8 Days Tanzania Simba Luxury Safari

Tanzania gets serious about wildlife. This eight-day private safari links Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Olduvai Gorge, and Ngorongoro Crater in one well-packed circuit from Arusha. I like the full day in Serengeti, where two game drives give you a better chance to see predators at work, and I like the practical extras, including binoculars, a field guide, park fees, and emergency evacuation insurance.

The main consideration is pace. Several driving days run about 10 hours, and you change parks and camps often. The listed price of $5,359 per person covers a lot, but you still need to budget for flights, visas, drinks, tips, and travel insurance.

Key points at a glance

• A strong northern Tanzania route: Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Olduvai Gorge, and Ngorongoro all appear in one trip.
• Two Serengeti nights: You get an afternoon game drive on arrival, then a full day with sunrise, morning, and afternoon wildlife viewing.
• Private touring: Only your own group participates, with an English-speaking guide in a 4×4 vehicle fitted with a pop-up roof.
• Birding receives proper attention: A field guide book and binoculars are included, and guide Geofrey Bosco was especially praised for his bird knowledge.
• Full-board planning: Seven breakfasts, six lunches, and seven dinners are included, along with listed lodge and tented-camp stays.
• Good value for a bundled safari: Park fees, government taxes, emergency evacuation insurance, water, and unlimited vehicle mileage are included.

What this eight-day safari is really like

This is a classic northern Tanzania wildlife circuit. You begin and end around Arusha, then move through several parks with very different character. Tarangire brings elephants and baobabs, Lake Manyara adds birds and a Rift Valley setting, Serengeti supplies the big predator drama, and Ngorongoro gives you a concentrated final wildlife day.

You should think of this as an active safari, not a slow lodge holiday. The itinerary uses long road days to connect the parks, with most major touring days listed at roughly 10 hours. That sounds tiring because it is, but it also gives you access to several of Tanzania’s best-known wildlife areas without adding domestic flights between them.

The private format helps. You are not joining a large bus group, so your own party can travel together and speak directly with the guide about timing and wildlife interests. The vehicle has a pop-up roof for game viewing, an essential feature when you want a higher view across grassland or a clear look at animals nearby.

Arusha arrival: an easy first night

Your safari begins with pickup from Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport. A transfer driver takes you to your chosen Arusha accommodation, with listed options including Fune Retreat Resort, The Africa Tulip Hotel, and SG Hotel & Spa.

The first afternoon is intentionally light. You can rest or use the pool, then meet the operations team for an equipment check and safari briefing. This is a smart use of arrival day. Instead of pushing straight into a national park after an international flight, you have time to sort luggage, ask questions, and learn what the next week will involve.

The itinerary gives an approximate two-hour block for this first stop, but airport arrival time will shape the day. Confirm your exact airport transfer arrangements when booking, since post-accommodation and airport transfers are listed as available on request in the exclusions, despite transfers appearing in the day-by-day plan.

Tarangire: elephants beneath the baobabs

On day two, you leave Arusha in the morning for Tarangire National Park. The drive and afternoon game drive together make this a long day, but Tarangire gives you a fine first taste of safari country.

The park is known for huge baobab trees and large elephant herds. During dry periods, elephants may search for water in dry riverbeds, while wildebeest, zebra, and buffalo gather near shrinking lagoons. The open, sparse vegetation can make animal spotting easier than in thicker woodland.

You receive a picnic lunch during the game drive, so there is no need to return to a lodge in the middle of the day. That keeps more time available for wildlife viewing, though it also means you should be prepared for a full day in the vehicle.

The listed overnight choices include Tarangire Ndovu Tented Lodge, Tarangire Tortilis Camp, and Burunge Tented Lodge. Exact accommodation matters at this price, so ask which property applies to your dates. The phrase luxury safari can cover several levels of tented lodging, and these names do not all describe an identical stay.

Lake Manyara: birds, water, and a famous lion story

Day three moves to Lake Manyara National Park, set within the Great Rift Valley. The park is smaller than Serengeti, but it offers a very different setting, with the soda-ash lake and woodland areas creating a change of pace after Tarangire.

Lake Manyara is famous for tree-climbing lions. Seeing one is never guaranteed, so treat the lions as a special possibility rather than a promise. The park is also a strong stop for birdwatching, with more than 400 species recorded, including waterfowl and migrant birds.

The supplied binoculars and bird field guide are particularly useful here. This is where a guide who pays attention to birds can add a great deal to the day. Geofrey Bosco received especially warm praise for his bird knowledge, and that detail matters if you care about more than the Big Five.

The overnight options include Manyara Tortilis Camp, Ndovu Tented Lodge, and Burunge Tented Lodge. Again, confirm the exact property and location. A 10-hour touring day followed by a camp change is manageable, but you will appreciate keeping evening plans simple.

Serengeti: allow two nights for the best chance

Day four takes you to Serengeti National Park after breakfast. The Serengeti is the emotional center of this safari, with wide plains and a long list of possible wildlife: lions, cheetahs, leopards, wildebeest, zebra, and many other animals.

The afternoon game drive gives you an initial look at the park. You may see animals quickly, or you may spend time searching. Safari viewing is not a checklist, and the open country can make sightings feel wonderfully expansive, but wildlife still follows its own schedule.

I particularly like the decision to spend two nights here. One afternoon drive is not enough for a park of this scale. Your overnight choices include Serengeti Safari Lodge, Mara Kati Kati Tented Camp, and Serengeti Tortilis Camp.

Day five is the strongest wildlife day of the trip. You leave early for a sunrise game drive, then return for lunch before another afternoon drive. Early hours can be useful for spotting lions and other predators during morning activity, while the second outing gives you another chance to find animals missed earlier.

This full-day structure is one of the best reasons to consider the tour. You are not simply passing through Serengeti on the way to somewhere else. You have time to settle into the rhythm of scanning, stopping, waiting, and watching.

The tradeoff is physical. Two game drives in one day can mean many hours on rough roads, and the schedule remains active. If you prefer leisurely mornings and long afternoons at a lodge, this program may feel too tightly timed.

Olduvai Gorge: a human story between game drives

On day six, you take an early morning game drive before leaving Serengeti for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The route includes a stop at Olduvai Gorge Museum, where the Leakeys discovered the skulls known as Nutcracker Man and Handy Man, important pieces in the study of human evolution.

This stop gives the safari a welcome change of subject. You are not only looking for animals. You are also connecting the parks with the long human story of the area.

The stop is built into another long day, so do not expect a leisurely museum visit unless the schedule allows it. Late afternoon brings you to your Ngorongoro-area lodge or camp. Listed options include Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge, Ngorongoro Tortilis Camp, Ngorongoro Farm House, and Ngorongoro Wild Camp.

Dinner and overnight accommodation are included on a half-board basis at this point in the itinerary. Since the package describes the whole trip as full board, confirm exactly which meals are provided at each property, especially if the accommodation changes.

Ngorongoro Crater: a concentrated final wildlife day

Day seven starts early, with a descent of more than 600 meters into Ngorongoro Crater. The crater has a year-round water supply and food sources, supporting wildebeest, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo, and giant African elephants.

The crater is valuable because wildlife viewing can feel concentrated. You may spend less time driving between separate areas than you would on the broad Serengeti plains. That does not guarantee every animal, but it gives the day a strong chance of varied sightings.

The crater visit is also a busy one. After the early breakfast and game drive, you transfer back to Arusha for dinner and overnight lodging. The return options again include Fune Retreat Resort, The Africa Tulip Hotel, and SG Hotel & Spa.

That final drive means day seven is not a quiet finish. You get one more major wildlife experience, then a long transfer. For many people, the tradeoff is worthwhile. You finish with Ngorongoro rather than using the last day only for airport transport.

The final transfer and onward travel

After breakfast on day eight, a Kim’zebra Adventures & Safaris representative transfers you to Arusha Airport or Kilimanjaro International Airport. The program also mentions onward flights to Zanzibar or Dar es Salaam, plus optional short extensions such as a Zanzibar excursion or an Arusha or Moshi day trip.

You should provide those onward plans when booking. Airport and post-accommodation transfers are not included in the listed price unless arranged, so clarify who is responsible for each transfer and what it costs.

What the $5,359 price covers

At $5,359 per person, this is not a budget safari. Its value depends on how much of the included package you would otherwise need to arrange separately.

The package includes:

• Park fees
• Emergency evacuation insurance
• Unlimited mileage in a 4×4 safari vehicle
• Pop-up roof for game viewing
• English-speaking guide
• Full-board accommodation as listed
• Bird and animal field guide book
• A pair of binoculars
• Government taxes
• 1,500 milliliters of drinking water per day

It also includes seven breakfasts, six lunches, and seven dinners. That covers the basic food plan for the eight days, although you should confirm the meal arrangement at each specific camp.

The value is strongest for someone who wants one company to organize the route, vehicle, guide, park access, and accommodation. Unlimited mileage is useful because wildlife sightings can require patience and repositioning. You are not paying a driver to rush you back because the vehicle has reached a mileage limit.

The price does not include international or domestic flights, visas, cameras and other personal items, alcoholic drinks, tips, or travel insurance. Airport and post-accommodation transfers may also cost extra. Group discounts are offered, so larger private parties should ask for a written quote rather than assume the advertised per-person figure is final.

The guide and the small details that matter

The guide can shape your safari more than the name of the lodge. Geofrey Bosco was praised for spotting many kinds of wildlife and for exceptional bird knowledge. The description also presents him as interesting and fun to spend time with, qualities that matter when you share a vehicle for long hours.

Ask about your guide when you confirm the booking, especially if birds are a major interest. The included field guide and binoculars are useful touches, and they signal that the trip is not limited to chasing the Big Five.

The company also presents itself as a local business supporting jobs and community development projects. That may matter to you if you prefer booking with a Tanzania-based operator. Ask for current details about those projects if responsible tourism is part of your decision.

Who should book this safari?

I would recommend this trip to you if you want a private, wildlife-first introduction to northern Tanzania and you value having the major arrangements bundled together. It works especially well for first-time safari visitors who want Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro in one route.

It is also a good fit for people who enjoy variety. The program includes elephants, big cats, birds, crater wildlife, baobabs, a human-evolution museum, and several distinct park settings.

I would hesitate if you dislike long drives, frequent accommodation changes, or early starts. You should also look closely at the exact lodging before paying. The accommodation list includes several alternatives, and the comfort level may differ from one property to another.

Cancellation is flexible only up to three full days before the start time. After that, the payment is not refunded, and late changes are not accepted. Poor weather or failure to meet the minimum number of participants can lead to a new date, another experience, or a full refund.

Should you book the Simba Luxury Safari?

Book it if you want a private, carefully connected safari with two nights in Serengeti, a full Ngorongoro day, and practical inclusions such as park fees, water, binoculars, and emergency evacuation insurance. The strongest feature is the route itself, which gives you several major wildlife areas without sacrificing a full day in Serengeti.

Before booking, confirm the exact camps, airport transfer costs, guide assignment, group discount, and meal plan. If those details match your expectations, the $5,359 price can make sense for a well-supported northern Tanzania safari. If you want slower days or more predictable luxury, ask for a customized itinerary instead.

FAQ

How long is the Tanzania Simba Luxury Safari?

The safari lasts approximately eight days, beginning and ending in the Arusha area.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

Which national parks are included?

The route includes Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, including Ngorongoro Crater.

Is Olduvai Gorge included?

Yes. Day six includes a stop at the Olduvai Gorge Museum, and admission is included.

Are park fees included in the price?

Yes. All park fees and government taxes are included.

Are flights included?

No. International and domestic flights are not included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least three full days before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than three full days in advance are not refunded.