Tanzania | Photography Safari with Emily Carter

Depart the U.S. on your flight to Tanzania.

Upon arrival at the Kilimanjaro International Airport, proceed through Immigrations, Baggage Claim and Customs before exiting the secured area of the airport. A Holbrook representative will be waiting outside the exit door with a Holbrook sign to assist with your transfer to your hotel. Depending upon arrival time, enjoy the remainder of the afternoon and evening at this beautiful property.

Spend today exploring Arusha National Park. We make our first stop at the ranger post, where we'll receive an introduction to the park and its history. Learn about a section of the park known as "Little Serengeti," as well as nearby Mt. Meru, Africa's fourth highest mountain. Depart from the ranger post for a walk in the foothills of Mt. Meru accompanied by an armed ranger. Pass through Buffalo Swamp and arrive at a lookout point with views of the park and impressive Mt. Kilimanjaro in the distance. Continue to a waterfall and then open grasslands dotted with giraffes, warthogs, antelopes, flamingos, and a variety of other bird species. Set out into a wooded area in search of colobus monkeys before returning to the ranger post. A boxed lunch will be provided in the park. Return to the lodge in the late afternoon.

After breakfast, head to Tarangire National Park. As you enter the park your game drive will begin. Tarangire National Park is home to the greatest concentration of elephants in Africa. The Tarangire River snakes through the park, and as it's the area's only permanent river, wildlife travel long distances to reach it. The 1,096 square miles of protected lands are home to a large variety of game, such as wildebeests, elephants, zebras, gazelles, elands, gerenuks, lions and leopards. Extensive grasslands, dotted with the occasional acacia or baobab tree, provide the optimum conditions for viewing wild animals. Bird enthusiasts will have the opportunity to see more than 500 avian species, including Yellow-collared Lovebirds, Rufous-tailed Weavers, Ashy Starlings, Stocking-thighed Ostriches, and Kori Bustards. In the afternoon arrive at Tarangire Sopa and enjoy lunch. Built to blend in with the vastness of its surroundings, Tarangire Sopa Lodge lies hidden among the kopjes and ancient baobabs of the park. Many elephants can be seen around the lodge, allowing visitors a close encounter. After lunch, you will have time to relax before a late afternoon game drive.

Spend another day in Tarangire National Park.

Enjoy a leisurely morning around the lodge, travel to Ngorongoro Crater. Have the afternoon for photography on the grounds and to catch the sunset.

After an early breakfast, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater. A World Heritage Site and often called the 8th Wonder of the World, Ngorongoro is a sunken caldera, 10 by 12 miles in diameter. Animals are found throughout the year due to the permanent availability of grass and water. Ngorongoro is one of the most spectacular game haunts in Africa, and contains an impressive variety of wildlife including black mane lion, the highly endangered black rhino, herds of wildebeest, zebra, elephant, and hippo, as well as numerous bird species. You'll have a bush lunch at the crater to make the most of your day, not returning to your lodge until late afternoon.

Check out and drive to Southern Serengeti for a wildlife-viewing drive. Serengeti is Tanzania's first national park and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site where up to two million wildebeest famously migrate each year. The park's high concentration of wildlife also includes the Big Five (lions, leopards, elephants, black rhinos, and buffalos), as well as cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, gazelles, monkeys, and over 500 bird species. Later, we continue on to Central Serengeti to spend the night at our semi-permanent camp.

Early in the morning, we head out for our first wildlife-viewing drive of the day in Central Serengeti. Our safari experience will include breakfast out in the field. We return to camp late in the morning. After lunch at the camp, enjoy some free time to rest and relax before heading out for our mid-afternoon wildlife-viewing drive. Before dinner, we will gather around the campfire and have a discussion with our group leader about the Great Migration.

Today you'll have morning and afternoon game drives, exploring the Central area of the Serengeti near Seronera River, which provides an important water source, and therefore attracts a lot of wildlife. This area is the best for hippos, crocs and other carnivores, elephants, and giraffes, to name a few. For those who would like, an optional hot air balloon safari is available today (at additional cost of $650; prior reservations required).

This morning you will be transferred to the local airstrip for your flight to Arusha, arriving at 12:00 pm. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to Mt. Meru Hotel for lunch and dayroom, where you will have time to relax, and prepare for your International flights home. Check out from the hotel is at 6:00 pm. Evening transfer to the Kilimanjaro International Airport.

Welcome home!