Safari
Kilimanjaro Airport, Arusha, Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, Leianai, Ilkiepusi, Lake Manyara, Arusha
your journey
This is a budget safari with a difference: instead of spending every day in the vehicle, you swap two days of driving for two days on foot along the Ngorongoro crater rim and into the highlands.
After a night in Arusha, you start with a full day in Tarangire among its elephants and baobabs. Next morning you visit a Maasai boma before descending into the Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive, then camp on the rim. The walking follows: about 15 km along the rim to Leianai, then about 17 km on to Ilkiepusi, with Maasai guides, an armed ranger and donkeys carrying supplies.
The last day is a game drive in Lake Manyara National Park, with its groundwater forest, hippos and birdlife, before you return to Arusha.
Travellers on a budget who want the classic parks but also want to stretch their legs. The two trekking days are long, so you should be comfortable walking 15 to 17 km over hilly ground.
Parks visited
Tarangire National Park · Ngorongoro Crater · Lake Manyara National Park · Empakai & Olmoti Craters
what makes it special
day by day
We meet you at Kilimanjaro International Airport and drive you to Arusha, the starting point for most safaris and treks in northern Tanzania. After checking in at your hotel you have the rest of the day to rest after your flight and get ready for the week ahead. Your guide will go through the plan with you and answer any questions about the walking days.
After breakfast you drive from Arusha to Tarangire National Park for a full day of game driving with a picnic lunch. Tarangire is known for its big elephant herds and ancient baobab trees. Depending on the season, you may also see giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes and many kinds of antelope. In the late afternoon you leave the park and drive on to your campsite for the night.
You start the day with a visit to a traditional Maasai boma to learn about Maasai life and customs, then drive up to the Ngorongoro Crater and descend to the floor for a game drive. The crater holds a remarkable concentration of wildlife: lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest and, with some luck, black rhino, with flamingos around the soda lake and wetlands. Afterwards you climb back to the rim.
After breakfast you begin walking along the Ngorongoro crater rim with your Maasai guides and an armed ranger, while donkeys carry supplies. The trail passes through highland forest and open ground, with wide views across the crater, and gives you a completely different picture of the conservation area from the one you see from a vehicle. After about 15 km you reach your bush camp for dinner.
Today you walk about 17 km from Leianai to Ilkiepusi, through highland country well away from the main safari roads. Depending on conditions, you may meet giraffes, zebras and wildebeest along the way, as well as plenty of birds, and there are wide views back over the highlands and the crater landscape. You arrive at your bush camp in the afternoon for dinner and a well-earned rest.
After breakfast you leave the highlands and drive down to Lake Manyara National Park for a game drive. The park combines groundwater forest, open plains, wetlands and the alkaline lake, and you may see elephants, hippos, giraffes, buffaloes, impalas and many birds. Lake Manyara is also known for tree-climbing lions, although sightings are never certain. In the afternoon you drive back to Arusha.
the price
Price on request
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.
They are long rather than technical: about 15 km on Day 4 and 17 km on Day 5, on highland paths, forest and crater-rim ground. You do not need climbing experience, but you should be used to walking all day over uneven, hilly terrain, and comfortable boots are essential.
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
Price on request
6 days · 5 nights
also consider
7 days · 6 nights
Tarangire National Park · Serengeti National Park · Ngorongoro Crater · Empakai & Olmoti Craters
Price on request
8 days · 7 nights
Tarangire National Park · Ngorongoro Crater · Serengeti National Park · Lake Manyara National Park
Price on request
10 days · 9 nights
Tarangire National Park · Ngorongoro Crater · Serengeti National Park · Lake Natron & Ol Doinyo Lengai · Empakai & Olmoti Craters
Price on request
karibu
Call us on +255 784 281316, email sales@aaaexpressadventure.com or send an enquiry. Our team in Arusha will get back to you.
Price on request
Plan your trip
Enquiry about: 6-Day Ngorongoro Crater Rim Trek with Tarangire and Lake Manyara
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