4 Day Tanzania Safari Tarangire Manyara & Ngorongoro

Starting and ending in Arusha, Tanzania, this 4 day Tanzania road safari is a great introduction to the diverse wildlife of Tanzania including the Big 5. The tour takes you to the Tanzanian Northern Circuit specifically including the Lake Manyara National Park, Ngorongoro Crater & Tarangire National Park.

Our first game viewing destination is Lake Manyara National Park, a lovely scenic park on the road from Arusha to the Ngorongoro Crater, located 126 km (78 mi) southwest of Arusha. We explore Lake Manyara Park on an afternoon game drive, enjoying the stunning scenery and spotting wildlife.

This national park lies in the Great Rift Valley, along the base of the steep Rift Valley escarpment, incorporating shallow soda lake and woodland areas. Lake Manyara is famous for the huge Flamingo flocks fringing its shores, numbering in the thousands at times.

Over 400 bird species are found here, including migrant species and water birds, such as cormorants, geese, pelicans, and storks. Lake Manyara National Park is best known for its tree-climbing Lions and size-able Elephant population. The park is also home to large troops of big baboons, which are commonly sighted.

Other wildlife inhabiting the park in abundance, includes Buffalo, Cheetah, Zebra, Masai Giraffe, Wildebeest, and Impala. There are also plenty of Warthogs, Hippos, Mongoose, Monkeys, and various antelope species, as well as some elusive Leopards.

We overnight at a safari lodge/ camp near Lake Manyara National Park. Accommodation options include Kirurumu Manyara camp, Manyara Green Camp, Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge, Lake Manyara Tree Lodge and Ol Tukai Manyara.

Day two takes us to our next Tanzania safari destination, the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater, also known as Africa’s Garden of Eden. Ngorongoro, part of the Serengeti ecosystem, is a massive caldera spanning an impressive 18 km in diameter with walls as high as 600m.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to the densest mammalian population in Africa, with around 25,000 large animals. The diverse habitats found on the fertile crater floor support a variety of wildlife, including Elephants, Monkeys, Hyenas, Jackal, and herds of Zebra, Wildebeest, Buffalo, and other antelope species.

We overnight at a safari lodge/ camp perched on the crater’s edge, offering sweeping views over the crater and surrounding landscapes. Overnight accommodation options include Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Ngorongoro Crater Camp, Bougainvillea Lodge, Country Lodge, Entamanu Ngorongoro, Gibbs Farm, and Kirurumu Ngorongoro.

On Day three we travel to Tarangire National Park. This diverse game park is home to a large variety of wildlife and is considered one of the most beautiful wilderness areas in northern Tanzania. Tarangire Park hosts one of the largest Elephant populations in Tanzania and is dotted with baobab and acacia thorn trees.

This top Tanzanian game park is also home to various big cats including lions, leopards, and cheetahs, as well as tree climbing pythons. Other wildlife inhabiting the game park includes many Giraffes, Buffalos, Zebras, and various antelope species such as Gazelles.

Overnight accommodation options include Tarangire Treetops, Chem Chem Safari Lodge, Swala Safari Camp, Maramboi Tented camp, Balloon Camp Tarangire, and Tarangire Sopa Lodge.

On the last day of our 4-day Tanzania road Safari, we have a late breakfast before leaving Tarangire and return to Arusha where this affordable safari started.

Itinerary in summary

Day 1: Arusha – Drive to Lake Manyara National Park
Day 2: Lake Manyara – Drive to Ngorongoro Crater
Day 3: Ngorongoro – Drive to Tarangire National Park
Day 4: Tarangire – Drive to Arusha

Itinerary in Detail

Day 1: Arusha – Drive to Lake Manyara National Park

Depart Arusha for Lake Manyara National Park. Arrive at the lodge by lunchtime. After lunch, we head into the Lake Manyara National Park for an afternoon game drive.

This impressive park is one of Tanzania’s most dramatically located wildlife areas, consisting of a massive but shallow soda lake (covering two-thirds of the park) at the foot of the Great Rift Valley’s western escarpment.

The park is small, beautiful, and richly diverse and its manageable size makes it possible to see virtually every highlight in a day.

The varied habitat attracts a wide variety of animals, including one of Africa’s largest concentrations of elephants, Manyara’s famous tree-climbing lions, as well as large flocks of Flamingos attracted by the algae in the lake.

Overnight Accommodation: Kirurumu Manyara camp, Manyara Green Camp, Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge, and Lake Manyara Tree Lodge
Meal Plan {Lunch and Dinner}

Day 2: Lake Manyara National Park – Drive to Ngorongoro Crater

After breakfast, we depart to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the eighth wonder of the natural world. Ngorongoro has vast, verdant caldera from the panoramic viewpoint. Supported by a year-round water supply and fodder, the Ngorongoro National Park is home to over 120 species of mammals including the fabled Big Five.

Another big draw card to this picturesque national park is its dense population of predators, which include Lions, Hyenas, Jackals, Cheetahs, and the ever-elusive Leopard.

There is also Lake Magadi, a large but shallow alkaline lake in the South-western corner, which is one of the main features of the crater. A large number of Flamingos, Hippos, and other water birds can usually be seen here.

Overnight Accommodation: Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Ngorongoro Crater Camp, Bougainvillea Lodge, and Country Lodge
Meal Plan {Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner}

Day 3: Ngorongoro Crater – Drive to Tarangire National Park

Today we drive to Tarangire National Park. With a permanent water source, the park is virtually guaranteed enormous herds and excellent game viewing including Cheetah, Lion (some tree-climbing!), Leopard and Hyena, and a herd of 3,500 Elephants.

This top Tanzanian game park is also home to various big cats including Lions, Leopards, and Cheetahs, as well as tree climbing pythons. Other wildlife inhabiting the game park includes many Giraffes, Buffalos, Zebras, and various antelope species such as Gazelles.

Overnight Accommodation: Tarangire Treetops, Chem Chem Safari Lodge, Swala Safari Camp, and Maramboi Tented camp
Meal Plan {Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner}

Day 4: Tarangire National Park – Drive to Arusha

After a leisurely buffet breakfast, depart for Arusha by road this morning with a game drive en-route.

Meal Plan {Breakfast}