Self-Launched 6-Day Northern Tanzania Safari & Materuni Waterfall
6 days · Tanzania (Northern Safari Circuit)
Zara Tours charges £1,560
No-markup version: ~£745 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Zara Tours' 6-day luxury lodge safari through Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara, finishing with the Materuni waterfall hike and coffee tour. Instead of a private 4x4 and luxury lodges, you join a shared small-group camping safari (or book a shared-vehicle seat through a Moshi/Arusha operator like Kilisa, Tanzania Specialist or a Leopard Tours seat) and stay in public campsites inside or near the parks — the same parks, same wildlife, at a fraction of the price. Everything is bookable independently: safari seats through local operators, the Materuni trek via GetYourGuide or directly with a Moshi guide, plus dala-dalas and shuttles for transfers. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget estimates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Moshi to Tarangire National Park
Moshi / Tarangire National Park
Arrive/start in Moshi (Kilimanjaro Airport transfer by shared shuttle ~£8-12 or dala-dala + boda-boda). Meet your shared safari group early morning and drive ~3 hours to Tarangire. Spend the afternoon on game drives along the Tarangire River where elephant herds and baobabs dominate; excellent birdlife. Overnight at a public campsite outside the park (e.g. Tarangire public campsite) with a group cook preparing meals.
🚌Shared 4x4 safari vehicle with roof hatch (group seat); ~3h drive from Moshi
🛏Public safari campsite near Tarangire (tent, shared facilities)
- →Shared game drive in Tarangire National Park
- →Elephant and baobab spotting along Tarangire River
- →Birdwatching
Tarangire to Serengeti via Olduvai Gorge
Serengeti National Park
Long scenic drive north through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to the Serengeti, with game viewing en route. Stop at Olduvai Gorge museum (~£15 entry, optional but worth it) and optionally a Maasai village visit (~£10-15, negotiate directly). Arrive at Serengeti campsite (e.g. Seronera public campsite) for sunset and dinner.
🚌Shared safari vehicle; full-day drive with stops
🛏Public campsite in Serengeti (e.g. Seronera area), tent
- →Game drive en route to Serengeti
- →Olduvai Gorge Museum visit (optional)
- →Maasai village visit (optional)
Full day in the Serengeti
Serengeti National Park
Dawn game drive — the best predator-spotting hours. Full day exploring the Seronera valley and beyond for lions, cheetah, leopard, and (depending on season) the Great Wildebeest Migration. Return to camp for dinner. Optional hot air balloon flight can be booked independently (~£400-500) — skip it to keep costs low.
🚌Shared safari vehicle
🛏Public campsite in Serengeti, tent
- →Sunrise game drive
- →Full-day game viewing (Big Five, plains game)
- →Wildebeest migration viewing (seasonal)
Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro Crater
Morning game drive out of the Serengeti, then drive to the Ngorongoro rim. Descend into the crater early next morning (or late afternoon if timing allows) for one of Africa's densest wildlife concentrations — rhino, lion, elephant, flamingo at Lake Magadi. Overnight at a campsite on the crater rim (e.g. Simba public campsite) — cold at night, pack layers.
🚌Shared safari vehicle; crater descent in same 4x4
🛏Simba public campsite, Ngorongoro rim (tent)
- →Morning game drive in Serengeti
- →Descent into Ngorongoro Crater
- →Crater floor game viewing
- →Lake Magadi flamingo viewing
Ngorongoro to Lake Manyara
Lake Manyara National Park / Mto wa Mbu
Morning crater or rim views, then drive to Lake Manyara for an afternoon game drive — famous for tree-climbing lions, plus buffalo, giraffe, hippo and monkeys against the Rift Valley escarpment. Overnight in Mto wa Mbu village guesthouse (cheap and characterful, ~£12-18/night).
🚌Shared safari vehicle; ~2h drive
🛏Budget guesthouse in Mto wa Mbu
- →Lake Manyara game drive
- →Tree-climbing lion spotting
- →Rift Valley escarpment views
Materuni Waterfall & coffee tour, back to Moshi
Materuni / Moshi
Take a dala-dala or shared taxi from Moshi to Materuni village (~45 min, ~£2-3). Hike 45 minutes through farmland to the 80m Materuni waterfall (entry ~£7-10 including local guide, bookable via GetYourGuide or directly at the village office), swim in the pool, then join a Chaga coffee-making experience — roasting, pounding and drinking your own cup. Return to Moshi for the evening; onward flight or Kilimanjaro Airport transfer.
🚌Dala-dala/shared taxi Moshi–Materuni (~£2-3 each way)
🛏Not included — budget guesthouse in Moshi (~£15) if staying the night
- →Materuni Waterfall hike
- →Swim at the waterfall
- →Chaga coffee farm tour and tasting
Self-launched vs. Zara Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Zara Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£745 | £1,560 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £815 per person (52%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Zara Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£745
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched 6-Day Northern Tanzania Safari & Materuni Waterfall cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £745 per person for 6 days in Tanzania (Northern Safari Circuit). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Zara Tours?+
Yes — Zara Tours charges around £1,560 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £745 — a saving of roughly £815 (52%) per person.
How long is the Tanzania (Northern Safari Circuit) trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 day-by-day stops through Tanzania (Northern Safari Circuit).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, wildlife, budget trip through Tanzania (Northern Safari Circuit), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.