12 Days Classic Tanzania Wildlife Photography Safari
Duration
12 Days / 11 Nights
Group Size
Unlimited
Travel Styles
Photographic Safari
Starts from $3100.90 Per person
Tour Overview:
The 12 Days Classic Tanzania Wildlife Photography Safari is designed for photographers, wildlife enthusiasts and travelers who want more time to experience and photograph Tanzania’s most iconic wildlife destinations. This 12-day safari combines Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park, creating opportunities to photograph elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, birds and dramatic African landscapes.
The safari begins in Arusha, Tanzania’s main safari gateway, before continuing to Tarangire, where large elephant herds, ancient baobab trees and open savannah provide excellent opportunities for wildlife and landscape photography. The journey then continues to Lake Manyara, offering a different photographic environment with forest scenery, birdlife, lake landscapes and diverse wildlife.
The safari continues to the Ngorongoro Crater, where a full-day game drive provides opportunities to photograph wildlife against the dramatic backdrop of the crater walls. From Ngorongoro, the journey continues to the Serengeti National Park, where several days are dedicated to wildlife photography across open plains, kopjes, riverine areas and other habitats.
Spending several days in the Serengeti allows photographers to work with different lighting conditions and spend more time observing natural wildlife behavior. Early morning game drives provide opportunities for sunrise photography and active predators, while afternoon and evening drives can produce warm golden light and dramatic wildlife portraits. The extended stay also allows the itinerary to remain flexible around wildlife sightings and photography opportunities.
This 12 Days Classic Tanzania Wildlife Photography Safari is suitable for both experienced photographers and travelers who simply want to return home with high-quality wildlife and landscape images. The safari can also be customized around preferred photography interests, travel dates, accommodation level and time available.
Safari Packing List
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Get PDF Safari Packing List + Useful Tips
Safari Tour Seasons & Pricing
High Season
Jan/Mar/June/Nov
2 Person
$7,723.65
4 Person
$6,835.13
6 Person
$6,525.02
7+
Upon Request
Low Season
Apr - May
2 Person
$6,073.65
4 Person
$5,145.53
6 Person
$4,861.82
7+
Upon Request
High Season
Jan/Mar/June/Nov
2 Person
$4,805.35
4 Person
$3,981.73
6 Person
$3,707.18
7+
Upon Request
Low Season
Apr - May
2 Person
$4,450.60
4 Person
$3,626.98
6 Person
$3,374.43
7+
Upon Request
You’ll Visit
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport and Transfer to Arusha
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be welcomed by our representative and transferred to your hotel in Arusha. You will have time to rest after your flight and prepare your camera equipment for the safari.
Depending on your arrival time, your guide will meet you for a short safari briefing. This will include the route, photography expectations, camera safety, and the best times for wildlife photography.
Day 1 | Accommodation
Meal Plan:Bed & Breakfast (BB)
Options based on your package:
Explorer
Planet lodges 3*
Premium
Gran Meliá Arusha 5*
Day 2: Arusha to Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, drive to Tarangire National Park for your first photography game drive. Tarangire is known for large elephant herds, ancient baobab trees, open savannah, river valleys, and rich birdlife.
This is one of the best parks for wide-angle safari images because the baobab trees create a strong African wilderness background. You may photograph elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffalo, lions, and different bird species.
Day 2 | Accommodation
Meal Plan: Full Board (FB)
Options based on your package:
Explorer
Dancing Duma 3*
Premium
Elephant Spring 5*
Day 3: Full Day Photography Safari in Tarangire National Park
Spend a full day in Tarangire with a flexible photography schedule. Your guide will focus on early morning and late afternoon light, when wildlife is more active and the landscape becomes softer for photography.
You will have enough time to wait at sightings, change angles, capture animal behavior, and photograph elephants around the river area. This day is also ideal for bird photography and dramatic landscape shots.
Day 3 | Accommodation
Meal Plan: Full Board (FB)
Options based on your package:
Explorer
Dancing Duma 3*
Premium
Elephant Spring 5*
Day 4: Tarangire to Lake Manyara National Park
After breakfast, drive to Lake Manyara National Park for a different photography experience. Lake Manyara offers forest scenery, lake views, flamingos, baboons, monkeys, hippos, elephants, and many bird species.
The park is excellent for softer green backgrounds, forest wildlife images, and lake landscape photography. In the afternoon, continue to Karatu for dinner and overnight.
Day 4 | Accommodation
Meal Plan: Full Board (FB)
Options based on your package:
Explorer
Dancing Duma 3*
Premium
Elephant Spring 5*
Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater Photography Safari
After an early breakfast, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a full-day photography safari. The crater is one of the most reliable places in Tanzania for close wildlife encounters and dramatic landscape images.
You may photograph lions, elephants, buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, hyenas, hippos, flamingos, and possibly the rare black
Day 5 | Accommodation
Meal Plan: Full Board (FB)
Options based on your package:
Explorer
Eileen’s Trees Inn 3*
Premium
Ngorongoro Melia Lodge 5*
Day 6: Karatu to Central Serengeti National Park
After breakfast, drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area toward Serengeti National Park. The route offers scenic views, Maasai landscapes, open plains, and wildlife sightings along the way.
Arrive in Central Serengeti for an afternoon game drive. This area is excellent for lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, hyenas, and classic Serengeti plains photography.
Day 6 | Accommodation
Meal Plan: Full Board (FB)
Options based on your package:
Explorer
Kon Tiki 3*
Premium
Serengeti Melia 5*
Day 7: Full Day Photography Safari in Central Serengeti
Spend a full day exploring Central Serengeti with your private guide. The day will be planned around the best light and wildlife movement.
Central Serengeti is one of the best areas for big cat photography, especially lions and leopards. You will have enough time to stay longer at sightings and photograph natural animal behavior without rushing.
Day 7 | Accommodation
Meal Plan: Full Board (FB)
Options based on your package:
Explorer
Kon Tiki 3*
Premium
Serengeti Melia 5*
Day 8: Full Day Serengeti Wildlife Photography
Enjoy another full day in the Serengeti, focusing on different habitats such as open plains, kopjes, riverine areas, and acacia woodlands.
This extra day improves your chances of photographing predator action, hunting behavior, lion prides, leopards in trees, cheetahs on the plains, elephants, giraffes, and birds.
Day 8 | Accommodation
Meal Plan: Full Board (FB)
Options based on your package:
Explorer
Kon Tiki 3*
Premium
Serengeti Melia 5*
Day 9: Serengeti Sunrise Game Drive and Wildlife Photography
Start early for sunrise photography in the Serengeti. Morning light is ideal for silhouettes, warm wildlife portraits, and predator activity.
After lunch, continue with another game drive in search of different wildlife scenes. This day gives photographers more time to build a complete safari photo collection.
Day 9 | Accommodation
Meal Plan: Full Board (FB)
Options based on your package:
Explorer
Kon Tiki 3*
Premium
Serengeti Melia 5*
Day 10: Serengeti to Karatu
After breakfast, enjoy a final game drive in Serengeti before driving back toward Karatu through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
This day offers more chances for landscape photography, wildlife on the move, and highland views. Arrive in Karatu in the evening for dinner and overnight.
Day 10 | Accommodation
Meal Plan: Full Board (FB)
Options based on your package:
Explorer
Eilleen’s 3*
Premium
Ngorongoro Coffee Lodge 5*
Day 11: Cultural and Landscape Photography in Karatu
After breakfast, enjoy a relaxed day around Karatu. This day can include local village photography, coffee farm photography, market scenes, or highland landscape photography.
This day adds human interest and local storytelling to your safari portfolio, making the tour more complete than wildlife images alone.
Day 11 | Accommodation
Meal Plan: Full Board (FB)
Options based on your package:
Explorer
Eilleen’s 3*
Premium
Ngorongoro Coffee Lodge 5*
Day 12: Karatu to Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport
After breakfast, drive back to Arusha. Depending on your flight time, you may stop for lunch or continue directly to Kilimanjaro International Airport for departure.
Meal Plan:Breakfast & Lunch
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What's included
- Private 4x4 Safari Land Cruiser throughout the safari
- Airport transfers (arrival and departure).
- Accommodation at all mentioned lodges and camps
- All National Park entry fees
- Ngorongoro Crater service fees
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide.
- Packed lunches during safari.
- All government taxes and VAT.
- Free 1 litre of mineral water per person per day during safari.
What's not included
- International flights
- Tanzania visa
- Travel insurance
- Tips for driver-guide.
- Tips for lodge and camp staff.
- Personal expenses
- Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary (Balloon Safari, Maasai Village Visit, Sundowners, Walking Safari, etc.).
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