Safari
Arusha, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Olduvai Gorge, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, Arusha
your journey
Six days lets you see all four of the best-known northern parks with time to enjoy them. After Lake Manyara you cross the highlands, with the chance of a Maasai visit, to two nights at Serengeti Heritage Luxury Camp and a full day on the plains.
Heading back, you visit Olduvai Gorge and sleep at Rhino Lodge on the Ngorongoro Crater rim, spend a full day on the crater floor, and finish with a game drive in Tarangire before returning to Arusha. The nights near Karatu are at Octagon Lodge.
First-time visitors who want the full northern circuit in under a week, with a tented camp in the Serengeti and comfortable lodges elsewhere.
Parks visited
Lake Manyara National Park · Serengeti National Park · Ngorongoro Crater · Tarangire National Park
what makes it special
day by day
Your driver-guide collects you from your Arusha hotel at about 9 am and you drive to Lake Manyara National Park in a 4WD safari vehicle. The game drive takes you through forest, open grassland, wetlands and down to the soda lake. Lake Manyara is home to elephant, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, hippo, wildebeest and warthog, and to a great variety of birds. It is also known for its tree-climbing lions, though sightings are never certain. You continue to your lodge for dinner.
After an early breakfast you can visit a Maasai community to learn about their pastoral way of life and daily routines. You then cross the Ngorongoro Conservation Area towards Serengeti National Park, game-driving along the way and stopping for a picnic lunch. By late afternoon you are on the Serengeti plains, heading for your tented camp for dinner and the night.
You begin with an early game drive, when wildlife is often active and the light is good for photography, then return to camp for breakfast. Afterwards you head out again for a full day on the Serengeti plains. Your guide looks for lion, elephant, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, cheetah and, with luck, leopard, and depending on the season and where the herds are, you may see part of the great migration. You return to camp in the evening.
After breakfast you game-drive out of the Serengeti towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. On the way you visit Olduvai Gorge, an archaeological and palaeoanthropological site linked to some of the earliest evidence of human evolution in East Africa. From there you climb into the highlands and up to the Ngorongoro Crater rim, where the air is cooler, for dinner and the night at your lodge.
After an early breakfast you descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a full day of game driving. The crater's enclosed ecosystem holds a high concentration of wildlife, and you may see lion, elephant, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest and hippo. It is also one of the best places in Tanzania to look for the endangered black rhino, though sightings are never certain. You have a picnic lunch on the crater floor, then climb out and drive to your lodge.
After breakfast you drive to Tarangire National Park for a final game drive. Tarangire is known for its large elephant herds, its baobab trees and the wildlife that gathers along the Tarangire River in the dry season. You may see elephant, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, antelope and many birds. After the game drive you begin the journey back to Arusha, arriving in the late afternoon or evening depending on road and park conditions.
the price
| Season | Months | 2 people | 4 people | 6 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low season | April – May, November | $1,940 | $1,690 | $1,540 |
| High season | June – October, December – March | $2,160 | $1,880 | $1,710 |
before you ask
You can go on safari here all year. The dry season from June to October is the easiest time for game viewing, because animals gather near rivers and the grass is short, but it is also the busiest. From November to May the parks are green, quieter and excellent for birds, with short rains around November and the long rains in April and May. Where the wildebeest migration is depends on the month, so tell us your dates and we will plan the route around them.
Our safaris use 4x4 safari vehicles with a pop-up roof, so you can stand up for game viewing and photography. On a private safari the vehicle and driver-guide are yours alone for the whole trip.
Each tour page lists exactly what is included and excluded. On our northern circuit safaris, such as the 7-day Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire trip, national park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area entrance fees are included. If you are not sure, ask your specialist before you book.
Yes. Every itinerary on this site is a starting point. We can add or remove days, swap parks, or change the accommodation to suit your budget, and your specialist will send you a revised plan and quote.
Bring light, neutral-coloured clothes, a warm layer for early mornings and for the Ngorongoro Crater rim, which is cold at night, comfortable shoes, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and insect repellent. Binoculars and a camera with spare batteries and memory cards make a big difference. Soft bags pack into safari vehicles more easily than hard suitcases.
Most visitors need a visa. Apply online in good time through the official Tanzania Immigration website at eservices.immigration.go.tz, and do not use unofficial agents. Your passport should be valid for at least six months after arrival. Requirements differ by nationality, so check the official site for your country.
Tips are not included and are always your choice. As a guide, many travellers give their driver-guide about US$20–25 a day per group. Most lodges also have a staff tip box at reception for the rest of the team.
Prices are per person in US dollars, for 2, 4 or 6 travellers sharing the vehicle and rooms or tents, with a lower rate in the low season. The more of you travel together, the less each person pays. Travelling alone or in a bigger group? Ask us for a quote.
Yes. Lodges and camps charge extra for a room of your own, so solo travellers pay a single supplement on top of the per-person price, and the vehicle cost is not shared. Ask us for a solo quote.
Enquire
Every AAA Express Adventure trip can be changed to suit you: the pace, the lodges, the number of days. Tell us your dates and who is travelling, and our team in Arusha will come back to you with a plan and a price.
Your journey
From $1,540 Per person, sharing. Sample price for this proposal; confirm with AAA.
6 days · 5 nights
also consider
7 days · 6 nights
Arusha National Park · Lake Manyara National Park · Serengeti National Park · Ngorongoro Crater · Tarangire National Park
From $1,220
5 days · 4 nights
Lake Manyara National Park · Serengeti National Park · Ngorongoro Crater
From $1,300
4 days · 3 nights
Tarangire National Park · Serengeti National Park · Ngorongoro Crater
From $1,020
karibu
Call us on +255 784 281316, email sales@aaaexpressadventure.com or send an enquiry. Our team in Arusha will get back to you.
From $1,540
Plan your trip
Enquiry about: 6-Day Tented Camp Safari: Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire
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