2-Day Tarangire and Lake Manyara Safari with Big Game Viewing

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Discover Tarangire's iconic baobabs, elephant herds, predators, and 500 bird species
• 02 Venture into Lake Manyara with tree-climbing lions, flamingos, and unique hot springs
• 03 Enjoy diverse wildlife, including giraffes, hippos, and wildebeests in scenic landscapes
• 04 Experience panoramic views of the Great Rift Valley escarpment's breathtaking scenery

Embark on an unforgettable 2-day safari exploring the diverse landscapes of Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks. Discover Tarangire's iconic baobab trees and massive herds of elephants, then venture to Lake Manyara, a scenic gem nestled at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment. Explore its lush groundwater forest, famous tree-climbing lions, and playful baboons, and marvel at flamingos painting the lake's edge pink. Spot giraffes, hippos, and wildebeests, and visit the unique hot springs of Maji Moto.

Stretching for 50 km along the base of the rusty-gold, 600-metre-high Rift Valley escarpment, Lake Manyara is a scenic gem, with a setting extolled by Ernest Hemingway as "the loveliest I had seen in Africa".

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 Yes

Cities Arusha, Mount Kilimanjaro, Lake Manyara, Tarangire National Park

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Lake Manyara Game Drive and Maji Moto Springs

• After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel or directly from the airport and driven to Lake Manyara National Park for a game drive. In the late afternoon, continue to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
• The name Manyara is derived from the Maasai word "Emanyara," a Euphorbia species of plant found around a family homestead in the area.
• After an early breakfast, we drive down into the valley and explore Lake Manyara National Park. Stretching for 50 km along the base of the rusty-gold, 600-metre-high Rift Valley escarpment, Lake Manyara is a scenic gem, with a setting extolled by Ernest Hemingway as "the loveliest I had seen in Africa".
• Here, guests will be introduced to large buffalo, wildebeest, giraffe, and zebra herds congregating on the grassy plains. In contrast, the narrow belt of acacia woodland bordering the plains is the favoured haunt of Manyara's legendary tree-climbing lions and impressively tusked elephants.
• Taking in the expansive views eastward across the central soda lake, we will be amazed by the sight of thousands of pink-hued flamingos on their perpetual migration, as well as other large water birds such as storks, cormorants, and pelicans.
• At the southern end of the park, we will visit the algae-streaked sulphur hot springs known as Maji Moto, bubbling from deep within the earth.

2

Day 02

Tarangire Wildlife Safari and Return to Arusha

• You will be picked up after breakfast and driven to Tarangire National Park for a game drive.
• This park is famous for its groups of elephants. Herds of up to 300 elephants scratch the dry riverbed for underground streams, while migratory wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, gazelle, hartebeest, and eland crowd the shrinking lagoons. It is the greatest concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem - a smorgasbord for predators - and the one place in Tanzania where dry-country antelope such as the stately fringe-eared oryx and peculiar long-necked gerenuk are regularly observed.
• During the rainy season, the seasonal visitors scatter over a 20,000 sq. km (12,500 sq. miles) range until they exhaust the green plains and the river calls once more.
• But Tarangire's mobs of elephants are easily encountered, wet or dry. The swamps, tinged green year-round, are the focus for 550 bird varieties, the most breeding species in one habitat anywhere in the world.
• In the late afternoon, drive to Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport for drop-off.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• All mentioned safari activities
• Airport pick-up and drop-off transfers
• Hotel accommodation according to the itinerary
• Transportation in a 4×4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof for easy game viewing and photography
• All park fees
• Experienced English-speaking safari guide
• All meals according to the itinerary
• Bottled water and soft drinks throughout the tour
• Binoculars (1 per vehicle)
• Medical kit
• 18% VAT on tour fees and services
• Crew salaries

What's Not Included

• Air tickets
• Visa fees
• Lunch and dinner at the hotel (only before and after the safari)
• Travel insurance
• Tips for your safari guide ($25-45 per day per car)
• Other optional activities
• Personal expenses

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Arusha, Tanzania

Tour start

Arusha, Tanzania

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.