TANZANIA SAFARI & MAASAI CULTURE

9-Day tanzania safari

wildlife, wilderness & meaningful cultural connection

Trip Style: Adventure

Trip highlights

Dive into meaningful interactions with the Maasai people, learning their herbal healing methods and exploring their rich cultural heritage

Experience Tanzania’s stunning Serengeti National Park and the iconic Ngorongoro Crater, surrounded by nature's wonders and boutique lodges away from the crowds

Indulge in delightful meals crafted from locally sourced, fresh and organic ingredients from the fertile Kilimanjaro region

Engage with your fellow travelers and the local community, translating your personal growth "off the mat" into impactful interactions

Tanzania has a way of putting life into perspective. Out on the Serengeti, the landscape stretches farther than you can see, wildlife moves according to rhythms that have existed long before us, and the boundaries between people, animals, and the land feel very different from those of everyday life. This 9-day safari combines extraordinary wildlife encounters in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area with opportunities to learn from local communities and experience Tanzania at a slower, more human pace.

Your journey will take you through a changing series of landscapes and intimate accommodations, from an eco-lodge welcomed by the Maasai to ecological tented camps where you can watch wildlife from your private terrace and fall asleep beneath the sounds of the African night. Days in the bush are shaped by wildlife movement and the season, with expert local guides leading game drives in search of elephants, lions, cheetahs, leopards, zebra, wildebeest, and more. Rather than rushing from one sighting to the next, you'll have time to stop for a picnic lunch, watch the landscape unfold, and simply observe.

The experience extends well beyond safari. Throughout the journey, you’ll learn about Maasai traditions and herbal knowledge, participate in traditional dance and storytelling, and share meals with local hosts. Around the campfire, stories offer another way to understand the relationship between people and the natural world. Between adventures, there's time for swims, spa, massage, quiet reflection, or simply sitting beneath an enormous African sky.

Throughout the journey, you'll experience Tanzania through wildlife, landscape, culture, and connection with an emphasis on supporting local communities and experiencing the region in a way that respects both its people and its extraordinary natural environment.

Book our 10-day Tanzania Safari starting at $7995 per person. See all inclusions, itinerary details, and complete pricing in the drop-downs below.

why this trip?

A safari that goes beyond wildlife

There is a reason Tanzania tops so many safari wish lists. The Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area offer extraordinary wildlife viewing, but this journey is about more than checking animals off a list. It’s about understanding the landscape you're moving through - watching animal behavior, noticing how the ecosystem changes from one region to another, and giving yourself time to simply observe.

Our local guides bring that knowledge to every game drive, adapting each day to wildlife movement, weather, and the interests of the group. You'll explore different parts of the ecosystem, from the wildlife-rich Seronera Valley to the expansive Ndutu Plains and the remarkable landscapes of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

The cultural landscape is just as important as the natural one. Throughout the journey, you'll have opportunities to learn about Maasai life, traditional healing and herbal knowledge, and the role of storytelling and ceremony within the community. You may take part in a traditional dance, hear stories around the fire, or simply share time and conversation with the people who welcome you into their world.

Eco-luxury in Tanzania isn't about massive resorts or marble bathrooms. It's about beautiful design, privacy, thoughtful hospitality, and a lighter footprint, with features like solar-generated electricity, rainwater collection, and biodegradable products.

And because a safari can become exhausting with early wake-ups, long drives and dusty roads, we've intentionally built in space between the adventures. You'll have time to rest, enjoy your surroundings, swim, take a massage, or simply sit with what you've experienced.

The wildlife may be what gets you to Tanzania, but the people, landscape, and perspective may be what stays with you.

Travel with purpose. Every Traverse Journeys departure includes a contribution to a carefully selected Community Partner, supporting organizations creating meaningful impact in the destinations we visit. Your Tanzania trip contributes to education and healthcare infrastructure within the Maasai communities we visit.

Testimonials

Trip Inclusions

  • 9 nights’ boutique lodge and camp accommodations

  • Airport transfers from Arusha’s Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO)

    All ground transit for activities in a 4x4 Safari Vehicle

  • Safari Excursions, including all National Park Fees and Concession fees

    UNESCO World Heritage site visit to Ngorongoro Crater (including fee)

    Teaching traditional Maasai practices for health and wellness

    Swahili Lesson

    Traditional sundowner at our boutique lodge

    Community integration at a traditional Maasai BBQ

  • All meals from Breakfast Day 2 to Breakfast Day 10

  • Visit with our local Community Partner + donation to their organization

    English-speaking local guide throughout the duration of the trip

    Traverse representative assisting you from booking to departure

    AMREF Flying Doctor coverage

  • $2495 Zanzibar 3-night extension (see details below)

  • International airfare and visa

    Additional meals, excursions and activities not listed

    Tips to your local guides and drivers

    Alcohol or other drinks, unless specified

    Required travel + medical insurance

  • You'll be paired with a roommate of your same gender unless you request your own room.

    STARTING at $7995 per person, double occupancy

    +$695 “my own room” upgrade

    Extra room nights, on request

  • For the ultimate experience, Zanzibar add-on, starting on Day 10:

    +$2495 Zanzibar (3 nights), price based on double occupancy. +$295 single supplement

    Zanzibar add-on includes:

    JRO-ZNZ from Arusha to Zanzibar with airport transfers

    3-nights in boutique luxury accommodations

    Daily breakfast and dinner at your hotel

    Add-on concierge service.

    Additional excursions to add-on include diving, snorkeling, wildlife viewing, a spice tour, tea ceremony, and special workshops including Swahili, cooking, spice blending, traditional dancing, music, painting, incense making and much more. Price and customizations on request.

FAQS

  • Fly into Tanzania's Kilimanjaro (JRO)  airport in Arusha. Most flights to Africa arrive in the evening, and by the time travelers reach the lodge, it’s quite late. You'll have a transfer to the airport to get you safely to your accommodations for a good night's rest.

    If you’re adding on Zanzibar, fly into JRO and out of Zanzibar’s Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ).

  • We stay at luxury eco-lodges that have amenities such as a Western toilet, shower, and sink. Several lodges also have a pool and sauna and you'll have outdoor spaces to enjoy sunset yoga & meditation and incredible views. 

  • We try to minimize too much driving in any single day, though some locations take a while to get to due to distance and road conditions. The longest stretch is four hours, and we'll be sure to have plenty of stops for bathroom breaks and leg stretches. We'll also wind down with yoga in the evenings. 

  • YES! Some of the best travel is done by yourself and we have no doubt you’ll leave with friends!

  • Yes, absolutely! We take in any dietary restrictions prior to departure. You’ll have a wide selection of tasty garden to table cuisine throughout your stay. Our partners cater to visitors who eat gluten-free or have other dietary restrictions.

  • May is a wonderful time to visit Tanzania. It’s the tail end of the green season,  landscapes are lush, wildlife viewing is excellent, and mosquito activity is typically quite low in the main safari regions.

    Here are a few key points:

    • Malaria risk: While the CDC lists Tanzania as a malaria area, the actual risk in safari destinations such as Tarangire, Ngorongoro, and Serengeti is very low due to the higher elevation and drier conditions.

    • Precautionary measures: Lodges provide mosquito nets, rooms are well-screened and treated daily, and a good insect repellent (with DEET or picaridin) plus light long sleeves in the evening are usually sufficient.

    • Medication: While some travelers choose to take antimalarial pills as a precaution, many do not — especially for short stays in higher-altitude regions. Ultimately, it’s a personal choice, best discussed with their travel doctor.

    • Peace of mind: Most travelers find May to be a comfortable and safe time for safari, with very few mosquitoes and an ideal balance of weather, scenery, and wildlife activity.

Terms & Conditions

Please refer to your Registration Packet for complete Terms & Conditions, which can also be obtained by submitting a request to hello@traversejourneys.com

Deposit
A $500 deposit per person per trip is required for each traveler to secure the booking. The deposit is non-refundable and non-transferrable unless otherwise indicated on booking with the exception of our 24-hour No Regrets policy. A booking is not final until you receive a final confirmation from us. 24-hour No Regrets Policy: If, within 24 hours of submitting your deposit, you decide to cancel your booking you may request a refund, which will be granted less transaction fees.

Payment
Payments can be made either by 1) Normal Payment terms of 50% due 30 days after booking and 50% due 90 days prior to departure or 2) Monthly terms of equal installments with a $10 per month fee. Payments options include ACH, wire, credit card or Zelle. Payee is responsible for all transaction or processing fees. Late payments are given a two-week grace period; after that a $10 per month late payment fee will be charged.

Cancellations Policy
Group Trips & Retreats: Cancellations, less the trip deposit, are refundable up to 120 days prior to the trip start date. Custom and Self-Guided: All payments non-refundable. Requests for transfers may be considered in extenuating circumstances and may incur a change fee. To cancel a booking, Traveler must submit a request to us in writing by email to hello@traversejourneys.com

Flexible Booking Policy Specific to COVID-19
In the wake of COVID-19, Traverse has implemented a flexible booking policy that allows for deposits and payments to be transferrable to the greatest extent possible to new trip dates should a recurrence of COVID-19 render travel impossible due to border closures and related travel restrictions.

Travel Insurance
The trip price does not include travel insurance. Trip protection-style travel insurance that includes travel medical coverage is required for all trips with Traverse. The coverage must have a minimum $150,000 of medical coverage and include injury, medical, evacuation, and repatriation. See more info at https://traversejourneys.com/insurance

Documents, Personal Identification, Vaccinations
Traveler assumes complete and full responsibility for all required travel documents including passport, visas, entry or exit fees, and vaccinations. Traveler is also solely responsible for any adverse consequences resulting from incomplete or defective documentation. Traverse does not cover the cost or assist in obtaining any of the above, and reserves the right to collect information on all.

Traverse Journeys — Travel That Transforms. A female-founded travel company offering small group trips, women's retreats, and self-guided itineraries in 25+ destinations across Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Mindfully crafted adventures centered on human connection, responsible travel, and community giveback.