Tour overview

Excellent 4 days Tanzania lodge safari will include Ngorongoro Crater, the famous Serengeti National park, and Tarangire the place for elephants. The highlight of this short Tanzania safari is The Great Serengeti Wildebeest Migration, the big cats & big 5. The tour will include a visit to one of the Masai villages at Ngorongoro highlands.

Short Tanzania lodge safari Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti offers a chance to see the annual Serengeti Wildebeest Migration during the months of December up to the middle of August & our prices are much affordable.

Included

  • 4 Days private Tanzania lodge
  • safari for 1 to 7 person
  • 4 Days 3 night accommodation and meals as per itinerary
  • All meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner during the safari
  • 1.5 l of mineral water per person per day during game drives
  • Transport and wildlife drives in modified 4 x 4 Land Cruiser with photographic roof hatch (window seat for everybody)
  • Services of a professional & experienced English speaking safari driver guide
  • All wildlife reserve entry fees &concession fees as per Itinerary
  • All game drives as mentioned
  • Government Value added tax VAT

Not Included

  • International flights
  • All items of a personal nature
  • Tip / gratuities for safari guide & lodge staff (please tip separately)
  • Accommodation in Arusha before & after Safari (but can be arranged upon request at extra cost)
  • Travel insurance
  • Visa fee (50 US$ /100 US$ for Americans & Irish Passport Holders- to be paid upon arrival
  • Drinks and beverages in lodges
  • Beach hotel in Zanzibar

Day 1: Arusha – Tarangire National Park

Distance: 139 km

Non – game viewing time: 2 – 3 hrs.

After breakfast t your hotel/lodge in Arusha meet our safari manager & your driver guide for short safari briefing before departing for Tarangire National park via Arusha town for any last minute purchase. The driving is along masai steppe & across many village all the way to Tarangire gate. Tarangire is the fifth largest National park in Tanzania located at the base of the Great East African Rift Valley. The Park runs between lines of Tarangire River & it is made up with high hills & low land dominated by acacia woodlands and huge baobab trees that dwarfing some animal species that comes beneath it.

Tarangire River which runs from north to south of the park and a swamp on the south corner are the permanent source of water in the park saves as refugee’s camp for a large number of animal during the dry season. Another major highlight of this park is the large population of elephants & the three rare species of Great Kudu, Fringed Eared Oryx & the Ash Stalling. You may also expect to spot herds of buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, warthog, hippos, giraffe and a big number of baboons & monkeys.

Predators like lion, leopard, cheetah,jackals & hyena are also inhabit the park. For bird watchers this is the paradise as over 400 bird species where recorded here which includes ostrich, herons, secretary bird & other migratory birds. Late afternoon drive to the lodge via the Great East African Rift Valley for sunset watch then to Marera Valley lodge for dinner & overnight.

Day 2: Tarangire – Serengeti National Park

After breakfast depart for Serengeti National Park the drive is via the beautiful high lying farmland of Karatu all the way to Ngorongoro gate for check in. Then drive up to the Crater view point where you can stop for some nice pictures of the Crater floor from the rim, after drive around & down via Malanja depression to Serengeti plains.

On the way you will visit one of Masai village for some cultural encounter whereby a group of Masai warriors invites you & take you in and around their houses with some stories of their livelihood around this area, you will meet kids & other family member where you can ask questions & take pictures with them. Lastly, they will sing & dance their famous song which involves jumping high, you may join the dancing.

After, drive to the wild rich “Serengeti National Park” with its endless rolling plains, reach Naabi Hills gate for registration, you can have your packed lunch here or further ahead at Kopjes (rocky outcropping) before starting your afternoon game drive into the vast Serengeti plain searching for big cats & the Great Wildebeest Migration (depending on traveling dates). Late afternoon before or during sunset drive to your camp for dinner & overnight.

Overnight at Tented camp in Central Serengeti . All meals included.

Day 3: Serengeti – Ngorongoro Conservation Area

On this day as early as 06:30 hours start with breakfast box and lunch box for an early morning game drive in the vast Serengeti plains with possibilities of spot cat family on the road as they usually spend their morning time on the road avoiding the morning mist. you may also see other nocturnal predators coming back from their long night of hunting or a group of lioness organizing morning ambush.

Break for breakfast in the bush & after drive to where the Wildebeest Migration is packed & spend much time with the herds. (This will depend on traveling dates & if they will be at Central Serengeti) but with or without the Migration of herds Serengeti is still the best place to visit just as much as always. Later in the afternoon start your way to Ngorongoro Conservation Area with en-route game drive, arriving at Rhino Lodge for sunset watch, dinner & overnight.

Overnight at your lodge at Karatu

Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater – Arusha

As early as 6:30 am descent 600 meters into the crater floor for wonderful game viewing. Ngorongoro Crater is referred by many as the 8th nature wonder of the world. Supported by yearly around water supply & fodders, the Crater supports a larger number of animal species which include herds of wildebeest, buffalo, zebra, eland, topi, warthog, hippos, African elephant & the rare species of black rhino.

Another big draw card to this picturesque Crater is its dense population of predators which include lions, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals as well as the ever mysterious leopard which sometimes needs a binoculars eyes to spot. You will visit Lake Magadi larger but shallow alkaline Lake on the Southwest corner of the Crater frequently accommodate hippos & some flocks of flamingos and other aquatic birds. With a bit of luck the ‘Big Five’ can be seen in just one day of game drive in the Ngorongoro Crater, (picnic lunch will be served at the crater floor).

In afternoon drive out & return back to Arusha. If flying the same day we drop you at Kilimanjaro international airport JRO to catch your flight back home (late flight KLM can be the best option as it leaves JRO at 21:30 hours). If staying in Arusha (accommodation can be arranged upon request at extra cost).