Can the schedule be built around golden hour every day?

Yes. This 10-day route is a real starting point — game drive timing, lodge choice, and length of stay at each sighting are built around golden-hour light before you book.

Is this exact route and price guaranteed?

The route, lodges, and starting price shown here reflect a real photography trip EXG has planned. Your exact price is confirmed to your dates, group size, and season before you commit to anything.

Does the vehicle support serious camera gear?

Yes — the private 4x4 on this route comes with beanbag supports and in-vehicle charging, and every photographer gets a guaranteed window seat.

How far in advance should we book a trip like this?

Most photographers book 3–9 months ahead, especially around the wildebeest migration season, when lodges on this route fill up first.

Sample Itinerary

10-Day Photographic Safari

For Photographers Who Refuse to Miss the Shot — Arusha → Tarangire → Lake Manyara → Ngorongoro → Serengeti.

10 Days / 9 Nights · From $7,200 per person

Quick Answer

10-Day Photographic Safari is a real 10 days / 9 nights route EXG Safaris has planned for photographers: Arusha → Tarangire → Lake Manyara → Ngorongoro → Serengeti. It includes a private 4x4 with driver-guide, the lodges listed below, and all park fees, starting from $7,200 per person — adjusted to your exact dates, group, and pace before you book.

"As a seasoned solo traveler who has explored all seven continents, Excellent Guides (EXG) Tours and Safaris this Tanzania tour guide company delivered one of the most amazing experiences! Their expert guides — mine was Anaeli — make ALL the difference, especially when traversing the vast Serengeti where there's absolutely no signage to guide your way. What also truly impressed me was the ability of Glory Zablon, the onsite Arusha contact, to accommodate my requests for a completely personalized itinerary. Rather than pushing a cookie-cutter package, she listened carefully and curated an experience that was uniquely mine. If you're considering a Tanzania safari, there's a zillion companies out there, but you can book EXG with confidence."

Chanta L J · Tripadvisor review

Trip Highlights

What Makes This Route Work for Photographers

Guaranteed window seat per photographer

Beanbag supports & charging in vehicle

Golden hour scheduling – early starts, late returns

Long stays at key sightings

4 nights in the Serengeti

Guide trained in light & composition

Day by Day

Your 10 Days, Day by Day

Day 1

Arrival

Arrive Kilimanjaro, transfer to Gran Meliá. Rest & gear check.

VIP Meet & GreetTransferGear prep

Day 2

Arusha & Prep

Light scouting and wildlife centers for practice shots.

Wildlife centersPractice shootingGear review

Day 3

Tarangire – Elephants

Transfer to Tarangire for a golden hour shoot with elephants & baobabs.

TransferAfternoon shootGolden hour

Tarangire – Elephants — representative photo

Day 4

Tarangire Full Day

Dawn-to-dusk shooting, with long stays at sightings.

Sunrise shootAll-day game driveSunset shoot

Tarangire Full Day — representative photo

Day 5

Lake Manyara

Forest photography, birdlife, flamingos, tree-climbing lions.

Game driveBird photographyTransfer

Day 6

Ngorongoro Crater

Crater descent for Big Five and dramatic landscapes.

Crater game driveWildlife photographyLandscape shots

Ngorongoro Crater — representative photo

Day 7

Serengeti Day 1

First full Serengeti day — predators, herds, endless plains.

Sunrise shootGame driveGolden hour

Day 8

Serengeti Day 2

Deep Serengeti, river crossings (seasonal), big cats.

Full day shootOptional balloonEditing time

Day 9

Serengeti Day 3

Final shooting day, sundowner with portfolio-worthy light.

Game drivesSundowner shootImage review

Day 10

Departure

Morning shoot if time allows, fly to Arusha, depart.

Final shootFlightAirport transfer

Photos shown are representative of each day's park and activity, not a shot from this exact route.

Where You Sleep

Lodges on This Route

Gran Meliá Arusha2 Nights

Burunge Tented Lodge2 Nights

Ngorongoro Coffee Lodge1 Night

Serengeti Serena Lodge4 Nights

Pricing Clarity

What's Included

Included

VIP Meet & Greet at Kilimanjaro Airport
Private photographers' 4×4 with beanbags & charging
Golden hour game drives with flexible schedule
All park fees

Not Included

—International flights to Kilimanjaro (JRO)
—Tanzania visa (most U.S. travelers use the $100 multiple-entry eVisa)
—Guide and lodge-staff tips
—Photographic gear, laptops, and hard drives

On This Route

What You'll See Along the Way

Close-up portrait of a male lion in the Serengeti

Close-up of a rhino in the Ngorongoro Crater

The Milky Way over a safari camp in the Serengeti

Lion cubs with their mother in the Serengeti

Trip Questions

This Itinerary, Answered

Continue Planning Your Safari

Explore More

Photography Safaris

The full planning guide for this safari style

Compare All Itineraries

See every itinerary side by side

Ngorongoro Crater

The crater day on this route

Serengeti National Park

The Serengeti days on this route

Tanzania Safari Cost

The full cost breakdown for U.S. travelers

Ready to Plan Your Photography Safari?

Share your dates and priorities — the EXG team will adjust this itinerary and confirm an exact price, with no commitment.