Your adventure begins with an early morning departure from Arusha, journeying towards Tarangire National Park. Known for its impressive herds of elephants and towering baobab trees, Tarangire offers the perfect start to your safari. Spend the day exploring this picturesque park on a game drive, with opportunities to see elephants, zebras, lions, leopards, and other wildlife as they move through the grasslands and swamps. Tarangire is also a birding paradise, with over 550 species inhabiting the park.
After a day filled with wildlife sightings, enjoy a picnic lunch at a scenic spot within the park. As the day ends, exit Tarangire and head towards your lodge in Karatu for an overnight stay, where you can relax and enjoy the serene surroundings.
Following breakfast, depart from Karatu for the iconic Serengeti National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its vast, open plains and legendary wildlife. The drive to Serengeti takes you through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, offering stunning views along the way. Upon arrival, begin your game drive across the Serengeti’s rich landscapes, home to the “Big Five”—lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalos—as well as cheetahs, giraffes, and countless other species.
Pause midday for a picnic lunch before continuing your game drive through the Serengeti’s sweeping savannas and kopjes (rocky outcrops), which serve as lookout points for predators. After a thrilling day of exploration, head to your lodge or camp within the Serengeti for a night under the African sky, surrounded by the sounds of nature.
Today, set off for a full day in the Serengeti, maximizing your wildlife encounters in this iconic park. The Serengeti is famed for its part in the Great Migration, so if your timing aligns, you may witness large herds of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles moving across the plains. Early morning game drives are especially rewarding, as many animals are most active at dawn. Throughout the day, keep a lookout for predators on the hunt, graceful giraffes browsing treetops, and diverse birdlife dotting the landscape.
After a packed day of exploration, begin your drive towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in the afternoon. Arrive at your lodge or camp near the crater rim, where you’ll spend the night preparing for tomorrow’s crater adventure.
After an early breakfast, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, a world-renowned natural wonder teeming with wildlife. The crater floor is one of Africa’s richest ecosystems, home to elephants, rhinos, lions, hyenas, hippos, and countless other species. Enjoy a half-day game drive within the crater, exploring its varied landscapes, from open savannas to the Lerai Forest and Lake Magadi, where flamingos gather.
Take a break for a picnic lunch at a designated spot within the crater, soaking in the scenic views and abundant wildlife. As your crater exploration concludes, ascend and begin your return journey to Arusha. Arrive back in Arusha by late afternoon, where you’ll be dropped off at your hotel or airport, marking the end of an unforgettable 4-day safari.
