3-Day Tanzania Camping Safari with Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Explore Lake Manyara National Park, known for its shallow alkaline lake and more than 400 bird species
• 02 Spot elephants, giraffes, hippos, wildebeests, impalas, monkeys, and baboons on safari
• 03 Descend into the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater, the largest unbroken caldera on Earth
• 04 Look out for the "Big Five" within the wildlife-rich Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Enjoy a short Tanzania camping safari through two of the country's most rewarding wildlife areas. This budget-friendly experience takes you to Lake Manyara National Park and the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater, where you can admire beautiful scenery, rich birdlife, and a wide range of African wildlife. Travel in a 4WD safari vehicle, spend the night in Karatu, and immerse yourself in Tanzania's breathtaking nature over three days.

On this impressive Tanzania safari, it is also possible to spot the "Big Five" - lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard - in the few hours spent in the crater.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 3 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Budget

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Yes

Cities Arusha, Mount Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Arrival and Transfer to Arusha

• You will be picked up at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your arranged hotel in Arusha. There, you will meet your driver-guide, receive a briefing about your upcoming safari, and then rest until the following day.

2

Day 02

Lake Manyara Safari and Overnight in Karatu

• You will be collected from your hotel in Arusha, and after a short briefing, you will travel westwards to Lake Manyara, a small national park. The park, with its shallow alkaline lake, is known for its bird species, which exceed 400 in number. Besides the primate-filled forests, known for the long-tailed guenon monkeys, and the grassy plains that support a variety of herbivorous and carnivorous animals, it is one of the best hot spots to explore. Apart from elephants, you might also spot giraffes, hippos, wildebeests, and impalas, while the forests near the lake teem 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 head to Karatu, where you will spend the night at a selected lodge.

3

Day 03

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. Hyenas and some 500 bird species can also be spotted in the area. On this impressive Tanzania safari, 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, you will leave the crater and return to Arusha by early evening, marking the end of your impressive Tanzania safari.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Transport in a modified 4WD Land Cruiser or Land Rover with a photographic roof
• Services of a professional guide and chef
• All wildlife reserve entry fees
• All camping gear (please come with your own sleeping bags)
• 3 meals a day during the trip
• All game drives, as mentioned
• Airport transfer and drop-off
• All taxes and VAT
• Drinking water while on safari (2 litres per person per day)
• Concession and camping fees

What's Not Included

• International airfare and flights
• Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
• Gratuities for the safari guide and camp staff
• Travel insurance
• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and beverages at the camp
• Government-imposed increases in taxes or park fees

Know before you go

• Ngorongoro Crater is thought to have formed about 2.5 million years ago when an active volcano's cone collapsed inward after a massive eruption. The enormous, unbroken caldera we see today is the main remnant of this implosion.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Kilimanjaro International Airport, Kilimanjaro Airport Road, Tanzania

Tour start

Kilimanjaro Airport Rd, Tanzania

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.