5-Day Semi-Luxury Safari: Lake Manyara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater
SEMI-LUXURY SAFARI
This 5-day itinerary balances authentic wilderness immersion with excellent comfort. By stepping away from large, concrete hotels, you will stay in intimate, semi-luxury tented camps like GNU Migration Camp, where you can safely hear the sounds of the African bush at night. This path covers the tree-climbing lions of Manyara, the endless plains of the Serengeti, and the volcanic floor of the Ngorongoro Crater.
Itinerary
Day 1 of 5
Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park
- Activity: Pickup from Arusha and full afternoon game drive.
- Accommodations: Bougainvillea Safari Lodge (or similar comfort lodge in Karatu).
- The Daily Story: Your safari begins this morning. We pick you up from your hotel or residence in Arusha and drive straight to Lake Manyara National Park. This diverse park features a groundwater forest packed with baboons and elephants, leading out to the alkaline lake shores where flamingos and hippos gather. Keep an eye on the acacia branches for Manyara’s famous tree-climbing lions. In the evening, we drive up the Rift Valley wall to your lodge for dinner and a relaxing evening.
Day 2 of 5
Lake Manyara to Serengeti National Park
- Activity: Travel day with an en-route game drive through the highlands.
- Accommodations: GNU Migration Camp.
- The Daily Story: After breakfast, we travel toward the legendary Serengeti National Park, driving through the lush Ngorongoro Conservation Area highlands. We will stop at Naabi Hill Gate for a picnic lunch, where you can stretch your legs and walk up a scenic kopje overlook for your first view of the endless plains. From there, we open the pop-up roof for an afternoon game drive, tracking wildlife on our way to our semi-luxury tented camp.
Day 3 of 5
Serengeti National Park (Full-Day Game Drive)
- Activity: Morning and afternoon wildlife tracking on the plains.
- Accommodations: GNU Migration Camp.
- The Daily Story: We dedicate today entirely to exploring the Serengeti. We set out early when the air is cool and predators like lions, cheetahs, and leopards are active on the hunt. We will enjoy a picnic lunch at a designated site inside the park to maximize our time in the field, continuing our tracking into the afternoon to capture the golden light of a Serengeti sunset. Return to camp for a hot shower and a freshly prepared dinner under the stars.
Day 4 of 5
Serengeti Plains to Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Ndutu Wilderness)
- Activity: Sunrise game drive and traditional Maasai cultural visit.
- Accommodations: GNU Ndutu Camp.
- The Daily Story: Enjoy a final morning game drive across the Serengeti plains to spot grazing herds and active birdlife. As we journey out of the park toward Ngorongoro, we stop to visit an authentic Maasai Boma to learn about their ancient culture, traditions, and livestock-herding lifestyle in the bush. Tonight, we sleep at our semi-luxury camp located deep within the Ndutu wilderness.
Day 5 of 5
Ngorongoro Crater Tour to Arusha
- Activity: Full-day volcanic crater safari and return drive.
- Accommodations: Departure transfer (Arusha).
- The Daily Story: After an early breakfast, we descend 600 meters down onto the volcanic floor of the Ngorongoro Crater. This enclosed caldera supports an incredible density of large mammals. Your guide will navigate the tracks to find resident prides of lions, hyenas, large elephant bulls, and the endangered Black Rhino. After a picnic lunch by the hippo pool, we ascend the crater walls and drive back to Arusha, arriving in time for your onward flight or evening plans.
Pricing (Private Tour Tiers)
- Vehicle Type: Exclusive Private 4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser (Never shared with strangers)
- Base Accommodation: Semi-Luxury Lodges & Camps (Double/Twin Sharing Basis)
PRICING
Number of Travelers
2 Travelers
3 Travelers
4 Travelers
5 Travelers
6 Travelers
7 Travelers
Price Per Person
$3,211
$2,828
$2,637
$2,523
$1,746
$2,446
Single Room Supplement: +$166 USD
(Applies only to solo travelers or individuals requesting a private room instead of a shared room.)
Include
Private 4×4 customized Land Cruiser, professional English-speaking guide, all national park fees, crater service fees, concession and camping fees, all meals on safari (full board), and unlimited purified drinking water inside the vehicle.
Excuded
International flights, Tanzanian entry visa, travel insurance, alcoholic beverages at the lodges, and crew tips (discretionary).