Overview
This 6 days Serengeti and Ngorongoro Big 5 safari is a delightful experience in the northern region of Tanzania. Beginning the safari from Arusha across the vast Serengeti National Park combines game drives and cultural exploration. Embrace this opportunity for a chance to witness the Big 5 in their natural environment. These animals are composed of lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffaloes. An authentic interaction with the Maasai people is good for deep insight into their way of life.
At the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, an opportunity to see the world’s largest caldera is offered. This destination is teeming with the Big 5 and plenty of other unique wild mammals and birds. The 6 days Serengeti and Ngorongoro Big 5 safari ends in Arusha. A guide fluent in English, Swahili or the local languages will be available to drive you from the beginning to end. Transportation will be done in our 4X4 safari landcruiser to ease navigation along the rugged roads in Serengeti and Ngorongoro.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arusha to Central Serengeti. Afternoon Game Drive and Relax at the Lodge
Our guide will pick you up from Arusha for a transfer to the central part of Serengeti National Park, 302km away. Before arriving at your accommodation, you will have lunch on the way and an afternoon game drive. This is the perfect opportunity to see the Big 5 and other mammal and bird species. Hippos, spotted hyenas, and cheetahs among others can also be spotted. Proceed to your accommodation and check in to relax. Your dinner will be served later in the evening. Overnight stay is here.
Day 2: Game Drive in Central Serengeti and Transfer to Northern Serengeti with a Game Drive
In the morning you will have your breakfast before checking out of the comfortable accommodation and doing a morning game drive. Thereafter transfer to the northern part of Serengeti National Park to witness an important corridor for the Great Wildebeest Migration. This is also a great opportunity to encounter the Big 5 animals, wildebeests, gazelles, zebras, spotted hyenas, cheetahs and others. Lunch will be provided as you move towards the Kogatende Ranger Post. Enjoy a much quitter game drive before arriving at your new accommodation. Check in and relax for the rest of the day. Tonight you will have dinner as well as sleep in this part of Serengeti National Park.
Day 3: Full Day Game Drive in North Serengeti
After early morning breakfast head for a full day game drive to see the Big 5 in this Serengeti Mara region. If this tour is happening between June to October, you will witness the annual Great Migration physically. Millions of wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles will be crossing the Mara River into Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Picnic lunch will be suitable for this day as you proceed to spot the Big 5. Other predators like cheetahs, spotted hyenas and crocodiles will be spotted as well. Take photos and return to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Morning Game Drive in North Serengeti and Travel back to Central Serengeti with Game Drives Enroute
In the morning have breakfast and proceed to check out for another game drive in northern Serengeti area. The Big 5 will still be available to see if you did not have enough of them the previous day. Other wildlife species that were absent the previous day might as well show up during this morning game drive. Start the journey back to Central Serengeti with lunch offered along the way. You will go to areas in the central part of Serengeti that you did not explore before. Among them are areas close to Seronera. There are plenty of wild animals there including the Big 5. Check in at your accommodation, relax and spend the night there.
Day 5: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater. Enroute Game Drive in South Serengeti and Optional Masai Village
Take breakfast as soon as you wake up at your accommodation. Start the transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area situated 81 km away. During the transfer, you will enjoy viewing wildlife including members of the Big 5 along the game tracks. Arrive at the Ngorongoro Conservation Area where you will find the Empakai, Olmoti and Ngorongoro craters. This is a place that houses 550 bird species including white storks, saddle-billed stork, hadada ibises, lesser flamingos and western wagtails.
Check in at your accommodation and take this opportunity to refresh yourself. Enjoy some delicious lunch before you proceed to visit a Masai Boma for a chance to meet this peaceful tribe. Have a unique experience involving Masai music, dancing and playing traditional musical instruments. They will also share their stories including how they co-exist with the wildlife of the wilderness. After interacting with the Masai head back to your accommodation for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6: Descend to the Crater for a Sunrise Game Drive. Transfer to Arusha. End of Safari
Try to wake up as early as possible for a game drive in the pristine Ngorongoro Crater. This is one of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders. Now, the game drive at the crater happens after you take some breakfast and check out of the lodge. There is a high chance of seeing the Big 5 animals at the crater. Since the Ngorongoro Crater has the largest concentration of animals in the entire conservation area, there is still plenty to see. Zebras, warthogs, wildebeests and elands are available as well.
Bird species such as flamingos, secretary birds, open billed storks, kori bustards and ostriches are quite common and can be spotted. Stories about the origin of man will be offered since the Olduvai Gorge and the Laetoli footprints are closeby. Take so many photos of the beautiful savannah landscape at the site. Start driving to Arusha, with a nice lunch offered enroute. Drop off will be done at your accommodation or the Arusha International Airport. The 6 days Serengeti and Ngorongoro Big 5 safari comes to an end.