5-Day Northern Tanzania Safari – Tarangire, Manyara, Ngorongoro & Serengeti

Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire National Park
After pick-up from your hotel in Arusha or Moshi, you’ll depart for Tarangire National Park. Known for its massive elephant herds and ancient baobab trees, Tarangire offers a spectacular introduction to Tanzania’s wildlife. Enjoy an afternoon game drive across the park’s rolling savannahs, spotting lions, zebras, giraffes, and over 400 bird species. Dinner and overnight stay at a lodge/camp near Tarangire.

Day 2: Tarangire to Lake Manyara National Park
After breakfast, drive to Lake Manyara National Park, nestled at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment. This compact but diverse park is famous for its tree-climbing lions, large troops of baboons, hippos, and seasonal flamingo flocks. Enjoy a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch, exploring groundwater forests, open plains, and the lake’s shoreline. Dinner and overnight stay at a lodge near Lake Manyara.

Day 3: Lake Manyara to Serengeti National Park
You’ll depart after breakfast and drive to Serengeti National Park, passing through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area with stunning viewpoints along the way. Arrive in the Serengeti and start an afternoon game drive across its endless plains. Depending on the season, you may witness the Great Migration or see predators like lions and cheetahs hunting. Dinner and overnight stay at a lodge/camp in the Serengeti.

Day 4: Full-Day Game Drive in Serengeti
Spend a full day exploring the Serengeti’s vast ecosystems. With a packed lunch, you’ll venture deep into the park in search of the Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino. Visit the Seronera Valley, famous for its high concentration of wildlife, and the Mara River if it’s migration season. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge/camp in the Serengeti.

Day 5: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha
After an early breakfast, drive to the Ngorongoro Crater. Descend 600 meters onto the crater floor for a half-day game drive in this UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to over 25,000 animals including endangered black rhinos, lions, and hippos. Enjoy a picnic lunch by the hippo pool before ascending the crater. Later, drive back to Arusha, arriving in the evening. You’ll be dropped off at your hotel or Kilimanjaro International Airport.