3-Day Tanzania Safari to Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Explore Lake Manyara's diverse wildlife and the iconic tree-climbing lions
• 02 Descend into the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater, home to the endangered black rhino
• 03 Witness Tarangire's famous elephant herds and mystical baobab trees
• 04 Spot East Africa's stunning birds, including the African Fish Eagle
• 05 Enjoy immersive game drives and picnic lunches amid stunning landscapes

Embark on a thrilling 3-day safari through Tanzania's iconic national parks, from Lake Manyara's diverse wildlife and tree-climbing lions to the majestic Ngorongoro Crater, where endangered black rhinos and prowling predators roam the vast caldera. Continue to Tarangire National Park, famed for its large elephant herds, ancient baobab trees, and rich birdlife. With immersive game drives and picnic lunches amid stunning landscapes, this safari offers a memorable introduction to northern Tanzania's wildlife.

Embark on a thrilling 3-day safari through Tanzania's iconic national parks, from Lake Manyara's diverse wildlife and tree-climbing lions to the majestic Ngorongoro Crater, where endangered black rhinos and prowling predators roam the vast caldera.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 3 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Arusha, Moshi, Babati, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara, Tarangire National Park

Languages English, Swahili

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Moshi or Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park

• Set off early in the morning from Moshi to Lake Manyara National Park, a drive of approximately 4 hours. After registering at the gate, begin your mid-morning game drive.
• Lake Manyara National Park supports a wide variety of wildlife thanks to its diverse habitats. If you're lucky, you may spot the Manyara lions, well known for their tree-climbing habits.
• The park is also home to sizable populations of elephant, hippo, giraffe, and buffalo. To the east, the Great Rift Valley escarpment looms on the horizon, forming an impressive backdrop to the lake.
• You will have a picnic lunch in the park
• and plenty of chances to get a close-up view of those mischievous monkeys. Later, continue with an afternoon game drive, the best time to view most of the animals. Overnight stay and dinner at camping/lodging.

2

Day 02

Full-Day Safari in Ngorongoro Crater

• Breakfast will be provided at the campsite before heading to Ngorongoro Crater.
• Descend into the 600-meter-deep Crater, which has a 19-kilometre diameter, making it one of the world's largest unbroken and unflooded calderas. The park covers approximately 300 square kilometres, where the landscape ranges from lush rainforest on the rim to bush savannas and acacia woodland. Ngorongoro is home to the highly endangered black rhino and the largest herds of wildebeest, zebra, and buffalo.
• Predators also live in the Crater, and there is plenty of opportunity to spot a hunt.
• Among the predators found in the Crater are lions, hyenas, cheetahs, jackals, and serval cats.
• Enjoy a picnic lunch before leaving the Crater, where plenty of wildlife can still be spotted. Afterwards, leave the park and drive to your accommodation.
• Overnight stay and dinner at camping/lodging.

3

Day 03

Tarangire National Park Safari and Return to Moshi

• Early breakfast will be provided at the campsite before beginning the day's game drive. The park contains a range of different habitats, from grasslands and woods to low hills, scrub, and swampland in the south.
• Tarangire lies southeast of Lake Manyara and is well known as the home of elephants, where it is not unusual to hear of hundreds of sightings in a single day.
• It is also home to the mystical baobab trees, the elephants' favourite food. Other wildlife includes waterbucks, impalas, wildebeest, zebra, and buffalo.
• Most of the predators that can be spotted are lions and hyenas. You will also see the stunning birds of East Africa, from the Fire Finch to the African Fish Eagle.
• The Tarangire River cuts through the park and connects to Lake Burunge in the west. It is the key to life in the dry season, when much of the migration congregates here.
• Stop at one of the many viewpoints in the park for a picnic lunch, then enjoy an afternoon game drive before heading back to Moshi.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Prices inclusive of:

• All National Park entry fees, including the Crater fee for the vehicle
• Accommodation (tented camps/lodge, including camping equipment if camping)
• Transport - 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
• Meals
• Professional driver/guide, fluent in English, and personal cook
• All activities as specified in the itinerary
• Mineral water (1.5 litres per day)
• Pick-up from and drop-off at your accommodation in Moshi

What's Not Included

Exclusive of:

• Tips
• Additional beverages/drinks
• Items of a personal nature, i.e. toiletries
• Personal travel insurance and evacuation fees
• Visas

What to bring

• Passport
• Jacket/sweaters (for early mornings and evenings)
• Warm and light clothes
• Swimsuit - a number of lodges and camps have swimming pools
• Hat
• A pair of safari trousers - those that zip off at the knees
• Bandanna or cotton scarf and a sarong (kanga, pareo, kikoi)
• Maybe a pair of open sports sandals for general daytime use
• Pair of sneakers (for nighttime in the lodge/campsite)
• Flashlight/head torch
• Insect repellent
• Suntan lotion
• Any allergy medication ('meds' - things you need, just in case the worst happens: diarrhea, headaches, heartburn, insect repellent, hand sanitizer, bites (antihistamine), indigestion, sore throat (lozenges), eye drops, and most important - anti-malarial tablets.)
• Cameras (additional batteries and/or chargers)

Know before you go

• The Crater can get very cold in the early mornings and at night, so perhaps bring a warm pair of socks as well.
• Tsetse flies are abundant in the parks. They are particularly attracted to blue and black, so we advise that you do not wear items in these colours while on safari.
• You may want to bring snacks and perhaps additional water if you feel you will want it. Beverages and drinks are expensive in the parks and at the campsite/lodge, so you may want to buy these beforehand. You can stop on the way to the parks to purchase them.
• We also advise that you bring a pair of binoculars with you; it is possible to hire these in town.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Moshi, Tanzania or Arusha

Tour start

Babati Rural, Tanzania

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.