This itinerary focuses on maximizing photographic opportunities across Tanzania’s rich wildlife areas, including Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire National Park. Your days will be spent in the field during the golden hours of dawn and dusk, with expert guides who understand the needs of photographers.
Day 1: Arrival in Arusha
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha, where you will be greeted by your guide and transferred to your hotel.
After check-in and some rest, you’ll have an introductory briefing about the photography safari and tips on camera settings and equipment handling for the days ahead.
Spend the evening preparing your gear and resting after the long flight.
Overnight at a boutique hotel in Arusha.
Day 2: Arusha – Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, depart for Tarangire National Park, known for its massive elephant herds and ancient baobab trees, both of which make striking photographic subjects.
Arrive mid-morning and immediately start with a game drive as you make your way to the lodge.
Spend the afternoon capturing images of elephants in the golden light, framed by towering baobabs and the wide savannah landscape.
Tarangire also offers opportunities to photograph giraffes, buffaloes, lions, and a variety of birds.
After an exciting day of photography, return to your lodge to review your shots and discuss photography techniques with your guide.
Overnight at a tented lodge within Tarangire.
Day 3: Full Day in Tarangire National Park
Early morning game drive to capture the animals during their most active hours in the soft light of dawn. Focus on creating powerful compositions of elephants and other wildlife interacting with the park’s iconic baobab trees.
After breakfast, you’ll have the option of focusing on specific subjects, such as bird photography (Tarangire is home to more than 500 bird species) or tracking predators like lions and leopards.
Enjoy lunch at a scenic picnic spot within the park.
In the late afternoon, another game drive offers a second chance to capture the warm hues of sunset. Photograph herds of zebras and wildebeest, and keep an eye out for nocturnal animals beginning to stir.
Overnight at your lodge, where you can exchange tips with other photographers and review the day’s captures.
Day 4: Tarangire – Ngorongoro Conservation Area
After breakfast, drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, passing through Maasai villages and the scenic highlands along the way.
Stop at a viewpoint overlooking the expansive Ngorongoro Crater, where the sweeping views offer an opportunity for stunning landscape photography.
Arrive at your lodge on the crater rim for lunch, with breathtaking panoramic views of the caldera below.
In the late afternoon, take a short photography walk around the lodge to capture the changing light and atmospheric conditions as the sun sets over the crater.
Overnight on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater.
Day 5: Full Day Ngorongoro Crater Photography
Early morning descent into the Ngorongoro Crater, one of the best places in Africa for wildlife photography due to its high density of animals within a relatively small area.
Photograph the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino) against the backdrop of the crater walls. The flat plains and diversity of habitats provide countless opportunities for unique compositions.
Your guide will position the vehicle to allow you the best angles and lighting for each subject, whether it’s a lion pride lounging in the morning light or flamingos reflected in the soda lakes.
Enjoy a packed lunch by a hippo pool, where you can capture shots of hippos interacting in the water.
In the late afternoon, ascend to the crater rim, with opportunities to photograph animals at sunset.
Return to the lodge for dinner and photography discussions with your guide.
Overnight at the crater rim.
Day 6: Ngorongoro – Central Serengeti (Seronera Region)
After breakfast, drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area en route to Serengeti National Park. This journey offers stunning photographic opportunities of Maasai homesteads, rolling hills, and the vast savannah as you enter the Serengeti plains.
Arrive in the Seronera region of the Serengeti in time for an afternoon game drive. This central area is rich in wildlife and is an ideal location to capture predators like lions, cheetahs, and leopards.
Spend the late afternoon photographing lions perched on kopjes (rock outcrops) or cheetahs stalking prey across the plains.
Return to your camp or lodge in the evening for dinner.
Overnight at a tented camp in central Serengeti.
Day 7: Full Day Serengeti Photography
Today is dedicated to exploring the Serengeti, with a focus on predator-prey interactions and large herds of herbivores.
Begin the day with a sunrise game drive to capture predators on the move. Your guide will position the vehicle to make the most of the golden light as it illuminates lions, cheetahs, or leopards hunting or resting.
Late morning can be spent focusing on close-ups of smaller details: birds, insects, or the unique patterns of zebras and giraffes.
After lunch, visit the Seronera River, where you can photograph wildlife coming to drink, including elephants and antelope.
An evening game drive allows you to capture dramatic skies and silhouettes of acacia trees against the Serengeti sunset.
Optional: A hot air balloon ride at dawn offers the chance to photograph the Serengeti from above, giving you sweeping panoramic shots of the endless plains.
Overnight at your camp or lodge in central Serengeti.
Day 8: Serengeti – Northern Serengeti (Mara River Area)
After an early morning game drive in the Serengeti, head to the nearest airstrip for a flight to Zanzibar.
Upon arrival at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in Zanzibar, you will be transferred to your hotel in Stone Town, the historical heart of Zanzibar.
Spend the afternoon exploring the narrow streets and bustling markets of Stone Town, which offers a blend of Arab, Indian, and European architectural influences.
Visit notable landmarks such as the House of Wonders, Freddie Mercury House, and the Old Slave Market.
Dinner at a local restaurant offering a fusion of Swahili and Zanzibari flavors.
Overnight at a hotel in Stone Town.
Day 9: Full Day Mara River Crossings
Spend the entire day tracking the Great Migration along the Mara River. Your guide will position you to capture the river crossings, where wildebeest and zebras face the peril of crocodiles as they navigate the dangerous waters.
This area is also a haven for predators, including lions and leopards, which provides excellent opportunities to photograph them stalking or hunting.
Take time to capture the dynamics of herd behavior and the interactions between predators and prey, all framed against the stunning backdrop of the northern Serengeti.
Enjoy a packed lunch by the river, giving you the flexibility to stay close to the action.
Continue photographing the herds in the soft light of late afternoon.
Overnight at your camp in the northern Serengeti.
Day 10: Serengeti – Return to Arusha and Departure
After a final early morning game drive in the northern Serengeti, take a flight back to Arusha.
Upon arrival, you’ll have time to relax at a day room in a hotel or do some shopping for local crafts and souvenirs.
Depending on your flight schedule, transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your departure flight, concluding your wildlife photography adventure in Tanzania.
Key Highlights of This Combined Safari and Zanzibar Tour:
Expert Guides: Your guides are experienced in both wildlife and photography, ensuring you get the best angles and lighting.
Customized Vehicles: The safari vehicles are outfitted for photographers with large windows and roof hatches for unobstructed shooting.
Golden Hour Focus: Early morning and late afternoon game drives to capture the best light.
Small Groups: Limited to 4-6 participants per vehicle to ensure plenty of space and flexibility.
Varied Landscapes: From the baobabs of Tarangire to the open plains of the Serengeti, each location offers unique photography challenges and rewards.
Tour Includes
Safari according to the itinerary and Accommodation Prices.
Transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle – 6/7-Seater
Extended Luxury Vehicle
Professional English Speaking Guide
Meals according to the itinerary in Full Board Basis.
Mineral water
Accommodation before safari
All mentioned activities.
All national park fees and Entry Fees.
Airport Transfers.
Well maintained Camping equipment (For Budget camping safari).
Tour Excludes
Optional activities.
International flights
Travel insurance
Visa and passport fees
Alcoholic and soft drinks
Personal spending money for souvenirs etc.
Tips to Driver/Guide
Accommodation after Safari (available on request)
Book your Itinerary here
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Join us for the adventure of a lifetime, and let Kiloki tours and safaris be your guide to the wonders of Tanzania!
