5-Day Tanzania Safari through Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater

You've been dreaming of your Tanzanian safari for so long, and the day when it begins has finally arrived. We'll greet you, give you a quick rundown of what happens next, and answer your questions. Then we'll take you out to discover what this incredible country has to offer.

Busy Arusha is an essential part of safari life here in northern Tanzania, and most travellers pass through at some stage. Whether you're on your way out on safari or here for a little longer, you'll catch a glimpse of streets filled with energy and colour.

At Meru View Lodge, you're close to Arusha National Park, between Moshi and Arusha. Apart from the excellent location and the mountain views after which the place is named, the lodge has spacious, appealing bungalow rooms, an on-site restaurant, and a swimming pool where you can take refuge from the northern Tanzanian sun.

• Accommodation: Meru View Lodge (Lodge)

Activities Day 1

• Morning - Today you arrive, welcome!

• Transfer by road: Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha

• Any time - Relaxation, Arusha

Wherever you go in Tarangire National Park, you'll come across the park's famous and larger-than-life baobab trees and elephants. These are the twin elements that give this park so much personality. There is, of course, so much more. We don't just mean the huge populations of wildebeest, giraffes, hippos, buffaloes, baboons, vervet monkeys, and zebras, or the rugged landscape of rocky hills and rivers, swamps, and savannah plains. You also have an excellent chance of seeing lions here - Tarangire is a real lion stronghold - and keep an eye out for leopards and cheetahs as well.

Activities Day 2

• Early Morning - Transfer by road: Arusha to Tarangire National Park

• Morning & Afternoon - Explore fantastic Tarangire on a guided game drive that will take you out among the baobab trees to look for lions, elephants, and more.

• Around Lunchtime - Join us for a picnic in Tarangire National Park, where you get to eat great food while surrounded by nature.

• Rest of Day - Come and see the best of Tarangire National Park as we take you out on a guided game drive. It really is a terrific way to feel a part of Africa with the wind in your hair as we drive you around to look for animals.

Meal Plan - Day 2

• Lunch & Dinner

Enjoy Tarangire's best views from Tarangire Safari Lodge, which sits high on a hill in the beautiful northern section of the park. The views from the public terrace and from the entrance to the en-suite safari tents take in a broad valley filled with wildlife. There are also bungalows, as well as a swimming pool, a good shop, and a restaurant, and the location is perfect for making the most of the park.

• Accommodation: Tarangire Safari Lodge (Inside Tarangire National Park, Tented camp)

Welcome to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Serengeti, one of Africa's top safari destinations. While you're here, there's an excellent chance that you'll see leopards along the dry riverbanks, cheetahs out on the grasslands, and elephants, giraffes, and all kinds of antelopes everywhere across the park. Watch also for the Serengeti's famous lion prides. And that's just the start. Some of the largest and most diverse wildlife populations on the planet roam the Serengeti, not to mention millions of wildebeest and zebras that migrate across the plains every year.

Activities Day 3

• Early Morning - Transfer by road: Tarangire Safari Lodge via Ngorongoro Conservation Area to Serengeti National Park

• Morning - Briefing, Ngorongoro viewpoint

• Morning & Afternoon - A guided game drive through Serengeti National Park is one of the best safari experiences you can have anywhere in Africa. Apart from the signature savannah grasslands and the park's amazing wildlife, your guide will show you all that's good about the Serengeti.

• Around Lunchtime - Join us for a picnic in Serengeti National Park, where you get to eat great food while surrounded by nature.

• After lunch - You'll be joining us in Serengeti National Park for a guided game drive. It's a fantastic opportunity to see some of the animals you came so far to see.

• Late afternoon - Sunset moment, Serengeti National Park

Meal Plan - Day 3

• Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

It's difficult not to fall in love with the Serengeti while staying at the Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge. High on a hill, this classic-style lodge combines warm service and large rooms with a well-regarded restaurant. Down on the plains for miles in any direction, your wildlife viewing can be some of the best anywhere in this wonderful park.

• Accommodation: Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge (Lodge)

There's always more to discover in the Serengeti, and you'll get more chances to do so on your return to the park.

There is so much to look forward to when you go with us on an early morning game drive in the Serengeti. Along with late afternoon, it's the time of day when animals are most likely to be active. Combined with the pretty morning light, these conditions can make for some great photos. It should also be the coolest time of day for exploring.

Activities Day 4

• Early Morning - Your early morning game drive is a wonderful opportunity for you to see the Serengeti at its best. In the golden morning light, you'll look for animals at the ideal time of day: this is when they're most active and easiest to find and see.

• Morning & Afternoon - Come and see the best of Serengeti National Park as we take you out on a guided game drive. It really is a terrific way to feel a part of Africa with the wind in your hair as we drive you around to look for animals.

• Around Lunchtime - Join us for a picnic in Serengeti National Park, where you get to eat great food while surrounded by nature.

• After lunch - Come with us as we take you to your next destination, but we'll also go looking for wildlife along the way.

• Any time - Relaxation, Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge

Meal Plan - Day 4

• Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

The vastly experienced Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge is a superb choice. Combining bright, modern rooms with time-honoured traditional safari decor, the stone-built lodge puts a premium on comfort and the warmth of its welcome. But the views here, from the rooms and from the restaurant, are simply extraordinary, taking in the crater in all its glory. There's also a busy bar with occasional Maasai cultural performances.

• Accommodation: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge (Lodge)

You never forget the first time you see Ngorongoro Crater from above. Looking out from the rim of this extraordinary volcanic crater is like gazing down upon a lost world of wildlife and astonishing beauty. The drive down into the crater will be just as special, taking you down onto the crater floor where nature rules and no human being may pass the night. You'll spend the best part of a day exploring this remarkable place, seeing its lions, hyenas, black rhinos, elephants, flamingos, and so much more. And when it comes time to leave, you'll keep looking back over your shoulder, trying to hold these experiences in your memory.

This is where your safari in Tanzania will end. We hope that you have had the most fabulous trip, and we can't wait to help you plan your next safari.

Activities Day 5

• Early Morning - Transfer by road: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge to Ngorongoro Crater

• Morning - Big Five show, Ngorongoro Crater

• Morning & Afternoon - You're in for one of the best safari experiences you can have on your guided game drive through Ngorongoro Crater. As you explore the crater floor, your guide will help you look for lions, black rhinos, spotted hyenas, and so much more.

• Around Lunchtime - Join us for a picnic in Ngorongoro Crater, where you get to eat great food while surrounded by nature.

• After lunch - Transfer by road: Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha

• Any time - It is departure time.

Meal Plan - Day 5

• Breakfast & Lunch