Northern Circuit
Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire and Lake Manyara, the classical route, done properly.
Family-owned in Arusha since 2003Ilmaasai
Ilmaasai
Expedition
Your gateway to unforgettable Tanzania adventures
2003
Family-owned since
96
Safari itineraries
$150
Per day, camping safaris
24/7
Support while you travel
Who we are
A family business, showing you the Tanzania we grew up in.
Ilmaasai, the Maasai word for "the Maasai", was founded in Arusha in 2003 by Loth Kornelio. Today his family and a small team of professional guides plan safaris, Kilimanjaro and Meru climbs, and Zanzibar holidays for travellers from all over the world.
See our safarisPopular trip
Premium 7-Day Big Cats Safari
7 days · Year-round
From $3,250 per person
“Black rhino tracking in Moru Kopjes and the crater, with luxury tented camps throughout.”
See the itineraryThe Collection
See all journeys →Safaris across Tanzania
4 daysThe Ultimate Northern Circuit Fly-In Safari
Four days, three nights, and a bush flight straight into the Serengeti.
From $1,575 per person
5 daysCats, Calves & Crater
A premier five-day expedition from Tarangire's elephant country to Ndutu and the crater.
From $1,934 per person
5 days5-Day Tanzania Northern Circuit Safari
Tarangire, Serengeti, seasonal Ndutu and the Ngorongoro Crater.
From $1,934 per person
7 days7-Day Tanzania Safari
Manyara, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, two of Africa's Seven Natural Wonders.
From $2,650 per person
8 days8-Day Big 5 & Hadzabe Cultural Safari
The full Big 5 and a sunrise hunt with the Hadzabe hunter-gatherers.
From $2,854 per person
8 days8-Day Southern Tanzania Wilderness Safari
Nyerere · Ruaha · Mikumi · Udzungwa, the least-crowded wilderness in East Africa.
From $3,255 per person
The ground we know
Where we travel
We only work in Tanzania. That means we know each region in every season, instead of knowing a little about everywhere.
Ndutu & The Crater
Calving season on the short-grass plains, and the caldera at first light.
Southern & Western
Nyerere, Ruaha and Mahale, wild, uncrowded, and heavy with elephant and chimpanzee.
Zanzibar
Stone Town, dhow sails and a slow saltwater finish to a long safari.
Three ways to travel
Camping, midrange or luxury
Closest to nature
Budget Camping
Tented camping safaris across the northern parks, from around US$150 per person per day.
- Dome tents, mattresses and full camping equipment
- Private 4×4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
from US$150 per person per day
See Budget Camping tripsComfort and adventure
Midrange Lodge
Comfortable lodges and tented camps with a hot shower at the end of every game drive, from around US$270 per person per day.
- Midrange lodges and permanent tented camps
- Private 4×4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
from US$270 per person per day
See Midrange Lodge tripsThe finest camps in Tanzania
Luxury Lodge
Private, tailor-made itineraries staying in Tanzania's finest lodges and camps, from around US$300 per person per day.
- Premium lodges and luxury tented camps
- Private 4×4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof and fridge
- Senior driver-guide chosen for your interests
from US$300 per person per day
See Luxury Lodge tripsWhy Ilmaasai
A local family, guiding since 2003.
01
Family-owned since 2003
You deal directly with the Kornelio family in Arusha, not a call centre abroad. More than twenty years of planning Tanzania trips, and every itinerary drawn by hand around your dates.
02
Local, professional guides
Tanzanian driver-guides who grew up beside these parks, fluent in English and Swahili, with German, Spanish, French and Italian speakers available on request.
03
Private 4×4 Land Cruisers
Every safari is private. Pop-up roof, a window seat for everyone, charging points and cold drinking water throughout the day.
04
24/7 support, clear pricing
Park fees, accommodation, transfers and full board quoted up front, secure online payment, and someone reachable in Arusha at any hour of your trip.
How it works
Four steps, start to finish
01
Tell us your dates
A short conversation about timing, budget and the wildlife you care about most.
02
Receive a draft route
A hand-built itinerary with camps, distances, seasons and a clear per-person price.
03
Refine together
We adjust pacing, upgrade or simplify camps, and lock the flights and park permits.
04
Travel, fully held
Airport meet, one guide throughout, and someone on the phone in Arusha the whole way.
From the field
Photos from our trips
Reviews
What our travellers say
“Traveling to Africa for the first time felt overwhelming, but Collin made the entire planning process seamless. Ilmaasai is a family-owned business, which made the experience even more special, Christian and Loth no longer felt like tour guides, they felt like family.”
“Our safari with Ilmaasai will without doubt remain one of the most beautiful trips of our lives. Loth knows the parks by heart and always found the best route, and Collins made the adventure even more special. We recommend this company with our eyes closed.”
“Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Crater and five days in the Serengeti, a private vehicle with a driver and guide just for us, good food, water always to hand, and a better price than the other agencies we asked. We loved discovering Tanzania with them.”
Conservation & community
Park fees, local jobs and small groups
Every journey contributes directly to the park and conservation fees that keep the Serengeti, Ngorongoro and the southern reserves protected, a real, measurable share of what you pay.
We hire Tanzanian guides, drivers and camp teams, work with Hadzabe and Maasai communities on their own terms, and keep group sizes small enough that the bush stays quiet after we leave.
Questions
Before you write to us
- Who is Ilmaasai Expedition?
- We are a family-owned local tour operator based in Arusha, Tanzania, specialising in Tanzania safaris, Kilimanjaro and Meru trekking, and Zanzibar holidays since 2003. The company was founded by Loth Kornelio and is run today with his daughter Catherine in the office and his son Collin guiding in the field.
- How much does a Tanzania safari cost?
- Budget camping safaris start from around US$150 per person per day, midrange lodge safaris from around US$270, and luxury lodge safaris from around US$300. The final price depends on the season, the number of travellers and the parks you choose. Requesting a quote is free and there is no obligation.
- What is included in the price?
- Park and conservation fees, accommodation, a private 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof, your professional driver-guide, all meals on safari, drinking water, and airport pick-up and drop-off. International flights, visas, travel insurance, tips and personal items are not included.
- What languages do your guides speak?
- All our guides are fluent in English and Swahili. We also have guides who speak German, Spanish, French and Italian, among other languages, tell us your preference when you enquire.
- When is the best time to visit Tanzania?
- Tanzania is a year-round destination. The great wildebeest migration river crossings usually run from July to October, the calving season in Ndutu falls between late January and March, and the dry months of June to October give the most concentrated game viewing. We will advise honestly around your dates.
- How do I book and pay?
- Send us your dates and interests and we will reply quickly with a tailored itinerary and quote. A deposit confirms your lodges and park permits, and payment can be made by bank transfer or securely online through our Pesapal payment page.
Get in touch
Plan your trip to Tanzania
Tell us your dates and what you most want to see. You'll have a hand-built route and an honest price within 24 hours.