Day 1 Arrival in Arusha

You will be picked up from the airport  and driven to your accommodation in Arusha. Depending on your arrival time, you will hopefully have time to relax and prepare for the adventure of a lifetime. Arusha is nestled into the foothills of Mt. Meru, Africa’s 5^th highest mountain.  The altitude gives the city a comfortable climate and lush green environment for many months of the year. Arusha is known as the safari capital of Tanzania. Its streets are full of hustle and bustle and the surrounding villages offer opportunities to meander around coffee plantations, meet local people and more.

Day 2 Tarangire National Park

Your Lion King Safari guide will collect you from your accommodation after breakfast. You will then drive to Tarangire National Park, your first taste of the wilderness on your luxury safari. This transit drive is approximately two and a half hours on good tarmac roads. The Park is named after the Tarangire River which runs through it. This ‘river of warthogs’ is the only source of water for wildlife in the region during the dry season. The Park is famous for its herds of elephant that you may see meandering through the bush.  During the dry season, you may see them congregating at the river to enjoy a drink or just to cool off from the hot sun. Apart from elephants, Tarangire is also a paradise for bird lovers.  From parrots, hornbill, lovebirds and lilac breasted rollers to kori bustards, eagles and vultures. Lunch will be at a picnic site inside the Park. After your game drive, you will transit to your luxury accommodation in Karatu.

Day 3 Ngorongoro Crater to Serengeti

After breakfast, you will drive up into the cooler regions of Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA). NCA covers more than 8,000 km² (3,200 square miles) and includes Ngorongoro Crater, Ndutu, Olduvai Gorge, Empakaai & Olmoti Craters and Oldoinyo Lengai Mountain.  The spectacular Ngorongoro Crater is the main feature of this area.  Around 3 million years ago a volcano (estimated to be larger than Kilimanjaro) exploded and collapsed in on itself, forming what is technically known as a ‘Caldera’.  It created a unique ecosystem with a wide variety of habitats and potable water. This special habitat means that today, Ngorongoro Crater is home to some of the densest large mammal populations in Africa. The Crater also offers the best chance of seeing the endangered black Rhino.  The Crater is approximately 20km (12.5 miles in diameter) so viewing opportunities are plentiful and regular. Most guests find that 4 hours is normally enough inside the Crater. You will then transit through Ngorongoro Conservation Area, to the Serengeti, entering at the Southern edge of the Park. Dinner and overnight will be in Central Serengeti.

Day 4 Serengeti to Karatu.

The Serengeti is truly spectacular. It is famous for its vast open grasslands which allow for excellent sightings of wildlife. The Serengeti’s climate and vegetation have remained largely untouched for millions of years. Whilst it boasts abundant wildlife, it is perhaps best known for the annual Great Migration. Vast numbers of wildebeest; accompanied by large numbers of zebra and antelope move in an annual pattern, constantly seeking fresh grazing. The migration can be found during any given month; you just need to know where to look! The question should really be about the ‘best places’ to see the animals during a certain time of year. In addition to the iconic landscapes, you have a good chance of encountering predators, and you may see lion, cheetah and leopard. It is a truly life-changing experience.

In the afternoon, you will start your journey back to Karatu, hopefully enjoying more wonder on the way!

Day 5 Lake Manyara National Park to Arusha

After breakfast, you will drive to Lake Manyara National Park, a small but diverse park 120km west of Arusha. Manyara will be the last Park you visit on your luxury safari. Everything you’ll see here is on a different scale. It is both compact (this is one of the narrowest parks in Africa) and epic (the Great Rift Escarpment towers over Lake Manyara’s western boundary). The park’s namesake is a shallow, salt lake. It covers a large area of the park, flooding and drying with the seasons and is home to thousands of wading birds (including flamingos and over 500 other bird species). You may see baboon and elephant in the park’s thick evergreen forest and watch for the tree-climbing lions that have become famous throughout Africa.

Picnic lunch in the park. After your game drive, you will say farewell to your Guide and will be dropped off at a place of your choosing e.g. Arusha, Kilimanjaro Airport or Arusha Airport. We hope you have enjoyed your adventure.