Savannah Spirit Safari – 6 Days: Arusha, Tarangire, Lake Manyara & Ngorongoro Crater

Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and receive a warm Karibu sana welcome from your professional Pita Safaris driver-guide. Enjoy a scenic drive to Arusha, Tanzania’s safari gateway, taking in lush coffee farms, banana plantations, and iconic red-soil landscapes. Depending on your arrival time, unwind at your lodge, enjoy a relaxing stroll through Arusha’s craft markets, or visit a local café to soak in the vibrant city atmosphere. Tonight, settle in with a delicious dinner and prepare for the adventure ahead.

Highlights:

• Private airport transfer (~55 km | ~1 hour)
• Scenic drive through northern Tanzania’s agricultural heartland
• Arrival evening at your lodge with sunset views

Optional Experiences:

• Explore Arusha’s craft markets
• Visit a local cultural center

Accommodation Options:

• Midrange: Kibo Palace Hotel
• Upper Midrange: Arusha Serena Hotel
• Luxury: Gran Melia Arusha

After breakfast, embark on a morning game drive in Arusha National Park, a compact gem known for its diversity of landscapes including forested slopes, grassy plains, and small lakes. Spot giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, and a variety of vibrant bird species. Pause for a picnic lunch or enjoy a meal prepared at your lodge before returning to Arusha in the late afternoon. Capture playful monkeys along the forest trails or simply relax at your accommodation.

Highlights:

• Morning and afternoon game drives (~55 km | ~1 hour each way)
• Giraffes, zebras, and buffalo sightings
• Birdwatching and monkey spotting along forested slopes

Optional Experiences:

• Guided birdwatching walk
• Visit the Ngurdoto Crater viewpoint

Accommodation Options:

• Midrange: Kibo Palace Hotel
• Upper Midrange: Arusha Serena Hotel
• Luxury: Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge

Drive south to Tarangire National Park (~130 km | 2–3 hours), famed for its massive elephant herds, iconic baobab trees, and abundant wildlife. Spend the day on morning and afternoon game drives tracking lions, giraffes, zebras, and wildebeest. Pause at the Tarangire River to watch elephants bathe and enjoy a picnic lunch amidst the park’s golden landscapes. As the sun sets, marvel at the baobabs silhouetted against the fiery sky before heading to your lodge.

Highlights:

• Full-day game drives in Tarangire
• Iconic baobab trees and elephant herds
• Sunset photography opportunities

Optional Experiences:

• Guided photography safari
• Bush walk around lodge area

Accommodation Options:

• Midrange: Tarangire Safari Lodge
• Upper Midrange: Tarangire Sopa Lodge
• Luxury: Tarangire Kuro Treetops Lodge

After breakfast, depart for Lake Manyara National Park (~120 km | 3–4 hours), famous for its tree-climbing lions, flamingo-filled soda lake, and lush green landscapes. Arrive for an afternoon game drive spotting elephants, hippos, giraffes, and the park’s incredible birdlife. End the day with a panoramic sunset view over the Rift Valley from your lodge, perfect for photography and quiet reflection.

Highlights:

• Afternoon game drive in Manyara
• Flamingos and tree-climbing lions
• Panoramic Rift Valley vistas

Optional Experiences:

• Guided walking safari along the lake
• Birdwatching tour near lodge

Accommodation Options:

• Midrange: Lake Manyara Tortillis camp
• Upper Midrange: Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge
• Luxury: Escarpment Luxury Lodge

Start the morning with a guided walking safari in Manyara to explore woodland and savannah ecosystems on foot, observing birds, monkeys, and smaller wildlife. After breakfast, drive through scenic landscapes toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (~150 km | 4–5 hours), stopping at local villages if desired for a cultural encounter. Arrive at your lodge on the crater rim for stunning views of Africa’s largest intact volcanic caldera.

Highlights:

• Walking safari and wildlife encounters
• Scenic drive to Ngorongoro
• Panoramic views of the crater rim

Optional Experiences:

• Visit Maasai villages en route
• Stop at a local market or viewpoint

Accommodation Options:

• Midrange: Ngorongoro Farm House
• Upper Midrange: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
• Luxury: The Manor at Ngorongoro

Rise early for a half-day game drive inside Ngorongoro Crater, one of Africa’s most iconic wildlife destinations. Spot elephants, lions, hippos, buffalo, and the rare black rhino across the crater floor. Pause for a picnic lunch near the hippo pool before ascending the crater rim. Continue your journey to Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your departure flight, leaving with memories of Tanzania’s breathtaking landscapes and wildlife.

Highlights:

• Half-day Ngorongoro Crater safari
• Big Five sightings in one ecosystem
• Picnic lunch beside the hippo pool