On this 5-day camping safari, you will visit Lake Manyara National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and a large section of the Serengeti National Park. The sight of one hundred thousand wildebeests and zebras crossing the grassland savannah is something to behold and is surely one of Africa’s natural wonders. However, no matter what time of year you decide to visit, the wildlife watching is superb.
Day 1 Arusha – Lake Manyara National Park
In the morning, we will collect you from your hotel and drive you to the Lake Manyara National Park. The park is situated between the Rift Valley Escarpment and the dusty Masai Steppe. On the western side is a forest and the alkaline Manyara Lake, which covers the largest area of the park. The park was established in 1960 to give the elephants, giraffes, buffalos, antelopes and gazelles a protected habitat. The Lake Manyara National Park is also home to the tree-climbing lions – tree climbing is a trait in Tanzania not normally found amongst big cats and it is quite a sight to see. Upon entering the park, your driver will open the vehicle roof and you can start observing the wildlife. Late in the afternoon, you will leave the park and camp at a nearby campsite. Lunch; Dinner
Day 2 Lake Manyara National Park – Serengeti National Park
After breakfast, the safari tour makes its way to the fertile crater highlands where the Iraqw people grow wheat, corn and coffee. At midday, you will reach the plains of the Serengeti National Park. This national park is the second largest park in Africa (largest in Tanzania) and is about the same size as Hawaii. The southern part is dominated by grassland and is therefore good hunting ground for cheetahs, while to the North and West a hillier tree savannah landscape dominates. The Serengeti is famous for the Tanzania migration of up to one million wildebeests and two hundred thousand zebras. This migration is known as the “Great Migration” and each year, this natural spectacle is guaranteed. This impressive migration sets the Serengeti aside as a unique place to watch and observe wildlife. You will camp for the night at a campsite in the Seronera region (central Serengeti). Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Day 3 Serengeti National Park
The whole day is devoted to observe the wildlife in the Serengeti National Park. The areas that you will visit depend upon the location of the herds. Generally, the herds of wildebeests and zebras tend to be found moving from the hills in the North to the plains in the South during the short rain season of October to November. They return slowly during the longer rain season in April, May and June. The fluctuation in annual rainfall can affect the animal’s location from year to year; however, your guide will know the exact location of the animals and the best vantage spots. A stop at the Visitor Centre of the Serengeti National Park is also possible but only with advanced notification (best at the time of booking). A staff member from the Frankfurter Zoologischen Gesellschaft (Frankfurt zoological society) will meet you at the centre and tell you about their work in the Serengeti, their current researches, what it entails and the reason behind it. You will camp the night at a campsite in the Seronera region. Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Day 4 Serengeti National Park – Ngorongoro Conservation Area
After breakfast, you will continue your tour through the Serengeti National Park. In the Seronera Valley, you can observe wildebeests and zebras as well as lions and other big cats such as leopards and cheetahs. After lunch at a picnic place, you will slowly drive in the direction of the Ngorongoro Crater. On the way, you will pass the Oldupai Gorge that became world known due to the archaeological work of the English research couple Leaky. In the sixties, they found the oldest remains of prehistoric man here and in a small museum nearby their work is documented (a visit is optional). As soon as the crater’s edge is reached, you will have a superb view into the caldera. Your campsite for the night will be on the crater’s rim and you will be able to enjoy this once in a lifetime view as the sun sets. Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Day 5 Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Arusha
After an early breakfast at daybreak, you will drive down into the crater. The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest unbroken caldera in the world and fascinates with unbelievable wildlife diversity. On the grass steppe and in the acacia tree woods, you will find almost all species that are found in the East African savannah; with the exception of topis, Masai giraffes and impalas. Quite often, you can observe the “Big Five” (lions, elephants, buffalos, rhinoceros and leopards) within a couple of hours. After an extensive wildlife tour and a picnic for lunch, you will leave the caldera in the afternoon and drive back to Arusha. Breakfast; Lunch
