This 6-day midrange safari on the northern circuit of Tanzania, takes you to the most famous and incredible parks whereby you will visit all major parks which are Tarangire, Serengeti, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro. In Tarangire, you will be astonished by the large African elephants as well as the huge and ancient baobab trees. Ngorogoro crater will be the icing on the cake and the best place to visit the endangered black rhinos and Lake Manyara National Park which is famous for the tree climbing lions and the birds’ population. You will sleep in midrange lodges with private showers.

DAY 1: ARRIVAL AT THE AIRPORT TO ARUSHA

Upon arrival at the airport in Arusha (ARK) or Kilimanjaro international airport (JRO), you will be met and welcomed by your representative from Gardenia African Safaris who will give you a short brief before you drive to your lodgings in Arusha for overnight.

Destination: Arusha city

Accommodation: Arusha Planet Lodge / A1 Hotel & Resort / Tulia Boutique Hotel & Spa 

Meal: Bed & Breakfast

DAY 2: ARUSHA TO TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK

Early morning after having breakfast at your hotel in Arusha at around 0730hrs to 0800hrs you will be picked up by your personal driver guide and depart straight to Tarangire National Park whereby the drive is approximately 2.5 hours to the gate. Tarangire National Park is located on the northern part of Tanzania with a wide variety of animals and landscape whereby the best part is the elephant herds. It is known to be the park which has the greatest concentration of African elephants and the ancient baobab trees. Tarangire has an area of approximately 2603 square Kilometers and within the park it is possible to see plenty of animals like the giraffes, Zebras, Buffalos, warthogs, Lions, Leopards, Impala, gazelles, dik dik and many more species. In this park, there are more than 500 birds’ species like the bee eaters, swallows, ostriches, kori bustards, hammerkops, vultures etc. The word Tarangire comes from Mbugwe tribe whereby “Tara” means river and “Ngire” means warthogs therefore it is the river of warthogs. The Tarangire river is the life giving opportunity for both herbivores and carnivores and it is the best spot for the lions to hunt their prey as they search for water especially during the dry season. Lunch will be served at a picnic site at around 1200hrs to 1300hrs and after that you will proceed with your game drive until in the late afternoon where you will exit the park and drive straight to your lodge in Karatu for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Destination: Tarangire National Park

Accommodation:  Marera Valley Lodge / Farm of Dreams Lodge / Bougainvillea Safari Lodge

Meal: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

DAY 3: KARATU TO SOUTHERN SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK (NDUTU)

Early morning after breakfast, you will drive to the south of Serengeti known as Ndutu. This is where there are more than 250000 calves are born. From late January to February it is where this spectacular event happens and when you’re lucky enough you might spot hunting from the predators like the hyenas and the lions. Lunch will be held at your picnic site and after further game viewing, you will drive straight to your camp or lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Destination: South Serengeti National Park

Accommodation: Serengeti Heritage Tented Camp

Meal: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

DAY 4: FULL DAY GAME DRIVE IN SOUTH SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK (NDUTU)

Early morning after having breakfast at your accommodation inside southern Serengeti, you will continue to explore the southern Serengeti searching for the herds. Lunch will be served and after that you will have a final game drive to your accommodation for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Destination: Serengeti National Park

Accommodation: Serengeti Heritage Tented Camp

Meal: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

DAY 5: SOUTH SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK TO NGORONGORO CRATER TO KARATU

Early morning after having breakfast at your accommodation inside Serengeti, you will drive straight to Ngorongoro Conservation Area en-route whereby the drive is approximately 3 hours to the floor of the crater. Ngorongoro crater is a world heritage site as well as a geo-park. It is 600m deep and before you descend the crater you will stop at a view point where you can see the crater below. The Ngorongoro crater has approximately 25000 mammals and has more than 500 birds’ species where there are also migratory birds like the flamingos. The interesting part with Ngorongoro crater is that it is the best place in East Africa to witness the endangered black rhinos which completes the big 5. In Ngorongoro you can find animals like the Zebras, wildebeests, hyenas, lion prides, gazelles, impalas, kudus, waterbucks, buffalos and many more. The Ngorongoro crater has a diameter of approximately 20km whereby it is easy to spot animals and one can spend 5-6 hours exploring the park if you have a limited time. The other attraction in Ngorongoro crater is the Ngoitoktok picnic site which is a permanent hippo pool where most of the clients have their fabulous lunch at this place. The beauty of Ngorongoro can never be untold to the visitors who have visited this area. After having packed lunch at a picnic site at the hippo pool, you will finalize your game drive before you ascend the crater and drive straight to your accommodation in Karatu for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Destination: Ngorongoro crater 

Accommodation:  Marera Valley Lodge / Farm of Dreams Lodge / Bougainvillea Safari Lodge

Meal: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

DAY 6: LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK TO ARUSHA

Early morning after having breakfast at your lodge in Karatu at around 0730hrs to 0800hrs you will depart straight to Lake Manyara National Park whereby the drive is approximately 1 hour to the gate. Lake Manyara National Park is well known for its birds’ life and also known as the home of tree climbing lions. The park has an area of about 325 square kilometers whereby a third of the area is the land and the rest is the lake which makes Lake Manyara the best attraction. Lake Manyara is a shallow alkaline lake that attracts a number of birds to the area. The birds’ species that can be found in Lake Manyara includes both migratory birds and native birds species like the flamingos, pelicans, storks, herons, cranes, secretary birds, ground hornbills, ostriches and many more birds species. Animals that can be found in lake Manyara are like the lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, warthogs, wildebeests, baboons, blue monkeys, waterbucks, bushbucks, rarely leopards, buffalo etc. The park is located on the south western part of Arusha at the rift valley region which makes it easier to do different activities like the forest hike on the rift valley and other activities include canoeing, tree canopy walk, walking safari around the lake etc. Lunch will be served at the picnic site, and after that you will drive straight to Arusha where you will meet one of the representatives from Gardenia African Safaris who will give you a special farewell. If you would like to have an extra night in Arusha we can arrange that for you in advance or if you have a flight, we will drive you straight to the airport to catch your onwards flight back home or to your next destination.

Destination: Lake Manyara National Park

Meal: Breakfast & Lunch