6-Day Duma Safari – Highlands to Savannah

Distance: ~55 km | Drive Time: ~1 hour

Welcome to Tanzania! Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA), a Pita Safaris representative will greet you with a warm smile and transfer you to your midrange hotel in Arusha. Kibo Palace Hotel offers a peaceful retreat to rest after your flight, complete with lush gardens, a refreshing pool, and spacious ensuite rooms.

Depending on your arrival time, you can explore the city of Arusha, often called the gateway to Tanzania’s safari circuit. Optional activities include visiting a local coffee plantation, the Maasai market, or simply relaxing before your exciting journey begins.

Enjoy your first taste of Tanzanian hospitality over a welcome dinner. Your guide will brief you about the adventure ahead.

Drive Time: ~130 km | ~2.5 hours
After breakfast, depart Arusha for the lush, underrated gem of Lake Manyara National Park, where groundwater forests, soda lakes, and escarpment cliffs create a unique ecosystem. This park is famed for its tree-climbing lions, large flocks of flamingos, and massive troops of baboons.

Enjoy a scenic game drive beneath the towering Rift Valley escarpment, spotting elephants among the fig trees, hippos in the lake shallows, and colorful birdlife throughout. Lunch will be a packed bush-style meal enjoyed inside the park.

In the afternoon, continue wildlife viewing along the lake shores before heading to your midrange lodge perched on the escarpment. Kirurumu Manyara Lodge offers panoramic views of the valley below and cozy tented rooms with ensuite bathrooms and hot showers.

Drive Time: ~220 km | ~5–6 hours (including game drive en route)
After an early breakfast, set off on a scenic journey through the Ngorongoro Highlands toward Serengeti National Park, one of Africa’s most iconic safari destinations. Along the way, you’ll pass traditional Maasai villages and stunning highland vistas.

Upon reaching the Serengeti, enjoy a game drive en route to camp, searching for giraffes, gazelles, and the elusive cheetah. Depending on the time of year, you may witness part of the Great Migration—a breathtaking sight of wildebeest and zebras moving in search of greener pastures.

Your accommodation tonight is the intimate Serengeti Heritage Camp, located in the heart of the park. This midrange tented camp offers ensuite tents with comfortable beds and authentic safari ambiance. Unwind by the campfire after dinner as hyenas laugh in the distance and lions roar under the stars.

Drive Time: ~150 km | ~3–4 hours
Rise with the sun for a morning game drive across the golden Serengeti plains. Early morning is prime time to see predators on the hunt—keep your eyes peeled for lions, leopards, hyenas, and vultures circling above.

After a hearty bush breakfast, continue toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with wildlife viewing along the way. You’ll ascend to the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, one of the world’s largest unbroken calderas and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Settle in at Ang’ata Ngorongoro Camp, nestled near the crater rim. This eco-friendly tented camp offers the perfect blend of comfort and proximity to tomorrow’s crater exploration. The cool highland air and views from your tented room are truly unforgettable.

Drive Time: ~170 km | ~4–5 hours including game drive

Wake early and descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a half-day game drive. This natural wildlife sanctuary is home to some of the highest densities of lions and black rhinos in East Africa. Watch herds of wildebeest, zebras, buffaloes, and elephants roam across the crater floor, while hippos wallow in freshwater pools.

After a picnic lunch near the Hippo Pool, ascend the crater wall and begin your drive to Tarangire National Park, a park known for its giant baobab trees and massive elephant herds.

Check into Lake Burunge Tented Lodge, a midrange camp located just outside the park with stunning lake views. Enjoy a sundowner on your verandah and a delicious dinner under the stars.

Drive Time: ~130 km | ~3 hours
Drop-Off: Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA)

This morning, enjoy a final game drive in Tarangire National Park, where elephants roam freely among ancient baobabs and dry riverbeds attract lions, leopards, and countless birds. It’s the perfect peaceful farewell to your Tanzania safari.

After brunch, your guide will transfer you to Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) for your onward flight. If you have a late flight, optional add-ons like a cultural village visit or day room in Arusha can be arranged.