5-Day Luxury Best of Tanzania Safari
Tour Description
5 Days – A Luxury Safari Through Tanzania’s Iconic Northern Circuit
This luxury safari allows you to experience the highlights of the Northern Safari Circuit in style – Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, and the Serengeti. Diverse landscapes, over 500 species of birds, and the possibility of seeing the Big Five in their natural habitat await. You will stay at some of the best accommodations Tanzania has to offer and experience first-class service and amenities after an adventurous day in the bush. This is crafted luxury safari is designed for travelers seeking the very best of Tanzania’s Northern Circuit without compromising on comfort. You will explore Tarangire National Park, famous for its massive elephant herds and ancient baobab trees. You will descend into the Ngorongoro Crater – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the best place in Tanzania to see the Big Five. You will journey into the Serengeti, the stage for the Great Migration and Africa’s highest concentration of big cats. And you will discover Lake Manyara, known for its flamingos, diverse birdlife, and tree-climbing lions.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Arusha
Welcome to Tanzania! Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by a representative from Serengeti Wildlife Safari. You will be transferred to your accommodation in Arusha, where you can relax and prepare for the adventure ahead.
Arusha is nestled in the foothills of Mount Meru, Africa’s fifth-highest mountain. The altitude gives the city a comfortable climate and lush green environment for many months of the year. Arusha is known as the safari capital of Tanzania – its streets are full of hustle and bustle, and the surrounding villages offer opportunities to meander around coffee plantations and meet local people.
Meals: At your own expense | Drinking water included
Day 2: Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, your safari guide will collect you from your accommodation. You will then drive to Tarangire National Park, your first taste of the wilderness on your luxury safari (approximately 2.5 hours on good tarmac roads). The park is named after the Tarangire River which runs through it – the only source of water for wildlife in the region during the dry season.
Tarangire is famous for its herds of elephant that you may see meandering through the bush. During the dry season, you may see them congregating at the river to enjoy a drink or just to cool off from the hot sun. Apart from elephants, Tarangire is also a paradise for bird lovers – from parrots, hornbill, lovebirds, and lilac-breasted rollers to kori bustards, eagles, and vultures.
Enjoy a picnic lunch inside the park. After your game drive, you will transit to your accommodation in Karatu.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | All drinks included
Day 3: Ngorongoro Crater to Serengeti
After breakfast, you will drive up into the cooler regions of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which covers more than 8,000 square kilometres and includes Ngorongoro Crater, Ndutu, Olduvai Gorge, Empakaai and Olmoti Craters, and Oldoinyo Lengai Mountain.
The spectacular Ngorongoro Crater is the main feature of this area. Around 3 million years ago, a volcano (estimated to be larger than Kilimanjaro) exploded and collapsed in on itself, forming what is technically known as a caldera. It created a unique ecosystem with a wide variety of habitats and potable water. Today, Ngorongoro Crater is home to some of the densest large mammal populations in Africa. The crater also offers the best chance of seeing the endangered black rhino.
After a game drive inside the crater, you will transit through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to the Serengeti, entering at the southern edge of the park. Dinner and overnight will be in the Central Serengeti.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | All drinks included
Day 4: Serengeti to Karatu
The Serengeti is truly spectacular – famous for its vast open grasslands which allow for excellent sightings of wildlife. The Serengeti’s climate and vegetation have remained largely untouched for millions of years.
Whilst it boasts abundant wildlife, it is perhaps best known for the annual Great Migration. Vast numbers of wildebeest, accompanied by large numbers of zebra and antelope, move in an annual pattern, constantly seeking fresh grazing. The migration can be found during any given month – you just need to know where to look. In addition to the iconic landscapes, you have a good chance of encountering predators, and you may see lion, cheetah, and leopard. It is a truly life-changing experience.
In the afternoon, you will start your journey back to Karatu, hopefully enjoying more wonder along the way.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | All drinks included
Day 5: Lake Manyara National Park – Return to Arusha
After breakfast, you will drive to Lake Manyara National Park, a small but diverse park 120 kilometres west of Arusha. Manyara will be the last park you visit on your luxury safari. Everything you will see here is on a different scale – it is both compact (one of the narrowest parks in Africa) and epic (the Great Rift Escarpment towers over Lake Manyara’s western boundary).
The park’s namesake is a shallow salt lake that covers a large area, flooding and drying with the seasons. It is home to thousands of wading birds, including flamingos and over 500 other bird species. You may see baboon and elephant in the park’s thick evergreen forest, and watch for the tree-climbing lions that have become famous throughout Africa.
Enjoy a picnic lunch inside the park. After your game drive, you will be dropped off at a place of your choosing – Arusha, Kilimanjaro International Airport, or Arusha Airport.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch | Drinking water included
End Of Safari
Inclusions
Airport transfers (Kilimanjaro International Airport – Arusha – Kilimanjaro International Airport)
All national park entry fees and conservation fees
Ngorongoro Crater service fees
All game drives as described in the itinerary
Private 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof for optimal game viewing
Professional English-speaking driver-guide
All meals as indicated (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
All drinks as indicated (premium wines and liquors may be excluded)
Accommodation as described in the itinerary (luxury)
Exclusions
International flights
Tanzania visa fees
Travel and medical insurance
Tips and gratuities for driver-guide and lodge staff (suggested $15 per person per day)
Personal expenses (souvenirs, laundry, phone calls, etc.)
Optional safari activities:
Balloon Safari
Maasai Village Visit
Night Game Drive
Ngorongoro Crater Rim Walk
Olduvai Gorge and Museum Visit
