$1,022 pp (USD)
2 travelers on Start dateArrival
Arrival
Day 1
Arusha - Tarangire National Park - Karatu
Arusha - Tarangire National Park - Karatu
We begin your journey with an 07:30 AM pickup from your hotel or airport. As we drive away from the bustle of Arusha, you will watch the urban landscape dissolve into the open Maasai Steppe, where colorful Maasai herders move their cattle across the plains.
The Drive: The trip to the Tarangire gate takes approximately 2 to 2.5 hours. The road is smooth and paved, passing through the village of Makuyuni and offering your first glimpses of the massive Rift Valley Wall in the distance.
The Experience: Upon entering Tarangire, you are greeted by a landscape that feels prehistoric. The park is dominated by giant Baobab trees often called "The Tree of Life" which tower over the elephants that lean against them. This park is the undisputed home of the giants; it holds the highest concentration of elephants in Northern Tanzania. You will spend the afternoon exploring the tracks along the Tarangire River, the only permanent water source in the region, which acts as a magnet for wildlife.
- Main Destination:
- Tarangire National Park
- Accommodation:
- Karatu Villas Lodge
Wildlife in Tarangire NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 2
Karatu - Ngorongoro Crater
Karatu - Ngorongoro Crater
Today we depart very early to be among the first vehicles to descend into the most famous wildlife sanctuary in the world.
The Drive: From Karatu to the Ngorongoro Gate is about 20 minutes, followed by a scenic climb through the misty mountain forest to the Crater Rim. After a brief stop at the viewpoint, we descend the steep 600-meter walls to the crater floor.
The Experience: The Ngorongoro Crater is the world's largest unbroken volcanic caldera and is often described as a "Natural Zoo." Because the walls form a natural barrier, the wildlife stays inside year-round. You will find a self-contained paradise of open grasslands, a soda lake, and the Lerai Forest. This is the best place in East Africa to see the critically endangered Black Rhino. You will also encounter massive bull elephants, prides of lions, and large herds of buffalo and zebra.
- Main Destination:
- Ngorongoro Crater
- Accommodation:
- Karatu Villas Lodge
Wildlife in Ngorongoro Crater
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 3
Karatu - Lake Manyara NP & Derpature
Karatu - Lake Manyara NP & Derpature
After a delicious breakfast, we take a short drive to Lake Manyara National Park, a gem tucked at the base of a 400-meter-high cliff.
The Drive: From Karatu, it is a very short 30-minute drive down the escarpment to the park entrance. This allows us to maximize your time inside the park before the midday heat.
The Experience: Lake Manyara offers a complete change of scenery. You will enter through a dense groundwater forest that feels like a jungle, where ancient mahogany and fig trees are fed by underground springs. This lush environment is the playground for massive troops of baboons and blue monkeys. As the forest thins, you emerge onto the shores of a vast soda lake, often shimmering pink from thousands of flamingos. The park is most famous for its tree-climbing lions, which spend their afternoons lounging on the branches of acacia trees to escape the heat and insects.
Afterward, we return to Arusha airport/hotel, bringing our remarkable adventure to an end!
- Main Destination:
- Lake Manyara National Park
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
Wildlife in Lake Manyara NP
- Meals & Drinks:
