Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arusha - Lake Manyara National Park

   • Pick up from the airport in Arusha and drive across the Great Rift Valley to Lake Manyara National Park for a full game drive. Although only 205 sq. miles in size, this enchanting park is noted for its beauty and incredibly lush acacia forest of giant figs and mahogany trees, home to troops of baboons and blue monkeys. The park is also home to many buffaloes, giraffes, elephants, impalas, and a hippo lake, where large numbers of hippos usually gather. This park has become famous for its climbing lions and the flamingos on the lakeshore. The game drives are done along the shore of the lake, providing incredible views of giraffes and buffalo in the foreground with the lake, flamingos, and flat plains on the horizon. Great photo opportunities!

   In the afternoon, return to camp for dinner.

   Extra Tour Recommended: Bicycle ride in Lake Manyara.

   Note: We will go to Lake Manyara or Tarangire National Park on this day, depending on the time of the year you will visit us.

2. Day 2: Serengeti National Park

   • Today, you're off to the famous Serengeti National Park, home of the Great Migration. 
   • Your drive today is spectacular as you drive up the crater highlands, stopping at the rim for a birds-eye view of the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater. 
   • Continuing, as you crest the hillside, spread out before you, as far as the eyes can see, is the vast Serengeti. This 6,900 sq. mile (18,000 sq. km) park is inhabited by over 2 million large animals, including more than a million wildebeest, hundreds of thousands of plains zebras, and Thomson's gazelles. Large predators, including lions, cheetahs, and hyenas, are drawn to the area by this abundance of prey which migrates throughout the park.
   • On the way into the Serengeti, there is an option to stop at the famous Oldupai Gorge.

3. Day 3: Full Day in Serengeti National Park

   • After breakfast, spend a full day in Serengeti National Park (morning and afternoon game drives). Many smaller animals like rock hyrax, bat-eared foxes, mongoose, honey badgers, jackals, monkeys, baboons and African hares also inhabit the area, along with nearly 500 species of birds.

   Extra tour recommended: The wonderful balloon flight over the Serengeti plains.

4. Day 4: Sunrise Safari and Transfer to Ngorongoro

   • Today, you will wake up very early to do an early morning safari before breakfast, spot the animals when they are more active, and have a fantastic sunrise in front of you. The sunrise in the African Savannah is one of the most beautiful experiences. 
   • After the game drive, return to the camp for brunch. 
   • In the afternoon, transfer to Ngorongoro, the 8th natural wonder of the world. With walls 2,000 ft high and a crater floor that spreads for 102 sq. miles, the crater is a virtual Noah's Ark, inhabited by almost every species of wildlife indigenous to East Africa, including the rare black rhino.
   • Arrival in Ngorongoro in the afternoon. Possibility for an afternoon walking safari in Ngorongoro Highlands.

5. Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater Exploration and Return to Arusha

   • Very early in the morning, descend to the crater floor for a day of wildlife viewing in one of the most incredible places on Earth. The crater has the greatest concentration of wildlife on the planet. It contains a river, several swamps, a soda lake that, from the top, looks like steam, full of flamingoes, a forest and open plains. The giant bull elephants that reside here have huge tusks due to the rich mineral content of the volcanic soil and its grasses. They are the most incredible elephants you'll ever see in your life.
   • After a stop for a picnic lunch near the hippo lake and more wildlife viewing in the afternoon, drive up the steep road out of the crater and return to Arusha.

   Option: Add one extra day to visit Oldonyo Sambu Maasai Village.