5 Day Best of Tanzania

Day 1 – Arusha to Tarangire National Park

After a short briefing in the morning, you will be taken to the Tarangire National Park. The park with its endless tree savannah including the impressive baobab trees and seasonal marshes, is also home to the largest elephant herds in northern Tanzania. In addition to elephants you are also likely to spot giraffes, buffaloes, lions, zebras, wildebeests and other types of antelopes and gazelles. Upon arrival at the park, your guide will open the roof of the vehicle and the extensive wildlife viewing will begin. Lunch will be taken at a picnic spot and in the afternoon, you will get to see more of this amazing and beautiful park. In the late afternoon you will arrive at the Lodge, located outside of the park for your overnight stay.

Distance approx.: 150 km

Driving time approx.: 2-3 hours

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2 – Tarangire Area to Serengeti National Park

After breakfast you will depart towards the Rift Valley, passing through MtowaMbu and Karatu, in the cooler regions of the crater highlands. You will enter the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and stop for a short look into the crater from a viewing point. Continuing your journey around the crater, you will descend the other side, enjoying your free “African massage” on the bumpy road, passing Maasai villages on your way to the Serengeti National Park. At the Naabi Hill entrance gate you can walk to a viewpoint with spectacular views across the plains of the Serengeti savannah. You will then continue towards the Seronera Area in the central part of the Serengeti. The park offers a multitude of wildlife including the Big Five – lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard. Late in the afternoon you will arrive at the Camp. The camp is in a secluded area, in the heart of the bush, and the stars at night are breath-taking. Lunch will be enjoyed en-route.

Distance approx.: 280 km

Driving time approx.: 5-7 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 – Serengeti National Park

Following breakfast, you will spend the whole day on a game drive in the Serengeti National Park and have lunch at a picnic spot en-route. Depending upon the time of year, you might even have the chance to witness the great migration with hundred thousands of wildebeests, zebras and Thompson gazelles. During the small rainy season in October and November, you will typically see these herds moving from the Kenyan Masai Mara through the northwest of the Serengeti to the plains in the south. After the great rainy season in April, May and June, the herds slowly travel back through the western and north-western part of the Serengeti. With fluctuations in rainfall, this timetable can of course change, resulting in the animals migrating during different times and routes. Your guide will try his outmost to find the animals and will make sure that you can see them from the best spot in the national park. Naturally, the migration also attracts predators and with luck you might see a kill in action.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 – Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Karatu

After breakfast at daybreak, you will start early on your outward journey from the Serengeti back to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, leaving behind the beautiful Seronera Valley. As predators are livelier in the cooler hours of the day, you might even see them in action. Lunch will be taken en-route at a designated picnic spot. On reaching the crater’s edge, the 19-kilometre diameter caldera opens up before you in all its stunning glory and you will descend into the crater on an adventurous trail. This World Heritage Site is seasonally home to over 25,000 animals including a wide variety of birds, hyenas and the Big Five. Exiting the crater on a different ascent road, you will drive to Karatu in the Ngorongoro highlands, where you will spend the night at one of the three beautifully located adventure Lodge.

Distance approx.: 170 km

Driving time approx.: 3-5 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 – Karatu to Arusha

After a relaxing breakfast, you will return to Arusha, arriving around noon. Those who wish to combine this safari with a trip to Zanzibar can take a flight from the local Arusha Airport or Kilimanjaro International Airport. Lunch will be taken en-route.

Distance approx.: 160 km

Driving time approx.: 2-3 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Included:

• Transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle
• Professional, English-speaking guide
• 4 nights’ stay in lodges and tented camps
• Meals according to the itinerary
• Mineral water
• Activities as per itinerary
• All national park fees
• Flying Doctors insurance (AMREF) during the safari

Excluded:

• Flights (international and domestic)
• Meals not indicated in the itinerary
• Alcoholic and soft drinks
• Optional activities
• Tips
• Personal expenses
• Visa fees
• Travel insurance