An extraordinary journey through contrasting landscapes with excellent opportunities for game viewing. Lake Manyara features early in the itinerary. This unusual park lies in the shadow of the Great Rift Valley whose reddish brown escarpment wall looms on the eastern horizon. The park is particularly known for its tree-climbing lions, who may be seen sleeping off the heat of the day on a branch instead of a shady spot
on the ground.

Then onto the world-famous Serengeti National Park. Serengeti means ‘endless plain’ in the Masai language. Here there are vast open savannahs dotted with acacia trees and a few rocky hillocks. The Serengeti is Tanzania's largest and best-known national park, with a massive concentration of migratory animals who move around the park according to the availability of food.

The Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest unbroken volcanic caldera whose steep sides form a natural enclosure for a wide variety of wildlife. An estimated 25,000 animals, including the ‘big five’ inhabit the interior of the crater.


Day 1: Sunday - Depart
Fly from Heathrow on Kenya Airways overnight to Nairobi.

Day 2: Monday - Arusha
Fly to Kilimanjaro airport. Transfer to Serena Mountain Village (approximately 45 minutes), a haven of calm and serenity away from the hustle and bustle of Arusha. Overnight: Serena Mountain Village (lunch and dinner included).

Day 3: Tuesday - Lake Manyara
After breakfast drive to Lake Manyara National Park, famous for its tree-climbing lions (150 km – approximately 2 hours 30 minutes). Your lodge commands panoramic views across the floor of the Great Rift Valley. Here you have time to relax before an afternoon game drive. Overnight: Lake Manyara Serena Lodge (breakfast, lunch and dinner included).

Day 4: Wednesday - Serengeti
Drive to the world-famous Serengeti National Park with game viewing en route (235 km – approximately 5 hours). Overnight: Serengeti Serena Lodge (breakfast, lunch and dinner included).

Day 5: Thursday - Serengeti
Enjoy an early morning game drive followed by breakfast at the lodge. Or take an early morning balloon flight over the Serengeti followed by a ‘bubbly’ bush breakfast (optional extra). Later enjoy an afternoon game drive. Overnight: Serengeti Serena Lodge (breakfast, lunch and dinner included).

Day 6: Friday - Ngorongoro Crater
Drive to the Ngorongoro Crater via Olduvai Gorge (200 km – approximately 4 hours). Lunch at your lodge which is perched on the jagged rim of the Crater. The afternoon is at leisure. Overnight: Ngorongoro Serena Lodge (breakfast, lunch and dinner included).

Day 7: Saturday - Ngorongoro Crater
Drive down into the Crater for a half-day of game viewing. This extinct volcano plays host to wildebeest, zebras, buffaloes, gazelles, elephants, rhinos and big cats. Visit a local Masai village (time permitting). Overnight: Ngorongoro Serena Lodge (breakfast, lunch and dinner included).

Day 8: Sunday - Beach or return
Return to Arusha (200 km – approximately 3.5 hours). Lunch at a local restaurant. Transfer to the airport and proceed with your chosen beach extension, or return to Heathrow via Nairobi (breakfast and lunch included).


Notes
This itinerary operates in 4x4 safari vehicles with a maximum of 6 passengers, all guaranteed a window seat.
On occasion the itinerary may operate in a different order, or different lodges used according to availability and road conditions.
Travel times vary on road conditions and game sightings.
Pack a mixture of warm and light clothing in soft bags, plus sunglasses, camera and insect repellent.