Visit all the 5 most Tanzanian northern parks on this 9-day unique Tanzania Safari – Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, and Arusha National Park. You will not only visit the national parks but also have the opportunity to gain some insight into traditional Tanzanian life. It includes an off-the-beaten track adventure to Lake Natron – a sun-scorched, shimmering lake dotted with flamingos and surrounded by an otherworldly landscape.
Arusha (Google Map)
8:00 AM
This safari will take you to the best parks in northern Tanzania. While on this 9-day safari, expect to enjoy viewing a variety of wildlife species such as lions, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, leopards and so much more.
You will start your Tanzania safari by visiting Arusha National Park and getting prepared for the multi-day safari. Arusha National Park is located in the northern part of Tanzania not too far south of the border of Kenya and just outside the city of Arusha.
Accommodation at Meru View Lodge
Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
In the morning you will be picked up from your hotel in Arusha and receive further briefing about your safari. Then start your journey towards the Tarangire National Park, famous for its large herds of elephants. Here you will find a variety of animals: zebras, buffalos, impalas, gazelles and various antelope species. During the dry season, many of this wildlife gather on the Tarangire River, making it easier to find them and offering great photo opportunities.
After breakfast leaves the Tarangire area and drives towards Mto wa Mbu. Then it’s off to an adventurous piste along the Rift Valley Escarpment towards Lake Natron. You will pass Maasai villages and soon become familiar with famous Rift Valley Mountains such as Mt. Gelai or Oldonyo Lengai, the sacred mountain of the Maasai. The small Maasai village of Ngare Sero, with its shady trees and nearby waterfall, seems like an oasis in the hot and dusty Rift Valley. The huge Lake Natron often shimmers pink from afar. Thousands of flamingos live and breed in this soda lake, which is colored red by the sea of algae. They camp at Lake Natron.
On another adventurous track, but with beautiful views, it’s now up from the Rift Valley into the vast plains of the Serengeti National Park, which you reach in the early afternoon. The Serengeti is probably the most famous park in Tanzania and the home of the largest animal migration on our planet. Although the herds often cross the park boundaries during their migration, this migration has been preserved to the present day and still provides the opportunity for spectacular wildlife viewing. The overnight stay takes place on a camp ground in the Serengeti.
Seronera is a central settlement in the Serengeti National Park and one of the most interesting and beautiful areas of the park. Since the central Serengeti is almost completely treeless, it is ideal for animal sightings. The Serengeti is also known for the impressive wildlife walks of thousands of wildebeests and zebras that take place in the rainy season. Already on the way to your accommodation you can take in the expanse of the central Serengeti. The next day, stalking and discovery trips are possible.
In this day you will spend the full day game drive in central Serengeti heading to Seronera Valley within the park. Here you can not only observe the most diverse creatures on exciting safari tours, but also witness car chases among the animals. You have different options to observe the animals: in the safari car or even by early morning hot-air balloon (optional).
Early in the morning, your last game drives through the Serengeti begins on this exciting journey. Have lunch at a picnic spot and after further wildlife viewing, leave the Serengeti National Park and head towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), game drive enroot. Overnight at Simba campsite.
Another highlight of your tour on this 9 days expedition is the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater. Within the crater, there is a huge variety of wildlife that you can observe in their natural habitat – especially zebras, wildebeest, surrounded by lions, cheetahs, elephants, and black rhinos. You may discover the Big Five and many other species during a single game drive. Have lunch at a picnic spot and after further wildlife viewing, leave the crater and drive to Karatu for overnight at Kudu campsite.
After breakfast, drive to Lake Manyara National Park, which you will discover with your guide during a game drive. On the shores of the lake, you might see buffaloes, elephants, and hippos, as well as vervet monkeys, zebra gulls, gazelles, and antelopes. The forests are populated by vociferous monkeys and baboons. In the afternoon, drive to Arusha for the overnight or airport at noon.