9 Days (North Serengeti Migration) - Tarangire, Manyara, Lake Natron, Serengeti (4 nights) & Ngorongoro

Day 1 – Arusha to Tarangire. Game drives in Tarangire

Day 2 – Transfer to Lake Manyara (Game drives – full day)

Day 3 – Transfer to Lake Natron for Bird Watching/Flamingo Walk

Day 4 – Lake Natron (Ngare Sero waterfalls visit) and transfer to Northern Serengeti

Day 5 – North Serengeti – Full-day game drives

Day 6 – Morning game drives in North Serengeti and transfer to Central Serengeti

Day 7 – Central Serengeti – full-day game drives

Day 8 – Morning game drives in Serengeti and afternoon transfer to Ngorongoro/Karatu

Day 9 – Ngorongoro crater tour (5 hours) in the morning and afternoon transfer to Arusha

Day 1 – Arusha to Tarangire. Game drives in Tarangire

We start at around 7:00 AM from Arusha and drive to Tarangire National park with packed lunch boxes. Tarangire gate will be about 2.5 hours’ drive away. Once we reach the park, we start game drives here. Tarangire National park is known for its majestic baobab trees that dot the landscape, dwarfing the animals that feed beneath them. The Tarangire River is the centerpiece of this park which is famous for some of the largest herds of elephants in Africa. Here you may see lion, leopard, cheetah, lesser kudu, buffalo, Oryx, eland, giraffe, and zebra. We will have a lunch break at a picnic scenic picnic spot. Post lunch, we will continue with game drives till around 5:00 PM or so. Post the game drive, you will head back to your camp/lodge where a delicious dinner awaits you.

Day 2 – Transfer to Lake Manyara (Game drives – full day)

We start at around 8:30 AM from the hotel after breakfast and drive to Manyara National Park with packed lunch boxes. Manyara gate will be about 30 min drive away. Once we reach the park, we start game drives here. As you enter the national park, lush forests of Acacia and Mahogany trees begin to set the mood for what is waiting ahead and with a small break for picnic lunch. During the game drive in Lake Manyara watch out for buffaloes, giraffes, impalas, baboons and the blue monkey, tree climbing lions, however spotting them is a game of luck. In the right season, you can see the shoreline turning pink with millions of flamingos flocking there. And you will head to your hotel, have dinner and rest.

Optional add-on tours this day: Hiking at Rift Valley for 1.5 hours in the morning ($25 per client), Canoeing at Lake Manyara for about 2.5 hours ($74 per person)

Day 3 – Transfer to Lake Natron for Bird Watching/Flamingo Walk

Your day will begin after breakfast by about 8:00 AM. We depart with packed lunch boxes towards Lake Natron. Located about 3.5 hours drive away from Mto Wa Mbu/Manyara, Lake Natron is a surreal destination and unique natural spectacle. Its waters are highly alkaline and are unusually shallow, averaging just one meter in depth. After checking into your lodge and a short break, put your walking shoes on as a Maasai tribesman takes you on a walk around the shores of Lake Natron on the lookout for birds, especially the lesser flamingos. Lake Natron is the most important and regular breeding site for lesser flamingos in East Africa hosting up to 2 million of them during the breeding season. The majority of egg-laying and hatching takes place from September to January. After the hike, you will head back to your camp/lodge for a well-deserved dinner and rest.

Day 4 – Lake Natron (Ngare Sero waterfalls visit) and transfer to Northern Serengeti

Your day starts early. Around 6:00 AM, accompanied by a Maasai guide, enjoy some light hiking to the nearby Ngare Sero waterfalls and relax in the cool spray of water cascading down the rocks of this scenic ravine. Make sure to bring your shoes! We return to our accommodation by 8:30 AM and finishing up a good breakfast, will head out towards the Serengeti National Park. This road trip takes you through a variety of sites: towns and villages, savannah and forest, and you’ll be able to spot animals like antelope, wildebeest, and zebra. We enter Serengeti in the afternoon and drive towards North Serengeti. You will have an afternoon game drive in the endless plains of the Serengeti for a chance to see the great herds of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles or a pride of lions lounging in the shade. A picnic lunch will be done during the day-long game drive itself. The eventful day comes to an end with dinner and a good night’s rest in your accommodation.

Day 5 – North Serengeti – Full-day game drives

We depart for full-day game drives around 8:00 AM with packed lunch and return back to the lodge late afternoon around 6:00 PM. Or you can depart at 6:00 AM on an early morning game drive. Later return to the accommodation for breakfast and relax for a bit and depart on an afternoon game drive with packed lunch. In the months between mid-June to September, migration can be found in this region. From mid-June to September, the Mara River in this region offers the most dramatic river crossing of the great migration. Fierce, deep, and heavy rain fed the river taking an enormous toll on the migrating wildebeest. Watching the wildebeest surging through the torrential flow, some drowning, and a few falling prey to lurking crocodiles is an unforgettable sight. If it’s your lucky day you will be able to witness this natural wonder and watch nature take its course. Tracing the great migration you might even move towards the Lobo valley. The pristine lobo valley is scattered with woodlands, plains, hills, and famous granite Kopjes. It offers an enormous amount of big cat game with lions, leopards, and cheetahs in plenty. During the dry season, the permanent water sources in the valley attract plenty of resident and migratory animals, resulting in excellent game viewing. During the full-day game drive, you will have a stop where you can have your picnic lunch. The day comes to an end with a tasty dinner and a good rest in your choice of accommodation.

Day 6 – Morning game drives in North Serengeti and transfer to Central Serengeti

We start after breakfast and depart for game drives around 9:00 AM with packed lunch or depart at 6:00 AM on an early morning game drive. Later return to the accommodation for breakfast and relax for a bit and depart to Central Serengeti with packed lunch. The four-hour drive to the center will offer mild en route game. The drive south from the Mara River valley takes you through hill country, the Lobo area, woodlands, and then back into Seronera terrain. The central portion of the Serengeti – known as the Seronera area is one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park. It features the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and therefore attracts wildlife well representative of most of the Serengetis’ species. As you make your way into the Seronera region, you will begin to notice the hilly and broken terrain altering into plain grasslands. In Seronera one must really look out for the many lion pride that thrive in this region. The interactions and survival of these lion prides provide an excellent game-viewing experience all year round. A picnic lunch will be done during the day-long drive itself. The eventful day comes to an end with dinner and a good night’s rest in your accommodation.

Day 7 – Central Serengeti – full-day game drives

We depart around 8:00 AM after breakfast, with packed lunch boxes for full-day game drives that last for about 8-9 hours in Central Serengeti. We return to camp around 5:30 PM.

Optional add-on tours this day: Balloon Safari in the morning ($540 per person) or Walking Safari for 3-4 hours ($45 per person sharing or $60 for solo client) in Central Serengeti.


Day 8 – Morning game drives in Serengeti and afternoon transfer to Ngorongoro/Karatu

After breakfast, you will have a morning game drive in Serengeti National Park. Later depart for Ngorongoro Conservation Area with a picnic lunch. Ngorongoro Crater is the largest collapsed volcanic crater in the world and has fourteen kilometers of isolated natural beauty. Ngorongoro Crater is surrounded by a ring of extinct volcanoes and the floor, dotted with watering holes, shelters some 30,000 animals. The eventful day comes to an end with a heavy dinner and a good night’s rest in your accommodation.

Day 9 – Ngorongoro crater tour (5 hours) in the morning and afternoon transfer to Arusha

After an early breakfast, descend to the crater floor for a game drive (5 hours). You can expect to see lions, elephants, zebras, hippos, hyenas, Jackals, rhinos, and many birds. The birds seen here include eagles, vultures, flamingos in the Crater Lake, storks, giant vultures, and many more. Post the picnic lunch at the beautiful Hippo pool, you will begin a steep ascend to the top exit of the crater. With a 3.5-hour drive left, you will be dropped off at Arusha to end this beautiful safari before 06:00 PM.

Option E1 ($3,179 per person for safari with Land Cruiser)

– Jul 21, 2023 to Jul 23, 2023 at Nsya Lodge & Camp – Standard Bungalow, Lake Manyara (Outside the Park)
– Jul 23, 2023 to Jul 24, 2023 at Africa Safari Lake Natron – Safari Comfort, Lake Natron
– Jul 24, 2023 to Jul 26, 2023 at Tanzania Bush Camps, Kogatende, North Serengeti
– Jul 26, 2023 to Jul 28, 2023 at Tukaone Camps, Central Serengeti
– Jul 28, 2023 to Jul 29, 2023 at Omega View Hotel, Karatu

Option E2 ($3,626 per person for safari with Land Cruiser)

– Jul 21, 2023 to Jul 23, 2023 at Migombani Cottage, Lake Manyara (Outside the Park)
– Jul 23, 2023 to Jul 24, 2023 at Africa Safari Lake Natron – Safari Comfort, Lake Natron
– Jul 24, 2023 to Jul 26, 2023 at Acacia Migration Camp, Kogatende, North Serengeti
– Jul 26, 2023 to Jul 28, 2023 at Tanzania Bush Camps, Seronera, Central Serengeti
– Jul 28, 2023 to Jul 29, 2023 at Rhino Lodge, NCA, NCA

Option E3 ($4,200 per person for safari with Land Cruiser)

– Jul 21, 2023 to Jul 22, 2023 at Ang’ata Tarangire Camp, Tarangire (Within the Park)
– Jul 22, 2023 to Jul 23, 2023 at Manyara Best View Lodge – Silver Room, Lake Manyara (Outside the Park)
– Jul 23, 2023 to Jul 24, 2023 at Africa Safari Lake Natron – Luxury Glamping, Lake Natron
– Jul 24, 2023 to Jul 26, 2023 at Nyikani Migration Camp, Kogatende, North Serengeti
– Jul 26, 2023 to Jul 28, 2023 at Ang’ata Serengeti Camp, Central Serengeti
– Jul 28, 2023 to Jul 29, 2023 at Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, NCA, NCA

Option E4 ($5,460 per person for safari with Land Cruiser)

– Jul 21, 2023 to Jul 22, 2023 at Tarangire Ndovu Tented Lodge, Tarangire (Within the Park)
– Jul 22, 2023 to Jul 23, 2023 at Escarpment Luxury Lodge, Lake Manyara (Outside the Park)
– Jul 23, 2023 to Jul 24, 2023 at Lake Natron Camp, Lake Natron
– Jul 24, 2023 to Jul 26, 2023 at Kaskaz Mara Camp, North Serengeti
– Jul 26, 2023 to Jul 28, 2023 at Acacia Seronera Luxury Camp, Central Serengeti
– Jul 28, 2023 to Jul 29, 2023 at Lemala Ngorongoro, NCA, NCA

Option E5 ($7,862 per person for safari with Land Cruiser)

– Jul 21, 2023 to Jul 22, 2023 at Lemala Mpingo Ridge, Tarangire (Within the Park)
– Jul 22, 2023 to Jul 23, 2023 at Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge, Lake Manyara (Outside the Park)
– Jul 23, 2023 to Jul 24, 2023 at Lake Natron Camp, Lake Natron
– Jul 24, 2023 to Jul 26, 2023 at Sanctuary Kichakani Serengeti Camp, North Serengeti
– Jul 26, 2023 to Jul 28, 2023 at Lemala Nanyukie, Central Serengeti
– Jul 28, 2023 to Jul 29, 2023 at Melia Ngorongoro Lodge, NCA – Premier Room with Forest Views, NCA

Option E6 ($12,976 per person for safari with Land Cruiser)

– Jul 21, 2023 to Jul 22, 2023 at Sanctuary Swala Camp, Tarangire (Within the Park)
– Jul 22, 2023 to Jul 23, 2023 at Lake Manyara Tree Lodge – Suite, Lake Manyara (Within the Park)
– Jul 23, 2023 to Jul 24, 2023 at Lake Natron Camp, Lake Natron
– Jul 24, 2023 to Jul 26, 2023 at Sayari Camp, Kogatende, North Serengeti
– Jul 26, 2023 to Jul 28, 2023 at Four Seasons Safari Lodge – Terrace Suite Water Hole View, Central Serengeti
– Jul 28, 2023 to Jul 29, 2023 at Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, NCA – Suite, NCA

INCLUDES:

• All accommodations per itinerary
• All meals per itinerary 
• All tours and entrance fees per itinerary (unless listed as excluded)
• All transportation and transfers per itinerary
• Professional English-speaking naturalist driver/guide
• Transportation in a custom safari 4×4 with viewing roof and guaranteed window seating
• Safari vehicles have an inverter for charging batteries, communications radio, electric cooler, and filtered water
• National Park gate fees, Park commission, and Government taxes (based on current rates)

EXCLUDES:

• International and domestic flights
• Meals not listed
• Beverages and alcohol
• Tips for guides, drivers, hotel staff
• Optional tours
• Single room supplement
• Personal expenses (visas, airport taxes, Internet, etc.)

• Bottled water and drinks
• Optional tours (Olduvai Gorge and Maasai Village visit)
• Holiday supplement December 20 – January 5
• Ndutu supplement December-March
• Discount for kids under 15 years old