Why this journey is different.
A tight, high-hit-rate Big Five African safari through Tanzania's Northern Circuit, Lake Manyara's tree-climbing lions, the Serengeti National Park, a full day inside the Ngorongoro Crater, and the elephant herds of Tarangire. Private 4x4 and licensed Tanzanian head guide throughout.
Moments you will remember.
- 1★ Full day inside the Ngorongoro Crater
- 2★ Serengeti National Park game drives
- 3★ Tree-climbing lions at Lake Manyara
- 4★ Tarangire's baobabs and huge elephant herds
Your itinerary.
- 1. Lake Manyara
- 2. Serengeti
- 3. Ngorongoro
- 4. Tarangire NP
- Day 1Arusha → Tarangire National Park
Arrival transfer from Kilimanjaro or Arusha and an afternoon game drive in Tarangire among ancient baobabs and enormous elephant herds. Overnight at a lodge on the escarpment.
- Day 2Tarangire → Lake Manyara
A slow morning drive in Tarangire, then a transfer to Lake Manyara for an afternoon in the ground-water forest looking for the park's famous tree-climbing lions and flamingo shorelines.
- Day 3Lake Manyara → Serengeti National Park
Scenic drive up onto the Serengeti plains, vast horizons and immediate wildlife on arrival. Afternoon game drive as the light softens across the savannah.
- Day 4Serengeti → Ngorongoro Crater rim
A morning of Serengeti drives (migration in season), then a transfer to a lodge perched on the Ngorongoro Crater rim with one of the best views on the African continent.
- Day 5Ngorongoro Crater → Arusha
A full morning inside the caldera floor, black rhino, lion prides, hippo pools and the highest density of predators anywhere in Africa. Ascend by afternoon and transfer to Arusha for onward flights.
- Private guided game drives in an open-roof 4x4 Land Cruiser
- All park & conservancy entry fees
- Airport meet-and-greet and all ground transfers
- Full board, meals and drinking water throughout
- Bottled water, sundowners and picnic lunches on drive days
- 24/7 in-country concierge on WhatsApp
- All Tanzania park and Ngorongoro Crater fees
- International flights
- Kenya / Tanzania e-Visa (we help you apply)
- Personal travel insurance
- Gratuities for guides and camp staff
- Optional balloon safaris and spa treatments
Scenes from this journey.
Photographs from our own guests and guides on this exact route. Tap any image to view full-screen, swipe to browse.
Everything packed, nothing guessed.
This is the same preparation brief we send every confirmed guest on the 5-Day Big 5 Tanzania Safari, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Manyara & Tarangire, written from fifteen years of running these parks ourselves. Read it now and you will already know exactly what your safari asks of you.
What to wear on safari
Neutral, breathable fabrics photograph better and keep wildlife relaxed. Skip bright white, neon and anything camouflage, camouflage is restricted in Kenya and Tanzania.
- Long trousers2 to 3
One zip-off pair is ideal for long game drives
- Shorts2
Knee-length, for warm midday hours
- Long-sleeve shirts3
Your best defence against sun and insects
- T-shirts2
Quick-dry fabric, our laundry turnaround is same-day at most lodges
- Fleece or light jacket1
Mara and Amboseli mornings start cold in an open roof 4x4
- Windbreaker1
Waterproof if you travel April, May or November
- Hat, beanie or scarf1 each
Beanie for dawn, wide-brim hat for the equator sun
- Walking shoes1 pair
Closed and comfortable for Hell's Gate and Crescent Island walks
- Sandals1 pair
For camp, lodge decks and pool time
Stay well, so nothing interrupts the wildlife
Our vehicles carry a stocked first-aid kit and every guide is first-aid certified, but personal medication is yours to bring.
- Repellent with DEET or picaridin
- Long sleeves for evenings around the fire
- Calamine or hydrocortisone cream
- Anti-malarial tablets, started before you fly
- Prescription medication for the full trip, in original packaging
- Painkillers, allergy tablets, plasters, antiseptic
- Rehydration sachets, the equator sun is deceptive
- Motion sickness tablets for murram park roads
- Eye drops, sanitiser, tweezers
Paperwork we double-check before you board
Once your dates are confirmed we send a personal checklist and verify your visa and park-entry requirements ourselves.
- Passport valid 6+ months beyond travel
- Kenya or Tanzania e-visa, we send the exact link
- Vaccination certificate where required
- Travel insurance including medical evacuation
- Emergency contact list, ours included
- Photocopies plus a cloud backup
- USD notes printed after 2009, small bills for tips
- Split your cash across two secure places
- Leave heavy jewellery at home, travel quietly
- M-Pesa and card work in Nairobi, carry cash for the parks
- Save your insurer's 24/7 line in your phone and on paper. We keep a copy in the vehicle file too.
We plan around the youngest and the eldest guest
Tell us who is travelling and we adjust drive lengths, seating and meal timing before you arrive, not on the road.
- Daypack with snacks, wipes, sunscreen and games
- Offline films and music, lodge Wi-Fi is limited
- Child-safe insect repellent
- Enough nappies and formula, stock up in Nairobi
- Tell us allergies early, we brief the lodge kitchens
- Extra prescriptions and a spare pair of glasses
- Tell your guide about mobility needs, we reseat and shorten drives
- A portable cushion or cane travels well
- Hydrate often, we pause in shade through midday
We supply the rest: refrigerated drinking water on every drive, binoculars in each vehicle, charging points, a stocked first-aid kit, and a guide who has driven these parks for over a decade. You bring the list above, we bring everything else.
Read us where it counts.
Good to know.
How do I secure my booking?+
A 30% deposit confirms your dates and it is fully refundable up to 30 days before departure. The balance is due on arrival, before your safari begins. All client funds are held in a bonded escrow account.
Can the itinerary be tailored?+
Absolutely. Every trip is designed one-to-one. Extend nights, swap camps, add a honeymoon suite or a helicopter transfer, just ask.
What happens if we need to cancel?+
Free cancellation up to 30 days before departure. Between 30 and 15 days you receive a credit valid for 18 months.
Are your guides KPSGA certified?+
Every head guide holds a minimum silver-level Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association qualification. Most of ours are gold.
