5 Days Tanzania Wildlife Safari

After breakfast, you’ll be met (from your hotel in Arusha or the airport) and transferred to the breathtaking Lake Manyara National Park. The road trip descends the steep 600-metre-high Rift Valley escarpment into a spectacular landscape dominated by shallow, alkaline soda lakes that sustain over 400 bird species, including massive flocks of flamingos and incredible biodiversity. The park is a hub for incredible wildlife spotting, most notably for its tree climbing lions and is one of the most exciting bird-watching destinations in East Africa—all without the crowds.

On arrival, you will check into your lodge and head out on a thrilling game drive before enjoying a tasty lunch. Embark on another game drive in the afternoon until sundown, experiencing the breathtaking beauty and wildlife of Lake Manyara National Park, where adventure meets serenity in one of Tanzania’s most spectacular settings.

After a sumptuous breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the Serengeti on a scenic road trip via the high-lying farmlands of Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Karatu. You will then descend from the highlands and head to the central area of the park, called the Seronera Area, a wildlife-rich region widely considered the beating heart of the Serengeti.

This verdant, river-fed valley is celebrated for its resident big cats, including lions, leopards, and cheetahs. After arriving, you will check into your lodge and enjoy a delicious lunch before tracking iconic wildlife on unforgettable game drives.

The Serengeti is one of the world’s legendary parks and is most famous for the iconic wildebeest migration as well as the vast array of wildlife that roam its plains.

Today, you’ll wake up early for pre-breakfast and be fortunate enough to glide in a hot air balloon, which reveals breathtaking views of the vast plains. You will float silently above the landscape while spotting different wildlife that roam below as well as local villages, and rivers. After landing, you’ll disembark the balloon basket and transfer to an idyllic spot where a sumptuous champagne bush breakfast awaits you.

You will then continue watching wildlife on game drives along the famous Sogore River Circuit, which twists through the open plains south of the Seronera River, a prime location for spotting lions, topis, Thomson Gazelles, ostriches, and cheetahs.

The Serengeti Visitor Center (Seronera Information Centre) is also an interesting place to visit after the morning game drive. It’s beautifully designed, featuring wildlife displays, a small museum, coffee shop, picnic area, a staff village and a gift shop that sells maps and informational leaflets. You can enjoy a relaxed picnic lunch at the centre, within the shade of the acacia trees.

Later in the afternoon, you will follow the Kopjes Circuit, which takes you on an anti-clockwise loop around the Masai Kopjes, a reliable spot for sighting lions sunbathing or lying in wait for prey as well as large cobras.

The breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera and features one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Africa. This natural enclosure offers one of the easiest Big Five views in Africa.

After a delightful breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the Ngorongoro Crater, stopping at the Olduvai Gorge—a significant site for the discovery of early humans. After arriving, you will check into your lodge and enjoy a sumptuous lunch.

Settle in, and then descend onto the crater floor to explore the vast array of wildlife for the rest of the day. The Ngorongoro crater is one of the most stunning places on Earth. Supported by a year-round water supply and fodder, it harbours a wealth of wildlife—literally an ancient bowl filled with animals, almost like a Jurassic Park. During game drives, you will spot zebras, elands, buffaloes, warthogs, elephants, wildebeest, black rhinos and many bird species.

The crater is also home to a dense population of predators, including lions, leopards, hyenas and jackals. You can visit Lake Magadi, a large but shallow alkaline lake located in the south-western corner. It hosts numerous hippos and birds including flamingos.

After breakfast, you can descend again to the crater floor for your final dose of Ngorongoro sightings. Enjoy a picnic lunch at one of the designated sites before ascending the crater rim to return to Arusha. You’ll be dropped off at your hotel or the airport for your departure flight.