Iconic Tanzania & Maasai Trekking

Tanzania’s most iconic destinations combined with Maasai trekking

This Northern Tanzania vehicle & trekking safari visits Tanzania's world-famous parks while offering an in-depth look at Maasai life in Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Lake Natron.

Duration: 12 Days

Season Range: Year round

Price Guide: Starting from $5,500

Accommodations: adventure camping, tented camp, lodge

Highlights: Big five, Migration viewing, Maasai, Oldoinyo Lengai, Lake Natron, Rift Valley trekking

A large herd of wildebeest gathered at the edge of a riverbank in a grassy savanna landscape, with a crocodile partially submerged in the water below.

Group of four people posing outdoors at sunset with safari vehicles in the background.

Hot air balloon burner igniting at night, with a large flame shooting out horizontally.

A cheetah resting on a large rock under a tree.

Lion family in a grassy area with a lioness and lion lying near two lion cubs playing.

A group of people smiling, standing outdoors near a safari vehicle in a grassy landscape.

A herd of wildebeests crossing a river with a hippopotamus standing on rocks. The scene includes flowing water and grassy riverbanks.

African fish eagle perched on a bush in a savanna landscape

A lion with its mouth open, surrounded by foliage, with part of a zebra visible beneath.

A lion partially hidden behind bushes, with a zebra carcass in the foreground.

Two lion cubs playing on grass in a natural setting.

Two lion cubs playing in tall grass and greenery.

Lion in dense green foliage looking to the right.

Zebra on grassy plain with tree against distant hills

A waterbuck standing in a grassy area with bushes and trees in the background.

Group of vultures on grassland with wings spread open.

A hummingbird perched on a branch near orange flowers, surrounded by green foliage.

A hyena walking on a dry, muddy landscape with sparse vegetation, under a vast, cloudy sky. Background shows a distant antelope and hills.

Herd of wildebeests grazing in a grassy field with trees in the background.

Close-up of an elephant's face with tusks and muddy skin in a natural setting.

Milky Way galaxy in starry night sky above a tree on a plain landscape

Two zebras standing in a field, with blurred background of grass and other animals.

Vulture perched on a rock against a clear blue sky

Lioness drinking water from a pond in a grassy area.

A hippopotamus submerged in a grassy waterhole with a white bird perched on its back.

A herd of wildebeests migrating, moving across rocky terrain, with dust in the air.

Large herd of wildebeests on grassy plains with scattered trees.

Eland antelope standing on grassy savanna with trees in background.

Large herd of wildebeests migrating across a riverbank with dust in the air and greenery in the background.

Herd of wildebeest and zebras crossing a river during migration.

Cheetah climbing down a tree with blue sky background

A lion cub standing on an adult male lion in a grassy area.

Elephants and wildebeests in African savanna during sunset.

Two cheetahs resting by a tree on grass, one yawning with mouth open, the other sitting facing away.

Massive herd of wildebeest crossing a river during migration, creating a dusty and chaotic scene with splashing water.

Detailed Itinerary

Meet your Duma Explorer guide at 9 AM, and depart for Tarangire National Park. The drive to Tarangire is approximately two hours. After reaching Tarangire, proceed on a game drive for the rest of the day, with a picnic lunch in the park. Tarangire is famous for its large elephant population, scenery, and diversity of birdlife. At approximately 6 PM, reach your tented camp nestled in one of the park's quieter environments. Tarangire's wildlife includes elephant, lion, giraffe, and many bird and antelope species.
Full day in Tarangire National Park with game drives and additional options for night game drives and walking safaris.
Depart Tarangire after breakfast for a morning game drive as you exit the park.
Proceed to Ngorongoro Conservation Area for an Ngorongoro Crater game drive. After the game drive, exit and proceed to your overnight accommodations on the eastern side of the Crater.
Often called the eighth wonder of the world, Ngorongoro Crater is the largest unbroken caldera in the world, and is one of the only places in Africa you can view every member of the "big five" (rhinoceros, lion, cape buffalo, leopard, and elephant) on a single game drive.
Begin your trekking safari. Start with a 15-kilometer hike around Lake Empakaai in the Ngorongoro Highlands. This is a beautiful hike at approximately 3000 meters above sea level. The hike can easily be added to any safari package that includes Ngorongoro Crater.
The lake hike starts with a 300 meter descent into the collapsed caldera. The hike around the lake is flat, and you view flamingos, geese, baboons and other wildlife as you make your way around the lake. Finish the trek with an ascent up the Crater wall, and continue your trip to the Maasai village of Naiyobi.
On this day, hike another 15km from Empakai Camp to Acacia Camp. After following the dirt road for several kilometers around the Empakai Crater Rim, descend into Nayobi Village, reaching the end of the road and the last village inside Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
This village was evacuated during the 2008 Oldoinyo Lengai eruption as the wind blows over this area from Lake Natron, carrying ash.
Hike through Nayobi Village and exit Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Walk through acacia woodland and maize fields, following livestock trails until reaching the campsite. Enjoy a Maasai bonfire and if you are up for it, a traditional Maasai goat roast.
The Maasai teach you how to start a fire with sticks and dung. Be sure to look up! The night sky is amazing from this location!
Hike 8km down the Rift Valley Escarpment into Lake Natron. This hike is full of dramatic scenery as you hike on top of the escarpment before making a quick descent into Lake Natron. For most of the hike you have views of Oldoinyo Lengai to the right.
The temperature rises quickly as you descend into Natron, and it is best to start the hike as early as possible to avoid hiking during the middle of the day.
The vehicle meets you at the start of the Natron road, after you have hiked all the way down the escarpment. Once you meet the vehicle, say goodbye to the Maasai guides and donkeys and make your way to Lake Natron Camp for dinner and overnight. For those climbing Oldoinyo Lengai, rest early as the climb begins at 1am.
Overnight at the beautiful Lake Natron Camp.
Oldoinyo Lengai is the world's only active volcano to erupt carbonatitic lava, a lava that is rich in sodium, potassium, and calcium carbonate, but low in silica. Lava with less silica has a lower viscosity, causing Lengai to have some of the fastest flowing lava in the world.
Known as East Africa's hardest 1-day trek, the Lengai climb is extremely steep. The few who make it to the summit are rewarded with the views and sounds of the volcano's active lava. The lava cones change regularly, so each visit to the summit is different.
At 1am, the trek starts as you drive from your hotel to the base of the mountain. Climb 1650 vertical meters (5419 feet) for 4 - 6 hours before reaching the summit at 2960 meters (9711 feet). Natron is hot during the day, so the hike up must be completed at night. The trek gets harder as you ascend, and a good part of the climb requires climbing up on your hands and knees. The descent is just as hard as the ascent, as you have to sit and scramble down the mountain in many places. It is also scary as you can see how steep the slope is unlike when you climb the mountain in the dark.
Return to Lake Natron Camp after the trek for lunch and a rest. At 3pm, walk to the hominoid footprints and have a sundowner on a nearby hilltop. Celebrate a grueling climb up Oldoinyo Lengai.
After breakfast, drive to the Ngare Sero Waterfalls trailhead. Hike through Ngare Sero Gorge following the river until you reach the first waterfall. There are actually three waterfalls during the hike, two of which are suitable for swimming.
Cross the river several times during this hike and hike along rocks. It is best to hike in water shoes or tennis shoes (removing your tennis shoes when crossing the river).
The first waterfall has a pool for swimming and it is possible to stand underneath the falls and to slide down the rocks. Follow a shallow water channel to a second, more powerful waterfall. Swim in the channel and enjoy the sounds of pounding water before returning to the first waterfall and hiking out.
After the waterfall hike, depart for Serengeti National Park. The new tarmac on part of this road has made the travel to Serengeti much faster. Start your Serengeti safari in the northern section of the park, where the wildebeest migration crosses the Mara River from July through October.
Spend a full day on game drives in the Northern Serengeti.
Spend a full day viewing wildlife in the Northern and Central Serengeti. Known for its healthy cat populations, Central Serengeti is perhaps the best place in the world to view large cats.
Spend a final full day in the Central Serengeti.
Morning game drive on your way to Seronera Airstrip. Take the 11am flight to Arusha, or continue on to Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar or other East African destinations.

Duma Client Experiences

“Can't-miss Tanzania trip”
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“This was a trip of a lifetime, which I took at the end of a 3- year job living in Dar es Salaam. It was the perfect way to say goodbye to a country I love. The geography of descending out of the Ngorongoro Highlands into the Great Rift Valley is indescribable. You feel so profoundly connected with the landscape. Walking by foot gives you a deep appreciation of the environment, but Duma Explorers takes care of all the creature comforts with running the campsite. Can't recommend more highly!” Read more
Chaggard, December 2020