5 Days Serengeti Safari

Day 1 Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport

Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, a Lappet Faced Safaris specialist will greet you in the Arrivals area and assist you with obtaining your tourist visa (visa fee is included), help collect your luggage and accompany you through customs and escort you to a Lappet Faced Safaris transfer representative who will be waiting outside the secured area to warmly welcome you to Tanzania. The road transfer to your hotel in Arusha will be approximately one hour. After check-in, your transfer rep will brief you on the following day’s schedule, review a safari safety check list and answer any questions you may have. Dinner and overnight at the lovely African Tulip Boutique Hotel in a Deluxe Room.

Day 2 – 3 Northern Serengeti

After an early morning breakfast, a Lappet Faced Safaris representative will transfer you to the Arusha Domestic Airport for your Auric Air 8am flight to the Northern Serengeti. Your flight path will take you over the Ngorongoro Crater, the southern Serengeti plains and the Central Serengeti woodlands so enjoy the fabulous views below. You’ll land at Kogatende airstrip in the Northern Serengeti where your driver guide will be there to welcome you to begin your safari adventure. The Northern Serengeti is a vast area that extends to the Masai Mara on the Kenyan side of the border. You’ll spend the next two days exploring this game rich area. During the dry season the Great Migration will be likely located in the far Northern Serengeti with a portion of the large herds spilled over into the Masai Mara. If luck is on your side, the Great Migration will be in the area and you may be able to see a Mara River crossing if you are patient. Two nights at mara kati kati Camp in a Suite Tent.

Day 4 – 5 Central Serengeti

Today you will be game driving southwards through Lobo Valley, an area where both resident and migratory game congregate around permanent water sources during the dry season making for great game viewing. All three big cats can be found here – lions, leopards and cheetah, so spend some time exploring Lobo Valley before continuing to the Central Serengeti and the Seronera Valley. The Seronera River Valley is home to a great diversity of wildlife due to its unique ecological niche as a transitional zone where two distinctly different habitats, the plains and woodlands, merge and various species of wildlife from both habitats can coexist. Due to the abundance of wildlife, Seronera is headquarters for many of the Serengeti wildlife research projects, including the Serengeti Lion Project and the Frankfurt Zoological Society. Two nights at Serengeti kati kati Camp.

Day 6 Olduvai & Ngorongoro Highlands

After breakfast, continue game driving the Central Serengeti before heading southeast towards Ngorongoro Highlands in the afternoon. Visit Olduvai Museum en route. Olduvai is one of the most important prehistoric sites in the world. Known as “The Cradle of Mankind”, the gorge stretches for nearly 50 km from Lake Ndutu to the Olbalbal Depression. The Leakey’s are the archaeologists responsible for most of the excavations and discoveries in Olduvai Gorge. They unearthed about 60 different hominid remains dating back from 2 million years ago to 17,000 years ago. The remains of about 7,000 extinct animal species have also been unearthed and moulds of some of these artifacts can be seen in the small on-site museum. Overnight at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge perched on the rim of the Crater.

Day 7 Ngorongoro Crater

Today, begin your day early with 6am game drive into the Ngorongoro Crater floor to escape the crowds that can gather later in the morning with the packaged group tours. The Crater is your best opportunity to see the highly endangered black rhino so spend some time scanning the horizon with your binoculars and to try spot one. Enjoy a picnic breakfast watching an African sunrise and spend the rest of the day exploring the world famous Ngorongoro Crater often referred to as “Africa’s Garden of Eden”. Encompassing an area of only 265 sq/km, the dense concentration of wildlife in a confined area allow for incredible game viewing and photo opportunities. Depart from the Crater in the afternoon and head to the nearby town of Karatu for overnight at Endoro Lodge.

Day 8 Lake Manyara National Park

After breakfast at Endoro Lodge, head to Lake Manyara National Park located approximately one hour away. Lake Manyara National Park is unique in its lush groundwater forest, very different from the savannah landscape of the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Lake Manyara is famous for its tree climbing lions although the dense forest makes spotting them quite difficult. Birdlife is abundant as are the number of baboons and other primates. Optional cultural activities are available at the village of Mto wa Mbu located just outside of Lake Manyara National Park including tour of banana farms, local markets and local village life. In the afternoon begin heading to Maramboi Tented Camp located on the eastern shores of Lake Manyara.

Day 9 Tarangire National Park

The following morning head to Tarangire National Park approximately 20 minutes away where you’ll spend the day amongst massive herds of elephants. Tarangire has superb game viewing from June to November during the dry season when the wildlife in the surrounding area congregate around the shrinking Tarangire River, the only water source in the Tarangire ecosystem making for great game viewing. Tarangire is known for its iconic baobab trees and also for its large elephant herds. Don’t be surprised to see herds of upwards of 200-300 elephants in the height of the dry season lining up on the river bank. Second night at Maramboi Tented Camp.

Day 10 – 12 Fly to Zanzibar

After a leisurely breakfast head to Arusha Domestic Airport to catch Auric Air 12:45 pm flight to Zanzibar. Arrive in Zanzibar at approximately 14:25. An Island Express transfer representative will be waiting for you at Zanzibar Domestic Airport to transfer you to the lovely Ras Nungwi Beach Hotel located on the white sand beaches of eastern Zanzibar. Spend three unforgettable nights at the beautiful Ras Nungwi in a Superior Deluxe Chalet on half board basis (breakfast & dinner only). Additional excursions on Zanzibar Island such as Stone Town Tour, Spice Tour, Diving/Snorkeling can be arranged directly with Island Express upon arrival – additional charges apply.

Day 13 Fly to Dar Es Salaam & catch return flight

• After lunch an Island Express transfer representative will pick you up from Ras Nungwi to transfer you to Zanzibar Airport to catch your afternoon flight from Zanzibar to Dar Es Salaam approximately 20 minute flight. Transfer to Hotel Slipway for a day room (no meals included at Slipway). Evening transfer to Dar Es Salaam International Airport to catch your return flight.