3-Day Classic Safari to Lake Manyara & Ngorongoro Crater

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Arrival in Arusha

Your adventure begins when you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). A Big Time Adventures guide will be waiting to welcome you, assist with your luggage, and transfer you to Arusha, a scenic drive of about 1 to 1.5 hours. On the way, enjoy your first look at Tanzania’s landscapes: open plains dotted with acacia trees, small local villages, and the distant rise of Mount Meru. Your guide will introduce you to the region, share insights, and get you excited for the days ahead. Upon reaching Arusha, check into your lodge and relax after your travels. In the evening, your guide will give a short safari briefing about the following day’s visit to Lake Manyara National Park and the Treetop Walkway. Then unwind and rest the real safari begins tomorrow at sunrise.

Main Destination:

Arusha (City)

Accommodation:

Forest Hill Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located near Arusha (City)

+9 Photos

+8 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park

After breakfast, drive to Lake Manyara National Park, passing scenic highlands and Maasai communities along the way. Begin your adventure with the Manyara Treetop Walkway, a suspended canopy bridge that offers a rare, elevated view of the forest. Listen to birdsong, watch for blue and colobus monkeys, and enjoy the peaceful rhythm of the treetops.
Continue on a game drive through the park’s diverse landscapes, from thick woodlands to lakeside plains. Elephants, giraffes, zebras, hippos, and abundant birdlife are commonly seen here, and the park is famous for its tree-climbing lions resting on acacia branches. Enjoy a picnic lunch with views of the Rift Valley escarpment before heading to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Main Destination:

Lake Manyara National Park

Best Time To Visit June to October (Easier to spot animals)

High Season July to March (The northern section gets crowded)

Best Weather June to October (Little rainfall)

Wildlife in Lake Manyara NP

ElephantCommon

GiraffeCommon

BuffaloCommon

ZebraCommon

WildebeestCommon

HippoCommon

Show more

LionOccasional

HyenaOccasional

LeopardRare

Wild DogVery Rare

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

CheetahNone

Accommodation:

Rhotia Valley Tented Lodge

• Mid-range tented camp located less than 1hr drive from Lake Manyara NP

+7 Photos

+6 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Karatu to Ngorongoro Crater and Departure

After an early breakfast, journey to the legendary Ngorongoro Crater, passing scenic highlands and vibrant Maasai villages. Pause at the rim to take in breathtaking views before descending 600 meters into Africa’s “Garden of Eden”. Explore the crater floor teeming with elephants, lions, buffalo, hippos, and, if lucky, the rare black rhino. Enjoy a picnic surrounded by grazing zebras and the calls of crowned cranes. Conclude your safari with a visit to a local Maasai village for a cultural exchange, then return to Arusha in the late afternoon, arriving at your hotel or Kilimanjaro International Airport.

Main Destination:

Ngorongoro Crater

Best Time To Visit June to October (Wildlife viewing is best)

High Season Most of the year – July to March (Expect crowds)

Best Weather June to October (Rainfall is little to none)

Wildlife in Ngorongoro Crater

Black RhinoCommon

LionCommon

BuffaloAbundant

ZebraAbundant

WildebeestAbundant

HyenaAbundant

Show more

ElephantCommon

HippoCommon

LeopardOccasional

GiraffeNone

White RhinoNone

CheetahNone

Wild DogNone

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.