Masaï trek & Safari

8 days
From US$0 per person
Set off for Tanzania on a tailor-made trip combining safari, hiking and cultural discovery. Experience a Tanzanian adventure, reserved for travellers in search of exclusivity and authenticity, by walking the country's trails with the Masai on your trek to fabulous Lake Natron. Discover Africa's great wildlife on safari in the extraordinary Ngorongoro Crater. For travellers with more time on their hands, it's possible to extend the safari experience with a visit to the Serengeti Park.
  • Trek in Tanzania
    Trek in the Ngorongoro region ©Pajota Tanzania
  • Trekking with masaï
    Trekkeurs with the masaï ©Pajota Tanzania
  • Masai village in Tanzania
    Masai village ©Pajota Tanzania
  • Camp for trekkers in Tanzania
    Camp during the trekking ©Pajota Tanzania
  • View of the crater Ngorongoro
    The crater Ngorongoro ©Pajota Tanzania
  • Giraffes in Tarangire
    Giraffes in Tarangire ©Pajota Tanzania

Itinerary

  • Day 1

    Arrival at Kilimandjaro International Airport - Arusha

    Welcome at Kilimanjaro airport and transfer to Arusha for the night. Arusha is the administrative and industrial center of a region producing coffee, cotton, pyrethrum and sisal. Situated at an altitude of 1400m, at the foot of Mount Meru, it is the gateway to the northern parks. Depending on your flight arrival time, you'll have the opportunity to visit this small, very African town. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

  • Day 2

    Arusha - Tarangire National Park - Karatu

    Meet your Tanzanian team and drive to Tarangire Park. Numerous roadside villages accompany the first kilometers of your journey in Tanzania. Further on, tea and coffee plantations and lush vegetation give way to savannah dotted with acacias and baobabs as you enter the park. A day's safari in Tarangire National Park, considered one of the country's finest wildlife sanctuaries.
    Covering an area of, 2850 km2, it is renowned for its exceptional concentrations of animals. The park is home to species that are harder to locate and often impossible to find in other parks in northern Tanzania, such as the Gerenuk, lesser kudu, Oryx beisa, eland and the most sought-after antelope, greater kudu. In the hills dotted with umbrella acacias and baobabs, you'll come close to elephants, wildebeest and buffalo, among others, as they try to reach the river. The photo safari continues near swamps and waterholes to observe the great African fauna and the many migratory birds that have come to drink. At the end of the day, you leave the park for the town of karatu for the night.

  • Day 3

    Karatu - N'Gorongoro - Olmoti

    Early departure for a full-day safari inside the crater. At the top of the road that descends into the crater, you'll discover the panorama of the perfectly round caldera (formed by the explosion of the original volcano), home to just over 25,000 mammals in an area of 260km². Here you can observe almost all the Tanzanian fauna, with a good chance of spotting rhinoceros or the more timid serval. Half-day photo safari in the N'Gorongoro Crater, then transfer by car to the village of Nainokanoka. Meet your Masai guide. In the afternoon, you visit Olmoti Crater, a 2-hour walk. Camp at Olmoti.

  • Day 4

    Olmoti - Empakai

    This morning, you begin the trek in earnest, heading for the Empakai crater. You drive to Bulati, then begin the ascent on foot to the crater. Descend into the crater to observe the flora and fauna. Overnight camping on the crater ridge. Approx. 7 hours' walk in total.

  • Day 5

    Empakai - Naiyobi

    Loading the donkeys for the trek. You leave the vehicles behind and start walking towards the village of Naiyobi. Surrounded by traditional Bomas, you're right in the heart of Masai country. Magnificent views of the Rift Valley and the still-active Oldonyo Lengai volcano. Overnight camping in the heart of this timeless, arid region. Approx. 6 hours' walk.

  • Day 6

    Naiyobi - Lake Natron

    Departure for a magnificent descent to Lake Natron. After a 3-hour walk, you return to your vehicles. Settle in at the campsite near the village of Engare Sero. After lunch, you hike along a river, and bathe under a waterfall overhung by lush vegetation. At the end of the day, as the light fades, you discover the shores of Lake Natron, home to numerous pink flamingos. Overnight at the campsite. Approx. 5 hours' walk.

  • Day 7

    Lake Natron - Lake Manyara

    Early departure for Lake Manyara. Safari in this unique reserve. It's a veritable ornithological paradise, with some 380 species of birds, and in summer thousands of storks and flamingos. It's also a paradise for monkeys, who roam freely in the rainforest. There are also impalas, giraffes and, if you're lucky, tree-climbing lions. At the end of the day, you leave the park to return to your lodge in Manyara.

  • Day 8

    Lake Manyara - Kilimandjaro Airport

    A leisurely start to the morning as you pack your bags. After breakfast, depending on your return flight schedule, you'll discover the small town of Mtowembu and its market. Transfer back to Kilimanjaro Airport. On the way, stop for a picnic lunch and, if schedules permit, visit Arusha's big market before returning to the airport in the late afternoon. You can also plan an extension to the white sandy beaches of the island of Zanzibar or extend your safari with the Serengeti Park.

Prices

Price conditions for your safari in Tanzania

For prices, please contact us.

Price Per Person

Private 4x4
Based on 2 people : From US$
Based on 3 people : From US$
Based on 4 people : From US$
Based on 5 people : From US$

Children
4 to 12 years : US$ sharing with parents
13 to 15 years : US$

Single supplement : US$


Price Include

  • Transport in a private tour 4x4 with a pop-up roof
  • Unlimited kilometers
  • National parks entry fees
  • Drinking Water (refer below)
  • Hotel accommodation on Full Board basis sharing room (refer below)
  • Camping equipment and meals, except sleeping bag
  • Services of our professional English speaking driver guide
  • Cook
  • Maasai guide during the trek
  • Donkey transport of equipment during the trek

Not Included in the Price

  • Visa fee
  • International flight
  • Transfers were not applicable 
  • Travel and cancellation/medical insurance cover
  • Single Room (under single Supplement terms)
  • Beverages, Alcohol, Spirits
  • Reusable Water Bottle for refilling (Very Important)
  • Photographic fee with the local people
  • Eventual tips
  • Any items or expenses of personal nature
  • Any other items not mentioned in the inclusions
  • Optional hot-air balloon flight available






Travel info

Here is some practical information for your safari in Tanzania


Accommodation during your safari in Tanzania

Accommodation is in either twin or double rooms at carefully selected safari lodges. The lodges we use are all set in spectacular locations and provide delicious meals and comfortable, airy bedrooms. Here's a list of the accommodations we use on our trips. If they are fully booked, we will offer you similar accommodation.



Transport in safari

You will be travelling in one of our comfortable safaris 4x4 vehicles.  Each vehicle has a "pop top" roof to provide excellent views of the incredible wildlife.

Other Useful Information to travel in Tanzania

  • No plastic bags in to Tanzania
  • No plastic bottles in the Game Parks and Reserves
  • Carry your COVID Vaccination Certificate

Entry requirements to travel in Tanzania

  • Mandatory passport valid 6 months after your return date
  • An E-visa is required for your entry into Tanzania, you can apply on the website : https://visa.immigration.go.tz/
  • To date, it is still possible to apply for a visa directly on arrival at Zanzibar airport or Kilimandjaro airport or Dar es Salaam airport.
  • New conditions for entry to the island of Zanzibar, Published on 13/09/2024
The Zanzibar authorities have announced the introduction of compulsory travel insurance for anyone visiting the island from October 1, 2024. This insurance will be sold by the Zanzibar Insurance Company at a cost of $44 per person, and will be valid for 92 days. Its purchase will be compulsory, even for travelers who already have travel insurance. This insurance applies to Zanzibar only. It will not be required, or even valid, for travellers to mainland Tanzania (notably Kilimandjaro and the wildlife reserves). This is a sovereign decision by the Tanzanian authorities. You can take out this insurance:  https: //visitzanzibar.go.tz
  • Depending on your nationality, you'll need to check the entry requirements.

Sanitary conditions in Tanzania

  • Yellow fever
In principle, vaccination against yellow fever is only required for people arriving from a country where this fever is endemic(1), or for people who have spent more than 12 hours in transit through one of these countries. To avoid any inconvenience, we strongly recommend that you are up-to-date with your yellow fever vaccination and in possession of an international vaccination booklet.
(1) In Africa: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Congo (DRC), Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Uganda. South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela. As you will be arriving from Kenya, vaccination against yellow fever is compulsory.
  • Malaria
Protection against mosquito and fly bites is essential wherever mosquitoes and flies are present (up to 1500 metres, beyond which they are inactive). The reserves and national parks in the south (Selous, Ruaha, Mikumi) are on the plains, where the risk of vector-borne diseases is present. Altitude in northern parks and reserves (Serengeti, Tarangire, Manyara, Ngorongoro) varies between 1,000 and 3,500 metres, and preventive treatment should be adapted to the itinerary and duration of the safari in malaria-prone areas.
For stays in Zanzibar, the risk of malaria may be present in the town of Stonetown and throughout the island, although coastal hotel areas are regularly “de-mosquitoed” and the risk of vector-borne diseases is lower. Wherever malaria is likely to occur, preventive treatment should be prescribed: atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone or generic) or doxycycline. The absolute contraindication of mefloquine (Lariam) at altitude should be borne in mind, especially for travellers planning to climb Kilimanjaro. As other diseases can be transmitted by mosquitoes (yellow fever, dengue fever, chikungunya, zika) and, more exceptionally, by tsetse flies (sleeping sickness), taking preventive treatment for malaria does not exempt you from using skin and clothing repellents.
As far as prophylactic medication is concerned, you should contact your GP or a hospital specialising in travel medicine before you leave. During your stay, and for two months after your return, in the event of fever, medical advice should be sought systematically and rapidly, in order to start anti-malarial treatment as soon as possible.

Before you travel to Tanzania, it's important to :
  • Consult your GP or an International Vaccination Centre to assess your state of health and receive health recommendations, particularly concerning vaccinations
  • Set up a personal pharmacy

Climate

  • Main Land
Situated close to the equator, Tanzania has a pleasant climate, with temperatures that vary little and seasons that are the opposite of those in Europe.
Tanzania has two main seasons. The first, known as the dry season, which corresponds to winter, runs from June to October. After this dry period, summer runs from November to May, with a short rainy season in November and December and then the main rainy season from mid-March to May. This leaves an interesting travel window from late December to late February.
In Tanzania, temperatures are highest in December, January and February. Beware, however, of variations according to Tanzania's geographical zones. A distinction must be made between the coast, with its equatorial climate, and the plateaus and inland areas, except for Kilimanjaro. During this period, the southern and eastern slopes of the Ngorongoro Crater receive the most rainfall. During the austral winter, the crater gets cold, especially at night.
  • Zanzibar
Zanzibar has an equatorial climate, with prevailing winds coming from the Indian Ocean. The hottest month of the year in Zanzibar is February, while August sees the lowest temperatures. Heavy rains in Zanzibar are concentrated in April and May, with a few light showers from late October to late November. The driest period is therefore from June to October, but a few squalls are always possible.
  • Kilimandjaro
It's difficult to speak of a standard climate for Kilimanjaro, as climatic conditions vary according to the mountain's slopes. Temperatures are mildest at the foot of Kilimanjaro, with an average temperature of around 24°C. As altitude increases, the temperature drops to an average of 4/5°C at 4,000 m, and finally to -7/-9°C at the summit. It's in the zone between 4000 and 5000 m that temperatures can change dramatically, with variations of over 30°C between day and night. Kilimanjaro is exposed to a dry season, particularly pronounced from mid-June to mid-October, and another hot, dry period from early December to late February. The average temperatures below correspond to the Serengeti region during the day, with nighttime temperatures rarely below 12°.

What to Pack for your safari in Tanzania

  • Good quality sandals
  • Good quality light walking shoes
  • Casual shoes for evenings
  • Light boots for your own comfort in the evening
  • Practical safari jacket
  • Fleece jacket T-shirts
  • Short and long sleeve shirts or blouses
  • Shorts and long casual trousers
  • Enough underwear, socks and hankies
  • Bathing suit-Toiletries, lip balm and scarves
  • Swimsuit 
  • Miniature wet towel and Kleenex (enough)
  • Small backpack 
  • Small reusable water bottle
  • Small flashlight or headlamp
  • Good quality sunglasses
  • Safari hat or cap
  • Personal medication
  • Important Quality mosquito/insect repellent (for body)
  • Quality sun blocker cream/sunscreen
  • Binocular and Guidebooks
  • Camera with extra battery and memory card













Strengths

  • An authentic trip in Masai country
  • A sporting experience in less-visited parts of the country
  • Lakes Natron and Manyara, two ornithological paradises
  • A cultural approach to the Masai people
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