Africa Safari Tour Hosted by Don Ellingsen

Travel to Tanzania with Don Ellingsen and experience one of Africa’s most extraordinary safari destinations through iconic landscapes, unforgettable wildlife, and meaningful cultural connections. From Arusha to Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and Karatu, this small-group Tanzania safari blends bucket-list moments with the kind of care, insight, and hospitality that make the experience feel personal from the start.

Quick Trip Snapshot

• Destination: Tanzania

• Safari Style: Lodge and tented camp safari

• Hosted By: Don Ellingsen (Don Ellingsen has traveled extensively throughout Africa over the past 15 years, including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya.)

• Group Size: Small group

• Top Stops: Arusha, Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Karatu

• Optional Extension: Zanzibar (Spice Island)

Why This Tanzania Safari Stands Out

A Bucket List Tanzania Safari with More to Experience

This Tanzania safari gives travelers the chance to see the places they have dreamed about for years while also experiencing the people, flavors, and traditions that bring the country to life. You will watch wildlife move across the Serengeti, explore the beauty of Tarangire National Park, descend into Ngorongoro Crater, and spend time in Karatu for meaningful cultural experiences that add depth to the trip.

Bucket List Tanzania Safari Highlights

• Private tented camp in the Serengeti with four nights under the stars

• Up to 8 safari game-viewing drives for exceptional wildlife viewing—Tarangire National Park and the Serengeti National Park

• Opportunity to see the Big 5 African animals—lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo— the most iconic and revered species sought after on an African Safari.

• Visit Ngorongoro Crater, one of the top bucket list safari destinations in Africa

• Enjoy cultural experiences in Tanzania, including a Maasai village visit and a Karatu school visit

• Take part in Tanzania cooking experiences in Arusha with local dishes and demonstrations

• Add an optional Serengeti hot air balloon safari

Travel to Tanzania with Don Ellingsen as Your Expert Host

One of the most exciting parts of this safari is traveling with Don Ellingsen. Don has visited Africa many times and brings deep destination knowledge, genuine warmth, and a welcoming presence that helps guests feel comfortable and excited from the moment the trip begins. His love for Tanzania adds something special to every game drive, cultural visit, and shared experience along the way.

Get to know Don:

Don Ellingsen has traveled extensively throughout Africa over the past 15 years, including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya. One of his favorite destinations is Tanzania, as it offers first-timers the rare opportunity to spend four nights out on the wide-open savannah of the Serengeti in a luxurious tented camp. Don is an avid photographer, and he finds that each safari offers unique opportunities to view an amazing array of wildlife in their native habitats, often alongside our safari vehicles. Don and his wife, Mary, have led several groups to Africa and enjoy sharing their experiences and insights of this amazing region. Many of the travelers they have introduced to Africa have gotten hooked and have returned to join them at other destinations across this vast continent.

What You’ll Experience on This African Safari

• Spend four nights in a private tented camp in the Serengeti under a star-filled African sky

• Enjoy up to 8 game drives for exceptional wildlife viewing

• Visit Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, and Ngorongoro Crater

• See Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest intact unflooded caldera and one of Africa’s most remarkable wildlife areas

• Experience a Maasai village visit for a closer look at daily life and local traditions

• Meet students at a local primary school in Karatu

• Enjoy hands-on cooking experiences in Tanzania, including a local lunch and cooking demonstration in Arusha

• Add an optional Serengeti hot air balloon ride

• Extend your trip with an optional Zanzibar post-safari extension, including flights