8-Day Royal Wildlife Safari

Tarangire, two days in the Serengeti, a night on the crater rim and Lake Manyara, staying in Meliá lodges.

8 days Luxury Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Lake Manyara From $5,250 per person

8-Day Royal Wildlife Safari · 8 days

Package Overview

A complete tour of the Northern Circuit with time in every park and some of the best lodges in each. You start with Tarangire's elephants and baobabs, spend two full days in the Serengeti, sleep on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater before a full day on its floor, and finish at Lake Manyara, known for its flamingos and tree-climbing lions. It's an unhurried route with early starts when they count and good lodges to come back to.

Highlights

Baobabs over 1,000 years old in Tarangire
Two full days in the Serengeti
A night on the Ngorongoro Crater rim
Tree-climbing lions at Lake Manyara
Bush breakfast on a sunrise game drive

Route map

Day 1 Kilimanjaro International Airport → Day 2 Tarangire National Park → Day 3-4 Central Serengeti (Seronera) → Day 5-6 Ngorongoro Crater → Day 7 Lake Manyara National Park → Day 8 Kilimanjaro International Airport

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1 • Arrival in Arusha

Arusha

We meet you at Kilimanjaro International Airport and drive you to your hotel in Arusha to rest and get ready for the safari.

Day 1 Accommodation, Arusha Meal Plan: Bed and breakfast

Where you'll stay:

Gran Meliá Arusha or similar

Day 2 • Arusha to Tarangire

Tarangire

Pickup at about 8am for the 2.5-hour drive to Tarangire, famous for its elephant herds and baobab trees, some over a thousand years old. Zebra, giraffe, buffalo, lion and cheetah are common too. Picnic lunch by the Tarangire River and a game drive until evening.

Day 2 Accommodation, Lake Manyara Meal Plan: Full board

Where you'll stay:

Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge or similar

Day 3 • Into the Serengeti

Serengeti

Climb into the Ngorongoro highlands and stop at the crater viewpoint for 15 minutes or so, then descend onto the Serengeti plains with a game drive all the way. Picnic lunch in the park and an afternoon drive until sunset.

Day 3 Accommodation, Central Serengeti Meal Plan: Full board

Where you'll stay:

Meliá Serengeti Lodge or similar

Day 4 • Full day in the Serengeti

Serengeti

A full day searching for the Big Five and the more elusive animals like leopard, with a picnic lunch at a scenic spot. In the right months you'll be among the Great Migration herds.

Activity · HOT-AIR BALLOON SAFARI (Optional)

Lift off at dawn for an hour over the Serengeti, followed by a champagne bush breakfast. From $500 per person.

Day 4 Accommodation, Central Serengeti Meal Plan: Full board

Where you'll stay:

Meliá Serengeti Lodge or similar

Day 5 • Sunrise drive and the crater rim

Crater rim

Up before sunrise for a game drive while it's still cool and the animals are active, with a full breakfast in the bush around 10am. Then game drive out of the Serengeti to your lodge on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater.

Activity · SUNDOWNER (Optional)

Drinks and snacks at a viewpoint as the sun goes down. From $50 per person.

Day 5 Accommodation, Ngorongoro Crater rim Meal Plan: Full board

Where you'll stay:

Ngorongoro Lodge, Meliá Collection or similar

Day 6 • Ngorongoro Crater

Black rhino

Descend to the crater floor for a full day: lion, hyena, elephants with huge tusks and critically endangered black rhino, all in a single volcanic bowl. Lunch at the hippo pool picnic site.

Day 6 Accommodation, Lake Manyara Meal Plan: Full board

Where you'll stay:

Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge or similar

Day 7 • Lake Manyara

Lake Manyara

A short drive to Lake Manyara National Park, home to flamingos, more than 400 bird species, big elephant herds and the famous tree-climbing lions. Lunch on the lakeshore, then drive back to Arusha for the night.

Day 7 Accommodation, Arusha Meal Plan: Full board

Where you'll stay: