Day 1 - Moshi / Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) / Arusha to Arusha National Park
Proceed to Arusha National Park - a small national park which includes the slopes, summit and ash cone of Mount Meru, the Momela Lakes, Ngurdoto Crater, and the lush highland forests that blanket its lower slopes. You will spend the night in and around Arusha.
- Accommodation options
- Basic camping: Arusha Campsite
- Budget range: Outpost Lodge (Arusha), Meru view lodge (Arusha), Green Hills Lodge (Arusha), African view lodge (Arusha)
- Mid range: Mount Meru game lodge (Arusha), Arumeru river lodge (Arusha), African Tulip Hotel (Arusha)
- High range: Hatari lodge (Arusha), Kili Villa (Arusha), Elewana Coffee Lodge (Arusha)
- Approx driving distance: 1-2 hours
- Expected game drive: Afternoon
- Optional activities: Walking safari, canoeing safari
- Meals usually included: Lunch, dinner
- Commonly seen: Giraffe, buffalo, zebra, warthog, impala, flamingo, waterbuck
- Occasionally seen: Elephant, jackal, hyena, 400+ bird species
- Rarely seen: Leopard, Lion
Day 2 - Arusha to Tarangire National Park
Depart from Arusha to Tarangire National Park for your game drive today. Tarangire is famous for it's herds of elephants and giant Babobab trees. You will spend your day exploring these savannah plains around Lake Tarangire and spend your night in and around Tarangire
- Accommodation options
- Basic camping: Tarangire Campsite
- Budget range: None
- Mid range: Tarangire Simba lodge (Tarangire), Maramboi Tented lodge (Tarangire), Tarangire safari lodge (Tarangire), Mbali Mbali lodge (Tarangire)
- High range: Tarangire Sopa Lodge (Tarangire), Tarangire eco-science lodge (Tarangire), Olivers camp (Tarangire), Tarangire Treetops (Tarangire)
- Approx driving distance: 2-3 hours
- Expected game drive: Afternoon
- Optional activities: Walking safari
- Meals usually included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Commonly seen: Elephant, giraffe, hippo, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, lion, jackal, vulture, warthog, impala, ostrich, hyena, waterbuck, blue monkey.
- Occasionally seen: Hyena, marabu, caracal, leopard.
- Rarely seen: Cheetah, wild dog
Day 3 - Tarangire 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 in Mto wa Mbu, Karatu or on the Ngorongoro crater rim.
- 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: 2-3 hours
- Expected game drive: Morning, afternoon
- Optional activities: Cultural walks, canoeing safari, night game drive
- Meals usually included: Breakfast, 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 4 - Olmoti and Empakai Craters
You drive today to the Nainokanoka ranger post in the Ngorongoro highlands and hike to the rim of Olmoti Crater (hiking time between 1-3 hours). Continue to Empakai Crater for the second hike of the day of 1-3 hours to catch flamingoes inside of Lake Empakai. You can drive to both areas if you wish to avoid the walking part of the day. You will spend your night on the Ngorongoro crater rim or in the highlands.
- Accommodation options
- Basic camping: Simba Campsite
- Budget range: None
- Mid range: 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: None
- Optional activities: Longer hikes in the Ngorongoro highlands
- Meals usually included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Commonly seen: Buffalo, zebra, impala, flamingo, ostrich, waterbuck.
- Occasionally seen: Lions, dik-dik
- Rarely seen: Leopard
Day 5 - Ngorongoro Crater to Lake Natron
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. You can spend a maximum of 6 hours inside of the crater in one day and you will drive to Lake Natron area in the afternoon. If you still have time left this afternoon you have optional activities (time permitting) including: Village tour / Hotspring tour / Visit to waterfalls / Biking tour to Orpul caves / Footprints / Maasai cultural and botanical tour / herding tour.
- Accommodation options
- Basic camping: World view campsite (Lake Natron)
- Budget range: Lake Natron camp (Lake Natron)
- Mid range: Lake Natron Tented Camp (Lake Natron)
- High range: None
- Distance from previous location: 4-5 hours
- Expected game drive: Maximum 6 hours
- Optional activities: None, speak to your consultant
- Meals usually included: Breakfast, 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.
Day 7 - Lake Natron to Arusha / Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) / Moshoi
Today you start your drive back to Arusha / Moshi passing the Engaruka ruins in between Lake Natron and Engarasero. The road will likely be full of stones and a difficult drive until Mto wa Mbu where you will join the tarmac highway again. The drive from Engarasero to Arusha / Moshi / JRO will likely take around 6 to 7 hours.
- Accommodation options
None included but you can add pre / post tour accommodation to any of our safaris on request in Arusha, Moshi or around Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
- Distance from previous location: 6-7 hours
- Expected game drive: None
- Optional extras: None, speak to your consultant
- Meals usually included: Breakfast, lunch
- Commonly seen: None
- Occasionally seen: None
- Rarely seen: None
5 days and 4 night Crater Experiences
Arusha (1 night) > Tarangire (1 night) > Manyara / Karatu (1 or 2 nights) > Ngorongoro (0 or 1 nights)
- Parks and reserves:
Arusha National Park, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area - Activities included:
Wildlife safari (game drives), walking safaris - 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, vulture, warthog, impala, flamingo, marabu, hyena, waterbuck, dik-dik, blue monkey, lion, jackal, ostrich, waterbuck. - Occasionally seen animals:
Serval, mongoose, black rhino, cheetah, caracal, leopard, 400+ bird species - 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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