5 Days
5 Days - Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti (2 Nights) and Tarangire
This Northern Tanzania safari begins with the diverse ecosystems of Lake Manyara National Park, seeking out its famous tree-climbing lions and rich birdlife. The journey then ascends to the world-renowned Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive in its wildlife-rich caldera, before venturing into the vast plains of the Central Serengeti for an immersive big cat experience. The adventure concludes with a final game drive through the elephant-dotted landscapes of Tarangire National Park, returning to Arusha after an overnight stay in Karatu.
Tour Highlights
Tree-Climbing Lions
Lake Manyara’s famous acacia-climbing lions and rich birdlife along the lake shore.
The Ngorongoro Crater
A five-hour descent into the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, home to the Big Five.
Two Nights in the Serengeti
An immersive big-cat experience across the Central Serengeti’s Seronera Valley.
Tarangire’s Giants
A final game drive among some of the largest elephant herds in Africa.
Day by Day
Arusha to Lake Manyara for Game Drives
Pick up at 8:30am from your hotel in Arusha and depart for Lake Manyara National Park with a picnic lunch for a full-day game drive. Lush forests of acacia and mahogany trees set the mood as you enter the park — watch for buffalo, giraffe, impala, baboon, and blue monkey. Lake Manyara is also famous for its tree-climbing lions, though spotting them is a game of luck, and in the right season the shoreline turns pink with flamingos. Dinner and overnight at your lodge in Karatu.
Ngorongoro Crater Tour to Central Serengeti
An early departure for the Ngorongoro Crater, descending 600 meters onto its floor for a five-hour game drive among the Big Five and the endangered black rhino — with flamingos gathering at Lake Magadi and hippos wallowing in the crater’s pools. In the afternoon, continue on to the Serengeti, arriving in time for a game drive across the Seronera Valley before dinner and overnight.
Central Serengeti Full-Day Game Drives
A full day exploring the Serengeti’s varied terrain — riverine forests, granite kopjes, and open grasslands — with the Seronera area’s resident lion, leopard, and cheetah populations offering some of the most consistent big-cat sightings on the circuit. Picnic lunch out on the plains.
Morning Game Drives in Central Serengeti to Karatu
One final Serengeti game drive at first light, when predators are often at their most active, before departing south through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area back to Karatu for dinner and overnight.
Tarangire Game Drives and Transfer to Arusha
A morning game drive through Tarangire National Park, renowned for its ancient baobabs and some of the largest elephant herds in Africa gathered along the Tarangire River, before the drive back to Arusha for your onward journey.
What's Included
- Accommodation during the safari (lodges or tented camps as per itinerary)
- All park entry fees and government taxes
- Professional English-speaking driver guide
- Private 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof for excellent game viewing
- Daily meals — breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Bottled drinking water during game drives
- Game drives in Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater
- Crater service fee
- Airport or Arusha hotel transfers (before and after safari)
What's Not Included
- International and domestic flights
- Tanzania visa fees
- Travel insurance and personal medical expenses
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Tips and gratuities for guide and camp staff
- Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary (e.g., Maasai village visit, hot air balloon ride)
- Personal expenses such as souvenirs, laundry, and phone calls
