Travel into the remote Usambara Mountains (approximately 7 hours). This unspoilt area of Tanzania attracts very few tourists, making it the perfect place to soak in your surroundings. The forests stretch across the mountains and are ideal for easy hikes and guided walks. You base is the old German colony of Lushoto, where you’ll stay on the grounds of one of the earliest hotels in Africa.

 Accommodation

• Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

 Meals

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Special information

Your travel time today will be approximately 7 hours.

The campsite has flush toilets and showers, but limited Wi-Fi. Upgrades are possible (subject to availability).

Today, explore the beautiful Usambara Mountains and experience this area’s gentle hospitality on a visit to some of its small communities. From your base, hike to the gorgeous Irente viewpoint. It's best to pack some water and snacks in a day pack for this trip. On your way back, visit a local cultural project based at Irente farm and enjoy a locally prepared lunch.

 Accommodation

• Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

 Meals

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

 Included activities

• Irente - Lushoto hike
• Irente - Local lunch

Get ready for is a full day of travel as you board your truck once again and venture towards Tanzania’s national parks. Your destination is the sprawling gateway town of Arusha. Arrive at your campsite on the outskirts of the town and settle in for the evening.

 Accommodation

• Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

 Meals

• Breakfast
• Dinner

Special information

Your travel time today will be approximately 10 hours.

This campsite has flush toilets and showers. It also has a bar – the perfect place to unwind with a drink after a long day in the truck.

After breakfast this morning, head to Karatu, the gateway to the Ngorongoro Crater. Here, you'll hike through the Ngorongoro Reserve Forest to Elephant Caves and the Endoro waterfalls along the way. Rich with calcium, the Elephant Caves got their name as elephants would come here and break off pieces of rock, eating the dust to receive important minerals. Today's trek, accompanied by an expert local guide and armed ranger, is the perfect way to stretch your legs after a few days of overland travel. You'll hike through Ngorongoro rainforest as your local guide explains the ins and outs of the area here and points out interesting animal tracks and footprints. Marvel at the wild landscape and spot beautiful birdlife as you walk. After, head to Karatu village for a tour of the local coffee farm. Here, you'll see the innovative farming practices from the locals and learn about the farming activities that sustain the coffee, bean, maize, banana, soya and pea crops. Tonight, enjoy a traditional dinner with a local Tanzanian family in their home, who will cook you a few different dishes to try. Learn about the local culture with educational stories from a locally trained guide. What a night!

 Accommodation

• Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

 Meals

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

 Included activities

• Ngorongoro Forest - Elephant Cave Trek
• Karatu - Home-Cooked Dinner
• Karatu - Coffee Farm Tour

Get up early, put your camping and personal gear into a six-person jeep and head out for an excursion into the Serengeti via the Ngorongoro Crater. Enjoy a safari in the crater, spending between 3 and 4 hours exploring this perfectly intact volcanic crater. Watch for black rhinos, lions, leopards, elephants, impalas, zebras and hippos. Next, move on to the open plains of the Serengeti. Green after the rains, brown and burnt in the dry season, this is perhaps the quintessential image of Africa – the home of thousands of hoofed animals and fierce predators. Your campsite is within the Serengeti itself, so listen out for the sounds of nocturnal animals as you drift off to sleep.

 Accommodation

• Camping (with basic facilities) (1 night)

 Meals

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

 Included activities

• Ngorongoro Crater - 4x4 Game Drive
• Serengeti National Park - 4x4 Game Drive

Special information

The camp is basic with limited running water and no upgrades or wi-fi available.

You will notice some Masai villages in the region of the Ngorongoro Crater offering a cultural experience. Intrepid recommends avoiding these villages, as they can impact negatively on the Masai culture and travellers' perceptions of it by selling an artificial experience.

Our camp within the Serengeti National Park does not have a fence to separate the camp from the animals. This is quite the experience as animals such as buffalo and hyenas often come close to camp after sundown. On arrival at the camp your leader will give a detailed safety briefing on what is required to ensure the safety of the group.

Wake at dawn and embark on a game drive. You will head out while the animals are at their most active, then go back to camp for brunch at around 11 am. After spending the middle of the day relaxing, just like the animals do, head out again as the day begins to cool. You'll return from this second game drive in time for dinner. There's also the option today of a balloon ride over the park (in place of a portion of the morning game drive). If you have pre-booked this activity you will be picked up before dawn and driven to the launch site. After a safety briefing, you will glide through the dawn, sometimes at tree height, which provides amazing photo opportunities. After landing, you'll be treated to a five-star bush breakfast, then be returned to your camp.

 Accommodation

• Camping (with basic facilities) (1 night)

 Meals

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

 Included activities

• Serengeti National Park - 4x4 Game Drive

 Add on activities

• Serengeti National Park - Balloon Ride (from price) - USD745

Special information

The balloon ride is offered as a pre-booked service which will guarantee you a place. Please speak to an Intrepid representative before your tour begins to secure a place. If you would rather wait and get a better price by booking this locally on the ground, you are welcome to, but keep in mind that this is a popular activity and places are limited. If you participate in this activity you will miss the morning half of the included game drive.

Rise with the sun and enjoy another game drive as you leave the Serengeti in your dust. Jump back into your overland vehicle and head for Mto wa Mbu.

After setting up camp, we'll take a guided stroll through the farming areas, local homes and farmlands, getting to know the local community and their way of life. Later, we'll enjoy a scrumptious locally prepared dinner in town.

 Accommodation

• Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

 Meals

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

 Included activities

• Serengeti National Park - 4x4 Game Drive
• Mto Wa Mbu - Village walk & local dinner

Special information

Your campsite has flush toilets, showers and optional upgrades (subject to availability).

Set off early and cross the Kenyan border then continue to Nairobi. You'll be dropped at the finishing point hotel in Nairobi where your trip ends. If you'd like to stay longer, just speak to your booking agent.

 Meals

• Breakfast
• Lunch

 Add on activities

• Nairobi - Nairobi by Night Urban Adventure - USD76

Special information

Your travel time today will be approximately 10 hours.

It's important not to book any flights departing Nairobi earlier than 8 pm (or 1 pm if you're departing in Arusha).