Day 1 Shanghai → Addis Ababa
All day
Transfer in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, and arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania.
[Free experience of wildlife telephoto lens]
For each tour on this route, China-TravelNote will provide five SIGMA telephoto lenses for free trial. These lenses primarily feature focal lengths of 60-600mm, 150-600mm, and 500mm, and are primarily available with L-mount and Sony E-mount. Due to limited availability, tourists will need to rotate their lenses. We recommend bringing your own telephoto lens.
Day 2 Addis Ababa → Kilimanjaro → Arusha
All day
The second flight will land at Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania. You will go through immigration formalities under the guidance of the tour leader. A local Chinese tour guide will come to meet you at the airport and then you will depart for Arusha Hotel to check in.
A welcome dinner will be arranged that evening.
Note: Starting from November 1, 2025, you will need to pay an airport tax of US$90 per person when entering Tanzania. Please prepare cash.
Day 3 Arusha → Lake Natron
All day
Get up early and drive to Lake Natron, the birthplace of flamingos and a hidden "deadly secret"!
Near Lake Natron, we'll visit the Maasai, one of East Africa's most famous and still active nomadic peoples. While still clinging to their traditional lifestyle, they've also become increasingly involved in the local tourism industry. The Maasai, a completely nomadic people, graze their livestock year-round in herds, relying almost entirely on the meat, blood, and milk of their animals for survival.
We then arrived at Lake Natron, where the National Geographic documentary "The Flamingo Story" was filmed. The fairy-tale lake and the red elves depicted in the film are deeply ingrained in our hearts and cannot be erased. The film was filmed at Lake Natron in northern Tanzania. The flamingo's flight is truly beautiful, as millions of crimson-winged flamingos spread their wings, experiencing the life journey of birth, growth, and death.
But this seemingly tranquil body of water hides a deadly secret. Why is it called Earth's Underworld Lake? This seemingly beautiful lake has a pH ranging from 9 to 10.5. It possesses the magical power of petrification, transforming any creature that comes near it into a gargoyle! Animals calcify within the lake, forming "eternal statues." This desolate yet beautiful lake has also been dubbed "Petrified Lake" by scientists.
Day 4 Lake Natron → Northern Serengeti
All day
After breakfast, we will drive to the northern Serengeti, where we will chase game all the way and then check into the hotel upon arrival.
The Great Migration can only be seen in Kenya? Wrong!
The East African Great Migration, a regular annual migration of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle, occurs between the Serengeti savannah in Tanzania and the Masai Mara in Kenya. Wildlife (primarily wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle) seek water and grazing. Over 80% of the migration takes place in the Serengeti savannah in Tanzania.
Advantages of going on safari in Tanzania:
You can see the great migration of animals almost 365 days a year. (July and August are when the border between the two countries meets.)
1. A more original and pure wildlife hunting experience and an in-depth photography experience in East Africa.
2. You can see more animals and species, and have more chances to see the Big Five of Africa: lions, buffaloes, cheetahs, rhinos, and elephants. (The Serengeti National Park has the most diverse and abundant animals in the world.)
3. Fewer tourists means a better experience, just like safari alone on the vast African grasslands.
There's still a chance you can watch wildebeests crossing the river from April 9th to October, which is perfect for those who only have a holiday during the National Day holiday!
Day 5 Northern Serengeti (Full Day Safari)
All day
Full-day animal safari, get up early and drive to the Mara River. Many people think that wildebeest crossing the river only happens in Kenya, but in fact, it also happens in Tanzania!
The BBC describes it this way: There's a place on Earth that remains vibrant and full of life, where vast herds of animals roam freely. Life continues there, and time seems to have stood still, making it the last remaining habitat for the largest herd of wild animals on Earth: the Serengeti.
This magnificent migration actually occurs year-round, but the most unforgettable scene is the crossing of the Mara River between July and October. Because nature silently dictates the lives of tens of thousands of zebras and wildebeest, the exact times of their migration, crossing the Mara River, heading toward the vast northern grasslands, resting, and returning are unknown. However, it is certain that they observe the changing weather patterns, sensing the onset of the rainy season in the Masai Mara region and embarking on a nearly three-month migration.
Note 1: Due to the special nature of the Mara River Safari, the tour leader has the right to confirm the specific tour time with everyone based on the on-site conditions
Note 2: The crossing of the Mara River is a matter of probability. No one knows the exact time and cannot make a judgment. We can only wait quietly. Please understand.
Day 6 Northern Serengeti - Central Serengeti (Full Day Safari Photography)
All day
After breakfast, we will check out and continue our safari journey along the Great Migration Route to the central Serengeti. The photography group will also add a day of safari photography in the central Serengeti.
We continued to immerse ourselves in nature, tracking possible sightings of lions, giraffes, zebras, elephants, African buffalo, and other wildlife. The grasslands are a wonderland, allowing even city dwellers to forget all stress and worries, fully immerse themselves in the wonders of nature, and experience a sense of relaxation and joy at home. We then returned to the hotel for the evening. In the evening, the China-TravelNote photography group arranged a special sunset experience, featuring champagne and delicious food amidst the animal world.
Day 7 Serengeti National Park Central Area → Ngorongoro Crater → Karatu
All day
After breakfast, we will depart for Ngorongoro Crater, located in the heart of the national park in northern Tanzania. It is an extinct volcano that has been dormant for more than 250,000 years.
This area is known as the "Garden of Eden in Africa," and its well-developed ecosystem has earned it the title of "The Eighth Wonder of the World." The park's wildlife includes rhinos, elephants, lions, and leopards, totaling over 30,000. The Maasai herders' cattle and wildlife coexist peacefully within the park, each undisturbed by the other, creating a tranquil and harmonious environment.
We will arrange a safari shoot in the crater and then check in to the Karatu Hotel.
Day 8 Karatu → Hadzabi Hunting Tribe → Tatoga Tribe → Karatu
All day
After breakfast, we will depart for the Hadzabi Hunting Tribe. We will get to know the Hadzabi Bushmen up close, where we will learn how to hunt, how to make fire by drilling wood, how to make poisonous arrows, and how to shoot wild animals such as baboons, antelopes, and warthogs. We will also prepare barbecued game and take photos with the Hadzabi people wearing clothes made from baboon skins. This will be an extraordinary visual impact and an immersive experience. Scenes similar to those in the famous movie "The Gods Must Be Crazy" will play out before our eyes.
We then headed to the Tatoga Tribe to photograph the nomadic people. With this, we've completed our photography of three tribes in Tanzania: the Maasai, the Bushman, and the Datoga. This will become a treasured memory for every photographer.
Day 9 Karatu → Arusha → Kilimanjaro International Airport → Addis Ababa
All day
After breakfast, we will depart for Arusha and transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport, bidding farewell to Tanzania, a country full of memories.
Under the leadership of the team leader, we transferred to Addis Ababa Bole Airport and then returned to Shanghai.
Day 10 Addis Ababa → Shanghai Pudong Airport
All day
We'll arrive at Shanghai Pudong Airport at 4:30 PM, concluding our delightful Tanzanian wildlife adventure. Remember to share your wonderful photos on China-TravelNote Photography.
