The term “Big Five” originally referred to the difficulty in hunting the lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and African buffalo. These five large African mammal species were known to be dangerous and it was considered a feat by trophy hunters to bring them home. This amazing safari will take you to the top safari destinations in Tanzania’s Northern Circuit to witness the high concentration of wildlife including the Big 5.
Arusha (Google Map)
8:00 AM
On this tour expect a great focus on searching for the rhino, elephant, buffalo, lion, and leopard. This Big Five Safari evokes the imagination of viewing these majestic animals roaming in African Savanah.
Our Big Five Safari starts as we drive to Tarangire. Once you reach the park, start exploring the area with the huge termite mounds and old baobab trees. The park is known for its diverse bird species and large herds of elephants. There are regular sightings of lions, giraffes, warthogs, ostriches, impala, cheetah, buffalo, and baboons.
Accommodation at Marera Valley Lodge
Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast depart for the famous Olduvai Gorge, one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world. Optional visit to a Masai Village and then proceed to one of the great game parks in the world, the Serengeti. This park supports a magnificent diversity and abundance of animals, from the Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and black rhino (although these are rarely spotted) – to giraffe, Grant’s gazelle, impala, kongoni, topi, and eland.
Accommodation at Kati Kati Tented Camp
Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, you will begin a full-day game drive in Serengeti. You will likely view hundreds of the diverse animals including the “Big Seven” (lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, cheetahs, rhinos, and African hunting dogs) that find their home within the Serengeti’s endless plains. You will also have the chance to view some of the park’s lesser-known, but equally majestic animals including, elands, hyenas, gazelles, crocodiles, giraffes, zebras, and monkeys, baboons, hippos, and antelopes.
Accommodation at Kati Kati Tented Camp
Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today is our last game drive in Serengeti before we continue to Ngorongoro Crater with a game drive en route.
Accommodation at Marera Valley Lodge
Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After an early breakfast, you will descend over 600 meters into the crater to view wildlife. The 20 km wide Ngorongoro Crater was created by the collapse of a volcano and provided a space for elephants, leopards, rhinos, and lions to roam around the crater rim. It consists of a saline lake, marsh, plains, and forest and hosts a population of 25,000 animals – including wildebeests, zebras, buffaloes, hyenas, and leopards. The crater also offers an insight into the life of the local population: outside the crater, the Maasai people and their herds of cattle live in a protected area. Late afternoon transfer to Arusha or airport drop-off.