6 Day Tanzania Safari to Serengeti – Ngorongoro – Manyara

Experience the remarkable wildlife and breathtaking landscapes of northern Tanzania on this 6-Day Tanzania Safari through Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park and the world-renowned Ngorongoro Crater. Designed for travellers who want to discover some of East Africa’s most celebrated wildlife destinations within a relatively short period, this Tanzania safari combines exciting game drives, diverse ecosystems and opportunities to encounter some of Africa’s most iconic animals. From the beautiful woodlands and groundwater forests of Lake Manyara to the vast golden plains of the Serengeti and the wildlife-rich volcanic caldera of Ngorongoro, each destination offers a distinctive safari experience.

Your Tanzania Northern Circuit Safari begins in Arusha before taking you to Lake Manyara National Park, known for its diverse habitats, abundant birdlife, elephants and famous tree-climbing lions. You will then travel through the scenic Ngorongoro Conservation Area to Serengeti National Park, where expansive savannah plains support large populations of wildlife, including lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, cheetahs and other predators. The journey continues to Ngorongoro Crater, one of Africa’s most extraordinary natural wildlife havens and an excellent destination for Big Five viewing. With private safari transportation, an experienced professional guide and carefully selected accommodation, this 6-day Tanzania safari offers an enriching introduction to the country’s outstanding wildlife and natural heritage.

Safari Highlights:

Pickup from Kilimanjaro International Airport.

Game drives in Lake Manyara National Park.

Lake Manyara’s famous tree-climbing lions.

Wildlife game drives in Serengeti National Park.

Explore Ngorongoro Crater on a guided game drive.

Looking for the Big Five on guided game drives.

Transfer back to Kilimanjaro International Airport.

A Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport and Transfer to Arusha

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your Arcadia Safaris representative and transferred to your accommodation in Arusha. Located beneath the impressive Mount Meru, Arusha is an important gateway to Tanzania’s Northern Safari Circuit and provides a convenient starting point for exploring the country’s renowned national parks. Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy a relaxed afternoon at your lodge, take in the surrounding scenery or simply rest after your international journey.

Your guide will brief you about the safari programme, discuss the destinations you will visit and provide any useful information ahead of your wildlife adventure. If you arrive early and have sufficient time, optional activities around Arusha can be arranged at an additional cost. Your overnight stay in Arusha will prepare you for the exciting journey into Tanzania’s wilderness the following day.

Destination: Arusha
Accommodation Options:

• Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Drinking Water, Fruits and Wi-Fi throughout the journey

Day 2: Transfer to Lake Manyara National Park and a Game Drive

After breakfast, you will depart Arusha and travel towards Lake Manyara National Park, enjoying the changing scenery as you approach the Great Rift Valley escarpment. The park is renowned for its remarkable ecological diversity, combining groundwater forests, open grasslands, acacia woodlands, marshes and the alkaline lake that gives the park its name. Upon arrival, you will enjoy a guided game drive through its different habitats, exploring the areas where wildlife gathers and looking out for elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, warthogs, baboons and numerous antelope species. Lake Manyara is also famous for its tree-climbing lions, although sightings are never guaranteed.

The park is an excellent destination for bird enthusiasts, with a rich variety of resident and migratory species that inhabit its forests, wetlands and lakeshore. Depending on the season and water levels, you may also encounter flamingos and other waterbirds around the lake. Your guide will help you explore the park’s different environments while sharing information about its wildlife and conservation importance. After your game drive, you will proceed to your selected accommodation for dinner and an overnight stay.

Destination: Lake Manyara National Park
Accommodation Options:

• Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Drinking Water, Fruits and Wi-Fi throughout the journey

Day 3: Transfer to Serengeti National Park via Ngorongoro Conservation Area

After breakfast, you will depart Lake Manyara and begin your journey towards the legendary Serengeti National Park, travelling through the scenic landscapes of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The drive offers beautiful views of the highlands, open plains and traditional Maasai pastoral landscapes, providing an interesting introduction to the natural and cultural heritage of northern Tanzania; As you approach Serengeti National Park, the scenery gradually opens into expansive grasslands dotted with acacia trees and rocky outcrops known as kopjes, which provide shelter and resting places for many wildlife species.

Upon entering the Serengeti, you will enjoy a game drive as you make your way towards your accommodation, with opportunities to spot wildlife along the route. The Serengeti is famous for its exceptional concentrations of wildlife, particularly its large populations of wildebeests, zebras and gazelles, as well as predators such as lions, cheetahs and leopards. Depending on the season, you may also encounter herds associated with the Great Wildebeest Migration as they move across the ecosystem in search of fresh grazing and water. After the game drive, you will arrive at your selected lodge or tented camp for dinner and an overnight stay in the heart of the Serengeti ecosystem.

Destination: Serengeti National Park
Accommodation Options:

• Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Drinking Water, Fruits and Wi-Fi throughout the journey

Day 4: Full-Day Game Drives in Serengeti National Park

Today is dedicated to exploring the remarkable wildlife and landscapes of Serengeti National Park, giving you more time to discover its vast savannah plains and diverse habitats. After breakfast, you will head out with your guide for a morning game drive, searching for the animals that make the Serengeti one of Africa’s most celebrated safari destinations. The park supports large populations of lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, hyenas, cheetahs and numerous antelope species. Your guide will help locate wildlife, interpret animal behaviour and explain the ecological relationships that sustain this extraordinary ecosystem.

You will enjoy a picnic lunch during the day’s exploration before continuing with an afternoon game drive through additional wildlife areas. Depending on the season and the location of wildlife, your guide may explore open plains, riverine habitats, woodland areas and rocky kopjes where predators sometimes rest or scan the surrounding grasslands. The Serengeti also forms part of the wider Great Wildebeest Migration ecosystem, although the movement of herds varies throughout the year according to rainfall and grazing conditions. After a rewarding day in the wilderness, you will return to your accommodation for dinner and another overnight stay.

Destination: Serengeti National Park
Accommodation Options:

• Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Drinking Water, Fruits and Wi-Fi throughout the journey

Day 5: Transfer from Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

After an early breakfast, you will depart Serengeti National Park and travel towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, enjoying a scenic drive through the changing landscapes of northern Tanzania. The journey offers further opportunities to observe wildlife, particularly as you leave the Serengeti plains and approach the Ngorongoro highlands. Upon reaching the Ngorongoro area, you will descend into the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater for an exciting game drive across its grasslands, wetlands, woodland patches and seasonal lakes; Formed through volcanic activity millions of years ago, the crater is one of the world’s largest intact volcanic calderas and supports an impressive concentration of wildlife within its enclosed ecosystem.

During your exploration, you will look out for lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeests, hippos, hyenas and other wildlife. Ngorongoro is also one of the important places in Tanzania where visitors have a chance of seeing the endangered black rhinoceros, although sightings cannot be guaranteed. You will enjoy a picnic lunch during the crater excursion before continuing your game drive through the different habitats. Later, you will ascend from the crater floor and proceed to your selected accommodation in the Ngorongoro area for dinner and an overnight stay, bringing your Tanzania wildlife safari to a memorable conclusion.

Destination: Ngorongoro Crater
Accommodation Options:

• Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Drinking Water, Fruits and Wi-Fi throughout the journey

Day 6: Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport and Departure

After breakfast, you will check out of your accommodation and begin the road transfer from the Ngorongoro area to Kilimanjaro International Airport. The journey takes you through the beautiful landscapes of northern Tanzania, passing rural settlements, agricultural areas and scenic highland surroundings as you make your way towards the airport; Depending on your flight schedule, there may be an opportunity to enjoy a relaxed breakfast and depart at an appropriate time to allow sufficient room for the road journey and international airport check-in procedures.

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, your guide will assist you with the final arrangements before you proceed to check in for your onward international flight. This marks the end of your 6-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari through Lake Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. We hope you leave Tanzania with wonderful memories of its remarkable wildlife, breathtaking scenery and unforgettable safari experiences. Thank you for choosing Arcadia Safaris, and we look forward to welcoming you on another East African adventure.

Destination: Kilimanjaro International Airport
Accommodation Option: No (End of tour) Unless on Request

• Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Drinking Water, Fruits and Wi-Fi throughout the journey

SAFARI COST: From $2,400 Per Person

PRICE INCLUDES

• Round Trip Airport Transfers (pick-up and drop-off)
• Private Transportation in 4×4 Safari Cars
• Meals Specified on a Full Board Basis
• Accommodation with Ensuite Facilities
• Applicable Park Entrance and Activities Fees
• English Speaking Professional Driver-Guide
• All Hotel and Lodge Pickups and Drop-off
• All Applicable Taxes
• Bottled drinking water and Fruits while on safari
• Activities as stipulated in the Itinerary (except those stated as “optional”)

PRICE EXCLUDES

• Activities not mentioned in the Itinerary
• International Flight Fares (unless requested)
• Country Entry Visa
• Personal Travel Insurance
• Telephone Charges
• Laundry Services
• Bar bills and all Alcoholic drinks
• Souvenirs, Gifts and Tips
• Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
• All related medical tests and vaccinations

We appreciate you choosing us. Let’s explore the wild together!