Day-by-Day Journey
Witness the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth — over 2 million wildebeest crossing the crocodile-filled Mara River — then descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, the world's largest intact volcanic caldera.
Day 1 — Arusha to Central Serengeti
Your safari begins at 8:00 AM with a pick-up from your hotel in Arusha. The 240 km drive covers approximately 6 hours as you head towards Serengeti National Park — whose name means "endless plains" in the local Maasai language. With an overall area of 14,763 sq km, the Serengeti supports the greatest remaining concentration of plains game in Africa. The Central portion, known as the Seronera area, is one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park, featuring the Seronera River that attracts a representative cross-section of the park's species. Look out for the many lion prides that thrive here, and the dramatic granite Kopjes — massive boulders standing in seas of grass. A picnic lunch is served during the game drive. Dinner and overnight at your accommodation.
Day 2 — Central Serengeti to North Serengeti
You may choose a relaxed breakfast and depart for game drives around 9:00 AM with a packed lunch, or head out at 6:00 AM for an early morning game drive before returning for breakfast. You then depart for the northern part of the park. The en-route game drive through the Kogatende region will offer sightings from resident game. As you approach the north, notice the terrain changing from open grassland to hilly, broken country. The northern region offers a variety of resident game — zebras, topi, gazelle, buffaloes, leopards, and lions. Based on the time of arrival, you will spend time by the Mara River, watching for the famous crossings. Dinner and overnight at your accommodation.
Day 3 — North Serengeti to Central Serengeti
Choose your start: an early 6:00 AM game drive before breakfast, or a relaxed morning departure at 9:00 AM. The four-hour drive back towards the centre offers mild en-route game. The road south from the Mara River valley takes you through hill country, the Lobo area, woodlands, and back into the Seronera terrain. As you re-enter the Seronera region, the hilly terrain gives way to open grasslands. Watch for the many lion prides whose interactions and survival provide excellent game viewing year-round. Picnic lunch during the drive. Dinner and overnight at your accommodation.
Day 4 — Central Serengeti to Ngorongoro
After breakfast, enjoy a morning game drive in Serengeti National Park. Then depart for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area with a picnic lunch. Ngorongoro Crater is the largest collapsed volcanic crater in the world — fourteen kilometres across and sheltering some 30,000 animals within a ring of extinct volcanoes. The floor, dotted with watering holes, supports populations of elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, and the rare Black Rhino. Dinner and overnight at your accommodation on the crater rim.
Day 5 — Ngorongoro Crater (5 Hours) to Arusha
An early start today. After a quick breakfast, descend into the crater floor at around 6:30 AM. The Ngorongoro Crater is the world's largest inactive, intact, and unfilled volcanic caldera — 260 sq km of floor, over 600 metres deep. The 5-hour game drive reveals African elephant, buffalo, Black rhino, hippos, hyenas, cheetahs, and lions in abundance. Keep your camera ready at all times. After a picnic lunch at the beautiful Hippo Pool, you begin the steep ascent to the crater rim. A 4-hour drive returns you to Arusha, with drop-off at your preferred location by 6:00 PM. With incredible memories and a new-found love of Africa, this is where you bid farewell to your team.
Inclusions
- Daily game drives while on safari
- Meals as per itinerary
- Park fees (for Non-Residents)
- All taxes and VAT
- Drinking water while on safari (2 litres per person per day)
- 4×4 Land Cruiser
- Concession / Camping fees
- A professional English-speaking driver / guide
Exclusions
- International flights
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Any activities not mentioned in the itinerary
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Tips (tipping guidelines available on request)
- Airport transfers (unless mentioned otherwise)
- Government-imposed increases of taxes and/or park fees