Tanzania · Safari

2-Day Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater Safari with Big Five

2 Days Round trip from Arusha Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Discover diverse wildlife in Lake Manyara National Park
02 Spot flamingos and other water birds at alkaline Lake Manyara
03 Experience game drives in an open 4x4 safari vehicle
04 Explore the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
05 Have a chance to encounter the iconic Big Five

Embark on a 2-day safari to Lake Manyara National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater. Discover Lake Manyara's diverse wildlife, from flamingos and other water birds on its alkaline lake to elephants, giraffes, hippos, and primates in the surrounding forests and plains. Enjoy game drives in an open 4x4 safari vehicle, then explore the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world's largest caldera, home to abundant wildlife and possible Big Five sightings.

Discover Lake Manyara's diverse wildlife, from flamingos and other water birds on its alkaline lake to elephants, giraffes, hippos, and primates in the surrounding forests and plains.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 2 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Arusha, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park and Karatu Area

After a short briefing in the morning, you will travel westwards to the small Lake Manyara National Park. With its shallow alkaline lake, the park is known for its over 400 bird species, primate-filled forests - look out for the long-tailed Guenon monkeys - and grassy plains. The alkaline Lake Manyara, home to colonies of flamingos and other water birds, covers a large area of the park. Apart from elephants, you might also spot giraffes, hippos, wildebeests, and impalas, while the forests near the lake are teeming with noisy groups of monkeys and baboons. From the pop-up roof of the safari vehicle, you will be able to absorb the sights and sounds of nature.
In the late afternoon, you will leave Lake Manyara National Park and proceed to Eileen's Trees Inn for an overnight stay on a full-board basis.

Day 02

Ngorongoro Crater Safari and Return to Arusha

After breakfast, your safari continues to the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is the world's largest caldera, a feature formed by the collapse of land after a volcanic eruption. It is approximately 18 km in diameter and home to about 25,000 mammals. In this relatively small area, you can find almost all the mammals of East Africa, ranging from Grant's and Thomson's gazelles to mountain reedbucks in the forests on the slopes. You might also see spotted hyenas, rare wild dogs, and some of the more than 500 bird species in the area. It is also possible to spot the Big Five - lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard - in the few hours spent in the crater.
After lunch at a picnic spot, there will be more time to continue your game drive before you leave the crater and return to Arusha by early evening.