Day 1 – Welcome to Kilimanjaro International Airport → Arusha
Welcome to Tanzania! Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your guide. After collecting your luggage, you’ll be transferred to your accommodation in Arusha, where you can settle in, relax, and refresh after your journey.
Later in the day, your guide will meet with you for a full safari briefing, explaining the itinerary, safety guidelines, and what you can expect throughout your adventure. This is a great time to ask questions and prepare for the exciting days ahead.
Spend the remainder of the evening enjoying the peaceful surroundings of your lodge and resting up for the start of your safari tomorrow.
Meals: Dinner (depending on arrival time)
Accommodation: Arusha Serena Hotel
Travel Time: Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha: Approx. 1 hour
Day 2 – Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park
This afternoon, you will join a seat-in-vehicle safari departing from Arusha at 14:00. The journey takes you across the Masai Steppe, passing traditional villages surrounded by fields of maize, coffee, and bananas. As you continue, you’ll reach the town of Makuyuni before turning northwest and ascending a scenic escarpment that offers impressive views across the landscape.
Your drive concludes at Lake Manyara Serena Lodge, beautifully positioned on the edge of the Rift Valley with sweeping views toward Lake Manyara. Take a moment to enjoy the lodge’s tranquil setting and dramatic vistas as you settle in for the evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Lake Manyara Serena Lodge
Travel Time: Arusha to Lake Manyara: Approx. 2–2.5 hours
Day 3 – Lake Manyara National Park to Serengeti National Park
Begin the day with a rewarding morning game drive in Lake Manyara National Park, exploring its diverse habitats and looking out for elephants, hippos, tree-climbing lions, and the large baboon troops that the park is known for. Return to the lodge for lunch before continuing your journey north.
In the afternoon, travel through the scenic highlands, passing rolling fields of wheat and coffee plantations. As you climb into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the landscape opens up with dramatic views and the possibility of wildlife sightings even before reaching the Serengeti.
Upon entering Serengeti National Park, your adventure continues with game viewing en route to your lodge. The Serengeti’s vast plains are home to an incredible diversity of wildlife, and you may encounter giraffes, zebras, lions, elephants, and countless grazing animals along the way.
Arrive at Serengeti Serena Lodge in time for dinner and enjoy a relaxing evening surrounded by the sights and sounds of the iconic Serengeti wilderness.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Serengeti Serena Lodge
Travel Time: Lake Manyara to Serengeti Serena Lodge: Approx. 5–6 hours, depending on wildlife sightings and stops
Afternoon
Day 4 – Serengeti National Park
Spend the day exploring the incredible Serengeti National Park, enjoying both morning and afternoon game drives. This is one of Africa’s most iconic wildlife regions, known for its vast open plains, big cat sightings, and remarkable diversity of animals. Early mornings are especially rewarding, with predators still active and the soft light creating perfect photographic conditions.
For guests seeking a truly unforgettable experience, an optional Hot Air Balloon Safari can be arranged at an additional cost. This early-morning flight offers a breathtaking aerial view of the Serengeti as the sun rises, illuminating the plains below. After drifting peacefully above the wildlife, the experience concludes with a special bush breakfast.
Whether you explore by vehicle or take to the skies, the Serengeti delivers extraordinary wildlife moments throughout the day.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Serengeti Serena Lodge
Travel Time: Game drives within the Serengeti (varies depending on wildlife movements)
Day 5 – Serengeti National Park to Ngorongoro Crater
After breakfast, begin your journey toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, travelling across the sweeping Serengeti plains. Along the way, enjoy game viewing and take in the ever-changing scenery. A picnic lunch will be enjoyed en route, allowing you to relax in the heart of this extraordinary landscape.
During your drive, stop at a traditional Maasai village for a cultural experience, offering insight into the customs, traditions, and daily life of one of Tanzania’s most iconic communities.
Continue your ascent toward the Ngorongoro Crater rim, where your lodge awaits. Perched high on the edge of the crater, Ngorongoro Serena Lodge offers remarkable views across this vast natural caldera. Arrive in time for dinner and enjoy a peaceful evening in one of the most scenic locations in East Africa.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Ngorongoro Serena Lodge
Travel Time: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Serena Lodge: Approx. 4–5 hours depending on wildlife and stops
Morning
Afternoon
Day 6 – Ngorongoro Crater
After breakfast, begin your full-day exploration of the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater, often described as the largest natural wildlife arena on Earth. With picnic lunch in hand, descend through the early morning mist, dropping nearly 600 metres into the heart of this remarkable caldera.
The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact volcanic caldera in the world and offers exceptional wildlife viewing due to its varied habitats—lush forests, freshwater swamps, open grasslands, springs, lakes, and sandy dunes. This diversity supports an impressive concentration of animals year-round.
As you explore the crater floor, look out for elephants, large prides of lions, hippos, buffalo, hyenas, flamingos on the lake, and, with luck, the critically endangered Black Rhino. Leopards may also be spotted along the forested slopes, adding extra excitement to your game drive.
In the late afternoon, ascend the crater walls and return to your lodge, carrying with you the incredible memories of one of Africa’s most extraordinary wildlife experiences.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Ngorongoro Serena Lodge
Travel Time: Crater descent and ascent plus game viewing: 6 hour day activity
Morning
Meals
Game drive - Morning (6hr pass)
Day 7 – Ngorongoro Crater to Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, begin your scenic journey southeast from the Ngorongoro Crater, passing Lake Manyara and the vibrant village of Mto wa Mbu. Continue through the lush highlands and the fertile Karatu district, where expansive wheat fields and coffee plantations stretch across the landscape. Enjoy the sweeping views from the escarpment before turning south onto the Arusha–Dodoma road, which leads you toward Tarangire National Park.
Tarangire is renowned for its rich wildlife diversity and its dramatic baobab-dotted landscapes. The park is especially famous for its large elephant herds, which gather in impressive numbers during the dry season (June–October) as animals migrate toward the Tarangire River. Along the way, keep watch for lions resting beneath the shade of acacia trees and leopards concealed in the branches above.
Beyond its predators and elephants, Tarangire is home to giraffes, cheetahs, zebras, and numerous antelope species. Birdwatchers will be delighted by more than 500 species recorded in the park, including vibrant bee-eaters, hornbills, and powerful raptors.
As you enter the park, enjoy a game drive en route to your lodge, taking in the shifting scenery and wildlife sightings. After lunch, continue with an afternoon game drive, exploring the river valleys, woodlands, and open plains that make Tarangire such a captivating wilderness.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tarangire Sopa Lodge
Travel Time: Ngorongoro Crater to Tarangire National Park: Approx. 3–4 hours
Afternoon
Meals
Game drive - Full day
Day 8 – Tarangire National Park to Arusha
After breakfast, begin your journey northeast toward Arusha, travelling through the scenic Masai Steppe. This route offers classic views of rural Tanzania, with traditional Maasai villages set among fields of maize, coffee, and banana plantations. It’s a peaceful and picturesque drive, giving you time to reflect on the remarkable wildlife encounters and unforgettable moments from your safari.
Upon arrival in Arusha, you will be dropped off in the city centre, where you can continue with your onward arrangements. Whether you’re heading to the airport, beginning a new adventure, or simply taking time to relax, Arusha serves as a convenient and lively hub for the next steps of your journey.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: End of safari (no accommodation included)
Travel Time: Tarangire National Park to Arusha: Approx. 2–2.5 hours
Meals
Airport transfer
Guide Tips and gratuities
