Itinerary

1. Day 1 – Arusha – Lake Manyara National Park – Karatu Area

   • After a short briefing in the morning, you will travel westwards to the small Lake Manyara National Park. With its shallow alkaline lake, the park is known for its over 400 bird species, primate-filled forests (look out for the long-tailed Guenon monkeys), and grassy plains. The alkaline Lake Manyara, home to colonies of flamingos and other water birds, covers a large area of the park. Apart from elephants, you might also spot giraffes, hippos, wildebeests, and impalas, while the forests near the lake are teeming with noisy groups of monkeys and baboons. From the pop-up roof of the safari vehicle, you will be able to absorb the sights and sounds of nature.
   • In the late afternoon, you will leave Lake Manyara National Park and proceed to Eileen’s Trees Inn to overnight on a Full Board basis.

2. Day 2 – Ngorongoro Crater Tour – Drive Back to Arusha

   • After breakfast, your safari continues to the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is the world’s largest caldera, a feature formed by the collapse of land after a volcanic eruption. It is approximately 18 km in diameter and home to about 25,000 mammals. In this relatively small area, you can find almost all the mammals of East Africa, ranging from Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelles to mountain reedbucks in the forests on the slopes. You might also see spotted hyenas, rare wild dogs, and some of the more than 500 bird species in the area. It is also possible to spot the Big Five – lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard – in the few hours spent in the crater.
   • After lunch at a picnic spot, there will be more time to continue your game drive before you leave the crater and return to Arusha by early evening.