6 Days Tanzania trip

1. Tarangire National Park
2. Lake Manyara National Park
3. The Great Rift Valley
4. Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area
5. Serengeti National Park

Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire National Park

This affordable 6 days Tanzania trip starts with pickup in Arusha, Tanzania’s safari capital located at the foot of Mount Meru.

The small group safari begins with a short tour briefing in the morning before departing from Arusha, a gateway to the Northern Tanzania Safari Circuit.

We travel southwest to the Tarangire National Park, our first safari destination on the Northern Tanzania Circuit. Tarangire Park is one of East Africa’s best places to see elephants up close, hosting about 4000 elephants. Wildlife includes Maasai giraffes, buffalos, lions, leopards, baboons and a variety of antelopes and gazelle species. This diverse Tanzanian park covers 2600 km² of diverse habitats, ranging from grassy savannahs and seasonal marshlands to woodlands and giant old baobab trees.

Dinner and overnight

• Meals Included: Lunch; Dinner

Day 2: Tarangire National Park

On day two we continue exploring Tarangire National Park on game viewing drives.

The Tarangire River is the only permanent water source in the park, during the dry season (July to October), attracting numerous animals to its banks. Herds of buffalo and wildebeests, as well as elephants, are frequently sighted along the river. We also keep an eye out for various birds on our game drives, as Tarangire is also home to over 100 bird species.

We overnight at the private camp inside Tarangire again on our second night in Tanzania.

• Meals Included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

Day 3: Tarangire to Lake Manyara National Park & Karatu

Today we move on from Tarangire National Park after breakfast. We travel through culturally diverse Mto Wa Mbu village en route to our next stop, Lake Manyara National Park.

6 Days Tanzania Trip moves to Lake Manyara National Park, encountering animals and birds, and taking in the bush scenery on game viewing drives. The national park is dominated by the Great Rift Lake of Lake Manyara, a shallow alkaline lake attracting numerous water birds. Lake Manyara is best known for the huge seasonal flamingo flocks fringing its shores, along with various other waterfowl.

The national park is also known for its tree-climbing lions, often spotted sleeping in the trees or in the shade below, as well as its big baboon troops. On our game drive, we lookout for elephants, hippos, buffalos, banded mongooses, monkeys, klipspringers, and numerous gazelle and antelope species.

Later in the afternoon, we exit Lake Manyara Park, taking a scenic drive towards the Serengeti and Ngorongoro to the northwest. We travel up the side of the Great Rift Valley to Karatu, stopping to take photographs and admire the breathtaking views over Lake Manyara and the floor of the lush valley.

Tonight we stay at one of the beautifully located Tanganyika Wilderness Adventure Lodges. Set close to a coffee estate about 30 minutes from the entrance gate of the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area, the lodges offer lovely views over the lush crater highlands. If there is time after our arrival we may take a walk in the coffee plantations.

Day 4: Karatu to Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti National Park

Breakfast is served as day breaks before we head into the Ngorongoro Crater.

Descending into the largest unflooded caldera in the world we embark on a game drive in search of the amazing abundance of wildlife found here. The Crater is home to Africa’s Big Five (lions, elephants, buffalos, rhinos, and leopards) and these are frequently sighted over the short space of a few hours. The conservation area is home to over 25 000 larger animals, the highest density of animals inhabiting any one area in Africa.

We stop for a picnic lunch during our game viewing drive in the Crater, ascending the crater walls in the afternoon. Then we drive on to the world-famous Serengeti National Park.

As we travel the southern Serengeti Plains open up before us, en route to our next camp in Tanzania. This scenic journey reveals the vast rolling plains of Serengeti dotted by rocky hills called “Kopjes” (inselbergs). The Serengeti aptly derives its name from “Siringitu”, the Maasai word for endless plain. The plains of the southern Serengeti truly appear to stretch on infinitely, providing prime hunting territory for Africa’s big cats, especially cheetahs.

In the afternoon, we arrive at our private camp in Serengeti Park.

• Meals Included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

Day 5: Serengeti National Park

The whole of day five is spent game viewing on the game-rich plains of Serengeti Park, Tanzania’s premier safari destination.

We explore top areas for sighting wildlife, visit the best viewpoints to get fantastic photos and enjoy the scenic landscapes, teeming with animals. Your knowledgeable guide takes you to areas where wildlife spottings are most likely, ensuring that you get the most out of your game drives.

The Serengeti is most famous for the Wildebeest Migration, one of the world’s most spectacular wildlife phenomena. Witness the awe-inspiring stampede when hundreds of thousands of hooved animals migrate north at the end of the rainy season (April to June). During the minor rainy season (October and November), the herds of grazers migrate back south from the Maasai Mara in Kenya to the Serengeti Plains. Seasonal variations and changes in the rainfall, do however affect the migration times and routes. A visit to the Frankfurt Zoological Institute based in the Serengeti is available by arrangement (optional activity).

Night five is spent at the private Serengeti camp again.

• Meals Included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

Day 6: Serengeti National Park to Arusha or Zanzibar Island

On the last morning of this Tanzania Camping & Lodge Safari, we enjoy a leisurely breakfast, before driving to the Seronera Airstrip.

You take a flight with Coastal Aviation from the airstrip back to Arusha (alternatively fly via Arusha to Zanzibar).

Flying over the renowned Serengeti National Park gives you a new perspective of this vast wilderness area. Keep a lookout for wildebeest, zebra and the occasional lion, cheetah or leopard, roaming the Seronera Valley area below.

• Meals Included: Breakfast; Lunch

6 Days Tanzania Trip Includes:

1. Tented accommodation in 3m x 3m tents
2. Camping equipment – bed with bedding, grass rug, side tables, electric lamps, washing tripod & foldable chairs
3. One toilet & bucket shower per tent
4. Mess tent with mosquito netting, kitchen & cooling facilities (cool box/ fridge)
5. Cook and camp assistants