Touch down at JRO, rest in Arusha, then dive deep into the Serengeti with two full days of big-cat action. Day 4 includes a hot-air balloon flight at dawn (this package only), followed by rich game drives. Continue to the Ngorongoro Crater for a full-day descent before a final flourish in the bird-rich forests of Lake Manyara. Private 4×4, expert guide, and handpicked midrange lodges/tented camps.
Purpose-built for deep time in the Serengeti, a full-day crater descent, and a calm finale in Manyara. Lodges may vary by availability.
Land at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and meet your private guide for a warm welcome and trip briefing. Transfer to Summit Safari Lodge in Arusha to decompress after the flight. With a half-board plan, dinner is included, leaving the evening free to relax by the garden or pool. If time allows, your guide can help with currency exchange or a quick stop for essentials. Rest up: tomorrow the plains await.
Overnight: Summit Safari Lodge (HB), Arusha.
After breakfast, drive across the Great Rift and through the Ngorongoro highlands to Naabi Hill Gate. Enter the Serengeti and begin game-driving immediately, working productive loops around the Seronera River and classic granite kopjes. Expect resident lions, leopards in riverine trees, and cheetahs scanning short-grass for gazelles. We prioritize patience and positioning over chasing radio callouts for a more natural rhythm at sightings.
Overnight: Serengeti Safari Haven or Serengeti Tortilis Camp (central).
Dawn-to-dusk exploration of central Serengeti. Begin with first-light circuits along the river lines (prime for predators and active herbivores), then push out to the open plains by mid-morning. Glass Moru and smaller kopje systems for lion prides and sunning leopards. After a picnic in a scenic spot, continue through mixed habitats for elephants, giraffes, buffalo, and abundant plains game. Golden-hour photography on the way back to camp caps the day under star-rich skies.
Overnight: Same camp (central Serengeti).
Before dawn, transfer to the launch site for your included hot-air balloon safari — a serene, panoramic glide over the Serengeti as the sun lifts the horizon. On landing, celebrate with a bush breakfast. Rejoin your guide and spend the rest of the day on game drives, tailoring routes to recent movements and your interests. Expect relaxed big-cat viewing, elephant families, and sweeping vistas over the central plains. Return to camp at sunset for a fireside evening.
Overnight: Same camp (central Serengeti).
Enjoy an unhurried morning drive to round out your Serengeti wish-list, followed by an early lunch. Exit via Naabi and traverse the highlands with a cultural stop at a Maasai boma to learn about pastoral traditions and daily life (entrance fee may apply). Continue to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and settle at your rim-area tented camp, where cooler air and dramatic views set the evening tone.
Overnight: Ngorongoro Tortilis Camp or Ngorongoro Angata Camp.
Early gate formalities then descend ~600 m into the Ngorongoro Crater. High wildlife densities and permanent water make this one of Africa’s most reliable single-day game experiences. We explore Lerai woodland, open soda flats, and marsh edges for lion, hyena, elephant, buffalo and — with luck — black rhino, alongside abundant birdlife. After a generous session within permit limits, ascend the rim in the afternoon and drive to Lake Manyara, arriving for a restful evening.
Overnight: Lake Manyara Tortilis Camp.
Half-day exploration of Lake Manyara National Park: groundwater forest, hot springs, and lakeshore scenes that often host flamingos (water-level dependent). Look for elephants, blue monkeys, abundant birdlife, and tree-climbing lions (rare but possible). After a picnic lunch, drive to Arusha or JRO for your onward flight. Drop-off timing depends on flight schedule and park regulations on the day.
Notes: This is a driving safari; all game drives are on established roads/tracks.