9 Days Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Kogatende, 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 Central Serengeti (Seronera)

After breakfast, we will head towards the Serengeti National Park, via the beautiful high lying farmland of Karatu and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Serengeti National Park is also known as the Seronera - its boundless plains, rolling into the horizon as far as the eye can see. We head to the Seronera area, one of the most vibrant wildlife habitats in the park, highlighting the Seronera River, which produces a valuable water source to this area and draws wildlife well representative of most species of Serengeti.

We arrive in lunch time for and enjoy an afternoon game drive in the Serengeti National Park.

Central Serengeti (Seronera) to North Serengeti (Kogatende)

Either you can have a relaxed breakfast and leave for game drives about 9:00 AM with arranged lunch, or you can depart at 6:00 AM on an early morning game drive. Later return to the accommodation for breakfast and depart to North Serengeti with packed lunch. You will travel to the central portion of the Serengeti National Park today and move towards the northern part of the park.

The en route game drive towards the Kogatende region will offer easy action from resident games. As you advance towards the northern part of the Serengeti, you will notice the terrain change from the usual plain grassland to more hilly and broken terrain. The northern region offers various resident games such as zebras, topi, gazelle, buffaloes, leopards, and lions. A picnic lunch will be made during the day-long drive itself. Based on your arrival time, you will be able to spend a few hours by the Mara River. The eventful day comes to an end with a heavy dinner and a good night's rest in your accommodation.

North Serengeti (Kogatende)

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 the accommodation for breakfast and relax for a bit and depart on an afternoon game drive with packed lunch.

The Mara River in this region offers the most dramatic river crossing of the great migration. Fierce, deep, and heavy rain fed the river takes an enormous toll on the migrating wildebeest. Watching the wildebeest surging through the torrential flow, some drowning, and a few falling preys to lurking crocodiles is an exceptional sight. If it’s your lucky day, you will be able to witness this natural wonder and watch nature take its course. Also, while tracing the migration, you can check out Lobo Valley, which offers a colossal amount of bigcat game with lions, leopards, and cheetah in abundance.

During the dry season, the permanent water sources in the valley attract plenty of resident and migratory animals, resulting in the best game viewing. During the full-day game drive, you will have a stop where you can have your lunch. The day comes to an end with a tasty dinner and a good rest in your accommodation.

North Serengeti (Kogatende) to Central Serengeti

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

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.

TThe 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.