5 Days – Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara & Tarangire Safari
5
Overview
This five day safari focuses on three of Tanzania’s most stunning and wildlife rich destinations, with special emphasis on the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater. You will spend two full days exploring the Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera and a UNESCO World Heritage Site often called “Africa’s Garden of Eden” for its incredible concentration of wildlife. You will also discover Lake Manyara National Park, famous for its tree climbing lions and thousands of flamingos, and Tarangire National Park, known for its massive elephant herds and ancient baobab trees. With Vanta Tour and Safaris, this safari offers exceptional value and incredible wildlife viewing in a compact five day itinerary.
Safari Highlights
Detailed Itinerary
Arrival – Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha
You will be picked up from Kilimanjaro International Airport by a Vanta Tour and Safaris representative. After a warm welcome and a brief briefing about your upcoming safari adventure, you will be transferred to your hotel in Arusha, the bustling gateway city to Tanzania's Northern Safari Circuit. Arusha is nestled at the base of Mount Meru and offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape. The rest of the day is yours to relax after your journey, recover from any jet lag, and prepare for the exciting days ahead. You may choose to explore the vibrant local markets or simply rest at your hotel. You will stay overnight at your Arusha hotel on a bed and breakfast basis.
Arusha to Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, you will depart from Arusha and drive to Tarangire National Park, approximately a two hour journey. Tarangire is famous for its massive herds of elephants, often numbering in the hundreds, as well as its iconic baobab trees that dot the landscape. Upon arrival, you will embark on a game drive through the park, searching for elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, zebras, wildebeests, and giraffes. The park is also a bird watcher's paradise, with over five hundred and fifty species recorded including the colorful lilac breasted roller and the ground hornbill. You will enjoy a picnic lunch at a scenic spot within the park, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the African bush. In the late afternoon, you will exit the park and drive to your lodge or camp in the Karatu area, located near the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, for dinner and overnight.
Ngorongoro Crater – Full Day Exploration
After an early breakfast, you will drive to the Ngorongoro Crater and descend over six hundred meters down the steep walls of the crater to the floor below. The Ngorongoro Crater is the world's largest intact volcanic caldera and is often called "Africa's Garden of Eden." The crater floor is home to approximately twenty five thousand animals, including lions, elephants, buffalo, hippos, zebras, wildebeests, and the rare black rhino. You have an excellent chance to spot all of the Big Five in a single day. You will enjoy a picnic lunch on the crater floor near the hippo pool, surrounded by thousands of animals. In the late afternoon, you will ascend back up the crater walls and return to your lodge in the Karatu area for dinner and overnight.
Ngorongoro Crater – Second Descent & Lake Manyara
You will enjoy a second early morning descent into the Ngorongoro Crater, giving you another opportunity to spot animals you may have missed the previous day. Morning is the best time to see predators returning from their night hunts and the rare black rhino which is most active in the early hours. You will enjoy another picnic lunch on the crater floor. In the early afternoon, you will ascend from the crater and drive to Lake Manyara National Park. You will arrive at Lake Manyara in time for an afternoon game drive. Lake Manyara is a shallow soda lake that attracts thousands of flamingos and other water birds. The park is famous for its tree climbing lions, which can often be seen lounging in the branches of acacia trees during the heat of the day. You will search for lions, elephants, giraffes, hippos, and the park's large troops of baboons. In the late afternoon, you will exit the park and drive to your lodge or camp near Lake Manyara for dinner and overnight.
Lake Manyara to Arusha
After breakfast at your lodge, you have the option to enjoy a morning game drive in Lake Manyara National Park to catch any wildlife you may have missed the previous day. Alternatively, you may choose to visit a traditional Maasai village to learn about their culture and way of life for an additional fee. You will then depart for Arusha, arriving in the early afternoon. You will be dropped off at your Arusha hotel or at Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward journey. Dinner and overnight in Arusha are not included.
What's Included & Excluded
Included
- Four nights accommodation in selected lodges, tented camps, or hotels as per the itinerary
- Round trip transport from Arusha in a custom four by four safari vehicle with a pop up roof for game viewing
- Services of a professional English speaking driver guide
- All game drives and activities as per the itinerary
- All park entrance fees for Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara National Park, and Tarangire National Park
- Ngorongoro Crater vehicle fee for two crater descents
- All government taxes
- Bottled water provided during game drives
Excluded
- International flights to and from Kilimanjaro International Airport or Julius Nyerere International Airport
- Tanzania visa fees (available on arrival for most nationalities or online via e-visa portal)
- Travel and personal insurance (mandatory for all travelers)
- Tips and gratuities for your driver guide and lodge staff
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Olduvai Gorge museum visit (optional add on)
- Maasai village visit or cultural tour (optional add on)
- Personal expenses such as souvenirs, laundry, and phone calls
- Dinner and overnight stay in Arusha on the last day