12-Day Grand Tanzania Safari: Natron, Serengeti & Eyasi
A private 12-day safari from Arusha that goes beyond the usual circuit: Tarangire, two nights at Lake Natron below the volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai, four nights in the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, and two nights at Lake Eyasi with the Hadzabe and Datoga people.
The North in Full, Wildlife and People
This trip joins the famous parks with two of the most different places in the north. At Lake Natron, a hot soda lake in the Rift Valley, you can walk up a gorge to a waterfall and see flamingos on the shore, with the cone of Ol Doinyo Lengai above. From there you cross into the Serengeti from the north-east and spend four nights in the park, following the herds where they are in your month.
After the Ngorongoro Crater, the last stop is Lake Eyasi, where you spend time with the Hadzabe, who still live by hunting and gathering, and visit a Datoga family of blacksmiths. It is a long trip with some rough roads, best for travellers with time who want both wildlife and culture.
Less time? See the 6-Day Lake Natron, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Safari →
Why Travellers Choose It
- Two nights at Lake Natron: waterfall walk and flamingos
- Four nights in the Serengeti, reached from the north-east
- A game drive on the Ngorongoro Crater floor
- Two nights at Lake Eyasi with the Hadzabe and Datoga
- Private vehicle and driver-guide for 12 days
Read our park guides: Lake Natron, Serengeti National Park, Lake Eyasi
We meet you at Kilimanjaro International Airport and drive you to your hotel in Arusha.
Overnight: Hotel in Arusha (or similar)
Meals: Dinner is not included on arrival day
A full day of game drives in Tarangire among elephant herds and baobab trees, with a picnic lunch, then a short drive to Mto wa Mbu.
Overnight: Lodge near Mto wa Mbu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
North along the Rift Valley floor to Lake Natron, past Maasai villages and dry plains. You can walk up the Ngare Sero gorge to a waterfall and down to the lake shore to see the flamingos. A night climb of Ol Doinyo Lengai can be added at extra cost for fit walkers.
Overnight: Lodge or tented camp at Lake Natron
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The road from Lake Natron to the Serengeti is rough and long, through the Loliondo area. You enter the park from the north-east and spend two nights in the northern or central Serengeti, depending on the month. Elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, impalas, wildebeest and hippos are common. Lions are seen often and leopards more rarely. Wild animals move freely, so no sighting can be guaranteed.
Overnight: Lodge or tented camp in the Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Two more days in the Serengeti, in the area where the migration herds are in your month or in the centre of the park for the big cats.
Overnight: Lodge or tented camp in the Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
An early start back across the plains to the Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive on the crater floor, then up to Karatu.
Overnight: Lodge in Karatu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
To Lake Eyasi, below the Rift Valley wall. Early one morning you join a Hadzabe group as they hunt and gather, and you visit a Datoga family to see their metal work. The rest of the time is for the lake and the onion farms around it.
Overnight: Lodge or tented camp at Lake Eyasi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The drive back to Arusha, or straight to Kilimanjaro International Airport for an evening flight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Price Per Person — Private Safari
| Group Size | Price Per Person |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $8,330 |
| 2 People | $6,170 |
| 3 People | $5,450 |
| 4 People | $5,090 |
| 5 People | $4,875 |
| 6 People | $4,735 |
Price per person in US dollars, by the number of people travelling together, sharing rooms. Groups of more than 6: price on request.
Trip Notes
- Start & end: Kilimanjaro Airport
- Private safari: your group only, on the dates you choose
- Lodges named when we confirm availability
- Some long drives on rough roads
- Prices may change if park fees change
Includes
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof and a professional driver-guide
- All park entry and concession fees, and the Ngorongoro Crater vehicle fee
- Local fees at Lake Natron and Lake Eyasi, and the Hadzabe and Datoga visits
- 1 night in Arusha (bed and breakfast) and 10 nights in mid-range lodges and tented camps, full board
- Drinking water
- Airport transfers
Excludes
- International flights and visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tanzania's compulsory inbound travel insurance for foreign visitors (44 US dollars per person, from 1 October 2026)
- Ol Doinyo Lengai climb (optional)
- Hot-air balloon flight (optional)
- Tips for your guide, local guides and lodge staff
- Drinks not included in the meal plans
- Any government increase in park fees or taxes after booking
Questions Travellers Ask
Is this trip hard?
Not physically, unless you add the Ol Doinyo Lengai climb. But there are long drives on rough roads, especially between Lake Natron and the Serengeti.
Can we climb Ol Doinyo Lengai?
Yes, at extra cost. It is a steep night climb for fit walkers, starting around midnight to reach the top at sunrise.
Is the visit to the Hadzabe respectful?
We visit with local guides who know the families, in small groups. Please ask before taking photos.
Can we add Zanzibar?
Yes. You can fly from Arusha to Zanzibar at the end of the safari; ask us for a price.
