2-Day Tanzania Safari: Tarangire & Ngorongoro Big 5 Adventure

"Serengeti shall never die" was an academy award winning film of the sixties. Bernhard Grzimek , veterinarian and director of the Zoo at Frankfurt /Germany and his son Michael were on a mission. They counted the number of animals in the Serengeti that migrated during the year on the search of food. Observing them from a little plane, during innumerous flights, they found out that the numbers of animals were being reduced to shockingly 367.000, and that the herds in the search of food were crossing the border from Tanzania to Kenia. With the help of Peter Molley, director of the Serengeti National Park, Bernhard Grizmek successfully convinced the authorities to create one single national park extending across two countries . Thus, Serengeti wildlife was rescued from extinction. When I was a little girl, watching this film, I was fascinated and I wanted to become a veterinarian, too. Now, 50 years later, being an accomplished veterinarian specialized in cats, I was on my way to touch base with my dreams. I wanted to know, if this untamed piece of nature still existed. Searching for the right agency, I wanted a private tour which a personal touch , and found a small local company called "Social Adventure Safari". Meaning that people do not come as tourists, but as guests, who want to learn about the Serengeti, the wild animals but also about the local people and the culture of Tanzania. So I started the social adventure safari. The day I arrived at Kilimanjaro International Airport, I was awaited at he airport and we drove to the Forest Hill Hotel at Arusha. Next day I flew from Arusha to Seronera Airstrip. It was a plane with 12 seats , and being single I had the honor to sit next to the pilot. After a breathtaking one hour flight I landed in the middle of the Serengeti, were Peter Mbando, my personal guide awaited me with a nice welcome picnic. Then off we went for the adventure. The car was a Toyota Landcruiser with an open roof top to stand upright and have a great view. Although Peter was a very good driver, the road was rather bumpy and full of potholes, I almost felt sea- sick, but after some I felt better, it just took some time to adjust. The afternoon was already full of exciting encounters with wild animals. In the evening we arrived at the Tanzania Bush Camp. It was right in the middle of the Serengeti and in the night you could hear the lions roar. The next day we were informed that a leopeard was seen an hour away from the camp and yes, he was chilling high up in the tree, he did not care at all about us taking pictures of him. Then after another day near the in the Tanzania Bush Camp we left early for the Ngoro Ngoro Crater. Leaving iin the early morning gave me a nice opportunity to take enchantzing pictures of a lion couple. They were pretty relaxed and the let us come very near. Then, heading for Ngoro Ngoro Crater. Since I wanted to be there early, we did not stop at the Olduvai Gorge as planned by the Social Adventure Safari Company.. We had also a flat tyre, but my experienced guide Peter, he is doing his job for more than 20 years, changed tyre in no time and soon we arrived at the descending road to the crater. It was alittle chilly there , the altitude is about 2000 meter. So I finally arrived at the destination of my dreams. We had a breathtaking view down the crater. Having descended on a steep road to the crater floor, there were lots of animals to be seen. It is almost like the garden of Eden. The only difference is, that in the garden Eden there were no herds of Toyota Landcruisers driving around. Since the diameter of the crater is only 20 km, at some scenic views are rather crowded. But the animals did ot seem to care. Tourists must not drive off road , and the park closes at 4 pm. So there is plenty of space and time reserved for the wild inhabitants to relax in their beautiful home. At the end of the day we met a huge elefant. He approached directly to our car and stood still for a moment, as if he greated us, then suddenly disappeared. What a social contact, it couldn´t get better than that. After this we drove back to the rim of the crater. We stopped at the tomb of Berhard and Michael Grzimek, father an son who had dedicated their lives to save this remaining paradise on earth. Next day we hiked to the Endoro Falls and to the elefant caves. An armed game ranger accompanied us. The elefants happened not to be at home, but since I had made this marvellous encounter the day before, it did not matter at all. In the afternoon we visited a Massai village. They danced for us and explained their way of living. What a strong community! I envy them for their simple , yet effective approach of life. What a fascinating country! During the safari my very friendly and experienced guide Peter explained a lot about wildlife, nature and the culture of the tanzanian people. I really enjoyed my trip, it was fantastic. The big herds have a large habitat to gracefully live a peaceful life. And until this day the legacy of Bernhard and MIchael Grzimek still lives on: "Serengeti shall never die"

We originally planned to explore just Rwanda, but Daniel suggested adding Kenya and Tanzania to make the most of our African adventure—and it was the best decision ever! My cousin, my mother, and I went on a 20-day program that turned out to be the trip of a lifetime. Our guides—Peter in Kenya, Emmanuel in Rwanda, and Grace in Tanzania—were exceptional professionals. We especially loved Grace, our female driver-guide in Serengeti, who brought great energy and insight to our game drives. Social Adventure Safari went above and beyond—Victor even flew with us to Zanzibar and helped us organize fun beach activities in Nungwi. Thank you for a truly memorable experience!

From the moment we reached out, Daniel impressed us with his quick responses and thoughtful itinerary planning. Every detail was perfectly arranged, from the timing of game drives to lodge selections. Our safari guide, Peter, was simply fantastic—friendly, knowledgeable, and always making sure we had the best wildlife views. The vehicle was spotless, super comfortable, and even came with snacks and cold drinks. We were amazed to find it fully equipped with charging ports and a pop-up roof that made taking photos unforgettable. Social Adventure Safari exceeded our expectations in every way!