9-Day Tanzania Safari: Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire & Lake Manyara

Arrival in Tanzania

Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), where your Africa Exquisite Tours representative will meet you and transfer you to Masailand Safari Lodge in Arusha. Set on the slopes of Mount Meru, the lodge offers a peaceful setting to rest and prepare for your safari.

In the evening, meet your safari guide for a pre-departure briefing covering the route, wildlife viewing, safety, and what to expect each day.

Tarangire National Park

After breakfast, travel to Tarangire National Park, renowned for its large elephant herds, ancient baobab trees, and seasonal gatherings of wildlife along the Tarangire River. During the dry season, animals concentrate near the river, creating rewarding game-viewing opportunities.

Look for giraffes, zebras, buffalo, lions, and leopards as you explore the park with your guide. In the evening, return to your lodge and enjoy a sundowner while taking in views over the surrounding plains.

Journey to the Serengeti

Today you travel toward the world-famous Serengeti National Park, stopping for lunch along the way. On arrival, begin your first afternoon game drive across the park’s open plains, scattered acacia woodlands, and rocky kopjes.

Depending on the season, you may encounter large herds of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles during the Great Migration. Resident wildlife—including elephants, buffalo, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, and leopards—can be seen throughout the year.

Full Day in the Serengeti

Spend a full day exploring the Serengeti with an early start to make the most of the cooler morning hours, when wildlife is often most active. Your guide will select routes based on recent sightings, seasonal movement, and your interests.

Visit the hippo pools, search for lion prides on the plains, and explore the kopjes—rocky outcrops that provide shelter for predators and other animals. Birdwatchers can look for species such as secretary birds and ostriches, while the open savannah offers outstanding photographic opportunities.

Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Enjoy a final morning game drive in the Serengeti before travelling toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Arrive at the crater rim in the late afternoon, where you can take in sweeping views over one of Africa’s most iconic landscapes.

Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive

After an early breakfast, descend into Ngorongoro Crater for a full-day game drive. The crater’s walls create a natural enclosure for wildlife, offering strong chances to see lions, elephants, buffalo, hippos, and black rhinos.

Enjoy a picnic lunch inside the crater before continuing your exploration. In the late afternoon, ascend to the rim and travel to your camp near Lake Manyara.

Lake Manyara National Park

Today, visit Lake Manyara National Park, a compact but remarkably diverse reserve beneath the walls of the Great Rift Valley. The park combines groundwater forest, open grassland, hot springs, and the shallow soda lake that gives it its name.

Enjoy a picnic lunch in the park and spend the day watching for elephants, hippos, baboons, flamingos, and more than 350 recorded bird species. Lake Manyara is also known for its elusive tree-climbing lions, although sightings can never be guaranteed.

Mto wa Mbu Cultural Experience & Return to Arusha

After breakfast, visit a Maasai boma and explore Mto wa Mbu, a vibrant multicultural village near Lake Manyara. Meet local residents, learn about traditional farming and daily life, and discover crafts such as Makonde woodcarving, tribal painting, and locally made banana products.

In the afternoon, return to Arusha for your final night in Tanzania.

Departure

After breakfast, transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward flight—or continue to another Tanzanian destination, such as Zanzibar or Mount Kilimanjaro.