Itinerary

1. Day 1: Depart Arusha for Tarangire National Park

   On this day, you leave Arusha town, the base town for safaris in northern Tanzania, and along the Arusha-Dodoma highway, you take a scenic drive towards Tarangire National Park. You will pass by a supermarket (if you wish) for some last-minute shopping for any personal effects that you may need, then drive through a scenic Masai Steppe and arrive at Tarangire in 2 hours or so. Your driver will take care of the paperwork at the park’s gate, and then you will embark on your first game drive in Tarangire National Park, famous for its large herds of elephants and large baobab trees that dot the grassland. Lunch will be at a designated picnic site, then afternoon game drives until sunset time to check in at a lodge or camp for overnight. Overnight at Marera Valley Lodge, Country Lodge, or a similar lodge in Karatu. Lunch and dinner are included.

2. Day 2 Tarangire National Park to Serengeti National Park

   From Tarangire National Park, we depart early after breakfast and head across the Great Rift Valley’s floor, up the escarpment, and traverse the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in what will ultimately end up being a pleasant and enjoyable scenic drive as you enjoy the beautiful scenery and breathtaking vistas on your way to Serengeti National Park. Arrive at Serengeti in the afternoon for an afternoon game drive until late in the afternoon, when you will check in at a camp or lodge for campfire, dinner, and overnight. Lunch is taken at one of the picnic sites, most likely at the Naabi Hill Gate, where you will also get the chance to stretch your legs as your guide sorts out the registration and relevant paperwork. Dinner and overnight at Thorntree Camp or Serengeti Green Hills Camp All meals are included.

3. Day 3 full day at Serengeti National Park.

   On this day, you can wake up early for a sunrise game drive to try and catch up with the rare nocturnal animal species as well as the early risers among the diurnal ones. It is a nice time to see animals within a close distance, as most game like to line up at the roadside to escape the morning dew. After breakfast at your camp, you will then spend the day doing game drives for the whole day within Serengeti National Park. The name Serengeti comes from the Maasai word ‘Siringit’ meaning plains without end, and true to the name, you will explore vast stretches of African Savannah in search of the many animals that Serengeti has to offer. Apart from the wildebeests, you expect to spot other animals, including elephants, lions, cheetahs, the elusive leopards, zebras, elands, and a lot of resident and migratory birds. 02nd Overnight at Thorntree Camp or Serengeti Green Hills Camp. All meals are included.

4. Day 4 Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater

   Breakfast at your camp or lodge, then we check out and head out for one more last game drive in the Serengeti. You will explore the Seronera River Valley, rich in wildlife and bird life, or anywhere else in the Serengeti as per your professional safari guide’s guidance. Your safari guide, as usual, will be in constant contact with other guides around through the VHF high-frequency radios fitted in our safari cars, so he will have a better idea of the best places to explore. Later in the afternoon, you will drive back to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and check in at a lodge for dinner and overnight. Dinner and overnight at a nice mid-range lodge at Karatu, like Marera Valley Lodge or Country Lodge at Karatu nearby. All meals are included.

5. Day 5 Ngorongoro Crater, back to Arusha, end of safari

   Breakfast at your lodge You will descend early into the crater floor for game drives in the Ngorongoro Crater. The earlier you descend to the Crater floor, you may descend after breakfast or even with a packed breakfast in order to be at the Crater floor as early as you can and improve your chances of seeing rare animals like black rhinos with a little luck. Spend the better part of the morning exploring the Ngorongoro Crater until lunch time. Ngorongoro Crater, with its 600- to 650-meter-high walls, is like a natural zoo with the highest concentration of wild animals, and it is here that you can even spot the Big Five in one day if lucky enough. After picnic lunch, which you will most likely take at the hippo poolside designated picnic site, you will drive up the crater rim and out of the conservation area. You will return to Arusha, where you will arrive later in the afternoon. Breakfast and lunch are included.