Home 6-Day Tanzania Safari: Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara

Day 1: Arrival in Arusha

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport, you will be welcomed by your representative and transferred to your accommodation in Arusha. Depending on your arrival time, you can relax at the lodge and enjoy the peaceful surroundings before your safari begins.

Arusha is the gateway to Tanzania’s famous Northern Safari Circuit. Your safari guide will brief you about the itinerary and help you prepare for the exciting wildlife experiences ahead.

Accommodation: Mid-range lodge in Arusha.

Meals: At your own expense unless otherwise arranged.

Day 2: Arusha to Tarangire National Park

After breakfast, meet your safari guide and depart for Tarangire National Park. Enjoy a scenic drive through the Tanzanian countryside before entering a park renowned for its large elephant populations, ancient baobab trees, and diverse wildlife.

Spend the day exploring Tarangire on exciting game drives. Look for elephants gathering near the Tarangire River, giraffes browsing among the trees, zebras crossing the grasslands, and various antelope species. Lions and leopards may also be spotted during your wildlife adventure.

Enjoy a picnic lunch inside the park before continuing your afternoon game drive. Later, leave Tarangire and travel to Karatu, where you will check in at your lodge and enjoy dinner.

Accommodation: Mid-range lodge in Karatu.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Day 3: Karatu to Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, travel through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area towards Serengeti National Park. Along the way, enjoy scenic views of the highlands and vast landscapes of northern Tanzania.

Enter the Serengeti and begin exploring its famous open plains, which support large populations of wildlife. The park is particularly known for its lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, giraffes, and enormous herds of wildebeest and zebras.

Depending on the time of year, you may witness parts of the Great Wildebeest Migration as animals move in search of fresh grazing and water. Migration locations change throughout the year, so sightings depend on the season.

Enjoy a picnic lunch during your journey and continue with an afternoon game drive before arriving at your safari camp or lodge in the Serengeti.

Accommodation: Safari camp or lodge in Serengeti National Park.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Day 4: Full-Day Game Drive in Serengeti National Park

Wake up in the heart of Serengeti National Park and prepare for a full day of wildlife exploration. After breakfast, set out with your guide to discover different areas of the park and search for its remarkable wildlife.

The Serengeti is famous for its large predator populations and dramatic wildlife encounters. Look for lions resting in the grass, cheetahs scanning the open plains, and leopards hidden among trees. You may also encounter elephants, buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles, and numerous antelope species.

Depending on the season, your guide will help you explore areas where migrating wildebeest and zebras may be found. You can enjoy morning and afternoon game drives with a return to camp for lunch, or spend the day exploring with a picnic lunch.

As the day ends, return to your accommodation and enjoy dinner beneath the African sky.

Accommodation: Safari camp or lodge in Serengeti National Park.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Day 5: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater and Karatu

After breakfast, depart Serengeti and travel towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Descend into the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater for an unforgettable wildlife safari.

The crater is one of Tanzania’s most remarkable natural attractions, featuring open grasslands, acacia woodland, wetlands, and a soda lake. Its diverse habitats support a wide range of animals, including lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, and hyenas.

Keep your eyes open for the endangered black rhinoceros, which can sometimes be seen in the crater’s grasslands. Your guide will help you spot wildlife and explain the area’s unique ecosystem.

Enjoy a picnic lunch during your crater visit before continuing your game drive. In the afternoon, ascend from the crater and travel to Karatu for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Mid-range lodge in Karatu.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Day 6: Lake Manyara National Park to Arusha

After breakfast, travel to Lake Manyara National Park for your final wildlife adventure. Located beneath the Great Rift Valley escarpment, the park offers beautiful scenery and a variety of habitats, including groundwater forests, open grasslands, and lakeshore areas.

Enjoy a game drive in search of elephants, giraffes, zebras, baboons, and other wildlife. Lake Manyara is also known for its tree-climbing lions, although sightings are not guaranteed. Birdwatchers can look for flamingos and many other species around the lake, depending on water levels and seasonal conditions.

After a picnic lunch, begin your return journey to Arusha. You will be dropped off at your agreed location in Arusha or at the airport, depending on your arrangements.

Your 6-day Tanzania safari concludes with wonderful memories of the wildlife, landscapes, and national parks of northern Tanzania.

Accommodation: No accommodation included on this day.

Meals: Breakfast and lunch.