Book this 4 Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro Safari in Tanzania to have a short but rewarding wildlife experience in two of Africa’s most famous safari destinations. The Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park are world-class natural wonders. During this 4 Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro Safari you will venture to the depths of the enormous caldera of Ngorongoro, a wildlife hotbed that is unlike anywhere else on Earth, before heading to Serengeti, home to the Masai people and world’s greatest concentration of wildlife.
Highlights
- Discover the lush wildlife-filled landscape of Ngorongoro Crater with game drives in this ‘Garden of Eden’ without doubt one of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders.
- Stay in the heart of Tanzania’s oldest national park, the Serengeti.
- Explore timeless East Africa where endless savanna, bursting with predators and prey, offers the ultimate safari experience.
Details
Day 1: Arusha / Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Welcome to Tanzania. This 4 Day Serengeti &Ngorongoro Safari starts at hotel in Arusha at 8am. Alternatively, you can be met at Kilimanjaro International Airport if you arrive before 9am. This will allow enough time for you to transfer to Ngorongoro Crater (about 4-5 hour drive). You will enjoy an afternoon game drive when you arrive.
Widely considered a microcosm of natural habitats in Africa and often hyped as a veritable Garden of Eden. The ash from the huge volcano that collapsed here created fertile soil that encouraged rich savanna grasslands, which now support some of the largest herds of hoofed animals in the world. This of course attracts numerous predators and birdlife.
Within the crater lies so many types of ecosystem, including open plains, freshwater, alkaline lakes and riverine forests. The scenery is spectacular as you descend almost 600m down to the crater floor. There is every chance you’ll see a variety of wildlife in this compact area- hopefully you’ll see some or all of the ‘Big 5’ animals that rule here
Animals in Ngorongoro Crater are less shy of people and safari vehicles, so it’s easier to see them up close. The Masai People are allowed to water their cattle at the permanent lake and can be seen leading their animals in and out of the crater.
The most frequently seen animals are the lion, elephants, wildebeest, zebra, eland, bushbuck, cheetah, jackal, buffalo, gazelles. You may even catch a glimpse of the highly endangered black rhinos.
Accommodation Options
Luxury: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge/The Highlands
Midrange: Rhotia Valley Tented Lodge
Included Activities
- Ngorongoro Crater – 4WD Game Drive
Meals Included
- Lunch
- Dinner
Day 2: Serengeti National Park
This morning you will leave the mighty Ngorongoro crater behind and drive to the legendary Serengeti National Park. You will enjoy a game drive on your way to your accommodation, watching the landscape change within the national park from the vast treeless central plains to thick scrub and forest in the north.
Linking these areas is the savanna, dotted with acacia trees and magnificent rock outcrops. You may tour the Simba Kopjes, an outcrop favoured by lion and cheetah as high perches and a place to hide their cubs, and they can often be seen basking in the morning sun on top. (Simba is Swahili for lion and kopje Afrikaans for – little head).
You will stop for a picnic lunch on the drive from Ngorongoro Conservation area to the Serengeti. Enjoy the comfort of a tented camp or lodge within the national park.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Serengeti Sopa Lodge/Serengeti Serena Lodge
Midrange: Serengeti Kati Kati Camp
Included Activities
- Serengeti National Park – 4×4 Vehicles
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Day 3: Serengeti National Park
The ‘Endless Plains’ of Serengeti National Park span some 14,700 km2 and capture the essence of Africa, with their main claim to fame the 3 million or so animals that make their home here.
Huge numbers of grazing animals and numerous predators can be seen – wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, gazelle, lion, cheetah, warthog, hyena, hippo, crocodile, Jackals, bat-eared fox, and ostrich – and the interaction between the many species often provides some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in the world.
Today you will start around sunrise for a morning game drive and follow that up later on with an afternoon game drive, as the animals tend to be more active in the cooler hours of the day. You will usually return to camp during the hotter hours in the middle of the day, where you will enjoy a hearty meal, relax and maybe take a siesta.
Depending on wildlife movements and opportunities for sightings, the drive may continue through lunch and last all day. In this case, you will return to the camp in the late afternoon.
Optional Activity:
There is also an opportunity for a balloon ride over Serengeti plains today. If you have pre-booked this activity you will be picked up before dawn and driven to the launch site.
After a safety briefing, you’ll glide through the dawn, sometimes at tree height, which provides amazing photo opportunities. Sometimes you’ll ascend, getting an overview of the enormity of the plains and the early morning movements of the teeming herds. After landing, you will be treated to a five-star bush breakfast, then be returned to your camp or lodge.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Serengeti Sopa Lodge/Serengeti Serena Lodge
Midrange: Serengeti Kati Kati Camp
Included Activities
- Serengeti National Park – 4×4 Vehicles
Optional Activities
- Serengeti National Park – Balloon Ride (from price) – USD745
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Special Information
The balloon ride is offered as a pre-booked service which will guarantee you a place. If you would rather wait and try to get a better price by booking this locally on the ground, you are welcome to, but keep in mind that this is a popular activity and places are limited.
Day 4: Arusha
On the final day of our 4 Day Serengeti and Ngorongoro Safari, we will depart Serengeti National Park and head back to Arusha (approximately 8 hours), where this safari short breaks comes to an end. Please do not book any international flights before 8pm.
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
End Of The Safari
Inclusions
Meals
- 3 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners
Transport
- 4×4 vehicle
Accommodation
- Lodge (1 night), Permanent tented camp (2 nights)
Included activities
- Ngorongoro Crater – 4WD Game Drive
- Serengeti National Park – 4×4 Vehicles
Essential Safari Information
Important Notes
- This Short Break starts at a hotel in Arusha at 8am. It may be required that you overnight in Arusha the day before the safari. Alternatively, you can arrange pick-up from Kilimanjaro International Airport if you arrive prior to 9am.
- This safari starts in Arusha / Ngorongoro Conservation Area on Day 1 at 8am. This allows time after the welcome meeting to explore Arusha / Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This trip finishes upon arrival in Arusha on Day 4. Please do not book any flights until after 8pm this evening.
Passports, Visas And Entry Requirements
E-Visa
An E-Visa can be obtained at https://visa.immigration.go.tz/.
While most applications are approved within two weeks, we recommend allowing extra time to ensure you have received your visa before departure.
Should you require a letter of invitation or list of hotel confirmations for your application, please contact us, and we will issue one tailored to your specific tour and departure.
Visa On Arrival
It is possible to obtain a single-entry Tanzania tourist visa at any one of the following main entry points, subject to the fulfilment of all immigration and health requirements:
- Dar es Salaam International Airport
- Zanzibar International Airport
- Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA)
- Namanga Entry Point (Tanzania-Kenya border point)
- Kasumulu Border crossing
- Isebania Border crossing (Sirari Border)
Visas on arrival cost between $50 USD and $100 USD, depending on your passport nationality. Be prepared to pay with cash in US dollars in case connectivity issues make electronic transactions impossible.
We recommend all travellers obtain an e-visa in advance as Visa processes at both Kilimanjaro International Airport and land border crossings can take some time,
If obtaining a visa on arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be required to:
- Queue for a Government Control Number
- Queue to pay for this at the bank
- Queue for Immigration to check and issue the visa
