5 Days 4 Nights Arusha | Lake Manyara | Ngorongoro Crater | Serengeti | Arusha Big Five Safari

Your adventure begins with a morning pick-up from your Arusha or Moshi hotel. After a brief introduction, you’ll depart for Lake Manyara National Park with a packed lunch. The scenic drive takes you past Makuyuni, a vibrant town known for its coffee plantations. Upon arrival in Lake Manyara, embark on a game drive, experiencing the park’s diverse birdlife, including thousands of flamingos and other water birds. Keep an eye out for the park’s abundant mammals as well. Later, continue your journey to Mto wa Mbu, a unique cultural melting pot where over 120 Tanzanian tribes coexist peacefully. Finally, arrive at your lodge in Karatu for dinner and a relaxing overnight stay at Ngorongoro Coffee Lodge.

Fuel up with an early morning breakfast before descending into the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest unbroken caldera. Pack a lunch for your full-day game drive exploring this unique ecosystem teeming with wildlife. Ngorongoro Crater boasts a depth of 600 meters and a diameter of 20 kilometers, offering a stunning backdrop for your wildlife viewing adventure. In the late afternoon, ascend back to your lodge at Ngorongoro Coffee Lodge for dinner and a restful overnight stay.

After a fortifying breakfast, you’ll check out of your lodge in Karatu with a packed lunch in tow. Today’s adventure takes you to the legendary Serengeti National Park, home to the Big Five and countless other marvels. Embark on a game drive upon arrival, searching for the elusive rhino, majestic lion, cunning leopard, powerful elephant, and the formidable buffalo. Keep your eyes peeled for a diverse cast of wildlife, including cheetahs, gazelles, topis, elands, hyenas, baboons, impalas, African wild dogs, and graceful giraffes. The Serengeti also boasts over 500 bird species, so be sure to look out for ostriches, secretary birds, kori bustards, crowned cranes, marabou storks, martial eagles, lovebirds, and various vultures. As evening descends, return to your camp for dinner and a comfortable overnight stay at either Serengeti Sound of Silence Camp, Serengeti Sound of Nature Camp, or Serengeti Little Moru Camp.

Dive deeper into the wonders of the Serengeti with a full-day game drive after an energizing breakfast at your lodge. This iconic park truly lives up to its reputation, offering year-round sightings of vast buffalo herds, smaller elephant groups, elegant giraffes, and millions of antelopes like elands, topis, impalas, kongonis, and Grant’s gazelles. With a bit of luck, you might encounter all three big cats – lions lounging after a successful hunt, majestic cheetahs sprinting across the plains (more commonly spotted in the southeastern region), and perhaps a leopard camouflaged amongst the trees lining the riverbanks. After an unforgettable day exploring the Serengeti, return to your camp for dinner and another comfortable night’s stay at Serengeti Sound of Silence Camp, Serengeti Sound of Nature Camp, or Serengeti Little Moru Camp.

Enjoy a hearty breakfast at your lodge before checking out with a packed lunch. Embark on a scenic return journey to Arusha, taking roughly 5 hours. The drive offers a glimpse into the Tanzanian countryside, with rolling hills, scattered wildlife sightings, traditional villages, and herds of grazing livestock. As you travel, admire scenic views of Lake Manyara and enjoy a delicious lunch on the way. Your safari adventure concludes upon arrival in Arusha, where you’ll be dropped off at your designated location.