9 Days - Arusha, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire
TRIP OVERVIEW
In this tour we will cover the 5 most popular destinations in Tanzania - Arusha National Park (1 night), Lake Manyara National Park (1 night), Central Serengeti (3 nights), Ngorongoro Crater (1 night), Tarangire National Park (2 nights). Tour starts and ends at Arusha. With our experienced driver guides, it will be a trip of a lifetime!
![trip overview](../assets/images/kenya/kenya-10.jpg)
![trip overview](../assets/images/kenya/kenya-15.jpg)
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Short Itinerary
- Day 1 -Arusha to Arusha National Park for game drives and walking tour
- Day 2 -Arusha to Lake Manyara. Game drives at Lake Manyara
- Day 3 - Transfer to Central Serengeti. Afternoon game drives in Central Serengeti
- Day 4 - Central Serengeti full day game drives
- Day 5 - Central Serengeti full day game drives
- Day 6 - Morning game drives in Central Serengeti and transfer to Ngorongoro/Karatu
- Day 7 - Ngorongoro Crater Tour (5 hours) and transfer to Karatu/Tarangire
- Day 8 -Tarangire full day game drives
- Day 9- Tarangire game drives and afternoon transfer to Arusha
Basic Camping Packages
Below are packages with basic camping for your private tour, starting on Dec 23, 2023, in a group of two adults. On basic camping tours, you sleep in small dome tents that are pitched at campsites & bathrooms are shared. A cook travels with you & prepares meals.
Option C1: $2,585 per adult for safari with Land Cruiser
- Stay at Migombani Campsite, Mto Wa Mbu, Lake Manyara (Outside the Park)
- Stay at Seronera Campsite, Central Serengeti
- Stay at Ngorongoro Campsite, NCA
- Stay at Tarangire Campsite (Inside park), Tarangire (Within the Park)
Ensuite Accommodation Packages
Below are packages with a few popular ensuite options for your private tour, starting on Nov 13, 2023, in a group of two adults. Ensuite hotels are tented camps/lodges that can be inside/around national parks. You will have a private room with attached bathroom. Meals are provided by hotels.
Option E1 : $3,101 per adult for safari with Land Cruiser
- Stay at Elanacha Hotel - Standard, Arusha
- Stay at Omega View Hotel, Karatu
- Stay at Tukaone Camps, Central Serengeti
- Stay at Omega View Hotel, Karatu
- Stay at Sangaiwe Tented Lodge, Tarangire (Outside the Park)
Option E2 : $3,639 per adult for safari with Land Cruiser
- Stay at Migombani Cottage, Lake Manyara (Outside the Park)
- Stay at Tanzania Bush Camps, Seronera, Central Serengeti
- Stay at Rhino Lodge, NCA
- Stay at Sangaiwe Tented Lodge, Tarangire (Outside the Park)
Option E3 : $4,068 per adult for safari with Land Cruiser
- Stay at Four Points by Sheraton, Arusha - Traditional Queen, Arusha
- Stay at Manyara Best View Lodge - Silver Room, Lake Manyara (Outside the Park)
- Stay at Serenity Nyota Camp, Central Serengeti
- Stay at Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, NCA
- Stay at Ang'ata Tarangire Camp, Tarangire (Within the Park)
Option E4 : $4,963 per adult for safari with Land Cruiser
- Stay at Escarpment Luxury Lodge, Lake Manyara (Outside the Park)
- Stay at Manyara's Secret, Lake Manyara (Outside the Park)
- Stay at Acacia Seronera Luxury Camp, Central Serengeti
- Stay at Lemala Ngorongoro, NCA
- Stay at Tarangire Ndovu Tented Lodge, Tarangire (Within the Park)
Option E5 : $8,306 per adult for safari with Land Cruiser
- Stay at Lake Manyara KIlimamoja Lodge, Lake Manyara (Outside the Park)
- Stay at Lemala Nanyukie, Central Serengeti
- Stay at Melia Ngorongoro Lodge, NCA - Premier Room with Forest Views
- Stay at Lemala Mpingo Ridge, Tarangire (Within the Park)
Option E6 : $12,835 per adult for safari with Land Cruiser
- Stay at Lake Manyara KIlimamoja Lodge, Lake Manyara (Outside the Park)
- Stay at Lake Manyara Tree Lodge - Suite, Lake Manyara (Within the Park)
- Stay at Four Seasons Safari Lodge - Terrace Suite Water Hole View, Central Serengeti
- Stay at Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, NCA - Suite, NCA
- Stay at Sanctuary Swala Camp, Tarangire (Within the Park)
TOUR ITINERARY
Day
1
Arusha to Arusha National Park
Pick up at 8:30 AM from your Hotel in Arusha & depart for Arusha National Park. Walking with an Armed Ranger, you will have picnic lunch and game drive in the Park. The park is at the base of Mount Meru, which is good for climbing. It has a range of habitats including forest – home to the black-and-white colobus monkey – and is excellent for birding. Several lakes often host flocks of flamingo. The park's appeal is mainly its scenery. The habitat diversity spans from montane (mountain) rain forest to moist savannah to alpine moorland. Post the game drive, you will head back to your camp/lodge where a delicious dinner awaits you.
Day
2
Arusha to Lake Manyara
Pick up at 8:30 AM from your hotel in Arusha and depart for Lake Manyara National Park with a picnic lunch for a full day game drive. As you enter the national park, lush forests of Acacia and Mahogany trees begin to set the mood for what is waiting ahead. The game drive will go on till evening with a small break for picnic lunch. During the game drive watch out for buffaloes, giraffes, impalas, baboons and the blue monkeys. Another spectacle of Lake Manyara National park is the tree climbing lions, however spotting them is a game of luck. In the right season, you can see the shoreline turning pink with millions of flamingos flocking there. Post the game drive, you will head back to your camp/lodge where a delicious dinner awaits you.
Day
3
Lake Manyara to Central Serengeti
Pick up at 7:00 AM from your hotel and depart for Lake Manyara National Park with a picnic lunch for a full day game drive. As you enter the national park, lush forests of Acacia and Mahogany trees begin to set the mood for what is waiting ahead. The game drive will go on till evening with a small break for picnic lunch. During the game drive watch out for buffaloes, giraffes, impalas, baboons and the blue monkeys. Another spectacle of Lake Manyara National park is the tree climbing lions, however spotting them is a game of luck. In the right season, you can see the shoreline turning pink with millions of flamingos flocking there. Post the game drive, you will head back to your camp/lodge where a delicious dinner awaits you.
Day
4-5
Central Serengeti
You can either have a relaxed breakfast and depart for full day game drives around 9:00 AM with packed lunch and return back to lodge late afternoon around 6:00 PM. Or you can depart at 6:00 AM on an early morning game drive. Later return to accommodation for breakfast and relax for a bit and depart on an afternoon game drive with packed lunch. You will explore the central portion of the Serengeti National Park today. The legendary Serengeti National Park is the most renowned safari destination for its incredible population of lions and leopards. The central portion of the Serengeti - known as Seronera area is one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park. It features the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and therefore attracts wildlife well representative of most of the Serengeti’s species. During the off season of the migration, one must really look out for the many lion pride that thrive in this region. The interactions and survival of these lion pride provide an excellent game viewing experience all year round. Along with a picnic lunch during the full day game drive, the day will come to a close by around 5PM. The long day comes to an end with a heavy dinner and a good night’s rest in your accommodation.
Day
6
Central Serengeti to Ngorongoro
After breakfast, you will have a morning game drive in Serengeti National Park. Later depart for Ngorongoro Conservation Area with picnic lunch. Ngorongoro Crater is the largest collapsed volcanic crater in the world and fourteen kilometers of isolated natural beauty. Ngorongoro Crater is surrounded by a ring of extinct volcanoes and the floor, dotted with watering holes, shelters some 30,000 animals. The eventful day comes to an end with a heavy dinner and a good night’s rest in your accommodation.
Day
7
Ngorongoro Crater Tour (5 hours) to Tarangire
After an early breakfast, descend to the crater floor for game drive(5 hours). You can expect to see lions, elephants, Zebras, Hippos, Flamingos, Jackals, Rhinos Antelopes and many birds. The birds seen here include eagle, vulture, and flamingos in the Crater Lake, stork, bats, giant vulture, sacred ibis, kori bustard, blacksmith plover, long necked heron and the cattle eagle. Post the picnic lunch at the beautiful Hippo pool, you will begin a steep ascend to the top exit of the crater. With a 2hr drive left to your accommodation in Karatu, the day will come to a close. Freshly made delicious dinner is kept ready for you at your chosen accommodation. All these days of the safari, will have you quite tired and a good rest is essential. The next day you will begin the last leg of your safari.
Day
8
Tarangire
Your day will begin after a breakfast by about 8AM with a full day game drive in Tarangire National Park ahead of you. The national park is extremely famous and special for its diverse landscape and nine different vegetation zones. As you begin your game drive, you will be welcomed by the ancient and gigantic Baobab trees, which make even animals like the giraffe look tiny. The game drive goes on till about late afternoon and includes a small stop for a picnic lunch. The 3,000 Sq Kms park gets its name from the Tarangire river that flows through it. The river attracts a lot of diverse animals and you should be able to spot a lot of elephants, giraffe, lions, antelopes and zebras. If it’s your lucky day, you might be able to spot the tree climbing python and the long necked Gerek. The Tarangire National Park has the highest concentration of elephants, which offers a unique chance for you to observe interactions between elephant families. Don’t forget to capture this beautiful scenery with your camera ready at hand. Post the game drive, you will head back to your camp/lodge where a delicious dinner awaits you. Have a good night’s sleep for tomorrow's adventure.
Day
9
Ngorongoro Crater Tour (5 hours) to Lake Eyasi
The final day of your safari will begin as usual by 8:00 AM after a luscious breakfast. The destination for today is Arusha to Tarangire National Park where you will have a half day game drive. Tanzania’s third largest National park is known for its majestic baobab trees that dot the landscape, dwarfing the animals that feed beneath them. The Tarangire River is the centerpiece of this park which is famous for some of the largest herds of elephants in Africa. Here you may see lion, leopard, cheetah, lesser kudu, buffalo, Oryx, eland, giraffe and zebra. By mid afternoon, you will branch out and head towards Arusha where you will be dropped off to your preferred location by about 6PM in the evening. With an incredible experience and loads of memories to cherish, this is the time you bid goodbye to your team.
Stay Locations
- Day 1 -Arusha or Lake Manyara (Outside the Park)
- Day 2 - Karatu or Lake Manyara (Outside the Park) or Lake Manyara (Within the Park)
- Day 3 - Central Serengeti
- Day 4 - Central Serengeti
- Day 5 - Central Serengeti
- Day 6 -Karatu or NCA
- Day 7 - Karatu or Tarangire (Within the Park) or Tarangire (Outside the Park)
- Day 8 - Tarangire (Within the Park) or Tarangire (Outside the Park)
Pre & Post Tour Hotels
Arusha is the base for safari tours in North Tanzania. If you need accommodation in Arusha before/after your safari tour you can check some popular hotel prices on bed and breakfast basis below.
Single Room
- - Crest Safari Lodge - USD 47
- - Kutoka Lodge - USD 64
- - Karama lodge - USD 113
- - The African Tulip - USD 149
- - Four Points by Sheraton, Arusha - Traditional queen room - USD 205
- - Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge - Plantation room - USD 375
Double Sharing room
- - Crest Safari Lodge - USD 29
- - Kutoka Lodge - USD 49
- - Karama lodge - USD 76
- - The African Tulip - USD 112
- - Four Points by Sheraton, Arusha - Traditional queen room - USD 120
- - Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge - Plantation room - USD 240
Triple Sharing Room
- - Crest Safari Lodge - USD 29
- - Kutoka Lodge - USD 40
- - Karama lodge - USD 73
- - The African Tulip - USD 93
- - Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge - Plantation room - USD 180
Add-on tours in Serengeti
- Hot Air Balloon Ride: USD 540 per person
- Rhino Tracking: USD 110 per person
- Short Walking Tour (upto 4 hours): USD 45 per person
- Long Walking Tour (upto 6 hours): USD 60 per person
Add-on tours in Ndutu
- Hot Air Balloon Ride: USD 540 per person
- Short Walking Tour (upto 4 hours): USD 45 per person
- Long Walking Tour (upto 6 hours): USD 60 per person
Add-on tours in Ngorongoro
- Masai Village Tour: USD 25 per person
- Olduvai Gorge museum visit: USD 35 per person
- Ngorongoro Crater Rim Hike: USD 35 per person
Add-on tours in Tarangire
- Hot Air Balloon Ride: USD 540 per person
- Short Walking Tour (upto 4 hours): USD 45 per person
- Long Walking Tour (upto 6 hours): USD 60 per person
- Night Game Drives (for clients staying inside): USD 100-200 per person depending on lodge
Add-on tours in Karatu
- Coffee Plantation Tour: USD 20 per person
- Iraq Village Tour: USD 25 per person
- Endoro Falls & Elephant Caves visit: USD 35 per person
Transfers
This tour starts from Arusha. Kilimanjaro airport is the nearest international airport and Arusha airport is the nearest domestic airport.
Airport Pickup/Drop
Pickup or drop off at Arusha airport on the day of safari: No extra charge Pickup or drop off at Kilimanjaro airport on the day of safari: USD 30 per vehicle
Airport to Hotel transfers
Transfer from Arusha airport to Arusha hotel or vice versa: USD 25 per vehicle Transfer from Kilimanjaro airport to Arusha hotel or vice versa: USD 50 per vehicle
InterCity transfers
Transfer from Moshi to Arusha or vice versa: USD 100 per vehicle Transfer from Nairobi to Arusha or vice versa: USD 275 per vehicle
Flights
We do not book International Flights.
We can book local flights based on availability. Below are indicative additional costs for local flights.
Intercity Flights
- From Zanzibar to Arusha: From USD 100 per person (Morning flight)
- From Dar es salaam to Arusha: From USD 90 per person (Morning flight)
- From Arusha to Zanzibar: From USD 170 per person (Late Afternoon flight)
- From Arusha to Dar es salaam: From USD 110 per person (Late Afternoon flight)
This tour starts & ends at Arusha with road transfers between all locations. Central Serengeti is the farthest location you will be visiting in this tour and it is 7 hours from Arusha, each way. You can check about driving and flying to Serengeti here. To save drive time, you can directly fly into Central Serengeti where your safari vehicle with guide will be waiting to directly start the safari and cover other parks over the next few days making your way to Arusha by road on the last day. We will reroute the itinerary such that you cover all the parks included in the original itinerary with the same choice of accommodations & same number of nights as included in the original itinerary. This is called a Fly-in Safari
We can also reroute the itinerary such that you start with driving from Arusha on day 1 and cover other parks before you drive to Serengeti. We end the safari tour at Central Serengeti on the last day from where you can fly out to Ausha (or other cities). We will reroute the itinerary such that you cover all the parks included in the original itinerary with the same choice of accommodations & same number of nights as included in the original itinerary. This is called a Fly-out Safari.
Fly into Serengeti
- From Arusha to Central Serengeti: From USD 310 per person
- From Zanzibar to Central Serengeti: From USD 370 per person
- From Dar es Salaam to Central Serengeti: From USD 370 per person
Fly out of Serengeti
- From Central Serengeti to Arusha: From USD 200 per person
- From Central Serengeti to Zanzibar: From USD 420 per person
- From Central Serengeti to Dar es salaam: From USD 420 per person
Note 1 : Rates mentioned above are indicative and subject to change based on airlines and party(group) size
Note 2 : In the Fly into Serengeti rates mentioned above, in addition to airfare, above rates also include cost to send the safari landcruiser with guide a day in advance to Serengeti, in time for your arrival & additional park fees that results due to rerouting of itinerary.
Note 3 : Flights into Serengeti land at around 10:30 AM and game drives can start soon after landing while flights out of Serengeti depart around 11:00 AM and game drives can be done till about 45 min before flight departure.
Meals
- Day 1 - Lunch & Dinner
- Day 2 - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Day 3 - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Day 4 - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Day 5 - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Day 6 - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Day 7 - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Day 8 - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Day 8 - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Day 9 - Breakfast & Lunch
Drive Times
- Day 1 - Arusha to Arusha National Park takes about 1 to 1.5 hours (40 km)
- Day 2 - Arusha to Lake Manyara takes about 2.5 to 3 hours (114 km)
- Day 3 - Lake Manyara to Central Serengeti takes about 4 to 4.5 hours (192 km)
- Day 6 - Central Serengeti to NCA takes about 3 to 3.5 hours (151 km)
- Day 7 - NCA to Tarangire takes about 1.5 to 2 hours (108 km)
- Day 9 - Tarangire to Arusha takes about 2.5 to 3 hours (106 km)
Note : These are estimated drive times. Because of the traffic, location of the accommodations, and several other factors, actual drive times may vary. Driving distances are approximate and do not account for exact places.
Inclusions
- Park Fees (for Non-Residents).
- Concession/ Camping Fees.
- Daily game drives while on Safari.
- A professional driver/guide.
- 4x4 Land Cruiser or Safari Van.
- All Taxes and VAT.
- Meals as per itinerary.
- Drinking water while on safari (2 litres per person per day).
Exclusions
- International flights.
- Optional activites in Lake Natron.
- Airport Transfers (Unless mentioned otherwise).
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour (Unless mentioned otherwise).
- Personal Items (Souvenirs, Travel Insurance, Visa Fees, etc.).
- Tips
- Government imposed increase of Taxes and or Park Fees.
- Any activities not mentioned in the itinerary.