Tanzania · Safari

4-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari through Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro

4 Days Round trip from Arusha Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Explore Lake Manyara National Park, home to more than 350 bird species
  • 02 Discover the Serengeti's endless plains and rich wildlife in the Seronera area
  • 03 Visit Ngorongoro Crater, the world's largest inactive, intact, and unfilled volcanic caldera
  • 04 See Lake Manyara's tree-climbing lions and one of Africa's largest concentrations of elephants
  • 05 Stop at Olduvai Gorge, where important discoveries linked to human evolution were made

Embark on an exciting 4-day safari through some of Tanzania's world-renowned wildlife areas, including Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Enjoy daily game drives as you explore dramatic landscapes, from Lake Manyara's soda lake beneath the Great Rift Valley escarpment to the Serengeti's endless plains and the remarkable Ngorongoro Crater. Along the way, spot a wide variety of wildlife and experience the quintessential African safari amid stunning natural scenery.

Enjoy daily game drives as you explore dramatic landscapes, from Lake Manyara's soda lake beneath the Great Rift Valley escarpment to the Serengeti's endless plains and the remarkable Ngorongoro Crater.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 4 Days
Tour type Shared
Activity level Easy
Accommodation Included · Standard
Transport Included
Wheelchair access Not applicable
Cities Arusha, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara
Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park

  • Pick up from Arusha and transfer to Lake Manyara National Park.

  • Arrive in time for lunch at the lodge.

  • After lunch, head into Lake Manyara National Park for an afternoon game drive. This national park is one of Tanzania's most dramatically located wildlife areas, consisting of a massive but shallow soda lake that covers two-thirds of the park and lies at the foot of the Great Rift Valley's western escarpment. The park's varied habitat attracts a wide variety of animals, including one of Africa's largest concentrations of elephants, Lake Manyara's unique tree-climbing lions, and large flocks of flamingos drawn by the algae in the lake.

Dinner and overnight as per the standard and type of accommodation option requested.

Non-game-viewing travel time: 2½ hours

Distance: 130 km

2
Day 02

Lake Manyara to the Serengeti Plains

  • After breakfast, head towards Serengeti National Park via the beautiful high-lying farmland of Karatu and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

  • Leaving the highlands behind, descend into the heart of wild Africa - Serengeti National Park - with its endless plains rolling into the distance as far as the eye can see.

  • Continue to the central park area, known as the Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park. It features the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source and attracts wildlife well representative of most of the Serengeti's species.

  • Arrive in time for lunch and enjoy an afternoon game drive in Serengeti National Park.

Dinner and overnight in the Seronera area, as per the standard and type of accommodation option requested.

Non-game-viewing travel time: 6 hours

Distance: 205 km

3
Day 03

Serengeti Plains to Ngorongoro Crater

  • Be one of only a few fortunate people to glide in a hot air balloon over the Serengeti Plains, available at supplementary cost by pre-arrangement. Float silently above the awakening bush while spotting wildlife and enjoying the amazing scenery of Africa, across rivers and over numerous small villages.

  • After breakfast at the lodge, depart for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

  • Stop over at Olduvai Gorge, boasting a history dating back to the dawn of time. It was here that the anthropologists Dr Lois and Mary Leakey discovered the skulls of 'Nutcracker Man' and 'Handy Man', both very significant links in the chain of human evolution.

  • Arrive in time for lunch at the lodge, and after lunch, descend over 600 meters into the crater to view wildlife on a half-day safari tour. Supported by a year-round water supply and fodder, the Ngorongoro National Park supports a vast variety of animals, including herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo, and giant African elephants. Another big drawcard to this picturesque national park is its dense population of predators, including lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs, and the ever-elusive leopard, which sometimes requires a trained eye to spot.

  • Visit Lake Magadi, a large but shallow alkaline lake in the southwestern corner, which is one of the main features of the crater. A large number of flamingos, hippos, and other water birds can usually be seen here.

Dinner and overnight as per the standard and type of accommodation option requested.

Non-game-viewing travel time: 4 hours

Distance: 145 km

4
Day 04

Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha

  • Enjoy breakfast and then transfer back to Arusha.

  • Upon arrival in Arusha, have lunch.

  • You will be taken to your hotel, which ends our safari services.

Non-game-viewing travel time: 4 hours

Distance: 190 km

Lake Manyara National Park's soda lake beneath the Great Rift Valley's western escarpment, the Seronera area of the Serengeti Plains, Ngorongoro Crater's Lake Magadi

Where this trip takes you

Lake Manyara National Park's soda lake beneath the Great Rift Valley's western escarpment, the Seronera area of the Serengeti Plains, Ngorongoro Crater's Lake Magadi

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Arusha 4 cities · 4 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • English-speaking Tanzania driver/guide

  • Safari vehicle with pop-up roof

  • Transportation in a 4×4 vehicle

  • Accommodation

  • 3 meals a day

  • Entrance fees

  • Government charges

What's Not Included

  • Tips & gratuities

  • Personal expenses

Know before you go

  • The group should ideally tip the guide around $20 a day.
  • It is possible to have an additional half-day game drive at Ngorongoro Conservation Area if you are not restricted to an early departure time from Arusha. Please note that an additional cost will apply.
  • The departure dates for all our African safaris, tours, travel, and other trekking packages are totally flexible according to your own personal needs.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Arusha, Tanzania
Tour start
Arusha, Tanzania
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 4 days finish where they began, in Arusha.

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