5-Day Private Ngorongoro & Manyara Safari: A Tailored Wildlife Adventure

The private Ngorongoro & Manyara Safari starts from Arusha, which is the gateway to the Northern Circuit of Tanzania. For this safari, you will be picked up from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) by Tanzanian Safari Guides. They will receive you and drive you to an Arusha midrange hotel about an hour's drive from the airport. While there, you can expect warm hospitality and spend the evening acclimating in order to enjoy the upcoming adventures. Dinner will be at the hotel with a combination of local Tanzanian and international food. After dinner, you will have a briefing which includes an overview of the guide, itinerary, vehicle, expectations, and way forward for the Safari ensuring all questions are answered. You will then retire to your elegantly furnished room early.

Accommodation: Arusha Planet Lodge or similar.

Enjoy an early breakfast before your 4x4 departs from Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park. The drive is 2.5 hours long and offers breathtaking views of Tanzania’s countryside. Manyara Lake is set at the base of the Great Rift Valley and is famous for the tree climbing lions, of which Manyara National Park hosts some, as well as for the diverse ecosystems found within. After arriving, you will enjoy a private guided afternoon game drive to look for baboons, giraffes and large groups of flamingoes. Your guide will explain every detail of the park’s biology and will show you from up close many of its wonders. Upon arrival of sunset, you will check in at Tloma Lodge, where you will be provided with a cozy room. Tloma Lodge offers beautiful gardens, cozy rooms, and breathtaking views of the Ngorongoro Highlands. Dinner will be of gourmet quality, and will be followed by a briefing of next day’s activities allowing you to rest surrounded by the park’s gentle sounds.

Accommodation: Tloma lodge or similar.

Wake up early for private game drives in Lake Manyara National Park. This starts with a morning drive at sunrise to catch any wildlife that might be out and about. Because you're in a private vehicle, you can traverse the park's wide range of terrains, from open savannas to groundwater forests, all with the potential of sighting elephants, hippos, and the park's famous lions that climb trees. Depending on your needs, your guide will share fun facts tailored to you, be it on photography, birdwatching, or spotting specific animals. Relish a bush breakfast in a safe, scenic area surrounded by the park’s beauty, then continue your drive to further explore. Later, enjoy a picnic lunch by the lake before continuing your game drive; this time, focusing on the hottest birdwatching spots or riverbeds teeming with wildlife. Afterward, return to TLoma Lodge, where a relaxing evening awaits complete with gourmet dinner, and time journaling or stargazing while reflecting on the day’s adventures.

Accommodation: Tloma Lodge or similar.

Have breakfast and depart for Lake Manyara, head to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and enjoy a two hour private 4x4 drive through the beautiful Tanzanian highlands. Arrive to your lodge near the crater rim to have lunch while enjoying the breathtaking views. In the afternoon you will descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for being Africa’s “Garden of Eden” and having dense wildlife for centuries. In your private game drive you will see black rhinos, lions, and flamingos set in lush forests and soda lakes. Your guide will adjust to skim over your preferred activities whether you want ample comments on the crater’s unique ecosystem or to capture the Big Five photobombing your pictures. Enjoy a peaceful moment with Nature while having picnic lunch by a hippo pool, a breathtaking sight in itself. Drive back while having a gourmet dinner from your midrange lodge, reflecting on the incredible views and memories captured throughout these long drive filled days.

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge or similar.

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After breakfast, you can partake in an activity of your choice in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Options include a private short game drive in the crater for wildlife viewing and guided visits to nearby Maasai villages (extra charge) for learning sessions on their culture and crafts. You will be transferred to Arusha which is 5 hours away by private 4x4 vehicle. The trip includes a stop at a craft market where you can buy souvenirs such as beaded Maasai crafts and Tanzanite jewelry. You will get to Arusha in the early afternoon and have lunch at a local restaurant while reflecting on your safari with the guide. From there, you will be driven to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your flight, all the while cherishing the memories of Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara sodas vibrant ecosystems.