6 days, private, starts and ends in Arusha
Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Serengeti & Endoro
An extra day changes the whole feel of a safari. With two full days in the Serengeti you can go out at sunrise, rest at camp through the midday heat, and head out again for the late light.
We finish at Endoro, on the forested slopes below Ngorongoro, with a guided walk. After days in a vehicle, getting out on foot makes a good end to the trip.
Times and drives are approximate. Your guide adjusts each day to the weather, the wildlife and you.
Pick-up at 8:00 and a two-hour drive west to Lake Manyara, passing through the busy market town of Mto wa Mbu. The park begins in groundwater forest, green and shady even in the dry months, with baboon troops, blue monkeys and elephants moving through the trees. The forest opens up to the lakeshore, where hippos wallow, buffalo graze and flamingos and pelicans work the shallows. We picnic at the hippo pool, spend the afternoon on game drives, and in the evening climb the escarpment to Karatu.
Through the Ngorongoro highlands, with a stop at the crater viewpoint, and down onto the Serengeti plains. We picnic at Naabi Hill gate and game-drive to Seronera in the afternoon. There’s a good chance of cheetah on the short grass and lion on the kopjes.
The first of two full Serengeti days. We leave camp at first light, when the animals are most active and the plains glow gold. Your guide follows the latest sightings: leopards along the Seronera River, lions on the kopjes, elephants in the woodland. You return to camp for lunch and a rest through the midday heat, which is also a good time for a nap, a book, or watching the birds around camp. The afternoon drive runs until dusk.
With a second full day we can go further afield: the Gol kopjes for cheetah, the Moru kopjes for its Maasai rock art and quieter tracks, or wherever the migration herds are if they’re within reach. We take a full picnic and make a day of it. The pace is slower today, and many guests say this is the day the Serengeti really made sense to them.
An early drive back to the highlands and down into the Ngorongoro Crater. Black rhino, lions, hyenas, buffalo, hippos and flamingos all share the crater floor. After lunch at the Ngoitokitok springs we climb out and head for Endoro, a quiet corner of forest on the crater’s lower slopes, near Karatu, where elephants still move through the trees.
After days in a vehicle, this morning is on foot. A local guide leads you through the Endoro forest to a waterfall, and along the way you may see the caves elephants have dug into the hillside with their tusks, searching for salt. It’s a gentle walk of two to three hours, with plenty of birds and butterflies. After lunch we drive back to Arusha, arriving by late afternoon.
We quote per person, based on your group size, season and accommodation level. Send an enquiry and you’ll have a full price within 24 hours. There’s nothing to pay until you confirm.
Most days start between 6:00 and 6:30, because the first hours after sunrise have the best light and the most active animals and birds. We usually take a picnic lunch in the park or return to camp for a midday rest, then head out again in the late afternoon. Parks close at sunset, so evenings are at the lodge.
Yes. Every trip is private, so we can add days, swap parks, change the accommodation level or slow the pace. Tell us what you’d like, and we’ll send a revised plan and price.
A 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for viewing and photography, charging points and a window seat for everyone. The vehicle and guide are yours alone for the whole trip.
Send an enquiry and we’ll reply within 24 hours with a tailored itinerary and a full quote. Once you’re happy, we take a deposit to confirm, with the balance due before you travel. We’ll give you the exact terms in writing.
Just tell us. Lodges and our camp cooks regularly cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and other diets.
2daysTwo days is enough for a real safari if you pick the right parks.
3daysThe Serengeti is a long drive from Arusha, so on a three-day trip we suggest flying in.
5daysIf people ask us for the classic Tanzania safari, this is usually what they mean: all four northern-circuit parks, a lodge every night, and enough days in the Serengeti to settle into it.
Tell us your dates and the birds or animals you most want to see. We’ll reply within 24 hours with a route and a full quote.
