Arusha – Tarangire – Karatu – Northern Serengeti – Ngorongoro – Arusha
Day 1: Arrival & Wildlife Adventure in Tarangire
Arusha → Tarangire National Park (2.5-hour drive)
- Morning: Depart from Arusha to Tarangire National Park, home to huge elephant herds and ancient baobab trees.
- Midday: Enjoy a picnic lunch while spotting giraffes, zebras, and lions near the Tarangire River.
- Afternoon: Continue game drives, track predators, and watch elephants at waterholes.
- Evening: Drive to Karatu overnight at a scenic lodge near the Ngorongoro Highlands.
Accommodation: Acacia Farm Lodge / Marera Valley Lodge
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 2: Scenic Drive to Northern Serengeti – The Land of the Migration
Karatu → Northern Serengeti (7-hour scenic drive with stops)
- Morning: After breakfast, depart from Karatu and journey through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
- Midday: Stop at Naabi Hill Gate for a picnic lunch and enter Serengeti National Park.
- Afternoon: Continue north towards the Mara River, where over 1.5 million wildebeests gather for the famous river crossings in July.
- Evening: Arrive at your luxury lodge or tented camp near the river and relax under the Serengeti sky.
Accommodation: Mara Under Canvas / Migration Tented Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Full-Day Game Drive – Witness the Great Migration River Crossings
Northern Serengeti – Mara River Crossings
- Morning: Early game drive along the Mara River, waiting for thousands of wildebeests and zebras to brave the crocodile-infested waters.
- Midday: Enjoy a picnic lunch while observing herds gathering and listening to the distant roars of lions.
- Afternoon: Continue exploring the plains, tracking big cats that hunt near the migration path.
- Evening: Return to your camp for sundowners and a bonfire under the stars.
Accommodation: Mara Under Canvas / Migration Tented Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Serengeti to Ngorongoro via Karatu
Northern Serengeti → Karatu → Ngorongoro (7-hour scenic drive with stopover)
- Morning: Enjoy a final sunrise game drive in the Northern Serengeti before heading south.
- Midday: Stop in Karatu for lunch at a coffee plantation, where you can tour Tanzanian coffee farms.
- Afternoon: Continue to the Ngorongoro Crater, arriving at your lodge on the crater rim.
- Evening: Relax and watch the sunset over Ngorongoro Highlands.
Accommodation: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge / Rhino Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater Safari & Return to Arusha
Ngorongoro → Arusha (3.5-hour drive)
- Morning: Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, a wildlife haven home to the Big Five (lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, and leopard).
- Midday: Enjoy a picnic lunch near the Hippo Pool surrounded by stunning crater landscapes.
- Afternoon: Exit the crater and drive back to Arusha, arriving in the evening.
- Evening: Transfer to your hotel or Kilimanjaro International Airport for departure.
Accommodation: None (unless extending stay in Arusha)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch