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4 Day itinerary in Tanzania, Africa

Tanzania Express Safari

The perfect balance of attractions and time, the four-day Tanzania Express is the best itinerary for seeing as much as humanly possible when you're on a tight time budget. You'll hit three of the northern circuit's major parks: Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and your ch... Read More

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Overview

Physical Difficulty

Easy
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Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English

GUIDANCE

On Some Day Trips

starting point

Arusha

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Outdoors & Nature

Start/End

Night

Highlights

1

Viit both Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area

2

Enjoy four days of incomparable game driving

3

Chase the Big Five and seeing some stunning landscapes

4

Visits to a Maasai boma and/or the historic Oldupai Gorge Museum

Itinerary

Budget Accommodation expand_more

Day 1

place Arusha - Lake Manyara National Park -Tarangire National Park

On this day, you can choose to go to Tarangire National Park or Lake Manyara National Park. Depending on the time of year, each of these parks offers a different safari experience. Your guide can advise you as to which is best to visit during your safari. IF TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK Once you've entered Tarangire, you'll begin your game drive across a rich vista of endless golden savannah that surrounds the Tarangire River. The river itself runs throughout the year and is a vital source of water for the animals of the region during the dry season. Lined with acacia and Baobab trees, the river is regularly visited by the park's large elephant population as well as other herbivores such as zebras and antelopes. A picnic lunch with a view of the river is a great way to take it all in, but you'll have to keep on your toes as the local monkey population does its best to separate you from your lunch! Driving through the park you'll also have the opportunity to see lions, leopards, cape buffalo, and a huge variety of antelopes. If you're particularly lucky, you might even see endangered animals such as the Greater Kudu or the Fringe-Eared Oryx. IF LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK After a brief stop at the village market, you'll enter Lake Manyara, National Park. The park is truly a photographer's playground and offers some of the best game viewings in the viewing in the world. You can expect to see many of Africa's most well-known animals, with the tree-climbing lions a particular treat. These proud predators lounge in acacia trees practically begging to be photographed. Bird-watchers will find Lake Manyara is an absolute delight, with a huge variety of birds on display in the park. Even the novice can expect to be amazed by large flamingo flocks, circling birds of prey, and the brightly colored lilac-breasted roller. You'll then retire to your chosen accommodation for dinner and a good night's rest.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Budget Accommodation: Sangaiwe Tented Lodge
  • High-End Accommodation: Tarangire Safari Lodge
  • Luxury Accommodation: Tarangire Ndovu camp by Nasikia camps
Day 2

place Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara & Serengeti National Park

We'll take an early breakfast, as we've got a big day of exploration and adventure ahead of us! We'll begin the day with the scenic drive towards the Serengeti. Along the way, we'll pass through the mist-shrouded rainforests of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area where you might be lucky enough to glimpse cape buffalo, baboons, or even elephants and leopards in the dense undergrowth. It's a nearly four-hour drive to the Serengeti park gates, but you can choose to break up the drive with one or both of the below optional activities: Oldupai Gorge Museum: Sometimes known as the Cradle of Mankind, the Oldupai Gorge Museum commemorates some of the oldest evidence of human habitation ever found. Here you can see some of the oldest fossil evidence in the world of human habitation, visit the Oldupai Gorge Museum to learn more about the human journey, and take in the stunning views of this stark gorge country. Maasai boma visit: Pay a visit to one of the famous Maasai bomas, where you'll have the opportunity to witness (and participate in) traditional Maasai dance, tour an authentic Maasai village, and even do a little souvenir shopping at the local market. Both of the above activities attract an additional cost. Speak with your safari expert about adding them to your itinerary. After a delicious lunch at the Serengeti National Park picnic area, it’s time to explore the Serengeti itself. Witness Africa’s iconic savannah landscape and be amazed by the sheer number of animals that roam these grassy plains. Dinner and overnight in the heart of the Serengeti National Park according to the standard and the type of accommodation requested from our options.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Budget Accommodation: Chaka Camp
  • High-End Accommodation: Dunia Camp
  • Luxury Accommodation: Serengeti Kati kati Tented Camp
Day 3

place Serengeti National Park - Ngorongoro

After breakfast, we get right on the road back towards the Ngorongoro Crater National Park. Our drive takes us back through the Serengeti via a different route, offering plenty of opportunities to spot the animals that eluded you on day two. As far as the eye can see, you’ll spot thousands upon thousands of animals in herds; wildebeests and zebras migrating together, tall and graceful giraffes, jumping antelopes and gazelles, the powerful African elephant, and the most respected group of animals: the predators. You will have the chance to spot lean cheetahs and shy leopards, foraging hyenas, and last but not least, the king himself; the lion. Dinner and overnight on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater or in nearby Karatu Town according to the standard and the type of accommodation requested from our options.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Budget Accommodation: Ang'ata Migration Camp
  • High-End Accommodation: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
  • Luxury Accommodation: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
Day 4

place Ngorongoro Crater - Arusha

After breakfast, you'll depart for Ngorongoro Crater; considered by some to be the Eighth Wonder of the World. When you get your first glimpse of this vast, verdant caldera from the panoramic viewpoint, you'll soon understand why it has earned such a lofty reputation. Home to over 120 species of mammal including the fabled Big Five, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is one of the most sought-after safari destinations in the world. It's a particularly good place to see the endangered black rhinoceros enjoying a lonely meal out on the grass plains, as well as a place to see large numbers of hippopotamus enjoying the cool water. From the comfort of your open-top vehicle, you'll be able to observe and photograph some of Africa's most recognizable faces. The crater is home to a large number of predators including lions, leopards, cheetahs, jackals, and hyenas, as well as a large population of wildebeest, zebras, antelope, cape buffalo, and more. It is truly one of Africa's premier safari destinations. After the thrills and excitement of the day, you will have a picnic lunch by the park's famous hippo pool. Thereafter, you will drive back to Arusha.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

What’s Included

Accommodation expand_less

  • Ang'ata Migration Camp
  • Sangaiwe Tented Lodge
  • Chaka Camp
  • Dunia Camp
  • Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
  • Tarangire Safari Lodge
  • Serengeti Kati kati Tented Camp
  • Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
  • Tarangire Ndovu camp by Nasikia camps

Meals expand_less

  • Lunch (4)
  • Dinner (3)
  • Breakfast (3)

Transport expand_less

  • Ground transfer from Arusha to Tarangire National Park
  • Ground transfer from Tarangire National Park to Serengeti National Park
  • Ground transfer from Serengeti National Park to Ngorongoro
  • Ground transfer from Ngorongoro to Arusha

Activities expand_less

  • Visit Ngorongoro Crater
  • Enjoy 4 Game drives
  • Visit Tarangire National Park
  • Visit Serengeti National Park

Not Included expand_less

  • International Flights
  • Airport Transfers
  • Meals not specified as included
  • Travel Insurance
  • Optional Activities
  • Tips for Guides and Drivers

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