3 DAYS: NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA EXPEDITION

Ngorongoro Conservation Area Overview

This trip is perfect for those who want to visit Tanzanias most famous national park in just three days. This itinerary gives you a deeper understanding of Tanzanias national parks in addition to the Serengeti in a short period of time.

Additional tours available include: Night game drives within the park

Ensuite Accommodation Packages

Below are packages with a few popular ensuite options for your tour. Ensuite hotels are tented camps/lodges that can be inside/around national parks. You will have a private room with attached bathroom. Meals are provided by hotels.

Option E1: $995 per adult for safari with Land Cruiser
– Stay at Sangaiwe Tented Lodge, Tarangire (Outside the Park).
– Stay at Omega View Hotel, Karatu.

Option E2: $1,198 per adult for safari with Land Cruiser
– Stay at Sangaiwe Tented Lodge, Tarangire (Outside the Park).
– Stay at Ngorongoro Kuhama Camp, Ngorongoro, Ngorongoro.

Option E3: $1,374 per adult for safari with Land Cruiser
– Stay at Ang’ata Tarangire Camp, Tarangire (Within the Park).
– Stay at Embalakai Ngorongoro Camp, Ngorongoro, Ngorongoro.

Option E4: $1,833 per adult for safari with Land Cruiser
– Stay at Nimali Tarangire Camp, Tarangire (Outside the Park).
– Stay at Lemala Ngorongoro, Ngorongoro, Ngorongoro.

Option E5: $2,189 per adult for safari with Land Cruiser
– Stay at Lemala Mpingo Ridge, Tarangire (Within the Park).
– Stay at Melia Ngorongoro Lodge, Ngorongoro – The Rim Room, Ngorongoro.

Option E6: $3,395 per adult for safari with Land Cruiser
– Stay at Sanctuary Swala Camp, Tarangire (Within the Park).
– Stay at Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Ngorongoro – Suite, Ngorongoro.

A detailed list of inclusions is shared below. We have many more accommodations and addon tours to offer. Please share with us your requirements by clicking on the “Request Quote” button below, and our reservations team will get in touch with you.

DAY 1: TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK

We’ll fetch you from your hotel at 8 am and transport you to an extraordinary national park. Tarangire is renowned for its varied landscape, featuring nine distinct vegetation zones.

The park is particularly famous for its abundant Ancient Baobab trees, the largest on the continent, which populate the landscape and overshadow the adjacent animals. The park’s river is teeming with wildlife, spanning a diverse range from numerous bird species to lions, leopards, zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes, and, of course, elephants.

Notably, this park boasts the country’s highest concentration of elephants, offering exclusive opportunities to witness the interactions within elephant families. The lunch area is captivating, featuring an observatory with stunning views of the river and wildlife—providing a unique chance to witness a hunt while enjoying a picnic. In the afternoon, we’ll conduct another game drive before heading to your accommodation.

In reality, the park hosts the largest concentration of elephants in the entire country, providing unparalleled opportunities to observe the dynamics among elephant families.

DAY 2: LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK (AND TRANSFER TO NGORONGORO SIGHTSEEING)

Commencing early in the morning, we’ll pick you up from your lodging for a comprehensive day of exploring Lake Manyara on a game drive. Despite its modest size (205 sq. miles), the park boasts awe-inspiring landscapes, renowned for its lush acacia forest, towering giant figs, and mahogany trees. The area is also gaining recognition for its growing population of baboons and blue monkeys.

Residents within this park include giraffes, elephants, impalas, and a substantial number of buffaloes. The lake itself harbors a considerable population of hippos. Noteworthy features of this park encompass the unique phenomenon of tree-climbing lions, the presence of flamingos along the lakeshore, as well as sightings of the Ground Hornbill and the Crested Eagle.

Describing the landscapes of Lake Manyara proves challenging, as their beauty transcends words. Game drives along the lake offer remarkable photo opportunities, with giraffes and buffaloes in the foreground and the lake, accompanied by its flamingos, forming a breathtaking backdrop. Throughout the day, there’s the option to partake in additional tours, such as a bike excursion or a boat trip. In the afternoon, we’ll transfer to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area for an overnight stay.

The distinctive allure of this park is enriched by its exceptional characteristics, like the presence of tree-climbing lions, the captivating sight of flamingos along the lakeshore, and the chances to encounter the Ground Hornbill and the Crested Eagle.

DAY 3: NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA

The Ngorongoro Crater is acknowledged as a marvel of the Natural World, spanning 102 square miles with towering walls reaching 2,000 feet, creating a virtual Noah’s ark that houses nearly every East African wildlife species.

It stands as one of the rare locations on the entire continent where the sighting of a black Rhino is possible. The concentration of African wildlife within the crater is unparalleled, featuring a river, multiple swamps, a soda lake hosting a significant population of flamingos, a forest, and expansive plains. Notably, the crater is renowned for hosting the world’s largest elephants, characterized by their massive tusks, attributed to the rich mineral content of the volcanic soil and its grasses.

The Ngorongoro Crater is undeniably a wonder of the Natural World. Our day begins early as we descend into the crater floor for an incredible morning surrounded by wildlife in one of the most breathtaking places on Earth.

Following the game drive, a picnic lunch awaits near the beautiful Hippo Lake. Post-lunch, there’s time for a brief additional game drive before ascending the crater and departing the Ngorongoro Conservation Area en route to Arusha. Anticipated return to Arusha is around 5 pm, with flexibility maintained for potential flight schedules or unforeseen circumstances.

OPTIONAL DAY

“Extend your safari by one additional day to explore the Hadzabe tribe in Lake Eyasi or the Oldonyo Sambu Maasai Village.

For a more authentic and off-the-beaten-path encounter, we suggest concluding your safari at Lake Eyasi after the Ngorongoro game drive. This allows you to visit the intriguing Hadzabe tribe the following morning.

Renowned as one of the last genuine nomadic tribes in Africa, the Hadzabe offer a captivating experience where you can actively participate in the village’s morning activities. Alternatively, if you prefer to end your safari in Arusha, you can still embark on a visit to a traditional Maasai Village the next day. Guided by a Maasai Chief, you’ll gain insights into their lifestyle, cooking methods, livestock care, traditional songs, and dances.

This unique opportunity also includes observing local village women perform traditional dances, presenting excellent photo opportunities. By incorporating cultural visits to local villages into your safari itinerary, you not only enrich your safari experience but also contribute to the well-being of the local communities through responsible tourism. We are deeply committed to this aspect of our work.”

Key Information

Highlights

Skill Level

Physical Distancing

Safety Features

Include

Transportation in tourist 4 x 4-wheel drive Tanzania safari vehicles with VHF Radio communication and pop-up roof for easy viewing and photographing,

Excluded

Arrival By Airplane