Day 1 - Moshi / Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) / Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park
Today you drive to Lake Manyara National park – situated at the bottom of the western wall of the spectacular Great Rift Valley. You will spend your day exploring this small safari park with a variety of habitats and slightly varied scenery to the usual savannah based parks. Later proceed towards your overnight location Mto wa Mbu.
- Accommodation options
- Basic camping: African Manyara Campsite
- Budget range: Farm of Dreams (Karatu), Octagon Lodge (Karatu)
- Mid range: Karatu Simba Lodge (Karatu), Pembeni Africa (Karatu)
- High range: Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge (Ngorongoro), Ngorongoro Serena Lodge (Ngorongoro), The Highlands Lodge (Ngorongoro)
- Distance from previous location: 2-4 hours
- Expected game drive: Afternoon
- Optional activities: Cultural walks, night game drive
- Meals usually included: Lunch, dinner
- Commonly seen: Elephant, giraffe, hippo, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, vulture, warthog, impala, flamingo, marabu, hyena, waterbuck, dik-dik, blue monkey.
- Occasionally seen: Lion, serval, mongoose.
- Rarely seen: Cheetah, leopard.
Day 2 - Manyara to Serengeti National Park
Proceed for an en-route game drive in Serengeti National Park, the home of the largest wildlife sanctuary in the world. You will spend the afternoon exploring the central Serengeti plains and spend a night in central Serengeti.
- Accommodation options
- Basic camping: Seronera Campsite
- Budget range: Thorntree camp (Serengeti), Embalakai Camp (Serengeti), Serengeti Kati Kati Camp (Serengeti)
- Mid range: Serengeti Sopa Lodge (Serengeti), Serengeti Kubu Kubu Lodge (Serengeti)
- High range: Serengeti Serena Lodge (Serengeti), Dunia Camp (Serengeti)
- Approx driving distance: 3-4 hours
- Expected game drive: En-route, Afternoon
- Optional activities: Olduvai Gorge Museum visit
- Meals usually included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Commonly seen: Elephant, giraffe, hippo, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, lion, cheetah, hyena, warthog, kudu, leopard, ostrich, mongoose, hyrax, dik-dik.
- Occasionally seen: Crocodile, caracal, serval, klipspringer.
- Rarely seen: Black rhino, wild dog.
Day 3 - Serengeti National Park to Ngorongoro Crater Rim
You will spend your morning today continuing to explore the central Serengeti plains. An optional early morning hot air balloon safari can be included to offer views of the Serengeti from up high. Towards the early afternoon you will start your journey back to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and spend your night inside of the Conservation area near the crater rim.
- Accommodation options
- Basic camping: Simba Campsite (Ngorongoro)
- Budget range: None
- Mid range: Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge (Ngorongoro)
- High range: Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge (Ngorongoro), Ngorongoro Serena Lodge (Ngorongoro), The Highlands Lodge (Ngorongoro)
- Approx driving distance: 3-4 hours
- Expected game drive: Morning, en-route
- Optional activities: Hot air balloon safari, Olduvai Gorge Museum visit
- Meals usually included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Commonly seen: Elephant, giraffe, hippo, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, lion, cheetah, hyena, warthog, kudu, leopard, ostrich, mongoose, hyrax, dik-dik.
- Occasionally seen: Crocodile, caracal, serval, klipspringer.
- Rarely seen: Black rhino, wild dog.
Day 4 - Ngorongoro Crater to Moshi / Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) / Arusha
Your final day on safari starts with an early departure down into the Ngorongoro Crater where it's not uncommon to find all of the Big 5 in one day, and likely where you will spot a black Rhino if you didn't find one in the Serengeti. You can spend a maximum of 6 hours inside of the crater in one day and you will end your safari this evening at Arusha, Moshi or Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for night flights.
- Accommodation options
- Basic camping: Simba Campsite
- Budget range: Farm of Dreams (Karatu), Octagon Lodge (Karatu)
- Mid range: Karatu Simba Lodge (Karatu), Pembeni Africa (Karatu), Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge (Ngorongoro)
- High range: Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge (Ngorongoro), Ngorongoro Serena Lodge (Ngorongoro), The Highlands Lodge (Ngorongoro)
- Distance from previous location: 1-2 hours
- Expected game drive: Maximum 6 hours
- Optional activities: None, speak to your consultant
- Meals usually included: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
- Commonly seen: Elephant, hippo, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, lion, hyena, jackal, vulture, warthog, impala, flamingo, ostrich, waterbuck.
- Occasionally seen: Black rhino, cheetah, dik-dik
- Rarely seen: Leopard, caracal, serval.
4 days / 3 nights - Northern circuit
- Parks and reserves:
Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area - Activities included:
Wildlife safari (game drives) - Optional extras:
Hot air balloon, walking safari, night game drive - Pre/post safari accommodation:
Not included, can be added as an extra - Best months for this tour:
December to February or June to October - Commonly seen animals:
Elephant, giraffe, hippo, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, cheetah, vulture, warthog, impala, flamingo, marabu, hyena, waterbuck, dik-dik, kudu, blue monkey, lion, leopard, jackal, hyrax, ostrich, mongoose, waterbuck. - Occasionally seen animals:
Crocodile, Serval, black rhino, caracal, klipspringer - Rarely seen animals:
Wild dog
Standard packages usually include...
- Accommodation as stated in the itinterary with all taxes and fees included
- National park, Conservation area or Wildlife Management Area fees as applicable to your itinerary
- Game drives as indicated in the itinerary with a dedicated (private) 4x4 Land Cruiser operated by our English speaking safari-guides and sanitized between uses.
- Meals as indicated in your itinerary
- Domestic flights if indicated in your personal itinerary
- In vehicle sanitizers and complimentary face masks
- In vehicle safari WiFi subject to network connectivity
Optional extras you can add...
- Airport or other transfers
- Pre and post safari accommodation if not already included
- Hot air balloon safaris if available on your planned route
- Night game drives if available on your planned route
- Walking safaris in Arusha or Tarangire National Parks
- Extra activities such as museums, snake parks, cultural or nature walks if avaialble on your planned route
- Canoeing safaris in Arusha or Lake Manyara National Parks (subject to water levels)
- Kilimanjaro scenic flight
- Special bush meals if available at your planned activity
Standard packages usually exclude...
- Tips / gratuities
- Beverages such as soft drinks, alcohol etc.
- International flights
- Insurance
- Items of a personal nature
When to visit
These recommendations are based on weather predictions and trends.
Excellent time
January, February, July to October, December
Good time
March, June, November
Mixed time
April, May
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