5 Days – Beautiful Arusha, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater

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Overview

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This 5-day Tanzania safari takes you through three beautiful wildlife destinations -Arusha National Park, Serengeti National Park, and Ngorongoro Crater. From the lush slopes of Mount Meru to the endless plains of the Serengeti and the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, you’ll experience breathtaking landscapes and unparalleled game viewing, including the Big Five and the Great Migration. With a mix of walking and vehicle safaris led by professional driver-guides.

Trip Overview

Day 1: Arusha to Arusha National Park for game drives and walking tour.
Day 2: Arusha to Central Serengeti.-Afternoon game drives in Serengeti.
Day 3: Central Serengeti-Full day game drives in Central Serengeti.
Day 4: Morning game drives in Central Serengeti and transfer to Ngorongoro/Karatu.
Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater Tour (5 hours) and transfer to Arusha.

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Itinerary

Trip Schedule

Day 1 – Arusha to Arusha National Park

Pick up at 8:30 AM from your Hotel in Arusha & depart for Arusha National Park. Walking with an Armed Ranger, you will have picnic lunch and game drive in the Park. The park is at the base of Mount Meru, which is good for climbing. It has a range of habitats including forest – home to the black-and-white colobus monkey – and is excellent for birding. Several lakes often host flocks of flamingo. The park’s appeal is mainly its scenery. The habitat diversity spans from montane (mountain) rain forest to moist Savannah to alpine moorland. Post the game drive, you will head back to your camp/lodge where a delicious dinner awaits you.

Day 2 – Arusha to Central Serengeti

Your safari will begin by 8AM in the morning with a pick up from your hotel at Arusha. With everyone aboard, you will head towards Serengeti National Park. The 240 Km drive will be covered in about 6hrs. The Serengeti, means endless plains in the local African language and watching the grassland stretch out as far as the eye can see and eventually merging with the sky at the horizon is an absolutely breathtaking view. With an overall land area of 14,763 Sq Kms, It puts our notion about distance to shame. The Serengeti also houses the glorious “Big 5” (elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard). Along with the “Big 5”, a very pleasant sighting would be one of Africa’s most beautiful animals – The Impala. The Serengeti ecosystem supports the greatest remaining concentration of plains game in Africa. The legendary Serengeti National Park is the most renowned safari destination for its incredible population of lions and leopards. The central portion of the Serengeti – known as Seronera area is one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park. It features the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and therefore attracts wildlife well representative of most of the Serengeti’s species. In Seronera, one must really look out for the many lion prides that thrive in this region. You must also look out for the Serengeti “Kopjes” which are massive boulders of granite standing in a sea of grass. They provide ample shelter to a large variety of flora and fauna. A picnic lunch will be done during the day long game drive itself. The eventful day comes to an end with a heavy dinner and a good night’s rest in your accommodation.

Day 3 – Central Serengeti

You can either have a relaxed breakfast and depart for full day game drives around 9:00 AM with packed lunch and return back to lodge late afternoon around 6:00 PM. Or you can depart at 6:00 AM on an early morning game drive. Later return to accommodation for breakfast and relax for a bit and depart on an afternoon game drive with packed lunch. You will explore the central portion of the Serengeti National Park today. The legendary Serengeti National Park is the most renowned safari destination for its incredible population of lions and leopards. The central portion of the Serengeti – known as Seronera area is one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park. It features the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and therefore attracts wildlife well representative of most of the Serengeti’s species. During the off season of the migration, one must really look out for the many lion pride that thrive in this region. The interactions and survival of these lion pride provide an excellent game viewing experience all year round. Along with a picnic lunch during the full day game drive, the day will come to a close by around 5PM. The long day comes to an end with a heavy dinner and a good night’s rest in your accommodation.

Day 4 – Central Serengeti to Ngorongoro

After breakfast, you will have a morning game drive in Serengeti National Park. Later depart for Ngorongoro Conservation Area with picnic lunch. Ngorongoro Crater is the largest collapsed volcanic crater in the world and fourteen kilometers of isolated natural beauty. Ngorongoro Crater is surrounded by a ring of extinct volcanoes and the floor, dotted with watering holes, shelters some 30,000 animals. The eventful day comes to an end with a heavy dinner and a good night’s rest in your accommodation.

Day 5 – Ngorongoro Crater Tour (5 hours) to Arusha

On the last day of your safari, you will have an early start. Finishing up with a quick breakfast you will make an early descent at around 6:30 AM into the crater floor. The Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest inactive, intact and unfilled volcanic caldera. It has a massive floor of about 260 sq kms with a depth of over 2000 feet. The 5-hour game drive on the crater floor will show you a lot of animal action. Keeping the camera ready is definitely recommended. The African elephant, buffalo, Black rhino, Hippos, Hyenas, Cheetahs and Lions are found in plenty. Post the picnic lunch at the beautiful Hippo pool, you will begin a steep ascend to the top exit of the crater. This is the last leg of your safari, with a 4hr drive left to Arusha. You will be dropped off to your preferred location in Arusha by 6:00 PM in the evening. With an incredible experience and loads of memories to cherish, this is the time you bid goodbye to our team.

Travel

Included

 

  • All Taxes and VAT.
  • Park Fees (for Non-Residents).
  • Concession/ Camping Fees.
  • Drinking water while on safari (2 litres per person per day).
  • A professional English speaking driver/ guide.
  • 4×4 Land Cruiser.
  • Daily game drives while on Safari.
  • Meals as per itinerary.

Excluded

 

  • Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour (Unless mentioned otherwise).
  • Personal Items (Souvenirs, Travel Insurance, Visa Fees, etc.).
  • Airport Transfers (Unless mentioned otherwise).
  • Any activities not mentioned in the itinerary.
  • Tips (Tipping guidelines).
  • Government imposed increase of Taxes and or Park Fees.
  • International flights.

Accommodation

Safari tour prices vary depending on the starting date, your group size, and the choice of stay:

  • Start Date
  • Adults
  • Children
  • En-suite Accommodation Packages

Below are few popular ensuite options for your tour in a group of two adults . En-suite hotels are tented camps/lodges that can be inside/around national parks. You will have a private room with attached bathroom. Meals are provided by hotels.

Accommodations
Option E1: Budget Value 

Stay at Crest Safari Lodge – Arusha (Bed & Breakfast)
Stay at Serengeti Osupuko Camp, Central Serengeti (Full Board)
Stay at Omega View Hotel, Karatu (Full Board)

Safari with Land Cruiser
Adult:$1,900 per person.

Option E2: Classic Accommodations

Stay at Arusha Planet Lodge – Standard Room, Arusha (Bed & Breakfast)
Stay at Zuri Camp, Serengeti, Central Serengeti (Full Board)
Stay at Ngorongoro Tortilis Camp, NCA (Full Board)

Safari with Land Cruiser
Adult: $2,140 per person

Option E3: Comfort Accommodations

Stay at Four Points by Sheraton, Arusha – Traditional Queen, Arusha (Bed & Breakfast)
Stay at Mbali Mbali Soroi Serengeti – Safari Room, Central Serengeti (Full Board)
Stay at Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, NCA  (Full Board)

Safari with Land Cruiser
Adult: $2,245 per person

Option E4: Superior Accommodations

Stay at Hamerkop House by Lemala, Arusha (Full Board)
Stay at Melia Serengeti Lodge – Lagoon View, Central Serengeti (Full Board)
Stay at Lemala Ngorongoro, NCA (Full Board)

Safari with Land Cruiser
Adult: $2,900 per person

Option E5: Luxury Accommodations

Stay at Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge – Plantation Room, Arusha (Bed & Breakfast)
Stay at Lemala Nanyukie, Central Serengeti (Full Board)
Stay at Melia Ngorongoro Lodge, NCA – The Rim Room, NCA (Full Board)

Safari with Land Cruiser
Adult: $3,579 per person

Option E6: Signature Accommodations

Stay at Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge – Plantation Suite, Arusha (Half Board)
Stay at One Nature Nyaruswiga, Central Serengeti (Full Board)
Stay at Melia Ngorongoro Lodge, NCA – Executive Suite, NCA  (Full Board)

Safari with Land Cruiser
Adult: $6,149 per person

A detailed list of inclusions is shared below. We have many more accommodations and add-ons tours to offer. Please share with us your requirements by clicking on the “Request Quote” button below, and our reservations team will get in touch with you.

Important Notes

Weather Information
Central Serengeti

In December, the Central Serengeti, Tanzania typically experiences warm and wet weather. Historical averages indicate daytime temperatures generally range from about 25°C to 30°C (77°F to 86°F). Nights can be cooler, dropping to around 15°C to 20°C (59°F to 68°F).

December marks the start of the short rainy season, with an increase in precipitation. It is not uncommon to see rain showers, especially in the second half of the month. Humidity levels can also be higher during this time, contributing to a lush landscape and vibrant wildlife activity. Overall, it’s a beautiful time to visit, with the scenery being particularly green and lively after the rains.

NCA

In December, NCA (Ngorongoro Conservation Area) in Tanzania typically experiences a warm and humid climate. Historically, average daytime temperatures range from about 20°C to 27°C (68°F to 81°F). Nights can be cooler, with temperatures dropping to around 10°C to 15°C (50°F to 59°F).

This month marks the beginning of the rainy season, with December generally receiving increased rainfall compared to previous months. Average rainfall can vary, but it often ranges from 60 mm to 100 mm (2.4 to 3.9 inches), with occasional heavy downpours. The scenery during this time is lush and vibrant, attracting various wildlife and enhancing the overall experience of the conservation area.

Karatu

In December, Karatu, Tanzania typically experiences warm and wet weather. The average high temperature is around 26-28°C (79-82°F), while the average low temperature is about 15-18°C (59-64°F). December falls within the short rainy season in this region, so you can expect increased humidity and frequent rainfall, often in the form of afternoon showers. On average, December can see around 100-150 mm of rainfall throughout the month. Overall, it’s a lush and green time of year due to the precipitation.

Arusha

In December, Arusha, Tanzania typically experiences warm and wet weather. Historical averages indicate daytime temperatures usually range from 24°C to 28°C (75°F to 82°F), while nighttime temperatures can drop to around 15°C to 18°C (59°F to 64°F). This month marks the start of the rainy season, so it’s also common to see increased humidity and rainfall, with December receiving a significant amount of precipitation. Visitors should expect occasional showers, especially in the latter part of the month. Overall, it’s a warm climate with a mix of sunshine and rain.