5 DAYs: Serengeti National Park Tanzania

Serengeti National Park Tanzania Overview

One of our most popular tours allows you to spend a very reasonable amount of time in Serengeti National Park Tanzanias (4 nights) with the option to explore Ngorongoro conservation area, Manyara or Tarangire .

Day 1: Lake Manyara National Park

Commencing at 8 am, we’ll pick you up from your hotel to embark on a captivating journey through the Great Rift Valley, heading to Lake Manyara National Park for a full-day game drive. Despite its compact size (205 sq. miles), the park boasts breathtaking landscapes, renowned for its vibrant acacia forest, towering giant figs, and majestic mahogany trees. The area is home to a growing population of baboons and blue monkeys.

Permanent residents of this park include giraffes, elephants, impalas, and a substantial number of buffaloes. The lake itself hosts a considerable population of hippos. Noteworthy features of this park encompass the distinctive tree-climbing lions, flamingos adorning the lakeshore, as well as the Ground Hornbill and the Crested Eagle.

The scenery around Lake Manyara is indescribable, and the game drives along the lake offer incredible photo opportunities, with giraffes and buffaloes in the foreground and the lake, accompanied by its flamingos, forming a stunning backdrop. Throughout the day, you have the option to partake in additional tours, such as a bike excursion or a boat trip. In the afternoon, we transfer to the camp for dinner.

Specific highlights of this park include the exceptional phenomenon of tree-climbing lions, the presence of flamingos along the lakeshore, as well as sightings of the Ground Hornbill and the Crested Eagle.

If preferred, this day can be replaced with a visit to Tarangire National Park (or add an extra day to visit both). Accommodations recommended, with the exception of And Beyond Manyara Tree Lodge, are located outside the park, in the Manyara and Mto Wa Mbu Region.

Our recommendations are:

Day 2: Serengeti National Park Tanzania

Following a lengthy yet awe-inspiring journey, you’ll reach the park just in time for an incredible afternoon game drive. Following an early breakfast, set off for the renowned Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, considered the most famous National Park globally. While the drive itself is extensive, it offers spectacular scenery.

Ascending the crater highlands, a brief stop at the rim provides an unparalleled view of the Ngorongoro Crater, an unforgettable moment for first-time observers. Progressing further into the Serengeti, you’ll understand the meaning of the name, which, in the local language, translates to “endless plains.

Encompassing 6,900 square miles (18,000 sq. km), the park’s plains seemingly extend boundlessly to the horizon, challenging your senses and perception of distances. Renowned as the epicenter of the Great Migration, the Serengeti is home to 2 million wildebeests, hundreds of thousands of zebras, and various antelopes, including abundant impalas and Thomson’s gazelles. For enthusiasts of Big Cats and formidable predators, it’s a prime location to spot lions, cheetahs, leopards, and hyenas. Many iconic television scenes, such as the famous river crossings, have been filmed in this park.

Inhabitants of the Serengeti extend beyond the iconic large mammals to encompass smaller creatures like foxes, mongoose, honey badgers, jackals, monkeys, baboons, rock hyrax, and African hares. The park is also a haven for birdwatchers, with over 500 bird species gracing its landscapes.

Following this lengthy yet spectacular journey, indulge in a fantastic afternoon game drive. Accommodations in the Serengeti cater to all budgets and styles.

Our recommendations are:

Day 3: Serengeti National Park

An additional suggested activity includes the enchanting balloon flight over the expansive Serengeti plains.

You have a full day ahead in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, and we’re entirely adaptable to your preferences, tailoring the day to align with your desires. Throughout your safari, your guide will collaborate with you to determine the optimal timings, covering aspects such as game drives and wake-up times.

For instance, on this particular day, you have the option to embark on a morning game drive, return to the camp for lunch and relaxation, and conclude the day with an afternoon game drive. Alternatively, you can choose to engage in a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch.

As an additional recommendation, consider the remarkable balloon flight over the Serengeti plains to enhance your experience.

We suggest staying in the same camp or lodge as the previous night for your convenience.

Our recommendations are:

Day 4: Serengeti National Park To Ngorongoro

On this day, we recommend an early rise to embark on a morning game drive, taking advantage of the heightened activity of animals and the opportunity to witness one of the most stunning sunrises. It truly stands out as one of the most beautiful experiences to be had. Following the game drive, we return to the camp for a satisfying brunch, after which we proceed to Ngorongoro National Park, acclaimed as the 8th wonder of the Natural World.

The crater, spanning 102 square miles with towering walls reaching 2,000 feet, is essentially a Noah’s ark, hosting nearly every species of wildlife indigenous to East Africa. It is one of the rare locations across the continent where sighting the elusive black Rhino is possible. The concentration of African wildlife in the crater is unparalleled, making it the most significant in the entire continent.

The Ngorongoro Crater features a river, numerous swamps, a soda lake with a substantial concentration of flamingos, a forest, and vast open plains. It is renowned for its elephants, acknowledged as the largest in the world with impressive tusks, attributed to the nutrient-rich volcanic soil and grasses. The Ngorongoro Crater is undeniably a wonder of the Natural World. Arriving at Ngorongoro, you’ll have the chance to enjoy a sundowner.

There’s also the option for an afternoon walking safari in the Ngorongoro National Park highlands.

While most accommodation options for Ngorongoro are situated outside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, there are exceptional choices within the park itself, and these are the ones we typically recommend.

Our recommendations are:

Day 5: Ngorongoro National Park

Today, you’ll embark on a safari within one of the marvels of the Natural World.

Commencing the day at an early hour, you’ll descend into the crater floor for a remarkable morning surrounded by wildlife in one of the most breathtaking locations on the planet. Following the game drive, there will be an opportunity for a picnic lunch near the picturesque Hippo Lake.

Post-lunch, a brief game drive is scheduled before ascending the crater and departing from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area en route to Arusha. Our estimated return to Arusha is around 5 pm, but we maintain flexibility to accommodate any flight schedules or unforeseen circumstances.

Optional Day: Cultural Experience

Incorporating cultural visits to local villages into our program enhances the depth and rewards of your safari experience, contributing positively to the local community through country tourism. We approach this aspect of our work with great dedication.

For a more authentic and off-the-beaten-path encounter, we recommend extending your itinerary to include a day to visit Lake Eyasi. This allows you to explore the fascinating Hadzabe tribe the following morning. As one of the last true nomadic tribes in Africa, the Hadzabe provide a captivating experience, enabling you to participate in their local morning activities alongside village members.

Alternatively, if you choose to conclude your safari in Arusha, you have the option to visit a traditional Maasai Village on the subsequent day. Here, a Maasai Chief will guide you, offering insights into their customs, daily life, culinary practices, livestock care, and cultural performances, including songs and dances.

Both experiences present exceptional photo opportunities while contributing to a more immersive understanding of local cultures.

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