Day 1. Meet, greet and transfer to Lake Manyara National Park
Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be welcomed by a member from Snowea Wildlife Safaris-Africa, for a transfer drive to Lake Manyara National Park. After lunch, the later afternoon of the day is spent on a game drive around Lake Manyara National Park. With its spectacular setting that offers wilderness experience, the park is famous for shores of the lake Manyara, encrusted with pink flamingo and over 390 different species of other birds (Best option between December and March).
Accommodation: Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge or Morona Hill Lodge
Day 2. Transfer from Lake Manyara NP to Serengeti National Park
After breakfast take a game drive en route to Serengeti National Park, a world heritage site, stopping along the way to watch animals you may encounter. Renowned for its wealth of lions and leopards, the Serengeti is the quintessential safari destination. Derived from the Maasai word ‘sirinetu’ meaning ‘endless plains’, the Serengeti plays host to more than a million wildebeest, 200,000 zebra, and 300,000 Thomson’s gazelle during the annual migration.
Accommodation: Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge or Seronera Wildlife Lodge
Day 3. Serengeti National Park (Full day game drive)
Early morning, head back out for a full day of game drives, examining one of the oldest ecosystems on earth. Little has changed in the Serengeti over the past million or so years, you will still find the renowned plains intermingled with wooded hills, massive termite mounds, rocky kopjes, and acacia tree lined rivers. Depending on the time of year you will be able to witness the Wildebeest Migration (Dec-July), or an abundance of predators (June-Oct). Settle in for an evening under the vast Serengeti sky at Serengeti Halisi Camp.
Accommodation: Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge or Seronera Wildlife Lodge
Day 4: Transfer from Serengeti National Park to Ngorongoro crater region
Take an early morning game drive and return to camp in time for breakfast. Proceed with another game drive until lunch and then head to the Ngorongoro Crater. You may also opt for a visit en-route to Oldupai Gorge. This site provides evidence of the earliest signs of mankind, showcasing hominid footprints preserved in volcanic rock that date far back.
Accommodation: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge or Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge
Day 5: Transfer from Ngorongoro area for departure
Today descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for at least 4hour tour. As the world’s largest caldera (nearly 100 square miles), Ngorongoro boasts over 20,000 large animals, including Tanzania’s remaining black rhino. Living along-side the abundance of wildlife you will find 40,000 Maasai pastoralists with their cattle, goats, and sheep. The conservation gives you a rare look into how people harmoniously lived with nature and wildlife in ancient times. You are dropped off at either Arusha Airport or Kilimanjaro Airport for your onward journey.
Optional accommodation in Arusha as you wait for your flight: Arusha Coffee Lodge