6 Day Tanzania Safari Tarangire Manyara Serengeti & Ngorongoro | Tanzania Road Safari Holidays | Tanzania Private Safaris | 1 Night Lake Manyara National park, 2 Nights Serengeti National park, 1 Nights Ngorongoro crater & 1 Night Tarangire National park | 6 Day Tanzania Northern Circuit Safari | 6 Days Tanzania Lodge Safari Package | 6 Days 5 Nights Tanzania Budget Safari | Tanzania Safari Holidays
This 6 day Tanzania safari explores the northern safari circuit which is the most celebrated safari area in Africa. Home to the world-famous Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, and the lesser-known parks of Lake Manyara and Tarangire.
The tour begins from the town of Arusha located at the foot of Mount Meru, the 5th highest mountain in Africa. Our first game viewing destination is Tarangire National Park where we pause for lunch before taking an exciting afternoon game drive.
Elephants are the main attraction, with up to 3,000 in the park during the peak months. Peak season also sees good numbers of wildebeest and zebra as well as giraffe, buffalo, Thompson’s gazelle, greater and lesser kudu, eland, leopard, and cheetah. The real prizes in the park are dwarf mongoose, oryx, and the gerenuk – but viewings are very rare.
On day two we make our way to Lake Manyara National Park for an early morning game viewing drive. This scenic national park is famous for its tree-climbing lions, great birdlife, good elephants, and baboons. The lake itself takes up much of the park, leaving a strip of land running along its shores where game concentrates. The shallow soda lake attracts over 380 bird species and is known for its large flamingo flocks.
On day three, our drive takes us to Serengeti National Park. Serengeti’s main attraction is the Great Migration, consisting of up to 2 million wildebeest, 200,000 zebras, and 350,000 Thompson, impala, and grant’s gazelles – many consider it to be the most spectacular remaining African wildlife spectacle. The predator viewing here is exceptional with approximately 3-4,000 lions and huge numbers of cheetah, leopard, and hyena.
Other animals commonly found in the park include topi, eland, hartebeest, buffalo, elephant, caracal, serval, bat-eared fox, hyrax, genet, hares, porcupine, aardvark, giraffe, jackal, mongoose, crocodile, monitor lizard, aardwolf, many kinds of primates including baboons, vervet and colobus monkeys, and over 500 species of bird.
We spend the whole of day four exploring the Serengeti National Park. We spend time exploring the Central Serengeti & Seronera Valley. Resident wildlife makes this part of the Serengeti a fantastic year-round destination, but the months of April to June and October to December, when the herds of the Great Migration pass through the area, are when it’s at its peak.
On day five, we take a game drive through the Serengeti on our way out of the national park, stopping for lunch as we go. Keep your eyes open for wildlife, especially in the early morning hours when animals and birds are more active. Next, we visit the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, home to one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Africa.
We descend to the Ngorongoro Crater floor, taking in stunning views of the world’s largest unflooded caldera on the way down. The Ngorongoro Crater is home to the Big Five of Africa (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo). Wildlife found in the crater includes hyena, wildebeest, zebra, serval cat, cheetah, Thompson, and Grant gazelles, as well as about 400 bird species.
On day six we explore the lively town of Mto-wa-Mbu to do some curio shopping and take last-minute photographs before we return to Arusha where this 6 Day Tanzania Safari Tarangire Manyara Serengeti & Ngorongoro ends.
Summary Itinerary
Day 1: Arusha – Drive to Tarangire National Park
Day 2: Tarangire – Drive to Lake Manyara National Park
Day 3: Lake Manyara – Drive to Serengeti National Park
Day 4: Explore Serengeti National Park
Day 5: Serengeti – Drive to Ngorongoro Crater
Day 6: Ngorongoro – Drive to Arusha
Detailed Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Arusha – Drive to Tarangire National Park
On the morning of day one, we depart from our hotel in Arusha after breakfast. We travel via Arusha town, stopping to shop for last-minute supplies before embarking on our exhilarating African safari experience!
Our first game viewing destination is Tarangire National Park where we pause for lunch before taking an exciting afternoon game drive. Tarangire Park is an incredibly diverse area, boasting a unique mix of habitats within the northern safari circuit.
Tarangire is renowned for its huge elephant population, hosting the highest density of elephants in Tanzania. The game reserve is also well known for its abundance of baobab trees, as well as tree-climbing lions.
This 2850 km² game park is the central wilderness area on the annual migratory route through northern Tanzania. This wildlife migration sees up to 3000 elephants, 25,000 wildebeests,s and 30,000 zebra stampeding across the plains in search of greener grass.
Overnight at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge or similar
Meal Plan: {Lunch & Dinner}
Day 2: Tarangire – Drive to Lake Manyara National Park
Today starts with a morning coffee before we make our way to Lake Manyara National Park for an early morning game viewing drive. This scenic national park protects the north-western part of Lake Manyara, running along the base of the Great Rift Valley’s western escarpment.
The shallow soda lake attracts over 380 bird species and is known for its large flamingo flocks. This compact and diverse game park is also home to the elusive tree-climbing lion.
After a rest at the lodge during the heat of the day, we head out on a short afternoon game drive in Manyara National Park.
Overnight at Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge or similar
Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}
Day 3: Lake Manyara – Drive to Serengeti National Park
On day three we leave the African Rift Valley traveling to the lush crater highlands. Next, we drive via Karatu to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, passing the crater highlands we witness the wide-open plains of the southern part of Serengeti National Park.
Looking out over the rolling plains it is easy to see why the Maasai people call it “Siringitu” – the endless plain. The southern section of the Serengeti Plains truly appears to go on forever, stretching as far as the eye can see.
The Kopje (small rocky hill) dotted plains offer an ideal hunting terrain for cheetahs and the other big cats of Africa. We stay at a tented camp/ lodge located in the central area of Serengeti National Park, arriving in the afternoon.
Overnight at Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge or similar
Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}
Day 4: Explore the Serengeti National Park
Today we venture out into this massive wilderness area on a morning and afternoon game drive. Immersing ourselves in this 14 736 km² African wildlife haven, open grasslands stretch endlessly around us.
Here the wildlife drama of Africa unfolds in the captivating battle for the survival of the fittest. This is where the spectacle of the Great Migration plays itself out every year when millions of hoofed mammals migrate in search of fresh vegetation.
This mass movement of herbivores is made up mostly of stampeding wildebeest, hence the phenomenon’s other name – the Great Wildebeest Migration. The wildebeest are joined by Grant’s gazelles, zebras, many other antelopes (impala, eland, waterbuck, roan, and more), and an assortment of other herbivorous creatures, like giraffes and warthogs.
Such as massive congregation of prey species naturally attracts a menagerie of predators, from the big cats (lion, leopard, and cheetah) to the scavenging hyenas, jackals and foxes. The Serengeti Plains provide ample natural habitat for an abundance of wildlife and birds year-round, so excellent sightings can be expected even when the migration isn’t on the go.
Returning from the biggest and best-known game park in Tanzania, we enjoy dinner and a relaxing evening at camp/ lodge.
Overnight at Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge or similar
Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}
Day 5: Serengeti – Drive to the Ngorongoro Crater
After breakfast, we make our way back to the Ngorongoro Crater and descend the steep crater walls to explore this diverse wilderness area, teeming with Africa’s wildlife.
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 Crater hosts the Big Five of Africa (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo), boasting one of the highest concentrations of lions in the world. The Ngorongoro Crater not only hosts the Big Five of Africa but also almost all of the wild animal species found on the savannahs of East Africa.
Ngorongoro offers first-class game viewing and is considered one of the best places to capture the endangered black rhino on film. The diverse habitats found on the fertile crater floor support a variety of wildlife, including elephants, monkeys, hyenas, jackals, and herds of zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, and other antelope species.
We stop for a picnic lunch in the crater and after our thrilling wildlife experience, we depart from the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area returning to our overnight lodge near Karatu.
Overnight at Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge or similar
Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}
Day 6: Ngorongoro – Drive to Arusha
After a relaxing breakfast, you will travel back to Arusha where this Tanzania Northern Safari circuit ends. Depending on your personal travel plans and your flight departure, there might be some time for a visit to the markets in Arusha or other activities.
Meal Plan: {Breakfast}
6 Day Tanzania Safari Tarangire Manyara Serengeti & Ngorongoro Prices
6 Day Tanzania Safari Tarangire Manyara Serengeti & Ngorongoro Prices include;
Ground transport whilst on safari in a comfortable 4×4 safari Land cruiser/ Rover + Full board accommodation whilst on safari + Accommodation in double/twin/triple room + All park entrance fees to include government taxes + Service of an English speaking professional driver/ guide + All game drives as detailed in the itinerary + Ngorongoro Crater tour + Complementary 1 litre bottled drinking water while on safari
| Dates From | Dates To | 1 Guest (Single Room) |
2 Guests (Double Room) |
Child Aged |
| 1st Jan 2022 | 31st Dec 2022 | Request for Rates | Request for Rates | Request for Rates |
Notes
* Begins and ends in Arusha
6 Day Tanzania Safari Tarangire Manyara Serengeti & Ngorongoro Prices Exclude;
* Meals not listed
* Internationa flights
* Beverages and alcohol
* Bottled water and drinks
* International and domestic flights
* Tips for guides, drivers, hotel staff & Laundry
* Hot air balloon ride in Tarangire or the Serengeti
* Personal expenses (visas, airport taxes, Internet, etc.)
* Optional tours (Olduvai Gorge and Maasai Village visit)