5-Day Northern Parks Explorer: Tarangire, Manyara & Ngorongoro

Upon arrival in Arusha, you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel where you can relax after your journey. Depending on arrival time, you may choose to explore the town’s local markets, cultural spots, or simply prepare for the adventure that begins tomorrow. The evening sets the tone for your wildlife experience under the stars.

This morning, head to Tarangire National Park for your first game drive among iconic African scenery. Known for its huge elephant populations and towering baobab trees, Tarangire’s grasslands and riverine environment support abundant wildlife including giraffes, wildebeest, zebras, and buffalo. Enjoy a scenic bush lunch before continuing your safari explorations until sunset, followed by dinner at your nearby lodge.

After breakfast, make your way to Lake Manyara National Park, a compact but diverse reserve where water buffalo graze the floodplains and more than 400 species of birds find habitat. The forested slopes and open plains offer chances to see antelope, elephants, and the park’s famous tree-climbing lions. A picnic lunch among this varied landscape enhances your safari experience before you retire for the evening near the park’s edge.

Today’s highlight is a full game drive within the extraordinary Ngorongoro Crater, a World Heritage site and one of the world’s largest unbroken volcanic calderas. The crater floor teems with wildlife year-round and offers excellent opportunities to see black rhino, elephants, lions, zebras, and more against breathtaking crater walls. After hours of exploration and a picnic lunch in the wild, ascend to your lodge for a relaxed final evening.

On your final morning, enjoy breakfast and a leisurely transfer back to Arusha. Depending on your departure schedule, you might have time for a last visit to local markets or cafés before you are dropped at the airport for your onward journey, concluding your unforgettable northern Tanzania safari.