$2,035 pp (USD)
2 travelers on Start dateArrival
Arrival
Day 1
Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park
Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park
Your guide will meet you at your hotel in Arusha or at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). After a briefing, depart west across the Great Rift Valley escarpment. The drive offers stunning views and insights into local agricultural life.
Afternoon: Enter Lake Manyara National Park, a gem known for its ecological diversity. Enjoy your first game drive in this compact park. Look for its famous tree-climbing lions resting in acacia branches, large herds of elephants, troops of baboons, and thousands of flamingos painting the alkaline lake shore pink.
Evening: Exit the park and ascend the crater highlands to the charming coffee plantation village of Karatu.
Overnight: Tloma Lodge. Enjoy the tranquility of this country lodge with its beautiful gardens and panoramic views. A perfect introduction to Tanzania's highland hospitality.
Highlight: The surprising sight of lions lounging in trees and the dramatic Rift Valley scenery.
- Main Destination:
- Lake Manyara National Park
- Accommodation:
- Tloma Lodge
Wildlife in Lake Manyara NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 2
Karatu to Ndutu Area – Enter the Calving Grounds
Karatu to Ndutu Area – Enter the Calving Grounds
After breakfast, depart early. You'll pass through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (viewing the crater from the rim is a teaser for your final day) and descend onto the vast, rolling plains.
Mid-Morning to Afternoon: As you enter the Ndutu Area (located within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Southern Serengeti ecosystem), the landscape changes. You'll begin to see the immense herds. Your game drive en route to camp is filled with anticipation – scanning for wildebeest, zebra, and the predators that follow them.
Evening: Arrive at your dedicated safari camp in the heart of the action.
Overnight: Kontiki Ndutu Tented Camp. This comfortable, mobile tented camp offers an authentic bush experience. Fall asleep to the sounds of the wilderness, knowing the migration is right at your doorstep.
Highlight: The first breathtaking sight of the seemingly endless wildebeest herds stretching to the horizon.
- Main Destination:
- Southern Serengeti National Park
- Accommodation:
- Kontiki Ndutu Camp
Wildlife in Serengeti NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 3
Ndutu Area - The Drama of Birth and Survival
Ndutu Area - The Drama of Birth and Survival
Today is dedicated entirely to the spectacle. With a packed lunch, you'll spend maximum time on the plains. Your guide will navigate the network of trails to find the most active areas.
The Calving: Witness wobbly newborns taking their first steps within minutes of birth.
Predator Action: Watch nervously as cheetahs, lions, and hyenas patrol the herds, looking for vulnerable opportunities. This is arguably the best time in Africa to observe predator-prey interactions.
Scenery: The plains are also home to resident wildlife like gazelles, jackals, and iconic acacia trees.
Overnight: Kontiki Ndutu Tented Camp. Share stories of the day's drama under a blanket of brilliant stars.
Highlight: An intimate, full-day immersion into the raw and beautiful cycle of life and death on the plains.
- Main Destination:
- Ndutu (Southern Serengeti NP)
- Accommodation:
- Kontiki Ndutu Camp
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 4
Ndutu to Central Serengeti – Into the Endless Plains
Ndutu to Central Serengeti – Into the Endless Plains
Enjoy a final game drive in the Ndutu area as you begin your journey northwards. You'll formally enter Serengeti National Park through the Naabi Hill gate.
Afternoon: Traverse the Seronera River Valley in the Central Serengeti. This region is rich with wildlife year-round due to its permanent water sources. Enjoy a game drive en route to your camp, looking for lions, leopards (often seen in the kopjes), elephants, and buffalo.
Evening: Arrive at your classic tented camp in a remote central location.
Overnight: Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp. This semi-permanent camp embodies the spirit of classic safari, offering simplicity and comfort in the wild heart of the Serengeti.
Highlight: The transition from the specific drama of Ndutu to the timeless, vast landscapes of the Central Serengeti, often called the "classic" Serengeti.
- Main Destination:
- Central Serengeti National Park
- Accommodation:
- Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 5
Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha – The Finale
Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha – The Finale
A pre-dawn start (with a picnic breakfast) for an early game drive as the animals are most active. Enjoy the golden morning light on the plains.
Mid-Morning: Begin the drive south, exiting the Serengeti and ascending the Ngorongoro crater highlands.
Late Morning to Afternoon: Descend the 600-meter walls into the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world's largest intact volcanic caldera. This natural amphitheater is home to an astonishing density of animals, including the rare black rhino. Enjoy a thrilling final game drive on the crater floor, with a picnic lunch by the hippo pool.
Late Afternoon: Ascend the crater and begin the journey back to Arusha, with a drop-off at your hotel or at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for evening departures.
Highlight: The breathtaking concentration of wildlife in the unique, self-contained ecosystem of the Ngorongoro Crater—a spectacular finale to your safari.
- Main Destination:
- Ngorongoro Crater
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
Wildlife in Ngorongoro Crater
- Meals & Drinks:
