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5 days
Daily Tour
Unlimited
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This trip is built for travellers flying into Kilimanjaro or Arusha who want the two headline parks of northern Tanzania in one manageable trip. It combines the open plains of the Serengeti with the closed ecosystem of Ngorongoro Crater, two very different landscapes with different game viewing styles.
Day 1: Arusha to Serengeti. Early departure from Arusha, a long driving day of around 7 to 8 hours, often broken up with a stop in or near Karatu. The road is tarmac to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area gate, then unpaved for the final stretch through the conservation area and into the Serengeti, expect dust in the dry season. Afternoon game drive on arrival if time allows.
Day 2: Full day in the Serengeti. Game drives morning and afternoon across the central or northern Serengeti plains, depending on where wildlife concentrations are that week. This is classic big cat country, lion prides are common, leopard and cheetah sightings depend on luck and your guide’s knowledge of the area.
Day 3: Serengeti to Ngorongoro. Morning game drive as you make your way out of the Serengeti, then the drive to the rim of Ngorongoro Crater, around 3 to 4 hours. Camps or lodges here sit on the crater rim, often with striking views down into the caldera, at altitude, so evenings are notably cooler than the plains below.
Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater floor. A full morning descending onto the crater floor for a game drive across one of Africa’s most concentrated wildlife areas, home to a resident population of black rhino among the more commonly seen lion, elephant, buffalo, hippo and flamingo. Afternoon drive back up and out of the conservation area towards Arusha, or an overnight extension if you prefer to break up the return journey.
Day 5: Return to Arusha. Final drive back to Arusha, around 2 to 3 hours from the crater rim, arriving in good time for onward flights out of Kilimanjaro International Airport, though we do not recommend booking a same-day international departure.
June to October is the dry season, with strong game viewing and easier roads, and the migration is often within reach of the Serengeti’s central or northern areas depending on the month. January and February also offer good viewing, particularly calving season on the southern plains, worth asking us about if that timing suits your dates. March to May brings the long rains, roads slow down and some camps close, though the crater floor stays productive year round since its resident wildlife does not migrate.
Easy. This is a seated game-drive safari, no trekking required. The main physical factor is altitude on the crater rim, around 2,200 metres, which can leave some travellers a little breathless or affect sleep in the first night. It suits most ages and fitness levels.
Is the Serengeti or Ngorongoro better for the migration? It depends entirely on timing. The Serengeti is the migration’s main stage for most of the year, while Ngorongoro’s wildlife is largely resident and does not follow the migration. Tell us your travel month and we will advise on likely herd positions.
How rough are the roads inside the parks? Unpaved and dusty in the dry season, and can be slow and muddy in the wet season. Vehicles are built for this terrain, but it is not a smooth ride, expect some jolting on game drive tracks.
Can we add a few days on Zanzibar after this safari? Yes, this is a common combination and flights from Kilimanjaro or Arusha to Zanzibar are straightforward. Let us know if you would like a beach extension quoted alongside this safari.
Send us your dates and group size and we will reply with a tailored quote within 24 hours.
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