Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park

   • Depart from your lodge in Arusha and proceed to Lake Manyara National Park. Although small in size, this park is one of the most diverse reserves in the country. Lake Manyara covers two-thirds of the park. At the backdrop is the wall of the Great Rift Valley, before which lies the groundwater forest, areas of open grassland near the lake foreshore, and the Soda Lake.

   • Enjoy a picnic lunch in this area, which consists of open grassy areas, hot springs, dense woodlands, and steep mountainsides. Lake Manyara National Park is a birding paradise that has more than 350 species of bird. The park is also famed for its unique and elusive tree-climbing lions.

   Dinner and overnight at Nsya Lodge: Bed, dinner, breakfast and lunch.

2. Day 2: Lake Manyarao to Ngorongoro Crater

   • Start the day with an early morning game drive before heading to Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Ngorongoro is a special place in that it is a Conservation Area, not a National Park; this means that the whole area is managed for both the animals and the local Masai people who graze their cattle alongside the indigenous wildlife.

   • Get a chance to glimpse the Masai way of life during the drive to Ngorongoro.

   • Stop at the entrance gate, where there is a chance to learn more about this fascinating volcanic landscape, drive around the rim of the Crater itself, and from here, you can look down and see the herd of wildebeest or buffalos.

   • Descend into the crater. The crater walls provide a natural sanctuary for the animals, which means there is plenty to see: lions, elephants, buffalo, rhino and leopard (if you are lucky). The only animal you won’t see in here is a giraffe, whose long legs are unable to cope with the steeps sides of the crater.

   • Trave back to your special lodge late in the afternoon.

   Dinner and overnight at Rhino Lodge: Bed, dinner, breakfast and lunch.

3. Day 3: Olduvai Gorge and Serengeti National Park

   • Head to Olduvai Gorge, known as the ‘Cradle of Mankind’. It was here, in the Great Rift Valley, that the remains of early hominids dating back 2 million years were uncovered. 

   • Proceed to visit the most famous wildlife sanctuary in the world – Serengeti National Park. The word ‘Serengeti’ means ‘endless plains’, which describes the park’s 5,600 square mile boundary. Yet for its sprawling area, the Serengeti does not disappoint when it comes to rich game-viewing. The Serengeti ecosystem is one of the oldest on earth. 

   Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Acacia Tented Lodge: Bed, dinner, breakfast and lunch.

4. Day 4: Full day of Game Drive and merriment at Serengeti National Park

   • Embark on an encore game drive in the expansive Serengeti National Park with your Tanzanian safari guide. The Serengeti boasts one of the most varied collections of wildlife on the planet. Annually, from May to December, millions of animals embark on a migration that brings them from central Serengeti to Kenya’s Masai Mara and back again in an incredible spectacle. Even during the ‘down-time’, vast herds of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle roam here, along with groups of elephant, giraffe, and buffalo, as the lions, leopard, cheetah, hyenas, and jackals stalk their meals.
     • Opt for a hot air balloon ride for $500 over Serengeti (optional).

   Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Acacia Tented Lodge: Bed, dinner, breakfast and lunch.

5. Day 5: Serengeti to Tarangire National Park

   • Experience the culture and traditions of the local Maasai on the way from Serengeti to Tarangire National Park. Your local guide will show you a Maasai Boma and explain the way in how Maasai people live in the conservation area. 

   • Visit in the Maasai boma, and then drive straight to Tarangire National Park. 

   Dinner and overnight at Tarangire Roika Tented Lodge: Bed, dinner, breakfast and lunch.

6. Day 6: Full Day of Adventure at Tarangire National Park

   • Depart from your lodge after breakfast and proceed to the park. This is one of Africa’s little-known gems and should be on the itinerary of all lovers of wilderness and solitude.

   • Stay and overnight inside the park at Tarangire Safari Lodge. 

   Dinner and overnight at Tarangire Safari Lodge: Bed, dinner, breakfast and lunch.

7. Day 7: Game Drive and Journey Back to Arusha

   • Begin early before the sun rises at 6:00 am this morning. You will view animals from 6:00 am until 8:30 am, which is considered prime viewing time.

   • Return to Tarangire Safari Lodge at 8:30 am to have breakfast and check out.

   • Continue with your game viewing after breakfast until you head back to Arusha. The viewing time will depend upon the time of your departure flight. Can drop you off at Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).