6-Day Lodge Safari in Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire & Lake Manyara

After breakfast drive to Lake Manyara National Park, situated in a dramatic location with many underground water streams which keep it green throughout the year. Overlapping habitats and permanent water supply attracts a large number of animal including herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, giraffe, hippos and many antelopes. Primates like baboon, velvet monkeys, blue monkey and others also inhabit this park. Lake Manyara tree-climbing lion and large flocks of flamingos are highlights of the park. After lunch at one of the picnic sites inside the park then drive to Lake Eyasi for a cultural encounter. The drive is up and across the Great Rift Valley escarpment and takes about 1.5 hours. You will visit the Datoga tribe – they will take you around their homes, interact with you and you can ask as many questions as you like, then you will visit the blacksmith. Later in the afternoon you will walk along the lakeshore for a wonderful sunset before driving to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

• Distance: Tarangire – Manyara 50 km – Lake Manya – Lake Eyasi – 80 km
• Non Game Viewing time: 1 to 2 hours
• Overnight at Lake Eyasi Safari Lodge, all meals included

On this day we take you for an early morning hunting with the bushmen (Hadzabe). The hunting is with bows and arrows and will include tuition on survival skills. The bushmen at Lake Eyasi are divided into three clans – Hadzabe, Tindiga and the Datoga – living by hunting and gathering of eggs, wild fruits and root tubers, pretty much the same as humankind who lived in the Stone Age. Late morning you will depart for Serengeti National Park, the drive is via the beautiful high lying farmlands of Karatu and across Ngorongoro Highlands.

Check-in at Ngorongoro Gate and drive up to the crater viewpoint, stopping for some photos of the crater floor from the rim, before driving along the rim and down to the endless rolling plains of the Serengeti. On the way, you will visit one of the Masai villages where some Masai warriors invite you into their houses giving you information about their customs and life. Later their popular dance which involves jumping and dancing will begin, you can join if you want.

Afterwards, you will proceed to Nabii Hills Gate for check in to Serengeti National Park.You can have your packed lunch here or at the kopjes (rocky outcropping). After lunch and some rest, start your en-route game drive on your way to the Central Serengeti. Your driver-guide may already know where the wildebeest migration is located so you head to this spot. In the late afternoon during or before sunset drive to your camp for dinner and overnight.

• Distance: 170 km
• Non-Game Viewing Time: 3 to 4 hrs
• Overnight at Serengeti Thorn Trees Camp Central Serengeti or similar, all meals included

Early morning game drive in the Serengeti (leave the camp with breakfast box and lunch box), starting at 6:30 am which gives you the opportunity to spot a cat family on the road as they try to avoid the morning mist. You may also see how other animals behave in the morning after a long night of darkness, other predators returning back from their long night of hunting or a pride of a lioness organizing morning ambush.

If your travelling dates are when the great wildebeest migration is in the Serengeti, you will go straight to where they are and spend much time with the herds in anticipation of seeing animal action like fighting, eating, hunting or even killing. Break for breakfast somewhere in the bush then proceed with a game drive until lunchtime. You break for lunch at Seronera Visitor’s Centre or elsewhere, have some rest then embark on your afternoon game drive. Later in the afternoon drive back to your camp for dinner and overnight.

Option: On this day you can leave very early in the morning and do the famous Serengeti Balloon Safari (additional cost). The Serengeti balloon safari flies in the morning at 6:30 and takes 2 hours before landing in the bush for breakfast and a celebration. Afterwards, your safari driver guide will catch up with you and proceed with your full day game drives in the Serengeti.

• Overnight at Serengeti Thorn Trees Camp Serengeti, all meals included

After breakfast depart for Ngorongoro Crater with an en-route game drive. Reach Naabi Hills Gate for check out, drive to the highlands of Ngorongoro and descend 600 meters into the crater floor for a wonderful game drive. A picnic lunch will be served at one of the picnic sites inside the crater. Ngorongoro Crater is referred by many as one of the world’s natural wonders, its scenery is beautiful regardless of wet or dry seasons. The number of animal species is large with only a few animals moving in and out of the crater. You can expect to spot herds of wildebeest, zebra, hippo, eland, elephant, topi and many more. The rare black rhino can also be seen here living in their natural habitat. The crater is also home to a good number of predators which includes cheetah, hyena, jackal, lion and the ever-elusive leopard that sometimes needs sharp eyes to spot. You will drive along Lake Magadi a shallow alkaline lake at the southwestern corner of the crater frequently visited by flocks of flamingos, hippos and other aquatic birds. Late afternoon drive to the lodge for sunset, dinner and overnight.

• Distance: 178 km
• Non-Game Viewing Time: 2 to 3 hrs
• Overnight at Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge at the crater rim or similar in Karatu town, all meals included

Morning at leisure, have breakfast and depending on your flight time you can do a guided nature walk along the Endoro trial all the way to the elephant cave, which takes about 2 to 3 hours (cost is $30 per person). Then back for lunch before driving back to Arusha for overnight (own account) or drop off at Kilimanjaro International Airport (KLM or other late flights are the best option if flying on this day).

Distance: 154 km
Non-Game Viewing Time: 3 to 4 hrs