Tour Overview

This 5-day safari tour visits the two most popular parks in Tanzania, Ngorongoro crater and National Parks. This safari offers the best highlights of the wildlife encounter experience, particularly the best chance to spot the "Big 5" (Elephants, Lions, Buffalo, Rhinos, and Leopards) and a much more authentic and exciting African experience. This thrilling journey begins in Arusha, a prime location to start your trip to the country’s most popular parks heading towards the enchanting plains of the Serengeti, one of Africa's most legendary safari destinations. Explore the Serengeti’s endless plains in the central Serengeti, where the game viewing is indisputably one of the best, notably for a large concentration of animals, including Wildebeest, Zebra, pride of lions, cheetahs, gazelles, giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, plus and many fascinating birds.

You will then explore the fascinating Ngorongoro Crater, often referred to as a world wonder; the crater floor is home to thousands of wildlife, including the rare black rhinos.

Tour Summary

• This tour starts and ends in Arusha
• You'll visit Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater
• Activities: Game drives
• Game drives: Pop-roof 4×4 vehicle

Tour Features

• Private tour - Exclusively organised for you and won't be shared with others.
• Can start any day - If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.
• Can be customised - You can request changes to this tour.
• Suitable for solo travellers - Solo travellers can book this private tour.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival Day: Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our professional and personal driver guide. You will be transferred to your hotel in Arusha for overnight relaxation and preparation in keenness of the coming safari adventure. Arusha is the pounding heart of the wild, the last port of civilisation before heading out into dense jungles and rich savannah plains. It is located below Mount Meru on the eastern edge of the east branch of the Great Rift Valley. The town’s temperate and calm climate is exciting. It is close to the infamous Tanzania National Park, which lures visitors to explore the fantastic Maasai culture and unique flora and fauna.

Today you can relax in Arusha, enjoy a quick briefing about your upcoming safari, recover from your journey, and soak up the vibrant atmosphere of Africa.

Day 2: Arusha to Central Serengeti

After an early breakfast, depart on the way to the most renowned national park in the World, the Serengeti. The driving itself, although long, is remarkable. This will be an extraordinary moment for anyone seeing it for the first time. Drive towards the Serengeti National Park via the rift valley, the beautiful high-lying farmland of Karatu and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. As you progress well into the Serengeti, you will realise why the name means, in the local language, "endless plains".

You will enjoy a picnic lunch, then an afternoon game viewing in Central Serengeti, and later in the evening, drive to your accommodation for relaxation, dinner and overnight. The park has 14,763 sq. km, and more than 4 million large mammals live in total wilderness freedom. The park is undoubtedly one of the best-known wildlife sanctuaries globally. It is famed for its annual wildebeest migration of 2 million wildebeests, hundreds of thousands of zebras, and antelopes. As for the big cats and large predators, it's the place to look out for lions, cheetahs, leopards, and hyenas, with many television scenes like the famous River Crossings filmed in this park.

Day 3: On Safari - Central Serengeti

Waking up in the Serengeti is something extraordinary. Africa's sights, sounds, and smells are all around you, and a full day of adventure in the world's most famous national park is ahead. You will enjoy full days in the Serengeti National Park, precisely we are entirely flexible with your preferences, and this day will be prearranged according to your desires. Your guide will discuss the best timings on every safari day, including the game drives and the wake-up time. For instance, on this day, you could do a morning game drive, return for lunch and relaxation and finish with an afternoon game drive. Alternatively, you could do a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch.

The Central Serengeti offers superb game viewing all year round due to its abundance of resident animals. Specifically, the Seronera River Valley in Central Serengeti is a ‘must see’ on every safari, regardless of the specific month of travel. Game viewing in Central Serengeti is at its best during the dry season (June - November), as animals are more concentrated in the immediate area due to the lack of water on the plains. Resident animals include impalas, buffalos, hippos, warthogs, topi, hartebeests, giraffes, elephants, cheetahs, jackals, zebras, lions and leopards.

Day 4: On Safari - Central Serengeti

After breakfast in the lodge, depart for a full-day game drive in Serengeti National Park, the home of the big five and wildebeest migration. You will have a picnic lunch, and more game viewing in the afternoon after the African sunset and drive back to your accommodation for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Central Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

After breakfast, you will enjoy a morning game drive and return for brunch. After lunch, it’s time to drive eastwards to visit another spectacular setting for Tanzania’s wildlife, the famous Ngorongoro Crater; Arrive late in the afternoon for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a pioneering experiment where people (the Maasai), livestock, and wildlife co-exist and share the same protected habitat. The stunning spectacle of the Ngorongoro Crater, its steep walls falling some 610 meters to the floor, is undoubtedly one of the highlights of a safari tour in Tanzania. The crater floor is home to thousands of everyday animals, including the rare black rhinos, zebras, wildebeests, gazelles, hippos, elands, elephants, and a large predator population of lions, hyenas, and jackals. It's also famous for its giant elephants globally and has massive tusks.

Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater to Kilimanjaro International Airport

Today there will be plenty of time to enjoy another true spectacle - Ngorongoro Crater is often referred to as a wonder of the world. After breakfast, drive to the Ngorongoro crater floor for a game drive, exploring Africa's Garden of Eden.

The crater is the grasslands, forests, and freshwater lake that inspire the migration of animals and makes for the perfect chance to catch a glimpse of Africa's notorious Big Five (buffalo, elephants, leopards, black-maned lions, and the rare black rhinoceros). After some exploring, enjoy a lunch picnic in the crater’s heart before we take in some more sights and drive up the steep road out of the crater, heading to Arusha or the airport for drop-off.

Inclusions:

• Pick up and drop off at Arusha/Kilimanjaro International Airport
• English-speaking driver-guide
• Park fees
• All activities as specified in the itinerary
• Evacuation insurance (AMREF - Flying Doctors)
• All accommodation - (Unless listed as upgrade)
• All transportation - (Unless labelled as optional)
• 4x4 Customized safari vehicle
• All meals
• Water in the car
• Taxes

Exclusions:

• International flights - (From/to home)
• Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
• Tips - (Highly recommended)
• Personal items - (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
• Government-imposed increase of taxes and park fees
• Meals not specified
• Hot air balloon safari US$ 599 per person
• Drinks and beverages
• Laundry services