$3,219 to $3,867 pp (USD)
2 travelers on Start dateArrival
Arrival
Day 1
Arrival & Transfer to Hotel
Arrival & Transfer to Hotel
Our driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your lodge. Standard check-in time is 2 pm.
If you require early check-in, please request it in advance through your travel expert, and we will be happy to assist, subject to availability.
If you need a different pick-up location, please let us know at the time of booking, and we’ll be glad to suggest alternative arrangements.
- Main Destination:
- Arusha (City)
- Accommodation:
- Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 2
Walking & Canoeing in Arusha National Park
Walking & Canoeing in Arusha National Park
Arusha National Park sits at the foot of Mount Meru and covers a surprisingly varied stretch of terrain for its size – rainforest, open savannah and the Momella Lakes within a single day's reach. It's also one of the few parks in Tanzania where walking safaris are permitted.
The morning starts on foot with an armed ranger. Giraffe, buffalo and warthog move through the acacia woodland largely undisturbed, and at 20 to 30 metres the proximity feels different than it does from a vehicle. After around an hour and a half, you'll continue to the Momella Lakes – a reliable spot for flamingo, pelican, ibis and hornbill, among more than 200 recorded species.
The lakes are also where you'll switch from vehicle to canoe. Two hours on the water gives a different perspective entirely – buffalo, antelope and giraffe occasionally approach the shore, and the birdlife is easier to observe at this pace. In clear weather, Mount Meru rises behind it all.
- Main Destination:
- Arusha National Park
- Accommodation:
- Lake Burunge Tented Lodge
Wildlife in Arusha NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 3
Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara sits beneath the Rift Valley escarpment, and the forest that runs along its edge sets it apart from the open savannah parks. The drive moves through dense woodland where animals reveal themselves gradually – a different kind of attention than Tarangire or the Serengeti requires.
The park's elephant population is notably smaller in build than those found further south – a local adaptation worth knowing before you arrive. Lion are occasionally seen, though the forest makes sightings less predictable than in the open plains. The birdlife along the lake edge and through the forest is consistently good, with over 400 recorded species.
Manyara is compact enough to cover in a day, and works well as a counterpoint to the larger, more open parks on either side of it.
- Main Destination:
- Lake Manyara National Park
- Accommodation:
- Lake Burunge Tented Lodge
Wildlife in Lake Manyara NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 4
Hot Air Balloon Safari in Tarangire
Hot Air Balloon Safari in Tarangire
Be ready to wake up early! Your hot air balloon ride begins at dawn. A vehicle will collect you from the lodge around 4:30 AM – nocturnal animals are occasionally seen along the road at this time – and take you to the launch site.
The flight covers around an hour and a half over the savannah, with the landscape below shifting as the light comes up. Landing is followed by a picnic breakfast in the bush and a glass of non-alcoholic champagne – a reasonable way to mark the morning. A flight certificate is presented before your guide collects you for the game drive or returns you to the lodge, based on your mood for the day.
The game drive takes you into Tarangire, where the river draws giraffe, zebra, antelope and buffalo to its banks year-round – and the lions that follow them. In the dry season, elephant herds converge as the river becomes the primary water source for miles around, often approaching vehicles at close range, unhurried and largely indifferent.
- Main Destination:
- Tarangire National Park
- Accommodation:
- Lake Burunge Tented Lodge
Wildlife in Tarangire NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 5
Classic Game Drive in Tarangire National Park
Classic Game Drive in Tarangire National Park
Your second day opens up the sections of the park you didn't reach yesterday. Gerenuk and oryx are both present here – species rarely seen in the Serengeti – and worth looking for in the drier, more open stretches.
Rock hyrax are common on the granite outcrops – small, unhurried animals that tend to allow a close approach. They're also, despite appearances, among the elephant's closest living relatives.
For birders, Tarangire is one of the richer parks in Tanzania, with over 550 recorded species. Binoculars are in the vehicle if you need them.
- Main Destination:
- Tarangire National Park
- Accommodation:
- Tloma Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 6
Iconic Ngorongoro Crater
Iconic Ngorongoro Crater
An early start gets you into the crater before the morning light fades. The descent takes around 30 minutes through forest, with a viewpoint stop at the rim before the caldera floor opens up below. The crater holds one of the highest concentrations of wildlife per square kilometre on the continent – elephant, buffalo, zebra, lion and a small resident population of black rhino, all within a single enclosed landscape. Cheetah are present too, though less predictable. The permanent water and grazing keep most animals here year-round, which gives the day a particular reliability. A mid-morning stop at Lake Magadi is worth the pause – hippos surface near the shore, and yellow-billed kites tend to take an interest in any food left unattended. The crater has held UNESCO World Heritage status since 1979.
- Main Destination:
- Ngorongoro Crater
- Accommodation:
- Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge
Wildlife in Ngorongoro Crater
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 7
Departure & Transfer to Airport
Departure & Transfer to Airport
Our driver will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport in time for your flight. Standard hotel check-out time is 10:00 AM.
If you require a late check-out, please let us know at the time of booking – we will be happy to request it in advance (subject to availability and possible extra charges).
If you are not flying out on this day and have other plans, please inform us when booking. We can customize your program according to your schedule.
- Main Destination:
- No major destination visited
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks:
