Tanzania Safari: a camping trip to the heart of the savannah




Tanzania Safari: a camping trip to the heart of the savannah
The trip in a nutshell
Embark on a group journey to Tanzania, the land where nature reigns supreme, and be captivated by the breathtaking beauty of East Africa's wildest regions. With imposing baobabs, vast savannahs, and the majestic Big Five, the experience promises to be nothing short of mesmerizing. We'll bid farewell to civilization in Arusha and be immersed in the primitive charm of Tarangire and Serengeti National Parks, where a stroke of luck could reward us with the sight of the wildebeest and zebra migration. We'll then descend into the heart of Ngorongoro crater and search for the king of the savannah, while a visit to Lake Eyasi brings an encounter with the Hedzabe tribe who still live by hunting, just like their ancestors 10,000 years ago. As we prepare for nights under the starry sky, we'll embrace the endless landscapes and the unexpected encounters, all the while knowing that the famous "sickness for Africa" will follow us when it's time to bid Tanzania farewell.
Tour mood
Safari - release your inner Indiana Jones and be ready to admire wild animals in their natural habitat. Bring a good pair of binoculars!
Physical effort
MODERATE - this itinerary may involve hiking or other activities that require a moderate amount of physical effort. Be prepared for some potential long transfers and early wake up calls!
Entry requirements
Please visit your country's official government website to find out the necessary requirements for entering the country of destination.
Arrival and departure
This trip starts and ends in Arusha . We recommend that you fly to Zanzibar and then take a domestic flight to Arusha. On the first day of the trip we will meet by 6 pm, on the last day you can leave already in the morning.
What's included
3 nights in shared bedrooms with private bathroom in Arusha
Campsite fees inside the parks (Ngorongoro and Serengeti) and outside the parks from day 2 to day 7
Entrance fees to Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Tarangire, Lake Manyara National Parks (Around 600$)
Full board (private chef, water and food in tow) from day 2 to day 7
Private Jeep with driver from day 2 to day 8
Travel Coordinator services
Free cancellation with 100% refund up to 31 days before departure
Itinerary
Welcome to Tanzania!
Check-in: our adventure begins in Arusha
Roundtrip flights or transportation to reach the destination are not included in the package, so you can decide from where and when you want to leave! This gives you complete freedom of choice to adjust your travel itinerary to your needs.
The check-in and welcome meeting will be at the hotel in Arusha. Today is the last day before we head off on our amazing adventure; from tomorrow we will sleep in tents, so enjoy the comforts of the hotel for tonight! After taking a walk around Arusha it’s time for a great dinner including some Tanzanian specialities; the national dish, ugali, made of corn polenta served with meat or fish will probably be on the menu!
Included: overnight stay
Not included: airport transfer, food and beverages
Tarangire National Park
Towards Tarangire
Today is THE day! This morning we have a few hours to prepare for the safari: check your backpacks and go to the market to stock up on food and drinks. At around 11am we load our jeeps, meet our driver and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime! We leave the city behind and head straight into nature, all the way to the gates of the Tarangire National Park, the first park on our way. The river Taragire flows across the park so expect to see a green landscape with lush swamps and floodplains.
Lions and baobabs
Along the drive, with a bit of luck you could also spot some of the beautiful creatures living in this area, such as zebras, wildebeests, gazelles, buffaloes, giraffes and elephants. Imagine how incredible it would be if on your first day, you were able to see a lion, the king of all animals, or perhaps a cheetah! In this park there is also the largest concentration of baobabs in the country, so get your cameras ready to snap some wonderful pics! In the evening we will arrive in Mto wa Mbu, a Masai village on the shores of Lake Manyara: here you’ll have dinner and then spend the evening in a pub where you can try banana beer.
Included: overnight stay, rental of camping equipment, jeep rental with driver, private cook, food (full board), entrance to the park
Not included: beverages
Lake Manyara and Mto Wa Mbu
Tree climbing lions?
Good morning Africa! This morning we hop back onto the jeeps and head to Lake Manyara National Park for a three hour safari. Which animals do you expect to see today? No doubt we’ll see elephants and giraffes, but if you look closely, you can spot flamingos near the lake and even some lions comfortably sleeping on the branches of the trees: in fact, this park is famous for its tree climbing lions, who retreat amongst the branches to enjoy some shade and escape the heat.
Biking with the locals
We head back to our campsite in Mto wa Mbu for lunch; after recharging our batteries, we’ll ride our bicycles and take a tour of the area with a local guide. As you explore the streets, take your time to discover the typical village houses and stop to have a chat with the locals who will share their customs and traditions - it will be an incredible experience to hear their stories! For dinner, in addition to the ugali, we’ll taste some more typical dishes, like the ndizi nyama, made with green bananas and meat or fish.
Included: overnight stay, rental of camping equipment, jeep rental with driver, private cook, food (full board) and entrance to the park
Money Pot: bike excursion to the village of Mto Wa Mbu with a local guide
Not included: beverages
Serengeti National Park
The Serengeti grasslands
It’s time to say goodbye to the village of Mto wa Mbu; today will probably be the most exciting day of the whole tour as we enter the vast plains of the Serengeti National Park where, from April to August, nature’s force compels millions of wildebeest and zebras to migrate in search of new, fresh grazing. The prairies are endlessly vast and from the top of Naabi Hill, fingers crossed we might be able to spot imposing herds crossing them: a sight so mesmerising you will be at a loss for words!
Exploring the park
After a short lunch break, our journey continues through the kopjes of Serengeti, particular rock formations which serve as a shelter for the felines of the park - cheetahs, lions, leopards and hyenas. So brace yourself, because this is the spot where you will probably see some of the most beautiful creatures along this tour. Towards the evening we’ll arrive in Seronera, where we will spend the night, perhaps around the bonfire, under Africa’s starry sky.
Included: overnight stay, rental of camping equipment, jeep rental with driver, private cook, food (full board) and entrance to the park
Not included: beverages
Serengeti National Park
In search of the big five
It’s a new day inside the park, but today, instead of staying in the Seronera area in the south, we move north, where there won’t be as many tourists. Here we are, in the Mara River area, where the land is dotted with acacia trees and vast open plains. Here, during the months of July and August, it is possible to admire the migration of wildebeests - just like yesterday, nature’s force will take your breath away. So, after two days of safari, we honestly hope that you’ll have seen all of the big five (elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo)! In the evening we return to our campsite in Seronera: surrounded by this peaceful scenery, the only thing left to do is to look up at the sky and spend another night underneath the stars.
Included: overnight stay, rental of camping equipment, jeep rental with driver, private cook, food (full board) and entrance to the park
Not included: beverages
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
We arrive in Ngorongoro
On to more adventures, Ngorongoro here we come! It’s time to say goodbye to Serengeti, our home for the past few days, and head to a new park. Ngorongoro is one of the most incredible places in this part of Africa and the crater alone is worth the trip here. Measuring up to 12 miles wide and covering an area of 100 square miles, the Ngorongoro crater is one of the largest calderas on the planet - lions, spotted hyenas, elephants and black rhinos (an endangered species) wander in the prairies that lie inside it, so get your cameras ready and be ready to click away!
A night under the stars
Ngorongoro is also the home to the Maasai population, who live here and graze their cattle. Hopefully we’ll get to meet them and learn something about their traditions and culture. We’ll then reach our campsite, set up tents and have dinner around the fire, sharing stories about our past and future adventures.
Included: overnight stay, rental of camping equipment, jeep rental with driver, private cook, food (full board) and entrance to the park
Not included: beverages
Ngorongoro: another day in the wilderness
In the heart of the crater
Yesterday we saw the crater of Ngorongoro, but today we’ll actually get to go inside it! Everyone says that seeing it from above is one thing, but when you descend inside it, that’s when the real magic happens - it is perhaps one of the major attractions of the African continent and it is in fact a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the rainy season we will be able to see flamingos resting near Lake Magadi, while in the wide prairies, we will see lions and hyenas hunting for herbivores - wildebeests, zebras, buffaloes and gazelles. After lunch we return to our "base camp" and get ready to sadly leave the park - we’re off to Karatu, a town surrounded by an enchanted landscape, where we’ll stop for the night.
Included: overnight stay, rental of camping equipment, jeep rental with driver, private cook, food (full board) and entrance to the park
Not included: beverages
Lake Eyasi and Arusha
Ancient peoples
It’s an early start today; after dismantling the tents and loading everything into our jeeps we head off to Lake Eyasi, one of the favourite destinations in Tanzania for those looking for an experience off the beaten track. The lake's size varies depending on the season and it is not the only attraction of this place: the Hadza tribe lives here, a population that seems to have lived in these lands for about ten thousand years - probably the last real hunters of this part of Africa. We spend the morning discovering their culture and customs - it will be incredible to get in touch with a population so far from our own lifestyle.
Back to Arusha
After lunch we set off and head back to Arusha. Say goodbye to the jeeps, our driver and the tents - tonight (finally!) we’ll sleep a little more comfortably! On the menu for dinner, why not try a few more typical delicacies? A must is definitely nyama choma - the local version of a good barbecue, served with grilled bananas and, of course, ugali!
Included: overnight stay, rental of camping equipment, jeep rental with driver, private cook, food (full board) and entrance to the park
Money Pot: excursion to Lake Eyasi with cultural tour
Not included: beverages
Arusha
Back to Arusha
It’s the last day in Tanzania, are you already feeling the “Africa Blues”? The day is completely free so we can decide together how to spend it: among the various activities there is a short hike to the top of Suye Hill (it takes about 40 minutes to get to the top) from which to enjoy a unique view of the city. After the hike, we can have a picnic and spend some more time surrounded by nature, making the most of it before we leave! Or perhaps kayaking in Lake Duluti - another great option to consider!
Included: overnight stay
Money Pot: any extra activities
Not included: meals and drinks
Goodbye Tanzania
Check-out and goodbyes
Check-out and farewell. It is time to say goodbye until your next WeRoad adventure!
Not included: airport transfer, food and drinks
End of WeRoad services The itinerary may undergo some variations that differ from what stated above. These variations may not be predictable nor depend on WeRoad’s will, i.e. climate conditions, national holidays, strikes, etc.

The travel coordinators
Our travel coordinators are chosen because they are people like you. Not only are they the best travel buddy you could hope for, but they're trained professionals guaranteed to show you a travel experience like never before
The itinerary may be subject to variations due to seasonality. In order to provide the best possible travel experience, the itinerary within the parks (especially in the Serengeti) may undergo variations in relation to the patterns of migration of wildlife.
Info to know
Staff
Our trips are led by a Travel Coordinator who has been specifically trained by us to lead group travels to ensure you have the best time. A WhatsApp group with all travel participants will be created two weeks prior to departure by your Travel Coordinator.
Luggage
Backpacks are mandatory to allow easy transfers - we recommend a 45L backpack for our trips.
Available dates
Travel coordinator
Lola
Group
4 WeRoaders
Travel coordinator
Lola
Group
4 WeRoaders
Travel coordinator
Natasha Elena
Group
9 WeRoaders
Travel coordinator
Natasha Elena
Group
9 WeRoaders
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
Round-trip flights are not included in any of our trips because we like to give you autonomy and flexibility: you can choose the airline you want to fly with, the departure airport that suits you best, and how many and which stops you want to make.
Since flights are not included, you also have more flexibility with your travel dates: if possible, you can arrive at your destination a few days earlier or return home a bit later – or even continue independently to a nearby destination!
This is the question of all questions, and here’s the answer, broken down into points!
The Money Pot is a common fund collected in local currency from all tour participants and managed by your Travel Coordinator.
It is used to streamline paymentsfor extra activities, goods and services that the whole group decides to do and to guarantee flexibility in choosing activities and excursions at the destination in line with the mood of the group.
It is typically collected on the first day of the trip in local currency, although at times, the Travel Coordinator may ask for it to be paid before departure.
You’ll find the amount of the money pot on the website under the section ‘What’s included in the money pot’ – how do you get there? Look for ‘What’s included’, scroll down to ‘Money pot? Click here’, and you’ll find the details.
The amount varies depending on the destination chosen.
It is used exclusively for group expenses that ALL participants decide to take part in.
It is estimated based on the experiences of other groups but can vary depending on the needs of the group itself. As such, the Travel Coordinator may need to increase the amount during the trip.
If not all of the money pot is used, the difference will be returned to all participants at the end of the trip in equal amounts.
The Money Pot also covers the Travel Coordinator’s share of the activities included in the money pot, except for those activities that are free for the Travel Coordinator.
If you pay in advance part of the money pot before the trip for certain non-refundable optional activities, unfortunately, the amount cannot be refunded in case of trip cancellation.
We offer several payment methods to meet all needs:
1. Credit or debit card from Visa, Mastercard, or American Express.
2. Installment payments for certain countries only
If you choose the deposit and balance option, you can pay the balance from your MyWeRoad Personal Area via bank transfer.
Anyone who books a WeRoad trip has the option to cancel or modify the trip – including both the dates and the destination – free of charge up to 31 days before departure. In case of cancellation, you will receive a 100% refund of the WeRoad trip price. If you make a change, a price adjustment will be applied to the new trip chosen – meaning, if the new trip is cheaper, we will refund the difference; if it’s more expensive, you will need to pay the difference.
If you’ve purchased the Flexible Cancellation Option (which you can add in the first step of the booking process), you can request a cancellation or trip change until 8 days before departure. In case of cancellation, you’ll receive a 100% refund of the WeRoad trip price, minus the cost of the Flexible Cancellation option.
How to request a cancellation or change to your trip? Send us an email at [email protected] or a WhatsApp on +447716573700. Please share the booking reference for the trip you want to cancel or change, and, in case of a change, the new trip you would like to join.
In general, we always choose local accommodations, avoiding large hotel chains, because we love to experience the culture of the place and, whenever possible, contribute to the local economy. Typically, our accommodations are hotels, apartments, guesthouses, and hostels run by local entrepreneurs, with the same standard maintained across all trips in the same destination.
For our Collection trips, which are our premium category, the accommodations are always 4 or 5-star or carefully selected boutique hotels.
The list of accommodations for your trip will be shared with you by your Travel Coordinator between 5 and 3 days before departure, along with other useful details for your adventure!
If you're wondering why WeRoad trips have a money pot, we’re assuming you already know what it is. If not, or if you have any doubts, we invite you to read all the information here!
Let’s quickly recap: The Money Pot is a common fund collected in local currency from all tour participants and managed by your Travel Coordinator. It’s used to speed up payments for extra activities, goods and services that the whole group decides to do and to guarantee flexibility in choosing activities and excursions at the destination in line with the mood of the group.
But let’s get to the point: why the money pot? First of all: it gives us a lot of flexibility. In all WeRoad trips you will have a bunch of Must See/Must Do activities already included - these are experiences, places or activities that simply cannot be missed! Any extra activities is decided by the group, why? Because each group is unique and may have particular wants or desires and the Money Pot allows each group to customise their trip to make it perfect for their requirements!
It also helps us speed up payments – imagine being in the subway in New York City, one by one purchasing the ticket...a nightmare right? Thanks to the Money Pot, the Travel Coordinator can simply purchase the tickets for everyone making the entire processes smoother! Any leftover money will be returned at the end of the trip and split equally amongst all participants.
In some destinations, buying goods or services on site is more economical as you are able to negotiate the price - places like Morocco, or South East Asia, bargaining is part of the culture. As such, our Travel Coordinators will be able to secure the best deal for all participants.
The amount of the money pot is specified in each trip – look for this button
which will take you to a detailed breakdown for each trip, like this:
WeRoad is not authorised to provide this information due to privacy reasons.
However, there is a solution - you can connect with your travel buddies by joining our Facebook group. Look for a post related to your trip, or ask the group admins for help in connecting with your future travel companions!
If a Travel Coordinator has already been assigned to the trip you're interested in, you can easily find their introduction post in the group via the website: in the tour list, click on 'Ask the coordinator', or in the trip details page, in the coordinator section, click on 'Ask [coordinator's name] for information on this trip in our Facebook group'. For both cases, see the screenshots below!
Tour List
Trip details page
In all our groups, the Travel Coordinator and participants speak English – knowing how to speak and understand English is therefore a fundamental requirement to participate in our trips.
On average the groups are made up of 6-15 people, with a minimum of 3/4 participants and a maximum of 15.
All our travellers are in theirs 20s, 30s and 40s. If you're very curios to know the age range of the group for a tour you're interested in, you can contact us by WhatsApp at +447716573700
Regarding the male-female ratio, this is not guaranteed and varies trip by trip.
The WeRoad Travel Coordinator is an experienced and skilled traveller and will be the perfect companion for your trip. They will be available for any eventuality and will manage all the logistical aspects of the itinerary (transports, timings, accommodations, meeting points, etc.), so you can enjoy the trip without any worries!
You will have the chance to get to know them when the WhatsApp group is created approximately 2 weeks before departure - this will be the moment to ask any pre-departure questions and get to know the rest of the group! If the trip you are interested in already has a Travel Coordinator assigned, you can contact them before booking – their details will be specified in the schedule or on the trip page, or you can search for their name here. After booking, you will find their contact details in your Personal Area, under ‘Bookings and Trips’ > ‘Your Upcoming Trips’ > ‘Trip Details’.
Yes, in all our trips you will share a room with other same-sex travellers, and the bathroom will either be private or shared only with fellow participants of the trip. The rooms we select can be doubles, triples, quadruples, or multi-bed (up to 8 people in exceptional cases), depending on the destination and availability.
There are never dorms with people outside the WeRoad group, except in certain cases for local experiences, which are specifically mentioned in the itinerary or communicated before booking. These typically involve specific nights in unique accommodations like tents, homestays, or camping, offering a more adventurous travel experience in exchange for some comfort.
During the booking process, you can also choose to opt for a mixed room: in this case, if needed, only those who have agreed to this option may share a room with travellers of a different sex. If you are booking for multiple people together and select this option, the room will not be exclusive to your group but may be shared with other travellers in the group.
When you set off on a WeRoad trip, you’re officially a WeRoader – and as we often say, 'Once a WeRoader, always a WeRoader'. This means that once you’re part of the community, a little piece of WeRoad will always stay with you, even if you no longer travel with us.
But you’re not just a WeRoader during your trips, far from it! The community is alive and active all year round: you can stay in touch by following and interacting on our social media channels, like the Facebook group or the Instagram profile. We can also meet up for a dinner or a trek together at one of the events organised by our coordinators around the world!