11 Days Tanzania Big Five Photographic Safari | Zanzibar Midrange Tour

Our representative welcomes you at Kilimanjaro International Airport and assists with your luggage and photography equipment before transferring you to Arusha. The journey usually takes around one to one and a half hours, passing local villages and farmland, with views of Mount Kilimanjaro possible in clear weather. Once we arrive at your midrange hotel, our team helps with check-in and explains the safari arrangements. We also discuss suitable equipment storage and camera charging before the following morning's departure.

Destination:

Kilimanjaro Airport

Overnight:

Kibo Palace Hotel

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Lunch, Dinner

❮ ❯

We leave Arusha after breakfast and drive toward Tarangire National Park, where our first photography safari begins. Inside the park, our guide explores the Tarangire River, baobab woodland, and open grasslands, searching for elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, and buffaloes. We select safe vehicle positions that allow clear views of animals and their natural surroundings, with time to photograph elephants near the river and other wildlife moving through the woodland.

After a picnic lunch at an approved site, we continue exploring areas that offer different backgrounds and wildlife sightings. Our guide considers the direction of sunlight and animal movements before choosing the afternoon route. Later, we leave Tarangire and drive to your midrange accommodation in the Lake Manyara area.

Destination:

Tarangire

Overnight:

Manyara Safari Lodge

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

❮ ❯

After breakfast, we travel through the Karatu highlands toward Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where we descend into the crater for a full-day photographic safari. The crater offers different natural backgrounds, including grasslands, lakes, woodland, and the surrounding crater walls. Our guide searches for black rhinos, lions, buffaloes, elephants, zebras, and hippos while choosing suitable locations for wildlife photographs.

We allow enough time to photograph animal behavior without disturbing the wildlife or leaving designated driving routes. After a picnic lunch, we continue exploring the crater floor, looking for additional animals and landscape views. In the afternoon, we return to the crater rim and transfer to your midrange accommodation.

Destination:

Lake Manyara

Overnight:

Angata Ngorongoro Camp

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

❮ ❯

We depart from the Ngorongoro highlands and continue toward Central Serengeti, passing through open plains and areas where zebras, wildebeest, and giraffes may be seen along the road. Our guide makes appropriate stops for landscape photographs and wildlife sightings while keeping the journey on schedule. As we approach the central region, the scenery changes to wide grasslands, scattered trees, and rocky outcrops.

In the afternoon, we begin a game drive around the Seronera Valley, where lions, leopards, elephants, and other animals are often found. We spend time observing and photographing wildlife before transferring to your midrange tented camp.

Destination:

Ngorongoro Crater

Overnight:

Tanzania Bush Camp Central Serengeti

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

❮ ❯

We begin early to make use of the morning light while searching for wildlife across Central Serengeti. Our guide explores the Seronera Valley and surrounding rocky areas, where lions and leopards are frequently reported, while also looking for elephants, buffaloes, and giraffes. We take time to photograph animals in different situations, including feeding, resting, and moving through the grasslands.

After a picnic lunch, we continue the game drive toward other suitable wildlife areas. Our private safari vehicle allows us to stay longer at sightings when photographic conditions are favorable. We return to your midrange accommodation after the afternoon session.

Destination:

Central Serengeti

Overnight:

Tanzania Bush Camp Central Serengeti

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

❮ ❯

Today we focus on animal behavior and wildlife sightings that require patience and time. We explore open grasslands where cheetahs may be seen, alongside routes used by zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, and other animals. Our guide watches for suitable photographic opportunities and positions the vehicle carefully to maintain a safe viewing distance.

We allow longer stops when animals are interacting, feeding, or moving in groups. Following lunch, we continue exploring other parts of Central Serengeti, including woodland and river areas where elephants and predators may appear. We return to your accommodation in the late afternoon.

Destination:

Central Serengeti

Overnight:

Tanzania Bush Camp Central Serengeti

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

❮ ❯

Our third full day in Central Serengeti gives us another opportunity to visit locations that were not covered during the previous game drives. We may explore the Moru Kopjes area or suitable sections around Seronera, depending on road conditions and wildlife reports. These areas offer opportunities to photograph rocky landscapes, open plains, lions, elephants, and other animals in different natural settings.

We spend time looking for subjects that may have been difficult to photograph earlier, including leopards, cheetahs, and birds. After a picnic lunch, we continue the afternoon drive while allowing time for landscape photography. We later return to your midrange camp and prepare for the following morning's flight.

Destination:

Central Serengeti

Overnight:

Tanzania Bush Camp Central Serengeti

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

❮ ❯

We begin with a final morning game drive through Central Serengeti before transferring to the airstrip. Our guide uses the available time to search for wildlife and suitable morning photography opportunities without delaying the scheduled flight. At the airstrip, we assist with check-in and ensure your camera equipment is handled according to the airline's luggage requirements.

After arriving in Zanzibar, our local representative welcomes you and arranges a private transfer to your midrange beach hotel. The remaining time is free to rest and prepare for the island photography excursions.

We begin with a guided photography walk through Stone Town, exploring old streets, carved wooden doors, traditional markets, and historical buildings. Our local guide introduces Zanzibar's cultural history while identifying suitable places for architectural and street photography. We respect local customs and request permission before photographing residents closely.

After Stone Town, we travel to a spice farm, where we photograph cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, tropical fruits, and traditional farming activities. Our guide explains how the crops are grown and harvested before we return to your beach hotel.

We arrange a boat excursion from Stone Town to Prison Island, where you can photograph the giant tortoises, historical buildings, and coastal surroundings. Our guide explains the island's past while allowing time to capture wildlife and landscape photographs from appropriate visitor areas.

We then continue to Nakupenda Sandbank, where the white sand, shallow sea, and traditional boats provide different coastal photography subjects. The visit depends on suitable tides and weather, and our crew coordinates the return journey before transferring you to the hotel.

We travel to Jozani Forest for a guided walk focused on photographing Zanzibar red colobus monkeys in their natural surroundings. Our local guide helps locate the monkeys along established trails while ensuring that we maintain a respectful distance. We also explore suitable areas for photographing forest plants and, when available, the mangrove boardwalk.

Later, we continue to Jambiani village, where traditional fishing boats, coastal houses, and village activities offer opportunities for cultural photography. We seek permission before photographing local residents and return to your hotel after the visit.

Destination:

Jozan Forest Tours

Overnight:

Nungwi Beach Resort by Turaco

  luxury 4 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

❮ ❯

We leave the final day free for enjoying Zanzibar's beaches and photographing the coastal surroundings at your own pace. Depending on the hotel location, you may photograph fishing boats, the shoreline, palm trees, and the changing light over the Indian Ocean. Our team can assist with an optional snorkeling or boat excursion if you would like to photograph additional marine or coastal subjects.

Otherwise, the day remains available for beach relaxation and reviewing your photographs from the safari and island excursions.