9 Days Lake Manyara, Ndutu, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire Safari

Arusha to Lake Manyara

Pick up in the morning at 08:00 AM from your hotel in Arusha and leave for Lake Manyara National Park along with a picnic lunch for a full day game drive. Positioned on the edge of the Rift valley, Lake Manyara is a exceptionally species-rich reserve, primarily known for its birds, elephants, flamingos, and tree-climbing lions. En-route to Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, Lake Manyara is a well-deserving stop in its own right.

Its forests, bush plains, baobab-strewn cliffs, and hot springs offer an unbelievable variety in a small area. The alkaline soda lake is home to a fantastic array of birdlife with the best birding moments from November to April. During this time, migratory birds from Europe and Northern Africa can be seen, and many birds can be seen in their breeding plumage.

Lake Manyara to South Serengeti (Ndutu)

You will kickstart your day after a delicious breakfast. The destination for today is the Ndutu region which is a 3-hour drive from your accommodation in Karatu. After about an hour beginning the drive, you will enter the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), where you will see the landscape changing from hilly forests to plain and green grasslands as you drive further. Once you reach Ndutu, you will begin your day game drive with a convenient stop for your picnic lunch. Extensive plains of the Ndutu cover the region, which gradually fades into the Serengeti. Ndutu forms a part of the route for the annual migration of more than 2 million wildebeests and thousands of zebra, antelope, and gazelle. During game drives at the proper season between December and April, you will be able to see the fertile plains turn into calving grounds and nurseries for the great migration.

The calving period draws swarms of predators preying on defenseless young wildebeest. Crested with Ndutu lake and Lake Masek, these waterholes offer an abundance of wildlife game throughout the dry season. The Ndutu is also the area for six species of big cats – leopard, lion, cheetah, caracal, serval, and wildcat. The action-packed game drive will end late in the evening by around 5 PM. You will now head to your accommodation, where a freshly cooked dinner will await you. Be sure you get some good sleep and recharge yourself for another eventful day.

South Serengeti (Ndutu)

Amazed by the previous day's spotting of the migration, today, you get another opportunity to see the fantastic wildlife scene. The Ndutu region is a part of the famous Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA). You can have a relaxed breakfast and depart for a full day game drive around 9:00 AM with lunch and return to the lodge in the afternoon around 6:00 PM. Or you can leave at 6:00 AM on an early morning game drive. Return to the accommodation for breakfast, relax, and go on an afternoon game drive with lunch.

Today you will be watching the migration depending on its area. During game drives at the proper season between December and April, you will be able to see the fertile plains turn into calving grounds and nurseries for the great migration. This season draws hordes of predators preying on vulnerable young wildebeest. Viewing the course of life takes its course will be an unforgettable experience etched for life. The action-packed game drive will end late in the evening by around 5 PM. You now head towards your accommodation, where a freshly cooked dinner awaits you. Ensure you get some good rest and recharge yourself for another eventful day.

South Serengeti (Ndutu) to Central Serengeti (Seronera)

The excitement for today will be pretty high as you make your way into the most famous wildlife park in the world – The Serengeti. After finishing up a good breakfast, you will head towards the Serengeti National Park and travel amid the never-ending plain grasslands. Serengeti means endless plains in the local language. Watching the plains stretch out as far as the eye can see and finally merging with the sky at the horizon is a breathtaking view. The Serengeti also houses the famous “Big 5” (elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion, and leopard).

Along with the “Big 5”, a very pleasant sighting would be one of Africa’s most beautiful animals. The Serengeti ecosystem bears the most significant remaining concentration of plains game in Africa. It would help if you also looked out for the Serengeti “Kopjes” massive boulders of granite standing in a sea of grass. Lunch will be made during the game drive itself. The memorable day comes to an end with a massive dinner and a good night’s rest in your accommodation.

Central Serengeti (Seronera)

Either You can have a relaxed breakfast and depart for game drives around 9:00 AM with already packed lunch or you can leave at 6:00 AM for an early morning game drive. Later return for breakfast and freshen up for a bit and depart to Central Serengeti with packed lunch. As you make your way into the Seronera region, you will begin to notice the hilly and broken terrain altering into plain grasslands. In Seronera, one must really look out for the many lions prides that live in this region. The connections and endurance of these lion pride provide an excellent game viewing experience all year round. A picnic lunch will be made during the day-long drive itself.

By late evening return back to the accommodation for dinner and overnight.

Central Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

After breakfast, you will have a morning game drive in Serengeti National Park. Later depart for Ngorongoro Conservation Area with a picnic lunch.

The Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest unbroken volcanic caldera and is regarded as the 8th wonder of the world. It is one of the most diverse and fascinating areas of Tanzania and has been given the status of a World Heritage site and International Biosphere Reserve. The fertile slopes and steep forest-covered walls are home to approximately 30,000 animals including the rare black rhino. The various ecosystems found within the 260 sq km crater floor sustain Cape buffalo, elephants, wildebeest, zebras, elands, gazelles, hippos, numerous bird species as well as a high concentration of predators.

The eventful day end with a heavy dinner and a good night’s rest in your accommodation.

Ngorongoro Crater Tour (5 hours) to Tarangire

After an early breakfast, descend to the crater floor for a game drive(5 hours). Post Ngorongoro Crater Safari we head to Tarangire National Park

Tarangire is made up of low-lying, rolling hills, natural vegetation of acacia woodland, and giant baobabs altered by huge areas of swamp. The swamps of black cotton mud produce rich grasslands, while the watercourses are lined by huge trees including sycamore fig, tamarind and sausage trees. Tarangire features some of the greatest concentrations of game in Tanzania, second only to the Ngorongoro crater but with far fewer tourists. There are several dry-country species such as eland, oryx, Grant’s gazelle, and gerenuk. These are unlikely to be seen in the bigger parks to the west. Birdlife is plentiful all year round, but bird watching is at its best when the European and North African migratory birds are present (November to April). Nesting among the resident birds takes place during the same time.

After a 2 hour drive, the day will come to an end. Delicious dinner will be kept ready for you at your accommodation. The next day you will start the last day of your safari.

Tarangire National Park to Arusha

The final day of your safari will begin as usual by 8:00 AM after a luscious breakfast. The destination for today is Tarangire National Park where you will have a Full 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 6 PM in the evening. With an incredible experience and loads of memories to cherish, this is the time you bid goodbye to your team.