Day 1: Arrival and Lake Manyara National Park

Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, your safari guide will meet you and drive you to Lake Manyara National Park. Settle into your mid-range lodge with picturesque views of the Rift Valley escarpment. In the afternoon, enjoy your first game drive in Lake Manyara, famous for its tree-climbing lions and vast flocks of flamingos. The park’s diverse landscapes offer a dramatic introduction to Tanzania’s wildlife.

Day 2: Explore Lake Manyara National Park

Spend a full day in Lake Manyara National Park, starting with an early morning game drive to catch wildlife during one of their most active times. The park’s variety of ecosystems, including groundwater forests and grassy plains, supports an array of animals from elephants and giraffes to large troops of baboons. After lunch at a scenic picnic spot, explore further, perhaps catching sight of the park’s elusive leopards before returning to your lodge for sunset and dinner.

Day 3: Lake Manyara to Serengeti National Park

Travel from Lake Manyara to the iconic Serengeti National Park. The drive itself is part of the adventure, with stunning landscapes and potential wildlife sightings along the way. Enter the Serengeti in the afternoon, and experience the vastness of this legendary park. Your game drive en route to the lodge may reveal anything from herds of wildebeest to stalking lions. The evening is spent at a mid-range lodge within the park, where you can relax to the sounds of the Serengeti at night.

Day 4: Full Day in Serengeti National Park

Dedicate the entire day to exploring the Serengeti. The park’s size and the variety of its habitats offer endless opportunities for discovering its abundant wildlife. Morning and afternoon game drives provide the chance to see the Big Five and witness the nuances of animal behavior. The Serengeti is also a birdwatcher’s paradise, with numerous species decorating the landscape. Evening brings a tranquil end to the day back at your lodge, nestled amidst the wild.

Day 5: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater

Depart the Serengeti for Ngorongoro Crater, enjoying a game drive on the way out of the park. Arrive at the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, a world heritage site, and settle into your lodge with views over the crater. The unique ecosystem inside the crater includes vast grasslands, forests, and a lake – all teeming with wildlife, offering a preview of tomorrow’s exploration.

Day 6: Explore Ngorongoro Crater

An early descent into the Ngorongoro Crater maximizes your time in this extraordinary wildlife haven. The crater floor offers unparalleled game viewing, with nearly all of East Africa’s species present. Search for lions, elephants, rhinos, and if you’re lucky, the elusive cheetah. Enjoy a picnic lunch by a hippo-filled pond before ascending back to the crater rim for your final evening in the highlands, reflecting on the unforgettable experiences of the past days.

Day 7: Ngorongoro to Arusha

After breakfast with breathtaking views of the Ngorongoro Crater, depart for Arusha. The drive back is a chance to unwind and reflect on your safari adventure, concluding with your arrival in Arusha by midday, in time for any onward travel or an evening flight home.