Itinerary

1. Day 1: Tarangire National Park – Land of Giants

   • You'll be collected from the airport.    
   • Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.
   • Your adventure begins with a warm welcome in Arusha, where you'll be picked up from your accommodation or directly from the airport. 
   • After a short briefing, you’ll embark on a scenic drive to Tarangire National Park, located in the Manyara region. Named after the Tarangire River, which flows through its vast landscapes, this park is a hidden gem teeming with wildlife and breathtaking scenery.
   • Covering approximately 2,600 square kilometers, Tarangire is Tanzania’s sixth-largest national park and is best known for its massive elephant herds, some of the largest concentrations in Africa. 
   • As you explore, you’ll be captivated by the park’s diverse habitats, from open grasslands and acacia woodlands to lush riverine forests. The landscape is adorned with towering baobab trees, some of which are over 600 years old, capable of storing thousands of liters of water, making them a vital resource for wildlife during the dry season.
   • Unlike the Serengeti, Tarangire is often drier, yet its green vegetation and seasonal swamps attract an abundance of animals, including giraffes, buffalos, zebras, wildebeests, elands, and impalas. Predators such as lions, leopards, and cheetahs roam the park, while the elusive African wild dogs are sometimes spotted. Birdwatchers will be thrilled by the presence of over 500 bird species, including the vibrant yellow-collared lovebirds and the striking Kori bustard, Africa’s heaviest flying bird.
   • After an exciting morning of wildlife encounters, you’ll pause for a scenic picnic lunch, surrounded by the natural beauty of Tarangire. The afternoon game drive will take you deeper into the park, following the movements of wildlife as they gather around the life-sustaining Tarangire River.
   • As the sun begins to set, you’ll head to your comfortable accommodation at Fig Tree Lodge & Camp, where a delicious dinner awaits. Relax under the starlit African sky, reminiscing about the day’s adventures before resting for another thrilling day ahead.

   Main Destination: Tarangire National Park
   Accommodation: Fig Tree Lodge & Camp
   Meals: Lunch & Dinner (Breakfast can be arranged if staying in Arusha the night before)

2. Day 2: Mto wa Mbu to Serengeti – Into the Heart of the Wild

   • After an early breakfast, your safari adventure continues as you depart from Mto wa Mbu, a vibrant cultural town near Lake Manyara, and journey toward the world-famous Serengeti National Park. 
   • Along the way, enjoy breathtaking views of the Rift Valley escarpment, scattered Maasai villages, and the rolling plains that stretch endlessly toward the horizon.
   • Upon entering the Serengeti, you’ll embark on a thrilling game drive with a picnic lunch, exploring the diverse landscapes of Central and Southern Serengeti. 
   • Your guide will focus on the prime wildlife areas that were not covered the previous day, ensuring you get the best possible sightings.

   Serengeti National Park – A Wildlife Paradise

   Covering approximately 15,000 square kilometers, Serengeti National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Africa’s most spectacular wildlife destinations. The park is home to an incredible array of wildlife, including:

   • Over 2 million herbivores, such as wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles
   • 4,000 lions, prowling the plains in search of prey
   • 1,000 leopards, often spotted lounging in the trees
   • 550 cheetahs, the fastest land animals in the world
   • 500 bird species, making it a paradise for birdwatchers
   • During the Dry Season, the Great Migration fills the Serengeti with endless herds of wildebeests and zebras, moving in search of fresh grazing land while being pursued by predators. 
   • The Northern Serengeti is particularly rewarding for wildlife viewing, with resident populations of elephants, hippos, giraffes, and crocodiles in addition to the famous Big Five. Keep an eye out for the rare oribi antelope, a small, graceful species found in select areas of the park.
   • The morning hours provide the best opportunity to spot predators in action, from lions hunting in coordinated prides to leopards stealthily stalking their prey. Your guide will take you through the most promising areas to witness the raw beauty of the wild.

   Best Time to Visit Serengeti

   • January to February & June to October – Best for wildlife viewing (different regions excel in different seasons)
   • High Season: July to March – The Seronera region is the busiest
   • Best Weather: June to October – Little to no rainfall, offering the best conditions for game drives

   Evening in the Serengeti

   • As the sun sets, you’ll head to your budget camping site inside Serengeti National Park, where you’ll enjoy a hearty dinner under the vast African sky. The sounds of the wilderness—distant lion roars, rustling grass, and the calls of nocturnal animals—will make for an unforgettable night in the Serengeti.

   Main Destination: Serengeti National Park
   Accommodation: Budget Camping (Inside Serengeti National Park)
   Meals & Drinks:
   All meals included
   Non-alcoholic drinks provided

3. Day 3: Central Serengeti – The Ultimate Wildlife Experience

   • Wake up to the sounds of the African wilderness and prepare for an early morning game drive in the Central Serengeti, one of the most wildlife-rich areas in the park. 
   • The golden hours of dawn provide the best opportunity to witness predators in action—lions, cheetahs, and leopards taking advantage of the cool temperatures to hunt.

   Wildlife Encounters in Central Serengeti

   As the sun rises over the vast plains, you’ll have the chance to spot:

   • Wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles, often on the move during the Great Migration
   • Lions, resting near their previous night’s hunt or prowling in search of prey
   • Elephants, gracefully making their way through the woodlands
   • Leopards, often draped across tree branches, watching the plains below
   • Cheetahs, scanning the horizon for an opportunity to sprint after an antelope
   • Hippos and crocodiles, lurking in the rivers and pools

   Your guide will navigate through the prime wildlife corridors, ensuring you get the best possible sightings of the Serengeti’s iconic animals. If your visit coincides with the Great Migration, you may witness hundreds of thousands of wildebeests and zebras thundering across the plains, a truly breathtaking sight.

   Brunch and Departure to Ngorongoro

   • After an action-packed morning, you’ll pause for a delicious bush brunch amid the Serengeti’s beauty. Once refreshed, it’s time to pack up and continue your journey.
   • As you bid farewell to the Serengeti, your adventure doesn’t end just yet—an en-route game drive ensures that you’ll have more wildlife encounters along the way. The changing landscapes gradually give way to the highlands, and soon, you’ll arrive at the breathtaking Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

   Evening at Ngorongoro Crater Rim

   • By late afternoon, you’ll reach Ngorongoro Simba Campsite, strategically perched on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. This location offers spectacular panoramic views of the crater floor and the surrounding lush greenery.
   • A warm dinner awaits, followed by a night under the vast African sky. As you settle into your cozy tent, listen to the distant calls of wildlife echoing through the crater, a reminder of the wonders that await you the next day.

   Main Destination: Central Serengeti National Park → Ngorongoro Conservation Area
   Accommodation: Budget Camping (On the Crater Rim – Ngorongoro Simba Campsite)
   Meals & Drinks:
   All meals included
   Non-alcoholic drinks provided

4. Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater – A Natural Wonder Filled with Wildlife

   • Your day begins with an early breakfast at 6:00 AM before embarking on a spectacular descent into the Ngorongoro Crater, one of Africa’s most breathtaking natural wonders. 
   • This massive volcanic caldera, often referred to as the "Eighth Wonder of the World," is home to some of the most concentrated wildlife populations in Africa.

   Scenic Viewpoint & Crater History

   • Before descending, we make a brief stop at the Ngorongoro Viewpoint, where you'll take in astonishing panoramic views of the crater floor. 
   • As your guide shares insights into the crater’s formation—a collapsed volcano that is now a thriving ecosystem—you’ll have the opportunity to capture some unforgettable photos.

   Wildlife Encounters in Ngorongoro Crater

   • Ngorongoro is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its incredibly diverse ecosystem. As you drive through the crater floor, you can expect to see:
   • The Big Five: Lions, elephants, buffalos, leopards, and the rare black rhino
   • Hyenas and jackals, scavenging the open plains
   • Wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles, grazing in massive herds
   • Flamingos and other water birds, gathered around seasonal lakes
   • Hippos, cooling off in the crater’s small lakes and pools
   • The crater’s unique geography makes it one of the few places where animals stay year-round, offering unmatched wildlife sightings in a relatively small area.

   Lunch at the Hippo Pool Picnic Site

   • For lunch, we head to the hippo pool picnic site, one of the only designated areas where visitors can step out of their safari vehicles. As you enjoy your meal, watch hippos lazily wallow in the water while elephants, zebras, or buffalos might stop by for a drink.

   Afternoon Game Drive & Return to Karatu

   • After lunch, we continue exploring the crater floor, maximizing our wildlife encounters before beginning the ascent back to the rim. 
   • As we leave Ngorongoro behind, a scenic drive takes us towards Karatu, where we will check in at Fig Tree Lodge & Camp for a well-deserved rest.
   • Enjoy a delicious dinner, share stories of the day’s incredible sightings, and unwind in preparation for the journey ahead.

   Main Destination: Ngorongoro Crater
   Accommodation: Fig Tree Lodge & Camp (Budget lodge, 2-3 hours from the crater)
   Meals & Drinks:
   All meals included
   Non-alcoholic drinks provided

5. Day 5: Lake Manyara National Park – A Haven for Birdlife & Wildlife

   • Your final day of adventure takes you to Lake Manyara National Park, a stunningly diverse wildlife sanctuary famous for its lush forests, abundant birdlife, and unique tree-climbing lions.

   Morning Game Drive & Birdwatching

   • After an early breakfast, we drive towards Lake Manyara National Park, located along the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment. Upon arrival, you’ll begin a game drive through its mix of woodlands, open plains, and the shimmering soda lake.
   • Lake Manyara is best known for its incredible birdlife, with thousands of pink flamingos gathering along the shores, along with pelicans, storks, herons, and fish eagles. With over 400 bird species, it is a paradise for bird enthusiasts.

   Wildlife Encounters & Scenic Highlights

   As you continue your game drive, expect to see:

   • Elephants and buffalos, often seen roaming through the acacia woodlands
   • Hippos, lazily wallowing in the lake and nearby pools
   • Troops of baboons and blue monkeys, playing along the roadside
   • Giraffes and zebras, grazing in the open grasslands
   • Tree-climbing lions, a rare sight but a unique phenomenon of Manyara
   • The famous Manyara hot springs, a geothermal feature bubbling up from the earth

   Lunch at the Hippo Pool & Final Safari Moments

   • You’ll stop for a picnic lunch at the Hippo Pool, where you can observe these massive creatures up close. Afterward, a final game drive will allow you to soak in the beauty of Manyara’s landscapes and wildlife encounters before heading back to Arusha.

   Return to Arusha – End of Tour

   • After an unforgettable safari experience, we drive back to Arusha, where we will drop you off at your hotel or the airport for your onward journey.

   Thank you for choosing Bavuma WildQuest for your Tanzanian adventure! We hope to see you again for another unforgettable safari experience.

   Main Destination: Lake Manyara National Park
   Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)
   Meals & Drinks:
   Breakfast & Lunch (Dinner not included)
   Non-alcoholic drinks provided