4-Day Serengeti Luxury Safari
Our most popular Safari, and the perfect addition to our Kilimanjaro Machame Route, travel in luxury on this 4-Day adventure through the magnificent expanse of Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. You’ll spend your nights in Tanzania’s premier luxury lodges while adventuring through Africa’s ancient landscapes during the days. Bear witness to the world’s largest unbroken caldera and the worlds-largest concentration of wildlife! Travel to the infamous Serengeti for a full-day game drive and the chance to witness Africa’s BIG FIVE!
THE WWTREK ASSURANCE | OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGE
African Safari Activity Rating: EASY ACTIVE
Challenge:
Although this trek is rated Easy Active, there will be no hiking or physical activity outside of getting in and out of Safari Vehicles and moving from lodge to lodge each night.
Reassurance:
Your trained Safari Guides are there to help move any luggage, provide water for your safari enjoyment, and help you get acclimated at each new lodge you stay in.
Trek Summary
The World Wide Trekking Difference
Our professionally trained Safari Guides work to provide excellent service and an abundance of knowledge to our guests. We crafted these Safaris with your comfort in mind, so we travel in spacious Land Cruisers that allow guests a window seat and access to a food and beverage cooler. You can relax in your seat, enjoy refreshments while gazing at African wildlife, or stand through the vehicle’s pop-top roof to observe the animals.
Vat Tax
WWTrek Accommodations
Along our Safari route, we stay in gorgeous lodges within the national parks. Each has spacious and comfortable bedrooms and delicious dining options, and most of these lodges having a pool or jacuzzi to relax in!
Soak in the Ngorongoro sunset from your balcony and enjoy every breakfast with a spectacular view of protected African lands! Keep on the lookout, you never know what may wander across your path!
WWTrek Meals
Our highly trained staff is eager to make delicious meals for all our guests, regardless of preferences or allergies. Expect bountiful plates and delicious local flavors as you trek your Safari adventure, and enjoy the tastes it brings along the way.
WWTrek Team
Our team of medically and practically trained Guides is here to help you every step of the way. From the first point of contact with the office through the end of your trekking experience with us, World Wide Trekking will work with you to ensure you feel comfortable and prepared to embark on your journey.
Your safari driver is professionally trained and certified– able to spot wildlife from quite a distance with their naked eyes, they’ll help point out wildlife and teach you about the animals as they appear!
WWTrek Experience
We think it’s imperative to offer our guests the ability to hear from one another. This way, guests can get the nitty-gritty details about the trek… like finding out just how challenging that hike really is!
“The wildlife is amazing and so are the guides. I also loved the pasta and hot chocolate
(which I had 2 of every morning!)” – Jake (age 12)
“Comfort was really nice and told us cool facts. He pointed out stuff that no one else could see. Dean was awesome and really nice too! I liked it because I got to go on the trip with Dean, who is the leader.”- Denny (age 8)
WWTrek Guest Services
World Wide Trekking boasts an extensive support crew for all of our groups. At headquarters in Salt Lake City, our staff is dedicated to helping you every step of the way. If you’re planning your trip and have a question about which boots to buy, our adventure specialist is just a phone call away.
We provide medically certified, English-speaking guides for all of our adventures. Additionally, you have access to a local operations manager and a plethora of local professionals to aid the group.
Once your trip begins, World Wide Trekking boasts an extensive support crew. We provide medically certified, Professional guide(s) for all adventures as well as a plethora of local professionals to aid the group on the mountain including porters, a tent crew, chefs, servers, dishwashers, and toilet attendants. Additionally, you have access to a Local Operations Manager throughout your adventure.
Trek Itinerary
Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Caldera
- Following a delicious breakfast, and a briefing with your Safari guide(s), we will make our way to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area where guests will enjoy a picnic lunch.
- After checking in with the park service, we will descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive. We will spend our afternoon driving the world’s largest unbroken caldera and experiencing the wilds of Africa firsthand.
- Overnight: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge or comparable
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Welcome Reception
Ngorongoro Conservation Area to Serengeti National Park
- We will spend our morning driving through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, witnessing the amazing variety of flora and fauna.
- As we make our way to Serengeti National Park for an afternoon game drive, wildlife can be viewed from your safari vehicle.
- Overnight: Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge or comparable
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Serengeti National Park Game Drive
- We will spend both our morning and our afternoon revealing in the wonders of a Serengeti game drive returning to our lodge for a tasty lunch in between.
- From the comfort of your safari vehicle, you will witness the expansive and wild Serengeti National Park, capturing glimpses of some of the most spectacular animals in nature.
- Overnight: Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge or comparable
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Celebration Dinner
Serengeti Game Drive and International Departures
- We will have one last chance to marvel at the African wildlife during a morning game drive in Serengeti National Park, being sure to pay a visit to the hippo pool.
- We will then make our way to the Seronera Airstrip (EDT) for a charter flight back to Arusha, witnessing the plains of Africa from above.
- Upon landing, we will head to the Cultural Heritage Center for lunch and last-minute shopping.
- You will be given a day room for refreshment and relaxation as you prepare for your international flight. (JRO) If time permits, we would love to offer a site tour of our Kilimanjaro Kids’ Community!
- Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch
What's Included
- Pre-trip planning, customization, and consultation
- 3 nights lodging
- 4 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, and 3 Dinners
- Transportation throughout
- All services, tours, hikes, entrance, and excursion fees described in the itinerary
- Baggage handling throughout the adventure
- Services of local English-speaking, professional safari driver(s)/guide(s)
- Gear List
- Charter flight from Serengeti to Arusha
Not Included
- International airfare other than as described in the itinerary
- Passports and visas
- Immunization costs
- Travel and medical insurance
- Personal safari gear
- Optional excursions or deviations from the scheduled tour
- Meals or bottled beverages other than those specified in the itinerary
- Excess baggage charges
- Items of a personal nature: laundry, bottled beverages, incidentals, etc.
- Expenses incurred due to circumstances outside of WWTrek’s control
- Gratuities for safari driver(s)/guide(s)
- Tourism Taxes When Applicable
The World Wide Trekking Difference
Safari Vehicles
Our WWTrek Safari Vehicles are not only spacious– boasting 6 large bucket seats for Guests, but they also hold coolers to provide storage for food and beverages along your route. Electricity is also available along your safari so you don’t have to worry about missing out on any epic shots!
Charter Flight
Experience the Serengeti plains as you fly from Serengeti National Park back to Arusha on your final day. Flying from local airstrip to airstrip is a unique experience, so is witnessing the Serengeti from the sky!
PRIVATE Dinners
Enjoy private group dinners with your guide each night, where you can ask questions about what you’ve seen or the rich culture surrounding you. The meals that are being freshly prepared for you are bound to delight your taste buds.
National Parks & Conservation Areas
Adventure through National Parks, Conservation Areas, and wildlife havens throughout each day while spending every night in the comfort of a luxury lodge.
Adventure through the largest unbroken caldera in the world, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which is also home to the world’s most concentrated population of wildlife!
Trip Add-Ons
This safari is the perfect trek enhancement for anyone wanting to make the most of their trip to Africa. We recommend adding this to a trek up Kilimanjaro!
Human Outreach Project
OUR PLANET… HELPING OTHERS, CHANGING LIVES
Tanzania is a focal point of the Human Outreach Project. Our efforts in Tanzania are some of our most visited and utilized across our projects. We are proud to have an orphanage, two school lunch programs, and offer support to small businesses in the local region.
What Our Guests Say
Travel Notes
Best Time of Year to Visit
The best time for wildlife viewing is during the two dry seasons (June – October, and January-February). Animals head to the grasslands to feed and congregate around water sources, enticing predators to stake out the watering holes. If you’re lucky, a dramatic chase may develop. June and July are the best months to catch Serengeti’s Great Migration, a spectacular sight of over 2 million zebra and wildebeest traveling together.
If you’d like to avoid the crowds during the popular dry season, you will still find plenty of fascinating wildlife viewing during the wet season. The wildebeest calving season (January – February) is a great time to see young, which can also lead to predator action. The wet season also offers spectacular green scenery and a kaleidoscope of migratory birds.
Arrivals and Departures
This safari is most often done following a Kilimanjaro climb. This trip begins and ends in the Siha District of Tanzania, in East Africa. You will fly into and out of Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).
*Many guests prefer to leave after the scheduled itinerary to go on Safari, Gorilla Tracking, or to visit Zanzibar Island. We are happy to help you make these arrangements. Additional charges for transportation, lodging, meals, and activities will apply.
Recommended Flights
International airfares are not included in program pricing. When booking international travel, we recommend working with an experienced travel agent. One that World Wide Trekking is proud to coordinate with is Brian Mei from Eastern Travel. You can reach Brian directly by calling 801.792.1721 or by email at brian@easterntravel.com. Additional support is always available by calling the Eastern Travel Office at 801.466.8811 or by emailing Michelle at michelle@easterntravel.com.
The benefit of using a travel agent is in the event of itinerary changes, the travel agent will find the best flight connections, and land arrangements, for you. Though third-party travel websites are convenient, we do not recommend using them, due to instability in the itineraries. We also recommend that you protect your flight with travel insurance and a refundable ticket.
Our preferred flight route: Home airport – AMS – JRO (one direct flight daily on KLM airlines.) Although there are many flight options to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), flying through Amsterdam offers the best route.
We also recommend that you protect your flight with travel insurance and a refundable ticket. Contact AIG Travel Guard to get more information.
Travel Insurance
We recommend safeguarding your trip by purchasing travel insurance. World Wide Trekking has partnered with AIG Travel Insurance as our preferred travel insurance provider. For a price quote, or to purchase travel insurance, visit AIG Travel Guard.
Customs, Visas, Immigration
Before you arrive in Tanzania, you will be required to purchase a 12-month multiple-entry tourist visa for $100. Please keep your landing card (received in flight) and a pen handy for customs.
Contact G3 Global Services for more information on how to receive your visa before your arrival.
*Please be sure to have at least six months of validity on your passport. Most countries won’t allow travelers in their country unless their passport is expected to expire six months after the last day of travel. Make two copies of your passport, leave one at home, and bring the other with you to Tanzania. Ensure you provide a copy of your passport to WWTrek 90 days before your departure date.
Accommodations
At WWTrek we understand how much the fine details matter. We make every effort to impress and provide the small comforts that make a big difference. Find postcards and bottled water on your bed awaiting your arrival. All the lodges in our itineraries are chosen with care.
Luxury: Enjoy your stay in the best lodges Tanzania has to offer. These luxurious lodges offer amenities including internet, spa services, laundry, swimming pool, and fine dining.
Classic: Most equivalent to 4-star accommodations, these elegant lodges offer all the services and comforts to help you relax and rejuvenate along our exhilarating safari.
Wildlife: These carefully chosen lodges, though simple, live up to our high expectations. They offer all standard amenities and are clean, and comfortable.
Transportation
A World Wide Trekking representative will privately transport you from the airport to your lodge. We arrange all in-country transportation and ensure safe, comfortable, and private transportation for all of our travel needs. Enjoy both land cruisers and charter flights for the best safari viewing experience.
Meals
Proper nutrition plays a vital role in the success of all our adventures. We offer a flexible and accommodating yet flavorful and hearty dining experience shared together at the lodges. Enjoy buffet style breakfasts and banquet style lunches and dinners. The lodges provide two or more options during each course and beverages range from water and soda to beer.
*Please contact us if you have any special dietary needs or food restrictions. We can accommodate any special diets. We are happy to help!
Health and Safety
Our stringent commitment to safety means you have access to our medically certified guides before and throughout your trip. Our staff also carries emergency medical equipment such as a medical kit and satellite communicator.
In addition, we recommend visiting your local International Travel Clinic one month before your trip. Needed vaccinations include a current tetanus shot, annual influenza shot, Varicella, Typhoid, Hep A, Yellow Fever, and MMR.
For more information, feel free to contact us directly with any questions, at 801-943-0264. We can schedule a phone call with our medical advisor, Dr. Levy, to answer any specific questions regarding your personal needs. Visit our Trek Tips series on YouTube.
Gratuities
In many parts of the world, gratuities are given in appreciation for a job well done. Our guides will take care of tipping service personnel along the way so that you don’t have to think about it.
For any additional services outside of our itinerary, plan to tip 10% (transport, restaurants, baggage, lodges, etc). We will provide you with detailed tipping recommendations on your ‘Trip Detail’ site once you sign up.
At the trails end you will have the opportunity to contribute to a group tipping pool that will be presented to your WWTrekking guides and trekking staff as we say our goodbyes.
Currency Exchange
We recommend exchanging money at the airport as soon as you clear customs. We will offer additional exchange opportunities, but typically you will receive the best rates at the airport. Exchanging $100 should suit your needs for the trek and safari. We always recommend bringing $500 cash with you on your trip for incidentals.
Fitness and Nutrition
We provide a complimentary 6-week extensive fitness and nutrition program to help our guests prepare for their journey ahead. The program is tailored specifically for our trips and includes virtual 1 on 1 coaching sessions with our Fitness and Nutrition Specialist.
Gear List
General Information
Country
Tanzania is one of the world’s oldest inhabited regions. For three million years man has roamed its regions, savannas to mountains, carving out an existence from the African countryside. Drawn to exotic Africa, explorers have tried to tame her wildness to no avail. The story of Tanganyika, Tanzania, is one of unaltered wilds and progressive politics. “Kilimanjaro,” according to the President of Mozambique, Chissano, “carried the torch that liberated Africa.”
Population
49.25 million
Time Zone
Tanzania operates on East Africa Time Zone – UTC+03:00, putting it 8 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST) and 11 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time (PST).
Capital City
Dodoma, Tanzania
People
Tribes of Tanzania
Sukuma comprise the largest tribe with three million Tanzanians. Living in the northwestern area of Tanzania, they speak Bantu and are traditionally cattle herders and farmers of subsistence crops such as cassava.
Nywamwezi, also known as the “people of the moon,” are the second largest tribe in Tanzania. Similar to the Sukuma, they are also historically cattle herders, farmers, and Bantu speakers. Living in the northwest of Tanzania, near Lake Victoria, the tribe has about 1.5 million members.
Members of the third largest tribe of Tanzania reside on the south and eastern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru and Mosh. The Chaga speak Kichagga, a Niger-Congo language. They were one of the first tribes to convert to Christianity. Among the richest and most powerful people in Tanzania, they hold a strong sense of identity. Known for their advanced farming techniques, trade, and politics, they thrive as a successful tribe.
Descended from Persia, the Shirazi encompass the majority of the people of Zanzibar island. They speak Swahili and practice Sunni and Shia Islam.
Culture and Religion
Tanzanians bear a surprisingly strong national association, or ujamaa (family-hood). They rarely identify themselves by tribe upon an initial meeting. This collective attitude comes from the Julius Nyerere days and his push to unify over 120 tribes in a socialistic type society. This national mindset allows Tanzania a relatively peaceful existence with tribes coexisting. Christians and Muslims live side by side with minimal friction.
Currency
The official currency in Tanzania is the Tanzanian shilling abbreviated TZS. TZS replaced the East Africa shilling in 1966. Currency exchangers subdivide the shilling into 100 senti and it is written as x/y where x is the amount over one shilling and y is the senti. Due to the fluctuating exchange rates, we recommend searching online to find out the current rate.
