5 Day Ngorongoro crater, Serengeti and Lake Manyara Safari

5-day Serengeti and Ngorongoro safari leads you to Tanzania, home to the Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar and the Serengeti. The safari offers you magnificent and scenic views of wildlife and nature within one of the most famous national parks in Africa. You will have chances of viewing different wildlife categorized under big cats, predators and other ungulates. They include lions, buffalo, cheetahs, wildebeest, and zebras among others. You will also have an opportunity to experience Masai culture.

Serengeti is one of the most famous parks in Africa. The word “Serengeti“ is derived from the word “Serenget”, which when translated from the Masai language, refers to “Endless Plains”, and true to the description, these plains span an astounding 12,000 square miles in approximation. The landscape here is the Africa you’ve always imagined and seen depicted in the Lion King and Out of Africa. It is famous for its annual migration of over 1.5 million white-bearded wildebeest and other animals like zebras. This is rendered to as one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Because of its popularity, the Serengeti draws in massive numbers of tourists every year.

The jewel in Ngorongoro crown is a deep, volcanic crater, the largest un flooded and unbroken caldera in the world. About 20 km across, 600 meters deep, and 300 sq. km in area, the Ngorongoro Crater is a breath-taking natural wonder.

The Ngorongoro Crater is one of Africa’s most famous sites and is said to have the highest density of wildlife in Africa. Sometimes described as an ‘eighth wonder of the world’, the Crater has achieved world renowned status, attracting an ever-increasing number of visitors each year. You are unlikely to escape other vehicles here, but you are guaranteed great wildlife viewing in a genuinely mind-blowing environment. There is nowhere else in Africa quite like Ngorongoro!

The crater floor consists of a number of different habitats that include grassland, swamps, forests, and Lake Makat (Maasai for ‘salt’) – a central soda lake filled by the Munge River. All these various environments attract wildlife to drink, wallow, graze, hide, or climb. Although animals are free to move in and out of this contained environment, the rich volcanic soil, lush forests, and spring source lakes on the crater floor (combined with fairly steep crater sides) tend to incline both grazers and predators to remain throughout the year.

Safari highlights

Game drive in Lake Manyara area
Picnic lunch in Lake Manyara wilderness
View of the Great Rift Valley system
Driving via “olduvai” gorge
Full day game drive in Serengeti area.

Day 1: Arrival in Arusha

You will be received on arrival by our tour guide who will then transfer you to your lodge for pre-safari briefing and if time allows you may have a short tour of Arusha town.

Day 2: Drive from Arusha to Lake Manyara National park

On this day we will head out to Lake Manyara area for a morning game drive with a classic safari picnic lunch, and enjoy our final glimpse of the great wilderness of Northern Tanzania. Lake Manyara offers an insight into the Great Rift Valley system and the adaptation of many herds of animals and magnificent birdlife. The park is gifted with a variety of ecosystems which are responsible for hosting a variety of animals, including the famous tree climbing lions, buffalos, blue monkeys many others.

Day 3: Drive from Lake Manyara to Ngorongoro Crater

On this day after breakfast, you will transfer to Ngorongoro. Along the way, you will have chances of passing by Olduvai Gorge, one of the most outstanding pale anthropological sites in the world, with traces of pre-historic man, Ngorongoro is a collapsed volcano which has become a natural Amphitheatre which spans 25 km across and teeming with all of the African big game. An early morning descent into the crater for spectacular scenery and game viewing is what has been described as the “eighth wonder” of the world. While here, you will have chances of scenic views of the “big five”. Break off for lunch and thereafter transfer to the magnificent central areas of the Serengeti for further wildlife viewing. You will return later in the evening to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Drive from Ngorongoro to Serengeti for full day game drives

On this day after breakfast, you will head out and spend the entire day exploring the vast plains of the Serengeti, which will give you a great opportunity to explore thoroughly the “kopjes” and riverine areas. Most of the camps are permanent, allowing for optimal wildlife viewing activities while still being close to central areas. Serengeti is Tanzania’s oldest park and contains millions of animals. It is popular for the annual migration of over 1.5 million wildebeests, over 200,000 zebras and many other wild animals. You need to be there to believe this.

Day 5: Short Morning drive in Serengeti and transfer to Arusha

On the last day time permitting, we shall do a short game drive as we head out towards Seronera central airstrip for a charter flight back to Arusha from where you will catch your departure flight back home.

Safari includes

Pick up and drop off
Park and conservation fees
Professional safari guide
All meals and cold water while in a safari
All accommodation according to your standard required
Government taxes.

Safari excludes

Visa
Personal Expenses (laundry, telephone, alcoholic drinks etc.
Optional activities like balloon rides 570$ per person
Tips
International flights

When to book this safari

You can book anytime of the year but we recommend that you book with us three months in advance.

Best time to visit Ngorongoro crater

The best time to visit the Ngorongoro conservation area is during the dry season around June to October for wildlife viewing activities.