5 Day Tanzania Safari Tarangire Manyara Serengeti & Ngorongoro

5 Day Tanzania Safari Tarangire Manyara Serengeti & Ngorongoro | 1 Night Tarangire National Park, 1 Night Lake Manyara National Park, 1 Night Serengeti National Park & 1 Night Ngorongoro Crater Tanzania Safari | Tanzania Road Safaris | 5 Days Tanzania Northern Circuit Safari | Tanzania Tours & Safari Holidays

This 5-day Tanzania classic road safari explores Tanzania’s northern safari circuit which is the most celebrated safari area in Africa. Starting in Arusha, the tour visits Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara, Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater.

Our first game viewing destination is Tarangire National Park, known for its big herds of elephants. Tarangire hosts an array of wild animals, including lions and buffaloes, as well as various antelopes, wildebeest, giraffes, and zebras.

After our wildlife adventure in Tarangire Park, we head to our overnight accommodation in Tarangire. Accommodation options include Kirurumu Tarangire Lodge, Chem Chem tented camp, Kuro Tarangire Camp, Lemala Mpingo Ridge, and Little Oliver’s Camp.

On the morning of day two, we depart Tarangire and drive to the nearby Lake Manyara National Park, 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.

The compact Lake Manyara National Park is best known for its tree-climbing lions and sizeable 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.

On day three, our drive takes us northwest towards Serengeti National Reserve. Game viewing in Serengeti is an incredible experience – where an amazing abundance of wildlife can be seen roaming across the “endless plains” as the name Serengeti means.

Serengeti, like Mara, is also known for its big cats and the Great Migration of wildebeest, zebra, and Thomson’s gazelles in dizzying numbers. We are almost sure to come across an abundance of wild animals, from antelope to wildebeest, lion to hyena, including the famous Big Five, of course. Accommodation option includes Serengeti Safari Lodge, Zawadi Serengeti Camp, Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge and Ang’ata Serengeti Camp.

On day four, we take a game drive through Serengeti Park on our way out of the national park, to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. En route, we visit the Olduvai Gorge which features one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites, hosting some of the earliest fossils of our humanoid ancestors.

Accommodation options include The Highlands Camp, Entamanu Ngorongoro, Plantation Lodge, The Ngorongoro Sopa, Ngorongoro Crater, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, and Entamanu Camp.

On day five we dip some 600m down into the crater for an action-packed day of game viewing in this wildlife paradise. Our 4×4 game drive takes us through the diverse habitats of the crater floor, where we encounter a variety of wild animals including the big 5 of Africa (Buffalos, elephants, Rhino, Lions, and Leopards).

While in the crater we have a picnic lunch. Later we ascend the crater walls after our game viewing adventure and travel to Arusha. Our magical Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Safari comes to a close in the evening in Arusha.

Safari Itinerary in Summary

Day 1: Arusha – Tarangire National Park.
Day 2: Tarangire National Park.– Lake Manyara National Park
Day 3: Lake Manyara National Park – Serengeti National Park
Day 4: Serengeti National Park – Ngorongoro Crater
Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater – Arusha Town – Depart

Safari Itinerary in Detail

Day 1: Arusha Town – Drive to Tarangire National Park

In the morning transfer to Tarangire National Park – a gorgeous reserve celebrated for its millions of ancient baobab trees, creating one of the most dramatic landscapes imaginable. And with a permanent water source, Tarangire is virtually guaranteed excellent game viewing at all times, including lion (some tree-climbing!), leopard, and a herd of 3,500 elephants.

We stay at one of the lodges/ camps inside or outside Tarangire National Park.

Overnight accommodation options include Kirurumu Tarangire Lodge, Chem Chem tented camp, Kuro Tarangire Camp, Lemala Mpingo Ridge, and Little Oliver’s Camp
Meal Plan {Lunch & Dinner}

Day 2: Tarangire – Drive to Lake Manyara National Park

The morning brings a change of ecosystems as we drive to the ancient soda lake of Manyara and check into the Lake Manyara Serena Lodge, standing high on a bluff above a flamingo-frosted expanse of gleaming water.

The game in this petite park is plentiful and the magnificent bird watching will make a devotee out of even the most reluctant. It is also one of the very few places in Africa to see tree-climbing lions, which we may declare our day’s quest, being so thoroughly sated with the big herds of preceding parks.

Manyara’s great shock of pink flamingos will also delight.

Overnight accommodation options include Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge, Lake Manyara Tree Lodge, Lake Manyara Wildlife Lodge, Migunga Tented Lodge, Escarpment Luxury Lodge
Meal Plan {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 3: Lake Manyara – Drive to Serengeti National Park

After an early breakfast, we drive overland to Serengeti via the Ngorongoro Conservation area with packed lunch and game viewing en route. So unique, in fact, that the Serengeti is a World Heritage Site and listed as an International Biosphere Reserve.

Its arching landscapes embody quintessential Africa…golden and endless. Long peaceful days at the Serengeti Serena Lodge bring the rewards of excellent game viewing and utter tranquillity. Dinner and overnight, Serengeti.

Overnight accommodation options include Serengeti Safari Lodge, Zawadi Serengeti Camp, Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge and Ang’ata Serengeti Camp
Meal Plan {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 4: Serengeti – Drive to Ngorongoro Crater

After breakfast, we proceed with a game drive in Serengeti National Park. After lunch, we depart for Ngorongoro Crater visiting the Olduvai Gorge on our way. The Great Rift Valley is called the “Cradle of Mankind” thanks in part to the discoveries of the Leakey family at Olduvai Gorge, where human fossils date back almost two million years.

We explore this remarkable site before continuing to the next remarkable site, Ngorongoro Crater. Unofficially the “eighth wonder of the natural world,” this ancient amphitheater forms a unique haven for wildlife with over 20,000 animals thriving in its near-perfect conditions.

Overnight accommodation options include The Highlands Camp, Entamanu Ngorongoro, Plantation Lodge, The Ngorongoro Sopa, Ngorongoro Crater, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, and Entamanu Camp
Meal Plan {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 5 Ngorongoro Crater – Arusha Town – Depart

This morning we descend 2,000 feet into the giant caldera of this extinct volcano. This magnificent natural amphitheater contains the largest concentration of animals in all of Africa. Pride of lions, black rhino, and elephants share this land with the legendary Masai tribesmen.

Because the grasses are short, the game is easily spotted and can be approached quite closely. We spend a splendid morning on the floor of the crater observing wildlife in this ageless World Heritage Site. After a picnic lunch inside the crater, we depart and drive back to Arusha arriving in the evening.

Meal Plan {Breakfast}