Lake Manyara, Serengeti or Tarangire

This safari is designed to give you a enough time on safari to truly feel the heart beat of Africa's vast plains. This itinerary takes in three of the National Parks and gives you the wilderness experience of private luxury camps combined with the best lodges Tanzania has to offer. We offer two versions of this itinerary, tailored to make the most of the seasonal opportunities.

Green Season (Dec to May)

Day 1: Hotel near Arusha. Pick up from Kilimanjaro Airport and transfer to the hotel.

Day 2: Serena Lake Manyara Lodge. Drive from Arusha direct into Lake Manyara National Park for an afternoon of game driving. You can enjoy your sumptuous picnic lunch inside the park. Late afternoon ascend the Rift Valley Escarpment to the Serena Lodge overlooking Lake Manyara Park.

Day 3: Serengeti National Park Private Luxury Camp. Drive around the rim of Ngorongoro Crater and descend onto the plains of Serengeti National Park. Spend the day game driving across the Serengeti Plains. Overnight in our private mobile tented camp placed in the best location for maximum game viewing.

Day 4: Serengeti National Park Private Luxury Camp. A full day of game viewing in the Serengeti. Picnic lunch can be taken with you for a full day of game viewing or you can return to camp for lunch mid-day. Return to your private camp for the night.

Day 5: Ndutu Lodge. A third day of exploring and game viewing in the Serengeti. Visit some of the more remote and less visited areas on your drive toward Ndutu Lake. In the evening check into Ndutu Lodge for your final night in the Serengeti.

Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater Private Luxury Camp. Today you will cross the short grass plains en-route to Ngorongoro Crater. The Archeological site at Olduvai Gorge is nearby and is visited by most groups. If time allows you can cross the Ngorongoro Crater floor on your way to camp.

Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater Private Luxury Camp. Descend into the Crater for for a full day of game viewing in this unique environment. Often an early start with a picnic breakfast is the best way to visit the Crater. You can then return to camp for lunch and a rest. Then visit the Crater again in the evening hours. Return to camp in time for hot showers and sundowners around the fire.

Day 8: Gibbs Farm. The drive to this beautiful coffee farm on the forested slopes of Ngorongoro Crater is only a few hours from camp. You can visit the Crater again in the morning or use the morning hours to visit a Maasai homestead near your camp. Many groups choose to go direct to Gibbs Farm. Gibbs serves a fabulous buffet lunch that one can enjoy in the lush gardens surrounding the lodge. Short hikes are also available from the lodge.

Day 9: Depart after breakfast and drive back to Arusha in time for lunch. Day rooms at a hotel in town and opportunities for either relaxing or shopping in town. After and early dinner transfer out to Kilimanjaro Airport for the flight home.

Dry Season (June to Nov), 8 night itinerary:

Day 1: Hotel near Arusha. Pick up from Kilimanjaro Airport and transfer to the hotel.

Day 2: Tarangire National Park Private Luxury Camp. Tarangire National Park is only a 2 hr drive from Arusha. This means you can have a leisurely morning in town and still have most of the day of game viewing in Tarangire. A picnic lunch will be with you in the vehicle so there is no hurry to get to camp. Overnight in our private mobile tented camp placed in the best location for maximum game viewing. 

Day 3: Tarangire National Park Private Luxury Camp. A full day of game viewing in Tarangire. Picnic lunch can be taken with you for a full day of game viewing or you can return to camp for lunch mid-day. Return to your private camp for the night. Arrive in the camp in the evening for sundowners and showers.

Day 4: Tarangire National Park Private Luxury Camp. A third day of exploring and game viewing in Tarangire. Visit some of the more remote and less visited areas. A short day walk can be organized for those interested.

Day 5: Serena Lake Manyara Lodge. Drive from Tarangire National Park direct into Lake Manyara National Park for an afternoon of game driving. You can stop inside the park to enjoy a sumptuous picnic lunch. Late afternoon ascend the Rift Valley Escarpment to the Serena Lodge overlooking Lake Manyara Park below.

Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater Private Luxury Camp. The drive from Manyara to Ngorongoro is only a few hours. You may choose to spend a few extra hours at Manyara or go direct to Ngorongoro for an afternoon game drive in the Crater. The Archeological site at Olduvai Gorge is nearby and is visited by most groups.

Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater Private Luxury Camp. Descend onto the Crater floor for a full day of game viewing in this unique environment. Often an early start with a picnic breakfast is the best way to visit the Crater. You can then return to camp for lunch and a rest. Then visit the Crater again in the evening hours. Return to camp in time for hot showers and sundowners around the fire.

Day 8: Gibbs Farm. The drive to this beautiful coffee farm on the forested slopes of Ngorongoro Crater is only a few hours from camp. You can visit the Crater again in the morning or use the morning hours to visit a Maasai boma near your camp. Many groups choose to go direct to Gibbs Farm. Gibbs serves a fabulous buffet lunch that one can enjoy in the lush gardens surrounding the lodge. Short hikes are also available from the lodge.

Day 9: Depart after breakfast and drive back to Arusha in time for lunch. Day rooms at a hotel in town and opportunities for either relaxing or shopping in town. After and early dinner transfer out to Kilimanjaro Airport for the flight home.