This itinerary covers Northern Tanzania’s wildlife highlights, starting with Lake Manyara National Park (1 night), known for its diverse habitats, rich birdlife, and tree-climbing lions. Next is Ndutu (3 nights), famous for the Great Migration calving season (late December–March) and high predator activity. You will then explore the Serengeti National Park – Central Serengeti (2 nights), a prime area for big cats and abundant wildlife, followed by the Ngorongoro Crater (1 night), celebrated for its dramatic scenery and dense wildlife populations. The itinerary concludes with Tarangire National Park (2 nights), renowned for large elephant herds and iconic baobab trees, before returning to Arusha.
(Ndutu Migration) - Lake Manyara, Ndutu, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire
A 10 day safari from $3,750
From USD 3,750per person
Days (Ndutu Migration) - Lake Manyara, Ndutu, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire
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 for a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch.
Enter lush forests of Acacia and Mahogany trees as you explore the park, spotting buffaloes, giraffes, impalas, baboons, and blue monkeys.
Keep an eye out for the famous tree-climbing lions, and during the right season, the shoreline may turn pink with millions of flamingos.
Return to your camp or lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2 Transfer to Ndutu (South Serengeti)
After breakfast at around 8:00 AM, drive from Karatu to Ndutu (approx. 3 hours).
About an hour into the drive, enter the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where the landscape shifts from hilly forests to open green grasslands.
Upon arrival in Ndutu, enjoy a game drive with a picnic lunch. The sweeping grasslands are part of the Great Migration route, hosting over 2 million wildebeest, plus thousands of zebras, antelopes, and gazelles.
Between December and April, the calving season attracts predators hunting young wildebeest. Waterholes such as Ndutu Lake and Lake Masek provide abundant wildlife viewing during the dry season.
Ndutu is home to six big cat species: lion, leopard, cheetah, caracal, serval, and wildcat.
The day ends around 5:00 PM with transfer to your lodge for dinner and overnight rest.
Day 3 & Day 4 Ndutu (South Serengeti)
Today offers another chance to witness the Great Migration in the Ndutu area, part of both Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
You can choose an early morning game drive at 6:00 AM or a later departure around 9:00 AM for a full-day game drive with a packed lunch, returning to the lodge late afternoon.
Follow the migration across the fertile plains, which between December and April become calving grounds for wildebeest, attracting predators hunting the young.
The day’s game drive ends around 5:00 PM, followed by dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 5 Ndutu (South Serengeti) to Central Serengeti
After breakfast, depart for Serengeti National Park and explore its vast, iconic grasslands — “Serengeti” means “endless plains.”
The park spans 14,763 sq km and is home to the “Big Five” (elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion, leopard) and abundant plains game, including impalas.
Look out for the Serengeti “kopjes,” granite boulders rising from the plains, providing shelter to diverse wildlife and flora.
Enjoy a picnic lunch during the full-day game drive.
Return to your lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6 Central Serengeti
Today you will explore the central Serengeti National Park, also known as the Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park.
You can choose an early morning game drive at 6:00 AM or a later departure around 9:00 AM for a full-day game drive with a packed lunch, returning by late afternoon.
The Seronera River provides water to abundant wildlife, including lions, leopards, and many other species. Even during the off-season of the migration, lion prides offer excellent viewing opportunities.
Enjoy a picnic lunch during the game drive. The day ends around 5:00 PM with dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 7 Central Serengeti to Ngorongoro
After breakfast, enjoy a morning game drive in Serengeti National Park.
Depart for Ngorongoro Conservation Area with a picnic lunch.
Explore the Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, surrounded by extinct volcanoes and home to around 30,000 animals.
Return to your lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 8 Ngorongoro Crater Tour (5 Hours) to Tarangire
After an early breakfast, descend to the Ngorongoro Crater floor for a 5-hour game drive.
Expect to see lions, elephants, zebras, hippos, flamingos, jackals, rhinos, antelopes, and many bird species, including eagles, vultures, storks, sacred ibis, kori bustard, blacksmith plover, long-necked heron, and cattle eagles.
Enjoy a picnic lunch at the Hippo Pool, then begin the steep ascent to the crater rim.
Drive about 2 hours back to your accommodation in Karatu, where a freshly prepared dinner awaits.
After a long day of safari, rest well to prepare for the final leg of your adventure.
Day 9 Tarangire
After breakfast around 8:00 AM, enjoy a full-day game drive in Tarangire National Park, famous for its diverse landscape and nine vegetation zones.
Marvel at the ancient baobab trees and spot wildlife such as elephants, giraffes, lions, antelopes, zebras, and, if lucky, tree-climbing pythons and long-necked gerenuks.
The Tarangire River attracts a variety of animals and the park has the highest concentration of elephants, offering unique opportunities to observe elephant families.
A picnic lunch is included during the game drive. Return to your camp or lodge in the late afternoon for dinner and overnight stay, resting up for tomorrow’s adventure.
Day 10 - Tarangire to Arusha
After breakfast around 8:00 AM, depart for a half-day game drive in Tarangire National Park.
Explore the park’s majestic baobab trees, the Tarangire River, and spot wildlife including lions, leopards, cheetahs, lesser kudu, buffalo, oryx, eland, giraffes, and zebras.
By mid-afternoon, head back to Arusha and arrive at your preferred location by around 6:00 PM.
Cherish the unforgettable memories from your safari as you bid farewell to your team.
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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