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

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Visit alkaline Lake Manyara and spot water birds along the lake
• 02 See Lake Manyara's diverse vegetation supporting large numbers of herbivores and carnivores
• 03 Witness the world-famous annual migration of wildebeests in the Serengeti
• 04 Enjoy game viewing and a picnic lunch at Ngorongoro Crater

Embark on this four-day adventure through Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara National Park. Enjoy the chance to witness the Big Five while exploring three of the northern circuit's major parks in a short time. Travel through the fertile crater highlands, pass Ngorongoro, and continue to the plains of the Serengeti for closer views of lions and other predators such as leopards and cheetahs.

Enjoy the chance to witness the Big Five while exploring three of the northern circuit's major parks in a short time.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 4 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

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

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

From Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park

• Get picked up from your hotel after breakfast and head to Lake Manyara National Park, which stretches along the 600 m-high Rift Valley Escarpment and is a great place to combine nature with adventure. The alkaline Lake Manyara is the centre of attraction. Many water birds gather at the lake, and more than 400 bird species are found in the park. Its diverse vegetation supports large numbers of herbivores and carnivores. Some of the animals you may encounter here include monkeys in the forest, giraffes and antelopes in the grasslands, and elephants around the acacia trees. Manyara's tree-climbing lions, lounging in the trees, are a great sight on the afternoon drive.
• After your game drive, head to the lodge, where you will spend the night.

2

Day 02

Lake Manyara Area to Serengeti National Park

• After breakfast, drive towards the fertile crater highlands, where farmers grow wheat, corn, and coffee. You will pass the Ngorongoro Crater before reaching the plains of Serengeti National Park around midday, with its short-grass plains, savannah, thick bush, swamps, mountains, lakes, and bizarre rock formations called kopjes, where ferocious predators are often found. The annual migration of wildebeests is one of Tanzania's central attractions.
• Depending on the season, you will witness the migration of thousands of animals for which this park is famous. More than 2.5 million mammals move from one ecosystem to another in search of food and water.
• On their way to Kenya, they give birth to calves, many of them haunted by lurking predators. Most of the mammals lose their lives while crossing the crocodile-infested Mara River. However, remember that the annual migration is unpredictable, as it depends entirely on rainfall patterns, but your guide will know where to find the animals and where to see them best.
• You will spend the night at the lodge.

3

Day 03

Serengeti Game Drives and Transfer to Ngorongoro

• Dawn is a good time to watch wildlife, so you will be up early to join an early morning game drive.
• You will then return to the camp for breakfast before heading out for another game drive in the park. Here in the Seronera region, you will often see wildebeests and zebras near lions and other predators such as leopards and cheetahs.
• After a picnic lunch, continue your journey towards the Ngorongoro Crater.
• Once you reach the crater rim, you will enjoy fantastic views of this 600 m-deep collapsed volcano.
• You will then stay at the lodge on the crater's edge or in Karatu town.

4

Day 04

Ngorongoro Crater Safari and Return to Arusha

• After an early breakfast, drive down the steep, narrow road into the crater. The slopes are forested, but soon the landscape changes to savannah. The wildlife here is breathtaking, and with some luck, you can observe the "Big Five" - lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard - in just a few hours. You should also see warthogs, wildebeests, zebras, hippos, and some of the more than 500 bird species in the area.
• After a morning dedicated to game viewing and a picnic lunch, leave the crater in the early afternoon and drive back to Arusha/Moshi, arriving in the early evening.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Lodge safari according to the itinerary
• Private Jeep 4×4 equipped with a refrigerator, portable charging stations, and a pop-up roof
• Unlimited-mileage game drives
• Professional English-speaking guide
• Overnight stays in lodges
• Meals according to the itinerary
• Mineral water on all days
• All mentioned activities
• All park entrance fees
• Flying Doctor's insurance (AMREF) during the safari for emergency evacuations
• All government taxes

What's Not Included

• International flights
• Alcoholic and soft drinks
• Tips for the safari guide
• Personal expenses, including money for souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.
• Visa fees (100 USD for Americans and 50 USD for non-Americans)
• Immunization documents (yellow fever is recommended for visa processing on arrival)
• Any government-imposed increases in taxes and/or park fees

Know before you go

Group Expeditions

• The price per person for group expeditions is fixed based on group size. However, there are optional arrangements for individual private and tailor-made preferences best suited for you, your family, and your friends.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Arusha, Tanzania

Tour start

Arusha, Tanzania

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.