstrip in the Northern Serengeti.
Here you will begin your game drive in Tanzania’s most famous National Park. Explore the wide-open plains of the Serengeti, where your driver can help you try to spot the famous Big Five.
In the evening, we’ll take you to your all-inclusive accommodation at Lemala Kuria Hills Lodge. Here you can relax in a glass-front villa suite with spectacular views of the Serengeti. You may even spot wildlife from your room!
Today you’ll have a full day of game drives on the spectacular Serengeti. Your knowledgeable driver will take you out to explore, and if you’re there at the right time of year, you may even see a Wildebeest Migration River Crossing.
Today you have the option of enjoying a picnic lunch out on safari, or you can break your day into two game drives and spend the afternoon at the luxurious Lemala Kuria Hills to relax by the pool or partake in afternoon tea with a view of the Serengeti.
Today is yours to do what you wish. Spend a full day out on game drives or relax in style at Kura Hills. You can even do a half-day safari if you’d like. It’s up to you to decide how you’d like to spend your last full day on the Serengeti.
If you would like to go on game drives today, there is still plenty to see. Your driver can help you track down any animals still haven’t spotted, or you can try to experience a migration river crossing.
In the evening, you’ll head back to Lemala Kuria Hills for a fantastic all-inclusive dinner and a relaxing evening sundowner cocktail.
After breakfast with a view, your driver will take you back to the Serengeti’s Kogatende Airstrip, where you will board your flight to Entebbe, Uganda. Once you arrive, you will be transferred to your all-inclusive luxury accommodations at Lemala Wildwaters Lodge.
Set in the rainforest on a private island in the middle of the Nile River, enjoy a delicious dinner and complimentary drinks as you take in the view of the rapids.
Today, you’ll have the entire day to enjoy your incredible accommodation at Lemala Wildwaters. Watch the foaming rapids of the Nile rage by while you lay out by the pool carved from natural pink granite rocks, or enjoy an open-air massage with a view of the rainforest. Don’t forget to take a soak in the outdoor tub on your suite’s private deck with a perfect view of the Nile.
A full day at Lemala Wildwaters is the perfect way to end your African safari relaxed and refreshed for the journey home.
After a delicious breakfast, an Iconic Expeditions vehicle will pick you up from your hotel and bring you to the airport for your onward travel.
Your last full day on the Serengeti
A full day of game drives · Day 8Head out for the whole day with a picnic lunch, track any animals you have not yet seen and try again for a Mara River crossing.
The detail
About this trip
Are you looking for the ultimate safari, combined with relaxation, in some of Africa’s best luxury properties? Our 11-Day Lemala Exclusive Tanzania and Uganda safari itinerary is for you! Enjoy the best safari parks Tanzania offers, with plenty of time to explore the best parks. After an incredible safari trip, you’ll travel on to Uganda to relax in style on a private island located in the rapids of the Nile River. Adventure, relaxation, and a touch of luxury!
What is included
Tarangire Safari – elephants, baobabs, and vibrant culture.
Hadzabe Tribe – authentic encounter with Tanzania’s hunter-gatherers.
Ngorongoro Crater – Big Five adventure in a natural wonder.
Serengeti Plains – epic wildlife and river crossings.
Lemala Luxury – stylish lodges, gourmet dining, and serene comfort.
Relax at Wildwaters – island retreat on the Nile River.
Seamless Travel – smooth flights and private transfers throughout.
What is not included
International flights (From/home)
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
Government-imposed tax and/or park fee increases
Some meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How does the Lemala Exclusive route move from Arusha to Uganda?
You are greeted in Arusha on day 1 and stay at Hamerkop House. Days 2 and 3 are at Tarangire, and day 4 is a journey via the Hadzabe to the Ngorongoro crater rim. On day 6 your driver takes you to Manyara Airstrip for a flight to Kogatende in the northern Serengeti. On day 9 you fly from Kogatende to Entebbe, Uganda, then transfer to Lemala Wildwaters on the Nile.
When is the best time for the Lemala Exclusive?
June to September score highest, with the elephants returning to Tarangire, the crater at its most comfortable and the herds reaching the northern Serengeti, where Mara River crossings peak in August. October is an alternative. January, February and December are alternatives, but with the herds in the south the north holds resident game only. March to May is the wettest, with some camps closed.
What does a typical day look like on this itinerary?
Safari days start bright and early with game drives. Day 3 has a morning drive at Tarangire, an afternoon by the pool or spa and a night game drive after dinner. Day 5 is a drive down into Ngorongoro Crater with a picnic lunch near the hippo pool. Day 7 is a full day of game drives in the northern Serengeti.
What is flexible on the Lemala Exclusive itinerary?
On day 7 you can have a picnic lunch out on safari, or split the day into two game drives and spend the afternoon at the lodge. Day 8 is yours to design, from a full day of drives to a half-day safari or a rest day at the lodge. Day 10 is a full day at Lemala Wildwaters. Dates and lodges are confirmed in your proposal.
Can you combine more than one country in a single trip?
Yes. Many of our journeys cross borders, for example Botswana with Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, or Cape Town with a safari and the Falls. Tell us the places you have in mind through the enquiry form and we will plan the route and transfers as one itinerary.
What meals are included on safari?
Meals depend on the camp or lodge and are set out in your itinerary. On safari they are usually taken at camp, with a picnic or packed meal on some days. Tell us about any dietary needs when you enquire.
Do I need vaccinations or medication before an African safari?
Health requirements depend on where you are travelling from and where you are going, and they change. Check your country's official travel health advice or TravelHealthPro (travelhealthpro.org.uk), and see a travel clinic well before you depart. Ask about malaria prevention early.
What should I pack for an African safari?
Lightweight, breathable clothing that covers your arms and legs helps against sun and insects, in neutral colours. Bring comfortable closed shoes (boots if you will walk), a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, binoculars and a camera with spare batteries and memory cards. Your itinerary lists any luggage limits for charter flights.
How do I stay safe on safari?
Your guides brief you on how to behave around wildlife. Follow their instructions, stay in the vehicle or camp area as told, and never approach or disturb animals. Conditions differ by country and change over time, so check your government's current travel advice before you book and again before you travel.
On this trip
Photographs from the route, not stock library scenery.
Book it in this order
Work down the list. Each step depends on the one above it.
Field notes
The practical detail that decides whether a trip runs smoothly.
Hadzabe hunters
On day four you meet the Hadzabe, who still live as hunter-gatherers. Ask your guide how to behave and which photographs are welcome.
Tarangire's night drive
A night drive on day three finds animals that are rarely seen by day. Wear a warm layer for the open vehicle.
The crater floor
The descent into Ngorongoro is a full day with a picnic lunch near the hippo pool. The rim sits high, so evenings are cold.
River crossings are not guaranteed
If you are in the northern Serengeti between July and October, a Mara River crossing is possible. The herds move with the rain, so your guide plans the days around them.
A rest on the Nile
Day ten is free at your Nile lodge, with a pink granite pool, open-air massage and a plunge tub on your deck. Bring swimwear and a rain jacket.
Plan this journey
Make this trip your own
Every journey is planned around your dates and your party. Tell us who is travelling and when, and a specialist will come back with a tailored itinerary and a quote. Payment is by invoice.
