The Serengeti & Ngorongoro Signature Safari

Tanzania offers a magical nature for all ages, from climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to game drives in the national parks. In the beautiful northern circuit, you can see the massive herds of elephants in Tarangire National Park; flocks of water birds in Manyara National Park; the beautiful black-maned lions of Ngorongoro, and the huge herds of wildebeest in Serengeti.

Zanzibar, the beautiful island in the Indian Ocean, is the perfect place to end an exciting safari – whether you choose to relax on the white sand, swim in the blue, clear water, or tour the island.

• AREA OF TOURING: The northern cirque of Tanzania, Zanzibar Island
• BEST TIME TO VISIT: All year
• MAIN ATTRACTIONS: Serengeti, visiting the tribes, relaxing in Zanzibar
• WEAR: Shorts and T-shirts during the day, light long sleeves during the night, swimsuit

Day 1. Kilimanjaro International Airport – Lake Manyara National Park

As soon as you step out of Arusha International Airport terminal, you will be greeted by your guide and start your  journey to your first safari in Tanzania: Lake Manyara Park. Located beneath the cliffs of the Manyara Escarpment, on the edge of the Rift Valley, Lake Manyara National Park offers varied ecosystems, incredible bird life, and breathtaking views.

In contrast with the intimacy of the forest is the grassy floodplain, across the alkaline lake, to the jagged blue volcanic peaks that rise from the endless Maasai Steppes. Large buffalo, wildebeest, and zebra herds congregate on these grassy plains, and so do the giraffes. Squadrons of banded mongoose dart between the acacias, whereas the diminutive Kirk’s dik-dik forages in their shade. Manyara provides the perfect introduction to Tanzania’s birdlife. More than 400 species have been recorded, and any visitor to Africa might reasonably expect to observe 100 of these in one day.

Overnight – dinner and breakfast at Lake Manyara Escarpment Luxury Lodge

Day 2. Ngorongoro Crater – Maasai Tribe – Ndutu

After breakfast, we will make our way to the gate of Ngorongoro. You then enter the conservation area of Ngorongoro and descend 600m into this magnificent crater for a morning, half-day game drive.

The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest unbroken ancient volcanic caldera in the world. In 1979, this nearly three million year old area was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The former volcano crater is also considered to be “Africa’s Garden of Eden”, as it is a haven for thousands of wild game, including lions, elephants, wildebeests, zebras, rhinos, Thomson’s gazelles, and buffaloes. The crater is among the 8 Natural Wonders of the World. The crater is one of the most densely crowded African wildlife areas in the world and is home to an estimated 30,000 animals, including some of Tanzania’s last remaining black rhino. Supported by a year-round water supply and fodder, the Ngorongoro Crater supports a wide variety of animals, which include herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo, and giant African elephants.

You will enjoy a picnic lunch in the crater, after which you will climb out of the crater and travel to Ndutu, where you will spend the night.
Going through Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you will have the opportunity to visit Manyata, a village of the Maasai Tribe, and get an insight into their unique customs and their everyday life.

The Maasai tribe lives in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. They are known for their welcome dance, where the men sing and jump as high as possible with straight legs, to show how fit they are. The women stand at the side, singing with the men and doing a special dance for women only.

The Maasai believe that all the cows in the world belong to them and were given to them by god. The wealth of a family is measured by the number of cows they own. The Maasai tribe lives in villages (Manyata), and each woman builds a small house (Boma) for her family. The Boma’s structure is made of wood, and it is covered by a mixture of mud, wood, sticks, grass, cow dung, human urine, and ash. Traditionally, men wear sheets that are wrapped around the body. Usually, the main color is red, but you can see some blue color and a plaid pattern. Men and women are wearing ornaments made of colorful beads.

Overnight – dinner and breakfast – Ngorongoro Serena Lodge

Day 3-4. Ndutu – Serengeti

Serengeti National Park is the star of many nature documentary films. The great migration of the wildebeest brings thousands of tourists.
Serengeti National Park is undoubtedly the best-known wildlife sanctuary in the world, and it has the greatest concentration of plains game in Africa. Established in 1952, it is home to the great migration of wildebeest and zebra. The resident population of lions, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, and birds is also impressive. The Park can be divided into 3 sections:

• The southern/central part (Seronera Valley) has its classic savannah, dotted with acacias and filled with wildlife.
• The western corridor is marked by the Grumeti River and has more forests and dense bush.
• The north, which meets up with Kenya’s Maasai Mara Reserve, is the least visited section.

It is the migration for which Serengeti is perhaps most famous – over a million wildebeest and about 200,000 zebras flow south from the northern hills to the Ndutu plains for the short rains every October and November, and then swirl west and north after the long rains in April, May, and June.
During the months of July-September, the herds will cross the Mara River again and again in search of fresh grass. They will have to face the mighty crocodiles in the river, which are waiting quietly in the water for their opportunity.
Serengeti is also known as the “endless plains” in the Maasai language. This will be your area of exploration for the following two days. You will have the opportunity to discover this fascinating area and its wild inhabitants, driving through the vast Serengeti Plains.

Overnight – dinner and breakfast – Serengeti Serena Lodge

Day 5-7. Serengeti National Park – Zanzibar Island

This is our last day of safari, and we will start it early, after breakfast, to enjoy the morning hours with the waking herds. We will say goodbye to our guide and departure to Zanzibar. For the next 2 nights, you will enjoy the white beaches of the island, the clear blue water of the ocean, and the warm hospitality of the people of Zanzibar.
Overnight – Essque Zalu Zanzibar Hotel

Day 8. Zanzibar – Departure back home

After breakfast, take a last tour in Zanzibar before heading to the airport for your flight back home.

 

 

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INCLUDED

• Full board (breakfast, lunch & dinner) accommodation while on safari
• Transfers to and from the airport
• All game drives are conducted in a custom-built 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser
• All parks entrance fees
• Transportation with a 4×4 vehicle with a viewing roof
• Professional English/ Spanish/German/ French speaking driver-guide during the safari
• Bottled safe drinking water in safari vehicles
• Ngorongoro Crater car supplement fee (if any)
• Current Government taxes and levies
• 24-Hour support during the safari from our office in Arusha

NOT INCLUDED

• Internal or International flights
• Balloon and/or additional excursions while you are in Tanzania
• Out-of-full board service at the hotel, including body massage, hotel excursions, bar & laundry services
• All-Terrain-Vehicle (Quad-bike) adventure
• Entry visa to Tanzania
• Travel and health insurance
• TIPS to your guide, hotel staff, and porters
• Meals, drinks, and excursions not described in the itinerary
• Items of a personal nature, laundry, telephone, and postage

Flight links are available between Arusha/ Manyara and Serengeti. A holiday/ relaxation in the Zanzibar Islands/ Mafia can be arranged. A flight from Arusha after your safari or Mt. Kilimanjaro climb to Zanzibar is recommended

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Frequently Asked Questions