3-Day Serengeti and Ngorongoro Safari with Big Five Game Drives

Pick up from your Hotel in Arusha or from Arusha airport or Kilimanjaro Int Airport

07:30 AM - Depart for Ngorongoro Crater.

• Drive through the Great Rift Valley, passing lush highlands and Maasai grazing lands.

• Make a brief stop at a viewpoint or curio shop en route if time allows.

11:00 AM - Arrive at Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

• Enter the conservation area and proceed to the crater gate.

• Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater (approximately 600 m deep, 260 km2) for a full game drive.

• Spot the Big Five - lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and black rhino - as well as hippos, flamingos, and more in the crater's unique ecosystem.

01:30 PM - Picnic lunch.

• Enjoy a packed lunch at the Ngoitokitok Spring picnic site, near hippos and birdlife.

02:30 PM - Continue the game drive.

Explore the crater's grasslands, forests, and Lerai Fever Tree area for wildlife such as cheetahs, hyenas, and rare black rhinos.

05:00 PM - Ascend and check in.

• Exit the crater and drive to your accommodation in Karatu (Peak Hotel).

06:30 AM - Early breakfast.

• Enjoy a quick breakfast at the hotel to maximize your Serengeti time.

07:00 AM - Depart for Serengeti.

• Drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area toward Serengeti, with en-route game viewing across the open plains, where you may see zebras, wildebeests, and gazelles.

09:00 AM - Optional stop at Olduvai Gorge (approximately $10-15 per person, 45 minutes).

• Visit the archaeological site and museum, famous for early human fossils.

• Skip this stop if you prefer to prioritize Serengeti wildlife viewing.

11:00 AM - Enter Serengeti National Park.

• Begin an en-route game drive toward central Serengeti, in the Seronera area.

• Look for lions, leopards, elephants, and migratory herds, depending on the season.

01:00 PM - Picnic lunch.

• Stop at a scenic spot near the Naabi Hill Gate or a waterhole.

02:00 PM - Afternoon game drive.

• Explore central Serengeti, focusing on the Seronera River for hippos and crocodiles, or the kopjes for predators.

• 05:00 PM - Check in.

• Arrive at your tented camp (Serengeti Tortilis Camp).

• Freshen up and relax.

• 06:30 PM - Dinner and overnight.

• Enjoy dinner with Serengeti's nighttime sounds.

• Overnight: Serengeti Tortilis Camp.

06:00 AM - Early morning game drive.

• Start with a 2-3-hour sunrise game drive in Serengeti to catch active predators such as lions and cheetahs, along with early grazers.

• Optional: Take a hot air balloon safari (approximately $600 per person, pre-booked) with a champagne bush breakfast, replacing the game drive.

09:00 AM - Breakfast and departure.

• Return to the camp for breakfast and pack up.

• Depart Serengeti by 09:30 AM via Naabi Hill Gate.

12:00 PM - Picnic lunch.

• Stop in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area for a packed lunch at a scenic viewpoint.

02:00 PM - Optional Mto wa Mbu cultural stop (approximately 1 hour, around $10 per person).

• Visit Mto wa Mbu town near Lake Manyara for a market tour, exploring stalls with crafts, spices, and produce.

• 03:30 PM - Continue to Arusha.

• Drive through rural landscapes, with a brief stop if needed.

• 05:30 PM - Shopping stop in Arusha, if time permits.

• Visit the Masai market or a curio shop for souvenirs such as Tanzanite and carvings.

• Alternatively, stop at a coffee shop for Tanzanian coffee.

• 06:30 PM - Arrive in Arusha.

• Overnight is not included. Please arrange accommodation in Arusha if needed. This marks the end of your safari.