This itinerary explores Northern Tanzania’s top wildlife destinations: Lake Manyara National Park (1 night), known for diverse habitats, rich birdlife, and tree-climbing lions; Ndutu (2 nights), famous for the Great Migration calving season (late December–March) and intense predator activity; Serengeti National Park – Central Serengeti (1 night), a prime area for big cats and abundant wildlife; Ngorongoro Crater (1 night), celebrated for its dramatic scenery and dense animal population; and Tarangire National Park (1 night), renowned for large elephant herds and iconic baobab trees before returning to Arusha.
7 Days (Ndutu Migration) - Lake Manyara, Ndutu, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire
A 5-day safari from USD 2,500
From USD 2,500 per person
Lake Manyara, Ndutu, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire (Ndutu Migration)
A taste of what to expect…
Day 1 Arusha to Lake Manyara
Pick up at 8:30 AM from your hotel in Arusha and drive to Lake Manyara National Park with a picnic lunch for a full-day game drive.
As you enter, lush acacia and mahogany forests welcome you before opening to diverse wildlife habitats.
Look out for buffaloes, giraffes, impalas, baboons, and blue monkeys. The park is also famous for its rare tree-climbing lions (sightings depend on luck).
In the right season, flamingos gather along the lake, sometimes coloring the shoreline pink.
After the game drive, return to your camp or lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2 Transfer to Ndutu (South Serengeti)
After breakfast at 8:00 AM, drive about 3 hours from Karatu to the Ndutu area, passing through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area where the landscape shifts from hilly forests to open grasslands.
Begin a game drive upon arrival, with a stop for a picnic lunch. Ndutu’s sweeping plains are part of the Great Migration route, hosting over 2 million wildebeest, thousands of zebras, antelopes, and gazelles.
Between December and April, the calving season turns Ndutu into a nursery attracting predators, offering exceptional wildlife viewing. Waterholes like Ndutu Lake and Lake Masek provide additional game-watching opportunities.
Ndutu is also home to six big cat species: lions, leopards, cheetahs, caracals, servals, and wildcats.
The day concludes around 5:00 PM with a drive to your lodge, followed by dinner and overnight rest.
Day 3 & Day 4 Ndutu (South Serengeti)
Today offers another chance to witness the spectacular Great Migration in the Ndutu area, part of both Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Choose between a relaxed breakfast followed by a full-day game drive from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, or an early 6:00 AM morning drive, breakfast, and an afternoon game drive with packed lunch.
Between December and April, the plains become calving grounds for wildebeest, attracting predators and offering incredible wildlife action.
End the day around 5:00 PM, returning to your lodge for dinner and overnight rest.
Day 5 Ndutu (South Serengeti) to Central Serengeti
After breakfast, drive to Serengeti National Park and explore its vast, iconic grasslands the name “Serengeti” means “endless plains.”
The park covers 14,763 sq km and is home to the “Big Five” (elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion, leopard), as well as abundant plains game like impalas.
Keep an eye out for the Serengeti “kopjes,” granite boulders that provide shelter for wildlife and unique scenery.
Enjoy a picnic lunch during the full-day game drive before returning to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 6 Central Serengeti
Today you explore the central Serengeti National Park, known as the Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park.
Choose between a relaxed breakfast with a full-day game drive from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, or an early 6:00 AM drive, followed by breakfast and an afternoon safari with packed lunch.
The Seronera River attracts abundant wildlife, including large prides of lions and leopards, offering excellent game viewing year-round.
Enjoy a picnic lunch during the safari, and return to your lodge for dinner and overnight around 5:00–6:00 PM.
Day 7 Central Serengeti to Ngorongoro
After breakfast, enjoy a morning game drive in Serengeti National Park.
Depart for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area with a picnic lunch en route.
Explore the Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest collapsed volcanic crater, surrounded by extinct volcanoes and home to around 30,000 animals at its watering holes.
The day ends with dinner and overnight at your lodge or accommodation.
Day 8 Ngorongoro Crater Tour (5 Hours) to Arusha
After an early breakfast, descend to the Ngorongoro Crater floor for a 5-hour game drive. Expect to see lions, elephants, zebras, hippos, rhinos, antelopes, flamingos, jackals, and many bird species such as eagles, vultures, storks, ibises, kori bustards, herons, and plovers.
Enjoy a picnic lunch at the scenic Hippo Pool before ascending the crater walls.
Drive approximately 4 hours back to Arusha, where the day concludes. Accommodation in Arusha and optional tour extensions to Zanzibar can be arranged from this day.
Safari cost includes
- All transfers described on the program
- Hotels and lodges described on the program
- Meals described on the program
- Bottled water, soft drinks, hot coffee and tea while in the jeep on safari
- Certified and experienced English-speaking safari guide
- Comfortable Land Cruiser 4x4s with pop-up roof, fridge, Wi-Fi, and power outlets
- National park fees for the entire tour (park entry fees and concession fees)
- Free Wi-Fi. Signal will be available in only 60-75% of the travelled territories due to lack of cell coverage in the wilderness areas
- 24/7 phone support service
- Air Ambulance Service by AMREF Flying Doctors
- Binoculars (1 pc per SUV)
- Medical kit
Safari cost excludes
- Air tickets;
- Visa fee;
- Travel insurance;
- Tips to your safari guide ($30-50 per day per car).
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