8 Days Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater Safari

Day 1: Arrival in Arusha and Transfer to Tarangire National Park

Your safari begins with your arrival in Arusha, where you will be welcomed by a Verdant Safaris representative and introduced to your professional safari guide. After a briefing about your itinerary, you will depart Arusha and travel towards Tarangire National Park through the scenic countryside of northern Tanzania. Along the way, you will see local villages, farms and changing landscapes as you approach the park. Upon arrival, you will enter Tarangire for your first game drive, searching for elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, impalas and other wildlife. The park is especially famous for its impressive baobab trees and large elephant herds, which often gather around the Tarangire River. After your afternoon game drive, you will continue to your accommodation for dinner and a relaxing evening in the peaceful surroundings of the park.

Accommodation Options: Tarangire Simba Lodge, Sangaiwe Tented Lodge, Tarangire Sopa Lodge

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 2: Full-Day Tarangire National Park Safari

After breakfast, you will enjoy a full day of wildlife exploration in Tarangire National Park. The park’s diverse habitats include open grasslands, acacia woodland, seasonal wetlands and areas surrounding the Tarangire River. You will search for elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, warthogs and various antelope species as your guide takes you through different parts of the park. Tarangire is also an excellent destination for birdwatching, with many species found around the river, woodlands and open plains. You will enjoy a picnic lunch at a suitable location, allowing you to relax while surrounded by the sights and sounds of the African wilderness. The afternoon will be spent continuing your game drive, with additional opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography. Later, you will return to your lodge for dinner and a comfortable overnight stay.

Accommodation Options: Tarangire Simba Lodge, Sangaiwe Tented Lodge, Tarangire Sopa Lodge

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3: Tarangire to Lake Manyara National Park and Karatu

You will enjoy breakfast before leaving Tarangire and travelling towards Lake Manyara National Park. The route takes you through the beautiful landscapes of northern Tanzania, including sections of the Great Rift Valley and surrounding countryside. Upon entering Lake Manyara National Park, you will begin a game drive through its diverse habitats, including groundwater forests, woodland, open grassland and wetlands. You may encounter elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, hippos, baboons and numerous bird species as you explore the park. Your guide will also search for the famous tree-climbing lions associated with Lake Manyara, although sightings depend on the movements of the animals. After your game drive, you will continue towards Karatu, a pleasant highland area located close to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. You will check into your accommodation, enjoy dinner and have a relaxing evening before your Ngorongoro adventure.

Accommodation Options: Ngorongoro Farm House, Marera Valley Lodge, Karatu Tented Lodge

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive

After an early breakfast, you will travel towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and descend into the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater. The crater is a spectacular natural amphitheatre surrounded by steep walls and contains grasslands, woodland, wetlands and permanent water sources. Its unique environment supports a remarkable concentration of wildlife, giving you excellent opportunities to see lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, hippos and hyenas. Your guide will carefully explore suitable areas in search of wildlife while explaining the ecology and history of this extraordinary landscape. You may also have the opportunity to see the endangered black rhinoceros, which inhabits parts of the crater floor. After a picnic lunch in the crater, you will continue your game drive before ascending towards the crater rim. You will then return to your accommodation in the Karatu area for dinner and a peaceful evening.

Accommodation Options: The Manor at Ngorongoro, Gibbs Farm, Neptune Ngorongoro Luxury Lodge

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 5: Karatu to Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, you will depart Karatu and travel towards Serengeti National Park, one of Africa’s most famous wildlife destinations. The journey takes you through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and across changing landscapes before reaching the vast Serengeti plains. As you approach the park, you may begin spotting wildlife along the route, providing an exciting introduction to the Serengeti ecosystem. Once inside the park, you will enjoy a game drive while travelling towards your accommodation, searching for zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, elephants, buffaloes and other wildlife. Depending on the season and location of the animals, you may also encounter predators such as lions, cheetahs, leopards and hyenas. Your guide will select suitable routes based on wildlife movements and the day’s conditions. You will arrive at your lodge or tented camp in the evening for dinner and a relaxing overnight stay in the heart of the Serengeti.

Accommodation Options: Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge, Serengeti Simba Lodge, Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 6: Full-Day Serengeti National Park Safari

Today you will spend a full day exploring the vast wilderness of Serengeti National Park. After breakfast, you will set out on a private game drive across the plains, woodland and riverine areas of the park. Serengeti is renowned for the Great Migration, when enormous herds of wildebeest and zebras move through the ecosystem in search of fresh grazing and water. Depending on the time of year, you may witness large concentrations of animals and possibly see predators following the herds. The resident wildlife includes lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, hippos, hyenas and numerous antelope species. You will enjoy a picnic lunch during the day’s safari before continuing your exploration into the afternoon. Later, you will return to your accommodation for dinner and a relaxing evening beneath the spectacular African sky.

Accommodation Options: Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge, Serengeti Simba Lodge, Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 7: Serengeti Morning Safari and Return to Arusha

You will begin your final Serengeti morning with an early game drive, providing one more opportunity to experience the park’s remarkable wildlife. The cooler morning hours are often ideal for observing animals as they begin their daily activities, and you may encounter lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebras, wildebeest and giraffes across the plains. You will also have time to appreciate the sunrise and capture photographs of the beautiful Serengeti landscape. After the game drive, you will return to your accommodation for breakfast before beginning your journey towards Arusha. The route provides opportunities to enjoy additional scenery and observe local communities and changing landscapes along the way. Upon arrival in Arusha, you will check into your accommodation and have time to relax after your journey. In the evening, you will enjoy dinner and prepare for your departure from Tanzania the following day.

Accommodation Options: Arusha Serena Hotel, Mount Meru Hotel, Gran Melia Arusha

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 8: Departure

After breakfast, you will have some final time to relax at your accommodation, depending on your flight schedule. You may take a short walk around the hotel, enjoy a final cup of Tanzanian coffee or purchase a few souvenirs before your departure. Your Verdant Safaris representative will arrange your transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport according to your onward travel arrangements. The transfer will be organised to give you sufficient time for airport check-in and departure procedures. As you leave Tanzania, you will take with you unforgettable memories of the vast Serengeti plains, the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater and the diverse wildlife encountered throughout your safari. You will also remember the scenic landscapes of Tarangire and Lake Manyara, which added further variety to your northern Tanzania experience. Your 8 Days Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater Safari officially concludes at the airport, marking the end of your memorable adventure with Verdant Safaris.

Meals: (Breakfast)