5 Days Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro
Overview: Our 5-day Divan Africa Safaris safari, specifically includes the Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park, and Ngorongoro Crater. This tour has been designed to include one of the most beautiful National Parks (The Serengeti). Is one of the most famous parks in the world and the ultimate destination for game drives or witnessing the astounding, annual Great Migration. Boundless plains punctuated with spiky acacia trees, Serengeti kopjes, hippo, and crocodile-laden rivers, and a landscape home to the Big Five (lions, leopards, rhinos, buffalo, and elephants) and more than 475 bird species–it’s no wonder the Serengeti precedes its reputation as a wildlife haven.
This unforgettable adventure will take you to the Lake Manyara National Park, one of Tanzania’s most dramatically located wildlife areas, consisting of a shallow but huge soda lake, at the foot of the Great Rift Valley’s western escarpment. The size of this National Park makes it perfect for a one-day game drive and is famous for its unique tree-climbing lions. Also, you will visit the Serengeti Plains National Park, the heart of wild Africa and a massive wilderness of 14500 square km, where every day brings a new landscape and a new adventure. On the last day, you will witness an amazing spectacle of African wildlife the Ngorongoro Crater the world’s largest inactive, intact, and unfilled volcanic caldera, and was named one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
Day 1: Arusha – Lake Manyara National Park Non-game-viewing travel time: 2½ hours Distance: 130 km You will meet our professional driver tour guide at your hotel, who will deliver a short safari info briefing. After your breakfast, and then we drive to Lake Manyara National Park. This impressive National Park is one of Tanzania’s most dramatically located wildlife areas, consisting of a massive but shallow soda lake (covering two-thirds of the park) at the foot of the Great Rift Valley’s western escarpment. The Park’s varied habitat attracts a wide variety of animals, including one of Africa’s largest concentrations of Elephants; Manyara is famous for a Tree-climbing lion, as well as large flocks of flamingos attracted by the algae in the lake. Dinner and overnight at the Lodge/Tented Camp/Hotel/Luxury/Basic Campsite.
Day 2: Lake Manyara – Serengeti National Park Non-game-viewing travel time: 6 hours Distance: 205 km After breakfast, we depart from the Camp and drive to Serengeti via Ngorongoro Conservation Area and later arrive on the great Serengeti plains for a different but just as a spectacular wildlife viewing experience. You will pass one of the world’s greatest prehistoric archaeological sites, called Olduvai Gorge, and then continue your way over the scrub lands. The wooded knolls around Naabi Hill Gate mark the Serengeti’s official entrance, which then drops into the Park’s signature wide-open plains. Like no other, this stretch embodies the meaning of the word “Serengeti,” which derives from the Masai “Siringet” and has been artistically translated as “the land that flows on forever”. Serengeti National Park covers 6,000 square miles of pristine land and offers not only expansive vistas but the largest migration of mammals on earth, including 1.5 million wildebeest. Dinner and overnight at the Lodge/Luxury/Tented Camp/Basic Campsite.
Day 3: Full day – Serengeti National Park: After breakfast, you will have a full-day game viewing at Serengeti National Park. The Serengeti, Tanzania’s second-largest National Park, covers nearly 6,000 square miles of grassland plains, Savannah, kopjes, hills, woodlands, and River line forests. The Grumeti, Mbalageti, and Mara river systems serve as critical water sources and are often excellent sites for wildlife viewing. Beyond the heralded migration of wildebeest and zebra, the Serengeti is best known for its big predators, including cheetah and Leopard, as well as large pride of Lions and clans of Hyenas. Other commonly seen animals include gazelle, buffalo, giraffe, Topi, Hartebeest, Ostrich, and Jackal, but it is the full diversity of wildlife and habitats that you will truly find amazing. The greater Serengeti ecosystem actually covers the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the Masai Mara in Kenya, and numerous surrounding wildlife-protected lands that combine for a total of almost 17,000 square miles, which is larger than the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island together. Dinner and overnight at the Lodge/Luxury/Tented Camp/Basic Campsite.
Day 4: Serengeti – Ngorongoro Crater Non-game-viewing travel time: 4 hours Distance: 145 km Our day starts with a morning game drive central to the Serengeti. For animals, that’s an active time of the day – not hot yet, so there is a lot to see out there until 11:30 am then we return back to the Lodge/Camp for Brunch. On our way back we will stop at Olduvai Gorge. It’s a fascinating archaeological site we will visit if you are interested in history and the Masai tribes. Dinner and overnight at the Lodge/Tented Camp/Hotel/Campsite set on the Crater rim, the Lodge/Luxury/Tented Camp/Basic Campsite offers stunning views of Ngorongoro and the surrounding highlands.
Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater – Arusha Non-game-viewing travel time: 4 hours Distance: 190 km On our last day starts very early in the morning equipped with a picnic lunch we descend 2000 ft. down to the Crater floor by our 4×4 wheel drive vehicle for game viewing. Let’s explore this Garden of Eden. Ngorongoro is a huge and deep volcanic Crater. There’s rich pasture, swamps, forest, and permanent water on the Crater floor that’s why wildlife here is so diverse and numerous. There are up to 25.000 larger animals living here. It’d the best opportunity to see the Black Rhino and many other rare species like the black-manned lion. We will have a fantastic day and you will see wildlife at its best. Late afternoon we drive back to Arusha and you will be dropped at your Lodge/Hotel at your own cost. End of tour.
Budget Accommodation Safari using affordable Hotels, Lodges, or Camps, comparable to a 1-2 star Hotel. Accommodation is usually located outside the National Park.
Mid-range Accommodation Safari using medium to large–scale Lodges, tented camps, or Cottage Camps, comparable to a 3-star Hotel
Luxury – Accommodation Safari using deluxe tented camps or Lodges usually located inside the National Park and comparable to a 4-star hotel. Accommodation is usually located inside the Park.
Luxury+ – Accommodation Safari using extremely luxurious tented camps or Lodge, usually located in a private wildlife – Viewing area and comparable to a 5-star Hotel. Expect great food, excellent service, top-quality guiding, and gorgeous tents or rooms. Most luxury + properties charge around USD$ 850 to 1850 per person per night!
Price Includes: All Park entry fees Concession fees All Park Camping fees Pick up from the Airport Ngorongoro Crater Service fees Hotels/Lodge/Tented Camps/Campsites according to safari program Chef Meals as per the above itinerary English-speaking driver/guide Transport 4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser with pop-up roof Bottled drinking water 1.5 litter per person per day during safari 1-night free Hotel accommodation on your arrival in Arusha with bed & breakfast Tents/Sleeping mats/Sleeping bags/Pillow/Chairs & Table/Mosquito net.
Price not includes: International flights & Domestic flights Fees for passports, visas, immunizations, and insurance Tips for staff such as driver cum guides/chef/porters Expenses of personal nature (like souvenirs)
“Please note that all these are sample itineraries. We will tailor-make your safari according to your wish and due to COVID-19 restrictions on travel around the world, it is free to postpone your travel up to 1 year after the original travel date”
