Arusha – Tarangire – Lake Manyara - Ngorongoro Crater - Serengeti National

Day to Day itinerary

Day 1: Arusha

You will be met at Kilimanjaro or Arusha Airport by your personal safari specialist and driver

who will brief you on the journey ahead. Equipped with a wealth of knowledge, our experts

will be able to answer any questions you have and provide you with all the information

necessary for an unforgettable safari experience. After checking into your chosen Arusha

hotel, relax and unwind before enjoying dinner at the hotel or in one of our recommended

local restaurants in Arusha town.

Day 2: Tarangire National Park

You will wake early and start your journey to the unique Tarangire National Park. One of the

last untouched places on earth, the park is famous for its huge herds of elephants against a

stunning backdrop of majestic, ancient Baobab trees. Between November and June, many of

Tarangire’s larger residents follow the rains to greener pastures. Wildebeest and zebras join

elephants, buffalo and giraffes to form a wildlife migration second only to the

Serengeti/Maasai Mara phenomenon

There are large populations of impala, giraffe, eland and buffalo. Thompson’s gazelle,

hartebeest, bohor reedbuck and both the greater and lesser kudu are also in abundance here.

In terms of predators, lion pride are common throughout Tarangire, as are leopards and

spotted hyenas. Packs of wild dogs sometimes pass through as well.

After a day spent exploring Tarangire, you will head to your camp for dinner and overnight

rest.

Day 3: Lake Manyara National Park

Early Morning after breakfast you will depart your lodge and head for Lake Manyara

National Park to continue your safari. Lake Manyara lies in the Great Rift Valley and is, one

of the most beautiful places in Africa. Dramatically bordered by lush green vegetation, upon

entering the park you will become captivated by large troops of baboons and blue monkeys

swinging from the trees. Further down, the forest opens up into woodlands, grassland, and swamps, beyond which sits the soda lake itself. Home to 350 species of birds including the

flamingos, pelicans, sacred ibisses, grebes and storks – it’s easy to see Lake Manyara is

commonly referred to as “the bird watcher’s paradise”.

The most famous spectacle in the park is the tree-climbing lions who spend most of their days

lazily relaxing along the branches of acacia trees 6 – 8 metres above the ground. The park is

also noted for its numerous buffalos, elephants, giraffes, impalas, hippos and a number of

smaller animals, which can all be seen in a single day.

After a picnic lunch, you will continue your afternoon game- drive to see as much wildlife as

possible. You will depart the park around 6 pm and head to your lodge where you will relax

and rest overnight.

Day 4: Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Crater

After an early breakfast you will begin your journey to the stunning Ngorongoro Conservation

Area. By lunchtime, you will be descending into the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World

Heritage Site, formed when a volcano exploded and collapsed in on itself 2-3 million years

ago. You will enjoy your first game drive around the crater floor, stopping for a picnic lunch

at one of the many scenic lunch spots. With its 2,000-foot-high walls, very few animals

migrate in and out of the crater making it an area with its one of the highest concentrations of

wild animals in the world.

You’ll be searching for lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, hippos, flamingos, jackals,

rhinos, antelopes and many rare birds you might even get to see the “Big Five” all in one day!

At around 6pm you will depart for your lodge perched on the edge of the crater rim. The rest

of the evening can be spent relaxing and enjoying the spectacular views over this prehistoric

landscape.

Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater - Serengeti National Park

A 6am wake-up call is recommended to catch the amazing sunrise over the crater. After

breakfast you will depart for the South Serengeti ecosystem belonging jointly to the Serengeti

National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. One of the most scenic drives in

Tanzania, you can see Maasai warriors grazing cattle and, depending on the time of year

you may witness what makes up the largest mass migration of animals on earth. Huge herds of

wildebeest, gazelle and zebra moving clockwise to find better grazing areas. Before entering the Serengeti National Park, you will visit a traditional Maasai village and experience how

this ancient tribe have lived for hundreds of years, receiving a personal tour of the manyattas

(houses).

After lunch, you will begin your afternoon game drive where you can expect to see large

numbers of elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, monkeys, baboons, hippos, rhinos,

antelopes and many exotic bird species. Your drive will end at your chosen camp or lodge

where you will relax and rest overnight.

Day 6: Serengeti National Park

The endless plains of the Serengeti…

Your drive will begin around 6am in search of nocturnal predators returning from their night’s

hunting and animals waking up in the early dawn. Breakfast boxes will be prepared for you

to enjoy and as soon as the sun rises. After breakfast you will go in search of prides of lions,

cheetahs and leopards, just a handful of the many of animals residing in the park. We will

pass by the Serengeti information Centre in the Seronera area for a brief look at the history

of the region.

We will then return to your lodge for a relaxed lunch and cold drinks. Later in the afternoon,

when the sun is less intense, you have the option to go on an early evening game drives or

undertake a nature walk around the camp with resident tribesmen, who will be happy to share

their knowledge of the surrounding plants and animals.

Alternatively, lunch can be taken as a picnic to maximize your time in the park – a long day

but worth it for the experience of a lifetime.

Day 7: Serengeti National Park – Kopjes Circuit

Today will be a full day of game driving with lunch at the lodge. We will follow the Kopjes

Circuit, taking an anti-clockwise route around the Maasai Kopjes, an area known to attract

lions and some formidably large cobras. Kopjes are weathered granite outcrops, scattered

around the plains. Most of which are miniature ecosystems, providing surrounding wildlife with

shade and drinking water in pools left in the rock following the rains. The kopjes is a

particularly good location for spotting wildlife throughout the dry seasons – you may even see

lions who like to lie and wait for their prey by the water!

Day 8: Serengeti National Park

Enjoy breakfast with views over the stunning Serengeti plains before, departing for the

Seronera airstrip, located in the central area of the Serengeti. You will take a flight back to

Arusha airport where you will connect to flights to your next destination, or transfer to

Kilimanjaro airport if required.

Stay longer

Extend your stay in the Serengeti by one day, for a more relaxed pace to your safari. This

will maximize the opportunity to see more game and give you time to explore different

regions of the park.