Tanzania · Safari

4-Day Tanzania Lodge Safari with Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater

4 Days Round trip from Arusha Moderate pace

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Spend 1 night in Serengeti National Park for more time to witness the wildebeest migration
02 Explore Lake Manyara's dramatic landscapes, from acacia woodland to a vast soda lake below the Rift Valley escarpment
03 Look out for Big Five wildlife and Manyara's famous tree-climbing lions
04 Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, one of Africa's richest wildlife-viewing areas
05 Stop at Olduvai Gorge, one of the world's most important paleoanthropological sites

Our 4-day lodge safari is designed to give you more time in Serengeti National Park, including 1 night in the park, for a better chance to witness the wildebeest migration. Experience exciting game viewing in some of Africa's most spectacular wildlife areas, from the endless plains of the Serengeti to the remarkable Ngorongoro Crater. You will also visit Lake Manyara National Park, one of Tanzania's most dramatically located wildlife areas, set at the foot of the Great Rift Valley's western escarpment beside a shallow but vast soda lake.

Our 4-day lodge safari is designed to give you more time in Serengeti National Park, including 1 night in the park, for a better chance to witness the wildebeest migration.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 4 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Budget

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Yes

Cities Arusha, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Lake Manyara National Park Safari

After breakfast, the tour departs. Your first stop is Arusha Town for any last-minute purchases before heading off on safari. Afterwards, continue to Lake Manyara.

Lake Manyara National Park offers breathtaking views and a large variety of habitats, including acacia woodlands, water forests, baobab-strewn cliffs, algae-streaked hot springs, swamps, and the lake itself. Thanks to this diversity, the small park is able to support a large number of animal species and incredible birdlife. Manyara has the largest concentration of baboons anywhere in the world, and the lions here are also renowned for their tree-climbing. Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Farm House.

Meals: Lunch, dinner, bed and breakfast
Accommodation: Ellen's Tree Lodge

Day 02

Serengeti National Park via Karatu and Ngorongoro

After breakfast, depart for Serengeti National Park via the beautiful high-lying farmland of Karatu and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Leaving the highlands behind, you descend into the heart of wild Africa - the Serengeti National Park - with its endless plains rolling into the distance as far as the eye can see.

Then head 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 to this area and therefore attracts wildlife 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 at Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp.

Meals: Lunch, dinner, bed and breakfast
Accommodation: Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp

Day 03

Morning Game Drive and Olduvai Gorge to Ngorongoro

Enjoy early morning game drives before departing for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Along the way, stop at Olduvai Gorge, a site boasting a history dating back to the dawn of time.

It was here that the anthropologists Drs. Lois and Mary Leakey discovered the skulls of 'Nutcracker Man' and 'Handy Man', both very significant links in the chain of human evolution. In the late afternoon, transfer to Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge, where you will have dinner and spend the night.

Meals: Lunch, dinner, bed and breakfast
Accommodation: Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge

Day 04

Ngorongoro Crater Safari and Return to Arusha

After an early breakfast, you will descend over 600 meters into the crater to view wildlife. Supported by a year-round water supply and fodder, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area 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, which include lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs, and the ever-elusive leopard, which sometimes requires a trained eye to spot. You will also 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.

In the late afternoon, transfer to Arusha for dinner and overnight, or airport drop-off. Accommodation can be included upon request at extra cost.

Where this trip takes you

Serengeti National Park plains, Olduvai Gorge, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara National Park

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

Overnight accommodation according to the itinerary
A safari briefing
Guaranteed window seat in safari vehicles/jeep driven by experienced driver-guides
Transportation in a 4x4 safari vehicle
Professional, English-speaking Tanzanian guide
All sightseeing and game viewing
Meals according to the itinerary
All park entrance fees
Transfers to and from your hotel in Arusha or the airport
1.5 litres of mineral water per person per day during game drives
All mentioned activities as per the itinerary
All government taxes

What's Not Included

Domestic and international flights
Tanzania visa entry fees
Tips and gratuities for the driver-guide and cook
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, laundry, beverages, alcoholic drinks, and soft drinks
Accommodation before and after the safari
Optional visit to Oldupai Gorge and a Maasai village
Lunches, dinners, and drinks at your hotel in Arusha
Travel insurance
Accommodation in town

Know before you go

Lake Manyara National Park is one of Tanzania's most dramatically located wildlife areas, consisting of a massive but shallow soda lake (covering two-thirds of the park) 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, Manyara's famous tree-climbing lions, as well as large flocks of flamingos attracted by the algae in the lake.
The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the most densely crowded African wildlife areas in the world and is home to an estimated 30,000 animals, including some of Tanzania's last remaining black rhino. Supported by a year-round water supply and fodder, the Ngorongoro Crater supports a vast variety of animals, which include 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, which include lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs, and the ever-elusive leopard, which sometimes requires a trained eye to spot.
The park runs along the line of the Tarangire River and is mainly made up of low-lying hills on the Great Rift Valley floor. Its natural vegetation mainly consists of acacia woodland and giant African baobab trees, with huge swamp areas in the south. Both the river and the swamps act like a magnet for wild animals during Tanzania's dry season. Tarangire National Park is reputed to contain some of the largest elephant herds in Africa. This African national park is also home to three rare species of animals - the Greater Kudu, the Fringed-eared Oryx, as well as a few Ashy Starlings.
Accommodation in Arusha can be included upon request at extra cost.

Logistics