Embark on a 5-day safari adventure through Tanzania’s iconic parks—Lake Manyara National Park, the vast Serengeti, and the diverse Ngorongoro Crater. Discover breathtaking landscapes, vibrant ecosystems, and thrilling wildlife encounters that will leave you with lasting memories
Day 1: Arusha Town – Lake Manyara
Non-game-viewing travel time: 2½ hours
Distance: 130 km
You will meet our professional driver and tour guide at your hotel, who will provide a brief overview of the safari. After breakfast, we will drive to Lake Manyara National Park. This impressive national park is one of Tanzania’s most dramatically located wildlife areas, featuring a massive but shallow soda lake that covers two-thirds of the park, situated at the foot of the Great Rift Valley’s western escarpment. The park’s varied habitats attract a wide variety of animals, including one of Africa’s largest concentrations of elephants. Manyara is also famous for its tree-climbing lions and large flocks of flamingos attracted by the algae in the lake. Dinner and overnight accommodations will be provided at a lodge, tented camp, hotel, or a luxury, basic campsite.
Day 2: Lake Manyara – Serengeti National Park
Non-game-viewing travel time: 6 hours
Distance: 205 km
After breakfast, we will depart from the camp and drive to the Serengeti via the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, arriving later on the magnificent Serengeti plains for a spectacular wildlife viewing experience. Along the way, you will pass one of the world’s greatest prehistoric archaeological sites, Olduvai Gorge, before continuing through the scrublands. The wooded knolls around Naabi Hill Gate mark the official entrance to the Serengeti, which then descends into the park’s signature wide-open plains. This stretch embodies the meaning of the word “Serengeti,” which derives from the Maasai term “Siringet,” meaning “the land that flows on forever.” Serengeti National Park covers 6,000 square miles of pristine land and offers not only expansive vistas but also the largest migration of mammals on earth, including 1.5 million wildebeest. Dinner and overnight accommodations will be provided at a lodge, luxury tented camp, or basic campsite.
Day 3: Full Day – Serengeti National Park
After breakfast, you will enjoy a full day of game viewing in Serengeti National Park. The Serengeti, Tanzania’s second-largest national park, covers nearly 6,000 square miles of grassland plains, savannah, kopjes, hills, woodlands, and riverine forests. The Grumeti, Mbalageti, and Mara River systems serve as critical water sources and are often excellent sites for wildlife viewing.
In addition to the renowned migration of wildebeest and zebras, the Serengeti is famous for its big predators, including cheetahs and leopards, as well as large pride of lions and clans of hyenas. Other commonly seen animals include gazelles, buffalo, giraffes, topis, hartebeests, ostriches, and jackals. However, it is the full diversity of wildlife and habitats that will truly amaze you.
The greater Serengeti ecosystem includes the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the Masai Mara in Kenya, and numerous surrounding wildlife-protected lands, combining for a total of almost 17,000 square miles—larger than the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island combined. Dinner and overnight accommodations will be at a lodge luxury tented camps or basic campsite.
Day 4: Serengeti – Ngorongoro Crater
Non-game-viewing travel time: 4 hours
Distance: 145 km
Our day starts with a morning game drive in central Serengeti. This is an active time for wildlife, as it is not yet hot, providing excellent opportunities for viewing animals until around 11:30 AM. We will then return to the lodge or camp for brunch. On our way back, we will stop at Olduvai Gorge, a fascinating archaeological site that is of great interest to those curious about history and the Maasai tribes. Dinner and overnight accommodations will be at a lodge, tented camp, hotel, or campsite set on the crater rim. The lodge or campsite offers stunning views of Ngorongoro and the surrounding highlands.
Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater Tour – Arusha
Non-game-viewing travel time: 4 hours
Distance: 190 km
On our last day, we will start early in the morning. Equipped with a picnic lunch, we will descend 2,000 feet to the crater floor in our 4×4 vehicle for game viewing. Let’s explore this “Garden of Eden.” Ngorongoro is a vast and deep volcanic crater featuring rich pastures, swamps, forests, and permanent water, which contribute to the incredible diversity and abundance of wildlife. Up to 25,000 large animals inhabit the crater, making it an excellent opportunity to see black rhinos and other rare species, such as the black-maned lion. We will enjoy a fantastic day witnessing wildlife at its best. In the late afternoon, we will drive back to Arusha, where you will be dropped off at your lodge or hotel at your own expense. This concludes the tour.
Price Includes:
– All park entry fees
– Concession fees
– Flying Doctor Service
– All park camping fees
– Airport pickup
– Ngorongoro Crater service fees
– Accommodation at hotels, lodges, tented camps, or campsites as per the safari program
– Chef services
– Meals as per the itinerary
– English-speaking driver/guide
– Transport in a 4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof
– Bottled drinking water (1.5 liters per person per day during the safari)
– One-night complimentary hotel accommodation in Arusha upon arrival, including breakfast
– Camping equipment, including tents, sleeping mats, sleeping bags, pillows, chairs and tables
Price Does Not Include:
– International and domestic flights
– Fees for passports, visas, immunizations, and insurance
– Tips for staff, including driver-guides, chefs, and porters
– Personal expenses such as souvenirs
“Please note that these are sample itineraries. We will tailor your safari according to your preferences.”
“Book your trip today and experience an unforgettable safari adventure”
