BEST OF TANZANIA PHOTO SAFARI
A 12-day Northern Tanzania photographic safari combining Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, Central Serengeti and Northern Serengeti, designed for elephants, big cats, dramatic landscapes, Great Migration opportunities and expert photographic guidance.
July 10 - 21, 2027 | 12 Days | Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti | Max 3 Guests Per Group
SAFARI AVAILABILITY
This Northern Tanzania photo safari is designed for photographers who want a complete, varied and carefully paced journey through some of Tanzania’s most iconic wildlife regions. Each group is limited to a maximum of 3 guests, with a dedicated photo host, private photographic vehicle and one row per photographer.
Best of Tanzania Photo Safari Overview
This 12-day Best of Tanzania Photo Safari is designed for photographers who want a complete Northern Tanzania wildlife photography experience, combining Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Central Serengeti and Northern Serengeti in one carefully paced itinerary. The journey offers a strong mix of elephants, big cats, dramatic landscapes, open plains wildlife and Great Migration opportunities.
The safari begins in Tarangire, known for large elephant herds, ancient baobabs, riverine habitat and golden dry-season light. From there, the itinerary continues to the Ngorongoro Crater for a full-day photographic safari on the crater floor, offering a very different environment with high-density wildlife, dramatic scenery and the possibility of species such as lions, elephants, buffalo, rhinos, hyenas, flamingos and plains game.
The second half of the journey focuses on the Serengeti, beginning in the Central Serengeti, one of Tanzania’s strongest regions for year-round predator photography. The safari then continues north to the Northern Serengeti, where the Great Migration may offer opportunities for wildebeest herds, river tension, predator activity and possible Mara River crossings, depending on seasonal movement and conditions.
With a maximum of 3 guests per group, each photographer has their own row in the vehicle, alongside a dedicated photo host, local driver-guide and private photographic vehicle.
GROUP SIZE
Max 3 guests per group
Location
NORTHERN SERENGETI, TANZANIA
PRICE
$14,445 USD per person sharing
DURATION
12 days / 11 nights
PHOTOGRAPHY SKILL LEVEL
All skill levels welcome
Why Join This TANZANIA Photo Safari?
This itinerary is designed for photographers who want a complete Northern Tanzania wildlife photography experience, combining four iconic regions, small-group vehicle space, expert field guidance and the possibility of Great Migration activity in one carefully planned journey.
The Best of African Wildlife in One
Experience a wide range of East African wildlife in one itinerary, from elephants, lions, leopards and cheetahs to rhinos, buffalo, giraffes, zebra, wildebeest, flamingos, birdlife and dramatic savannah landscapes.
Four Iconic Tanzania Locations
Travel through Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, Central Serengeti and Northern Serengeti, each offering a different photographic environment, subject focus and style of wildlife encounter.
Great Migration Opportunities
Spend time in the Northern Serengeti during a strong seasonal window for the Great Migration, with the possibility of wildebeest herds, river tension, predator activity and Mara River crossings.
Predators, Elephants & Classic Safari
This safari offers a strong mix of big cat photography, elephant encounters, crater wildlife, open plains, baobab landscapes, river systems and classic East African safari imagery.
Small-Group Vehicle Space
With a maximum of 3 guests per group, each photographer has their own row, giving you space to work comfortably with long lenses.
Photographer-Led Guidance
Travel with Mark or Jaren Fernley, professional wildlife photographers and co-founders of Untamed Photo Safaris, with practical field guidance on light, behaviour, positioning, composition and camera settings throughout the safari.
PHOTOGRAPHY HIGHLIGHTS
This Best of Tanzania Photo Safari gives photographers a varied set of subjects, landscapes and wildlife conditions across four of Northern Tanzania’s most iconic safari regions.
Tarangire elephants and baobabs
Photograph large elephant herds, ancient baobab trees, riverine habitat, dust, warm light and classic dry-season scenes in one of Tanzania’s most atmospheric parks.
Ngorongoro Crater wildlife density
Spend a full day on the crater floor, working with dramatic crater landscapes, high concentrations of wildlife, lions, elephants, buffalo, rhinos, flamingos, hyenas and open grassland scenes.
Central Serengeti predators
Focus on one of Tanzania’s strongest year-round predator regions, with opportunities for lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, plains game and behaviour-based wildlife photography.
Northern Serengeti migration activity
Photograph the northern Serengeti during migration season, with possible wildebeest herds, river tension, predator movement, dust, open plains and potential Mara River crossing opportunities.
Classic Tanzania storytelling
Build a varied photographic story across elephants, big cats, migration movement, crater wildlife, landscapes, birdlife and the changing light of Northern Tanzania.
Itinerary at a Glance
A quick look at the journey, from arrival in Arusha to Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, the Central Serengeti and the Northern Serengeti migration region.
Day 1
Arrival in ARUSHA
Arrive in Arusha and settle in before the safari begins.
Days 2 - 3
TARANGIRE National Park
Elephants, baobabs, riverine habitat and classic dry-season wildlife.
Days 4 - 5
NGORONGORO CRATER
Transfer to Ngorongoro, then spend a full day on the crater floor.
Days 6 - 8
CENTRAL SERENGETI
Big cats, kopjes, open plains wildlife and classic Serengeti photography.
Days 9 - 11
NORTHERN SERENGETI
Great Migration opportunities, possible river crossings and predator activity.
Day 12
Return to ARUSHA
Fly back to Arusha for your onward international departure.
Price & Booking Details
PRICE INCLUDES
Airport meet-and-greet, pick-up and drop-off at Kilimanjaro International Airport One night accommodation in Arusha before travelling to Tarangire All accommodation throughout the safari in luxury lodges and tented camps All road transfers between airports, airstrips, lodges and safari locations Private group charter flights as outlined in the itinerary All meals throughout the safari Purified drinking water, coffee, tea, juice and selected non-alcoholic beverages House wines, local beers and selected spirits, where included by property All national park, conservation area and activity fees Daily photographic safari activities in Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, Central Serengeti and Northern Serengeti Full-day photographic safari on the Ngorongoro Crater floor Professional photographic guidance from your Untamed Photo Safaris photo host Private photographic vehicle with a maximum of 3 guests per group One row per photographer in the safari vehicle Local professional driver-guide throughout the safari Optional image review and photographic support where time allows Pre-safari planning information and preparation guidance AMREF Flying Doctors emergency medical evacuation cover On-the-ground logistical support throughout the safari
PRICE EXCLUDES
International flights to and from Tanzania Personal travel insurance, which is required for all guests Premium alcoholic beverages, unless specifically included by the property Personal expenses, including souvenirs, laundry, spa treatments, etc. Optional activities or experiences not listed in the confirmed itinerary Gratuities and tips for photo hosts, driver-guides, lodge staff and other support teams Visa fees, passport fees, vaccination costs or any personal travel documentation expenses Any additional hotel nights, meals, transfers or services required due to early arrival, late departure, flight changes, delays or missed connections Any increase in government taxes, national park fees, conservation fees, fuel levies, airport taxes, tourism fees or other compulsory charges imposed after the safari has been confirmed Any costs arising from circumstances beyond our control, including weather disruptions, road closures, flight delays, changes to park regulations, medical issues or other force majeure events
Detailed Safari Itinerary
This Best of Tanzania Photo Safari has been designed to move through four of Northern Tanzania’s most rewarding photographic regions: Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, Central Serengeti and Northern Serengeti. The itinerary combines elephants, baobab landscapes, high-density crater wildlife, Serengeti predators and possible Great Migration activity in one carefully paced photographic journey.
DAY 1
Arrival in Arusha
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Arusha. This first night gives the group time to arrive, rest after international travel and prepare for the safari ahead.
In the evening, you will meet your photo host for a safari briefing, covering the itinerary, luggage logistics, photographic approach, camera preparation and what to expect across the different regions of Northern Tanzania.
Guests must arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport no later than 3:00pm on arrival day.
Overnight: Arusha Hotel
DAYS 2 - 3
Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, travel to Tarangire National Park, one of Tanzania’s most rewarding elephant photography locations. Known for its ancient baobabs, dry-season river systems and large elephant herds, Tarangire offers a strong opening to the safari with classic East African scenery and beautiful photographic light.
Over the next two days, the focus will be on elephants, baobab landscapes, giraffes, zebra, antelope, buffalo, predators, birdlife and atmospheric dry-season scenes. Tarangire is especially rewarding for wider environmental compositions, dust, warm light and wildlife framed within a distinctive landscape.
Photography Focus: Elephants, baobabs, riverine habitat, dry-season landscapes, birdlife, golden light and classic Tanzania wildlife.
Overnight: Entara Olkeri Camp
DAY 4
Transfer to Ngorongoro Crater Region
After a final morning in Tarangire, travel towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This is a transition day from the dry baobab landscapes of Tarangire to one of Tanzania’s most iconic wildlife regions.
Depending on timing, there may be opportunities for landscape photography, image review, editing support or a photographic discussion with your photo host at the lodge before the following day’s crater descent.
Photography Focus: Final Tarangire safari, travel day, landscapes, preparation and photographic discussion.
Overnight: Sanctuary Ngorongoro Crater Camp
DAY 5
Full Day on the Ngorongoro Crater Floor
Spend a full day photographing on the Ngorongoro Crater floor, one of the most dramatic and wildlife-rich environments in East Africa. The crater offers a very different photographic setting from Tarangire, with sweeping scenery, open grasslands, soda lakes, marshes and high concentrations of wildlife within a compact area.
Photographic opportunities may include lions, elephants, buffalo, rhinos, hyenas, jackals, flamingos, zebra, wildebeest, gazelles, birdlife and wide crater landscapes. The full-day format gives photographers more time to work with light, behaviour, backgrounds and changing activity across the crater floor.
Photography Focus: Crater landscapes, lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, flamingos, hyenas, plains game, birdlife and high-density wildlife photography.
Overnight: Sanctuary Ngorongoro Crater Camp
DAY 6
FLY TO Central Serengeti
After breakfast, transfer to the airstrip for your flight from the Ngorongoro region to the Central Serengeti. This avoids a long overland transfer and allows more time in the field once you arrive.
On arrival, you will be met by your local driver-guide and begin your first photographic safari in the Central Serengeti as you make your way towards camp. This region is one of Tanzania’s strongest areas for year-round predator photography, with open plains, kopjes, river systems, woodland edges and excellent wildlife variety.
Photography Focus: Introduction to the Central Serengeti, big cats, kopjes, open plains wildlife and golden light.
Overnight: Entara Olmara Camp
DAYs 7 - 8
Central Serengeti Big Cat Photography
Spend two full days photographing in the Central Serengeti, one of Tanzania’s strongest year-round predator regions. This area offers classic Serengeti scenery, with open plains, kopjes, river systems, woodland edges and excellent wildlife variety.
The focus during these days will be on lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, elephants, giraffes, plains game, birdlife and behaviour-based photography. Central Serengeti is especially rewarding for big cats, giving photographers time to work with light, positioning, patience and storytelling across a wide range of sightings.
When time allows, evenings will include image review, editing support or photographic discussion with your photo host at camp.
Photography Focus: Lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, kopjes, open plains wildlife, predator behaviour, golden light and classic Serengeti scenes.
Overnight: Entara Olmara Camp
DAY 9
Fly to the Northern Serengeti
After breakfast, transfer to the airstrip for your flight from the Central Serengeti to the Northern Serengeti. This flight moves the safari into one of the most important migration regions of the Serengeti, reducing travel time and allowing the group to continue photographing in the field after arrival.
On arrival, you will be met by your local driver-guide and begin your first photographic safari in the Northern Serengeti as you make your way towards camp. This region offers a wilder and more open feel than the Central Serengeti, with rolling grasslands, river systems, big skies and the possibility of Great Migration activity during this seasonal window.
Depending on herd movement and conditions, this first afternoon may introduce photographers to wildebeest herds, zebra, river areas, predator activity, open plains wildlife, dust, golden light and the wider migration landscape.
Photography Focus: Introduction to the Northern Serengeti, Great Migration opportunities, wildebeest herds, river systems, predator activity, open plains wildlife and golden light.
Overnight: Entara Esirai Migration Camp
DAYs 10 - 11
Northern Serengeti Migration Photography
Spend two full days photographing in the Northern Serengeti, a wilder and more open region known for rolling grasslands, river systems, big skies and possible Great Migration activity during this seasonal window.
Depending on herd movement and conditions, photographic opportunities may include wildebeest herds, zebra, river tension, possible Mara River crossings, predator activity, dust, open plains wildlife and dramatic migration storytelling. Crossings can never be guaranteed, but time in the Northern Serengeti gives photographers the opportunity to respond if herds begin to gather or move towards the river.
Even when migration activity is quieter, the Northern Serengeti remains highly rewarding for lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, elephants, giraffes, topi, birdlife, landscapes and golden-hour photography.
Photography Focus: Great Migration opportunities, possible Mara River crossings, wildebeest herds, predator activity, open plains, dust, golden light and Northern Serengeti landscapes.
Overnight: Entara Esirai Migration Camp
DAY 12
Fly from Kogatende to Kilimanjaro International Airport
Enjoy a final morning in the Northern Serengeti before transferring to Kogatende Airstrip for your scheduled flight directly to Kilimanjaro International Airport. From here, guests can connect with their onward international departure.
Photography Focus: Final morning safari opportunity and departure.
End Point: Kilimanjaro International Airport, Tanzania
Guests should book international flights departing no earlier than 5:00pm on this day.
Designed by Photographers, for Photographers
This Best of Tanzania Photo Safari has been planned around the practical needs of wildlife photographers, from vehicle space and field positioning to lens choice and expert guidance across four very different photographic regions.
Professional Field Guidance
This safari is led by Mark or Jaren Fernley, professional wildlife photographers and co-founders of Untamed Photo Safaris. Throughout the safari, your photo host will help you work with light, behaviour, positioning, composition and camera settings in real field conditions.
Guidance is practical, flexible and shaped around the opportunities in front of you.
Recommended Camera Gear
We recommend bringing a DSLR or mirrorless camera, a wide-angle or mid-range lens, and a telephoto lens of at least 400mm. A 500mm or 600mm lens is ideal for more distant subjects, birds, predators, smaller wildlife and compressed compositions.
A 70-200mm lens is also highly useful for closer subjects, environmental wildlife scenes, vehicle-based photography and storytelling compositions. A full recommended equipment list will be shared with confirmed guests before departure.
Photographic Safari Vehicles
Each group is limited to a maximum of 3 guests, with one row per photographer in a private photographic vehicle.
This gives you space for long lenses, easier positioning and more flexibility when working a sighting.
Safari Location
This Best of Tanzania Photo Safari moves through four of Northern Tanzania’s most iconic wildlife regions, each offering a different photographic focus. From Tarangire’s elephant herds and baobab landscapes to Ngorongoro Crater, Central Serengeti predators and Northern Serengeti migration opportunities, the itinerary is designed to show the variety that makes Tanzania such a rewarding photographic destination.
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire is one of Tanzania’s most atmospheric parks, known for large elephant herds, ancient baobabs, dry-season river systems and warm golden light. It is a strong location for environmental wildlife photography, with opportunities for elephants, giraffes, zebra, antelope, predators, birdlife, dust and classic East African landscapes.
NGORONGORO CRATER
Ngorongoro Crater offers a completely different photographic environment, with dramatic scenery and high concentrations of wildlife on the crater floor. During the full-day crater safari, photographers may encounter lions, elephants, buffalo, rhinos, hyenas, flamingos, zebra, wildebeest, gazelles, birdlife and sweeping crater landscapes.
Central Serengeti
The Central Serengeti is one of Tanzania’s best year-round predator regions, with excellent opportunities for lions, leopards, cheetahs and hyenas. Its mix of open plains, kopjes, river systems and woodland edges makes it ideal for behaviour-based photography, big cat portraits and classic Serengeti wildlife scenes.
NORTHERN SERENGETI
The Northern Serengeti adds a wilder, more open feel to the itinerary, with rolling grasslands, river systems, big skies and seasonal Great Migration opportunities. Depending on wildlife movement, photographers may encounter wildebeest herds, zebra, river tension, predator activity, dust, possible Mara River crossings and dramatic migration storytelling.
Luxury Safari Accommodation
This Best of Tanzania Photo Safari uses a carefully selected combination of luxury tented camps and an Arusha hotel, chosen for comfort, atmosphere, service and access to key wildlife areas. Each property supports the rhythm of a photographic safari, with early starts, long days in the field, comfortable spaces to rest and time to recharge equipment between activities.
In Tarangire, guests stay close to elephant-rich landscapes and baobab scenery. Near Ngorongoro Crater, accommodation is selected for access to the crater descent route, helping maximise the full-day photographic safari on the crater floor.
In the Serengeti, luxury tented camps are positioned for strong wildlife access in both the Central and Northern Serengeti, giving photographers time in two very different regions: classic predator country and the wilder northern migration landscape.
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