Private, tailor-made journeys through the northern circuit and up Kilimanjaro, planned with you by the people who run them.
We are based in Arusha, where the northern circuit starts. Every trip below is just a starting point. You can change the length, the parks, the pace or the lodges, and we will rebuild the plan and send you a new price. Tanzania protects about 38% of its land. That is 16 national parks, 29 game reserves and 40 conservation areas. These are the parts we know best.
Most people start with one of these four. Each one opens a page that explains how the trip works and which of our itineraries fit it.
Four to nine days across Tarangire, Lake Manyara, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater.
Places Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro
Four days from Arusha through Lake Manyara, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, in a private…
Places Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara, Lake Eyasi
Seven days through Tarangire, Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater, ending with a morning at Lake…
Places Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Serengeti
Seven days pairing the parks with cultural time: Lake Manyara, Lake Eyasi, the Ngorongoro Crater and the…
Places Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Olduvai Gorge
Six days with two full days in the Serengeti, Olduvai Gorge on the way in and the Ngorongoro Crater to…
Places Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro
Eight days built around the herds: Lake Manyara, Ndutu in the calving season, two days in the Serengeti…
Places Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro
Nine days across the northern circuit at an unhurried pace: Lake Manyara, the Serengeti, two nights at…
Six routes to Uhuru Peak. What changes between them is acclimatisation time, how busy the trail is, and whether you sleep in huts or tents.
Places Kilimanjaro
Known as the “Coca-Cola” route, the Marangu route is a classic trek on Mount Kilimanjaro. It is the…
Places Kilimanjaro
The Marangu route is one of the most popular routes to the summit of Kilimanjaro.
Places Kilimanjaro
Six days on the Machame route, camping throughout. The shortest Machame itinerary, with a steeper daily…
Places Kilimanjaro
Seven days on Machame, with the Barranco to Barafu leg split over two days, so the day before the summit…
Places Kilimanjaro
The Rongai route is the only route that approaches Kilimanjaro from the north, close to the Kenyan…
Places Kilimanjaro
Eight days on the Lemosho route, starting in rainforest on the mountain's western side, with the longest…
Timed to put you where the herds are — calving on the southern plains early in the year, river crossings in the north from July.
Places Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro
Eight days built around the herds: Lake Manyara, Ndutu in the calving season, two days in the Serengeti…
Places Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro
Nine days across the northern circuit at an unhurried pace: Lake Manyara, the Serengeti, two nights at…
We are based in Arusha, where the northern circuit starts. You talk to the people who run your trip. Nobody passes it on to another company.
Every safari gets its own 4×4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof, for up to seven people. You choose what time to leave and how long to stay with an animal.
Add a day. Swap a park. Choose better lodges. Travel in a different month. Most trips change two or three times before they are right.
Your quote lists park fees, the vehicle, your guide, the hotels and the meals, each with its own price. It also lists what is not included.
Andreas H / Sep 2025 · Germany
We were on the road with Red Soil and the very good gight and driver Steve for three days. New for us was Mkomazie Park, where the Rhyno Sanctuary and Mkomazie View Camp are very special. Also in Tarangire NP we were very lucky to see lions and elephants up close. Tarangire Safari Lodge is worth its money here. Our guide Steve has a very good eye and knows a lot about wildlife .
Valeriya G / Feb 2025
We have been choosing between couple of offers, Red Soil came as recommendation from our friends. We enjoyed speed and ease of communication prior to the trip, level of organization during the trip (always on time, agile to fit our needs). At the end of the trip we had an issue with our IDs (forgot them at Masai Mara) and our guide helped us to solve it with diligent urgency. Highly recommend!
Albin G / Dec 2024
We had a fantastic experience not only during the safari but before and after too. The flexibility and eagerness to please our asks was impressive and we had so much fun! Can only recommend!!
VDG / Jan 2024
Excellent Tanzanian experience. From beginning till end a pleasure. Clear, quick communication, very nice accommodation, and the best guide there is.
Christine / Oct 2023
I have recently returned from a 10 days safari with Red Soil Safaris in Tanzania with my daughter. I would definitely recommend this Company. The owner Noel was kind, efficient and catered for everything we asked for. On arrival he took us for breakfast in Arusha and was waiting for us when we came back with a bottle of wine. Our driver/guide Ashley was fantastic. His knowledge of the wildlife there is amazing. He has a great sense of humour and is always cheerful and happy. He made sure we were in the best locations to enjoy the animals. We saw around 100 different species. We were very lucky that there was only the three of us in the safari vehicle, making it cosy and giving us the scope to move around allowing for better viewing of the animals. The varied accommodations were excellent as was the food. This was my first trip to Africa and I had a superb experience. I will always have fond memories of this safari. Noel and Ashley made us feel so welcome and by the end of the trip we were all good friends. Asante sana Noel and Ashley. Christine.
Sef / Oct 2023 · France
Going on a family safari with 2 children aged 6 and 7 seemed difficult, if not impossible. Noel was recommended to us by a friend and our dream became achievable 🤩 He organized everything for us: 4 days of safari with a night in a tent (glamping), then 2 nights in the farm dreams lodge. We did 2 days in Seregenti, 1 day the crater and 1 day Tarangire Park. And of course we visited Ngorongoro. Our guide, Dominique, made us dream, travel 🦓🦒🐘🦛🦏 every day we were sublime 🤩Every animal we saw, every person we met, every place we slept was just perfect, magical and magnificent 😍😍Go ahead, trust him, close your eyes and let him guide you. I hadn't done any research on the hotels that Noel had booked for us because I just wanted to discover and be surprised and that's without any regrets. You are accompanied from the moment you get off the plane until your departure; for us it was the airport heading to Zanzibar.
Martin S / Jun 2023 · Sweden
We went to Tanzania to visit our daughter who was working gor a few months here. With this a long dream of going on a safari could be fullfilled. We booked a five day package including Serengeti and Nguruhguru and excellent lodges inclufing two nights glamping within Serengeti. The most important part of a good safari is a good guide. The giide will select the paths to take the jeep where he estimates the animals will be..and of course since the guide also will be driving the car handling the jeep is important too. Our guide Ashley excelled in all. He managed not only to show us the ”big five” during the Safari but also teach us about the nature and land. For some guides this is just a job, for Ashley with his study at the university and his genuine interest this is his life. He could always answer all our questions. He knew over 1200 birds by heart and could always immediately identify any bird. Make sure your next safari includes Ashley!
Jana Č / Jan 2023
We had 5 days safari with Ashley. Everything was perfect. The best vacation which we ever had! Definitely recommend! Accommodation, food, car, everything in high quality!
Mark M / Sep 2021 · Germany
From the first moment I had approached Red Soil Safaris, I got the feeling I was dealing with professional people here, who would have made my trip unforgettable. I was contacted by the owner Noel, who I can't thank enough! who illustrated me the different options for a safari in Tanzania. It didn't matter how big or small my questions were, he has always replied within 12h to my emails, which is not usual everywhere. When we landed in Kilimanjaro airport, a representative of Red Soil Safaris was waiting for us there to take us to our accommodation in Arusha. The next 6 days were priceless; our driver and tour guide Ashley was very kind, perfect english and very helpful in explaining the culture of Tanzania, the landscape, the country, the animals and so much more. He was very knowledgable and spotted animals way before we did. The accommodations picked by Red Soil Safaris were really good. We went for the basic ones, and they were incredible. Not much more you can ask for, plus you can check them out before you book, so you know which place you are getting. If you are planning on going to a Safari in Tanzania, look no further and go with them, I highly recommend them!
Every park and region our trips reach, from the Serengeti plains to the Ngorongoro Crater and the Zanzibar coast.
Six of them are below. The full list runs to fifteen, and it includes the quieter corners most itineraries skip: Ndutu in the calving months, Lake Eyasi for the Hadzabe morning, Lake Natron under Ol Doinyo Lengai, and Olduvai Gorge on the road between the crater and the plains.
Africa's highest point, climbable without technical gear
Explore KilimanjaroThe same parks can be done in very different ways. Each of these pages explains one of them plainly, including what it gives up.
The parks sit close together, west and south of Arusha. That is why a four-day safari is genuinely worthwhile here, and why the Serengeti, the crater and Kilimanjaro can all sit inside one trip.
Going west from Arusha the road passes Tarangire, then Lake Manyara, then climbs to the Ngorongoro Crater and drops onto the Serengeti plains beyond it. Kilimanjaro sits an hour east of town in the other direction, and Zanzibar is a short flight from either end. Ndutu, Lake Eyasi, Olduvai Gorge and Lake Natron all sit within that same stretch of country.
Wildlife · 9 min read
Where the wildebeest herds are through the year, and what that means for when to travel.
Planning · 7 min read
What to bring on safari and up Kilimanjaro, and what you can leave behind.
Planning · 4 min read
Most visitors need a visa, and most can get one on arrival or online in advance. What the visa covers, what to…
Planning · 5 min read
Park fees are the largest fixed cost of any safari or climb, and they are the same for every operator. Who sets…
Planning · 4 min read
Fly into Kilimanjaro International for the northern circuit, Dar es Salaam for the south, Zanzibar for the beach…
Planning · 5 min read
A permanent lodge, a tented camp, a mobile camp that follows the migration, or a tent you camp in yourself. Each…
Planning · 4 min read
Tipping is customary in Tanzania and it is a real part of what your guide and camp staff earn. Who to tip, how it…
Planning · 4 min read
Malaria, yellow fever, the routine jabs, and the small things that spoil a trip. What to discuss with your doctor…
Planning · 4 min read
Tanzanian shillings for small things, US dollars for the big ones, and cash for almost everything outside the…
Planning · 4 min read
An enquiry, a conversation, a draft itinerary, a quote, a deposit, and then the details. What happens between your…
Planning · 4 min read
Early mornings, long quiet stretches, a vehicle that becomes home, and hours that pass in a way nothing else does…
Planning · 4 min read
Medical cover with a high limit, evacuation from the bush, cancellation, and the activity clauses. What a safari…
Places · 6 min read
A national park on the doorstep, a crater lake, coffee farms, the markets and Mount Meru. The best ways to spend a…
Places · 5 min read
Materuni waterfall, Kikuletwa hot springs, Marangu, Lake Chala and the coffee cafés. What to do with a day or two…
Kilimanjaro · 6 min read
Six routes go up Kilimanjaro. They differ in days, scenery, crowds and how well they help you get used to the…
Kilimanjaro · 6 min read
Kilimanjaro is a walk, not a climb. The altitude, the cold on summit night, and the length of the days make it…
Kilimanjaro · 5 min read
Altitude sickness is why people turn back on Kilimanjaro. This page explains what it is, what it feels like, how…
Kilimanjaro · 6 min read
Wake-up tea at six, breakfast, walk, lunch, walk, camp by mid-afternoon. Here is how a day on the mountain runs…
Kilimanjaro · 5 min read
Three cooked meals a day, snacks on the trail, and more of it than you expect. This page covers what the crew…
Kilimanjaro · 6 min read
A Kilimanjaro climb is carried by a crew that outnumbers the climbers. Here is who they are, what they do, how…
Kilimanjaro · 6 min read
You do not need to have climbed a mountain before. Most people on Kilimanjaro have not. This page covers what a…
Kilimanjaro · 5 min read
Three months of regular walking, some hills, a loaded daypack, and two long days back to back. Here is a training…
Kilimanjaro · 6 min read
You leave camp at midnight, climb for six hours in the cold and dark, reach the roof of Africa at sunrise, and…
Kilimanjaro · 5 min read
Tents on every route but one, huts on Marangu, and a high camp on bare rock the night before the summit. A tour of…
Kilimanjaro · 5 min read
Daily health checks, trained guides, emergency oxygen, and a park rescue system. Here is how safety works on the…
Kilimanjaro · 5 min read
Warm forest, cold nights above 3,000 metres, and a summit that can be twenty below with wind. The weather on the…
Kilimanjaro · 4 min read
Every month on the mountain, in one place: weather, crowds, summit snow and which route works best. Pick your…
Kilimanjaro · 5 min read
The porters carry your main bag. Each day you carry a small pack with water, layers, snacks and a few essentials…
Kilimanjaro · 4 min read
Your insurance must cover trekking to 6,000 metres, and many ordinary policies stop far lower without saying so…
Kilimanjaro · 5 min read
Fly into Kilimanjaro International, stay in Moshi or Arusha, and drive to the gate on the first morning. Here is…
Kilimanjaro · 4 min read
Three points on the crater rim count as the summit of Kilimanjaro. Here is where each one is, what it takes to…
Kilimanjaro · 5 min read
Two landmarks on the southern routes that every climber asks about. One is a scramble with your hands. The other…
Kilimanjaro · 5 min read
Nobody climbs Kilimanjaro unaccompanied, but plenty of people arrive alone. Private climb or join a group, what…
Kilimanjaro · 5 min read
There is ice on the equator, and it is disappearing. What the glaciers are, why they exist, how much has gone, and…
Kilimanjaro · 4 min read
The numbers people ask for: how high, how wide, how old, how many climb it, and why it stands alone. Clear…
Kilimanjaro · 4 min read
The questions people ask before they book a climb, in one place, with short honest answers and links to the pages…
Kilimanjaro · 5 min read
Most climbers add a safari, and the order, the rest day and the route between mountain and parks decide how well…
Kilimanjaro · 4 min read
Meru is 4,566 metres, four days, and an hour from Arusha. Climbing it first is the best acclimatisation there is…
Three decisions shape a Tanzanian holiday, and taking them in the right order saves a great deal of rethinking.
It determines where the migration is, what the weather does, what things cost and how busy the parks are. If your dates are flexible, read the best time to visit before anything else. If they're fixed, the central Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater work in every month and the trip can be built around them.
Four days reaches the Serengeti and the crater and nothing else. Six days is where a safari starts to breathe. Eight or nine removes the compromises. Beyond that you're usually adding the coast or a second ecosystem, not more of the same.
Wildlife only, wildlife and Kilimanjaro, wildlife and Zanzibar, or wildlife and culture. Each of those is a genuinely different holiday out of the same set of parks.
Everything after that, which camps, which regions and how many nights in each, follows from those three. That is the part to talk through instead of choosing from a list.
You get your own vehicle, your own driver-guide, and a day built around what you want instead of a group schedule. If you want to stay with one sighting for an hour, you stay.
We can make them longer or shorter, change the order, base them in a different region, or build them around a flight or a climb. Most of the trips we run are versions of these, not the published routes exactly.
The two things that change a price most are how many people are in the vehicle and which camps the trip uses, and both are decisions, not defaults.
Not a leopard, not a river crossing, not a rhino. We can plan to have you in the right region, in the right month, with enough days to be patient. A good itinerary buys you exactly that.
There is no charge for an enquiry, and no obligation at the end of it.
Choose the month first, because it decides where the animals are and what the trip costs. Choose the length second: six days is comfortable, eight or nine removes the compromises. Choose the shape third: wildlife, Kilimanjaro, the coast, or a combination.
Then talk to somebody instead of choosing from a list. Every trip here's private and every itinerary is a starting point.
Send a rough idea — dates, how long you have, who is travelling — and we will come back with an itinerary and a price. It costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
