5-Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro Safari

Day by day

The plan for all 5 days, as the operator who would run it wrote it. Your own version can be adjusted — this is a private trip, so the route, the pace and the lodges are yours to change.

1. 1

   Day 1
   Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport – Arusha

   Villa MauaDinner

   

   Destination: Arusha

   Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your professional safari guide, who will assist you with your luggage before transferring you to Arusha, the gateway to Tanzania's famous Northern Safari Circuit.

   During the drive, enjoy views of the surrounding countryside and, weather permitting, catch a glimpse of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain.

   Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy an optional Arusha town tour, offering an introduction to the city's culture, history, and everyday life. Potential highlights include the Central Market, Maasai Market, National Natural History Museum, and Cultural Heritage Centre.

   After your arrival activities, you will be transferred to your lodge to relax and prepare for the exciting safari adventure ahead.

   Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at your accommodation.

2. 2

   Day 2
   Arusha – Serengeti National Park

   Tanzania Bush CampsBreakfast, lunch, and dinner

   

   Destination: Serengeti National Park

   After an early breakfast, depart from Arusha and begin your journey to the world-famous Serengeti National Park, renowned for its vast savannah plains, remarkable wildlife populations, and spectacular natural scenery.

   Along the way, enjoy the changing landscapes of northern Tanzania and stop at a Maasai village for a cultural encounter, where you can learn about traditional customs, local lifestyles, and the cultural heritage of the Maasai people.

   Continue towards Serengeti National Park, arriving in time to begin your first game drive. As you explore the plains, keep your eyes open for some of Africa's most iconic wildlife, including lions, elephants, leopards, zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, gazelles, and wildebeests. With some luck, you may also encounter the elusive black rhinoceros.

   The Serengeti's expansive grasslands and scattered acacia trees provide a spectacular setting for wildlife photography and unforgettable safari moments.

   Continue your game drive into the afternoon before heading to your camp for dinner and an overnight stay surrounded by the atmosphere of the African wilderness.

3. 3

   Day 3
   Full-Day Wildlife Safari in Serengeti National Park

   Tanzania Bush CampsBreakfast, picnic lunch, and dinner

   

   Destination: Serengeti National Park

   Wake up to the sights and sounds of the African wilderness before enjoying breakfast at camp. Today is dedicated to discovering more of the Serengeti's extraordinary wildlife and breathtaking landscapes.

   Set out with packed picnic lunches for a full-day game drive across the park's remarkable plains. Your experienced safari guide will help you explore different areas of the Serengeti, searching for wildlife and explaining the behavior of the animals you encounter.

   The park is home to an impressive variety of wildlife, including lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, hyenas, hippos, warthogs, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, impalas, and numerous gazelle species. The Serengeti is also an important habitat for the endangered black rhinoceros, although sightings are uncommon.

   Depending on the season and wildlife movements, you may witness parts of the Great Wildebeest Migration, when enormous herds of wildebeests and zebras travel across the ecosystem in search of fresh grazing and water.

   Pause at a designated picnic site to enjoy your packed lunch while taking in the surrounding natural scenery.

   In the afternoon, continue exploring the park before returning to your camp for dinner, relaxation, and another night in the wilderness.

4. 4

   Day 4
   Serengeti National Park – Ngorongoro Conservation Area

   Lions PawBreakfast, lunch, and dinner

   

   Destination: Ngorongoro Crater Rim

   After breakfast, depart from Serengeti National Park and enjoy a scenic drive towards the magnificent Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Along the way, take in the breathtaking landscapes of Tanzania's Northern Safari Circuit, with its vast plains, rolling hills, and beautiful natural scenery.

   As you travel towards Ngorongoro, enjoy the changing landscapes and the opportunity to spot wildlife along the route. The journey offers a wonderful opportunity to appreciate the remarkable beauty of the Serengeti ecosystem as you make your way towards the Ngorongoro Highlands.

   Upon arrival in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, continue to your accommodation on the crater rim. Here, you can relax and enjoy the spectacular views of the surrounding highlands and the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater from above.

   Spend the remainder of the afternoon at leisure, taking in the peaceful atmosphere and cool mountain air of this extraordinary destination.

   In the evening, enjoy dinner at your lodge before settling in for a comfortable overnight stay at Lions Paw, surrounded by the natural beauty of the Ngorongoro Highlands.

5. 5

   Day 5
   Ngorongoro Crater Rim – Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport

   Not includedBreakfast and lunch, depending on the departure arrangements

   

   Wake up to the beautiful scenery of the Ngorongoro Highlands and enjoy breakfast at your lodge overlooking the magnificent crater.

   After breakfast, depending on your departure schedule and the arrangements made for your safari, you may enjoy additional time around the crater rim before beginning your journey back towards Arusha.

   If your itinerary includes a morning crater visit, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a final wildlife experience, subject to park regulations, available time, and the applicable conservation fees. Enjoy the opportunity to observe wildlife and appreciate the spectacular scenery one last time before ascending the crater walls.

   Following your activities, begin the drive to Arusha or proceed directly to Kilimanjaro International Airport, depending on your flight arrangements.

   If you are returning to Arusha, you will be transferred to your hotel or another agreed location. Guests with international departures will continue to Kilimanjaro International Airport in time for their scheduled flights.

   As your Tanzanian safari adventure comes to an end, depart with unforgettable memories of the Serengeti's endless plains, Ngorongoro's extraordinary wildlife, and the breathtaking landscapes of northern Tanzania.