Zanzibar to the Big Five

Your safari adventure begins as you touch down at Arusha Airport, where your expert guide will welcome you with a warm “Karibu!” (Welcome!). A short transfer brings you to Arusha National Park, a hidden gem where rainforests meet alpine meadows.

Choose your perfect introduction to the wild:

• A classic game drive past the shimmering Momella Lakes
• A peaceful canoe safari (+$50) to spot hippos and waterbirds
• A guided walking safari (+$30) through colobus monkey territory

As the sun sets behind Mount Meru, settle into your comfortable room at Arusha Coffee Lodge, where the aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans fills the air.

Arusha Coffee Lodge

Half Board

After breakfast, journey to the extraordinary Lake Manyara National Park. En route, stop at the vibrant Mto Wa Mbu market, where you can browse colorful Maasai crafts and sample fresh tropical fruits.

Enter a world where lions lounge in acacia trees and thousands of flamingos paint the lake pink. Keep your camera ready for:

• The famous tree-climbing lions
• Troops of playful blue monkeys
• Giant kingfishers diving for fish
• Elephants bathing in the shallows

As evening falls, retreat to the Lake Manyara Serena Lodge, perched on the rim of the Great Rift Valley with breathtaking sunset views.

Lake Manyara Serena Lodge

Full Board

Today’s scenic drive takes you through the misty Ngorongoro Highlands before descending into the world-famous Serengeti. Optional stops include:

• Olduvai Gorge (+$25) – where ancient human fossils were discovered
• A traditional Maasai village (+$20) to learn warrior traditions

As you enter the Serengeti, be prepared for your first breathtaking sight of the Great Migration – thousands of wildebeest and zebras moving across the golden plains. Your evening game drive might reveal:

• Lion prides resting after the hunt
• Cheetahs scanning the horizon from termite mounds
• Elephants silhouetted against the sunset

Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge

Full Board

Wake before dawn for a magical sunrise game drive, when predators are most active. Watch as:

• Lions begin their morning patrols.
• Hyenas return to their dens.
• Gazelles test the morning air for danger.

Spend the full day exploring different areas of the Serengeti, following the movement of wildlife. Your expert guide will take you to prime viewing spots where you might witness:

• A leopard dragging its kill up a tree.
• A cheetah teaching her cubs to hunt.
• The dramatic river crossings during migration season.

Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge

Full Board

Descend 600 meters into the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site often called “Africa’s Garden of Eden.” This perfect natural amphitheater is home to:

• The rare black rhinoceros
• Some of Africa’s largest lion prides
• Thousands of flamingos wading in Lake Magadi

Enjoy a picnic lunch by the hippo pool, where you can watch these massive creatures yawn and splash. As you ascend the crater rim in the afternoon, stop at the viewpoint for a final breathtaking panorama.

Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge

Full Board

Your final safari morning takes you to Tarangire National Park, famous for:

• Massive herds of elephants (up to 300 at once!)
• Ancient baobab trees over 1,000 years old
• Rare species like the fringe-eared oryx

After a picnic lunch overlooking the Tarangire River, transfer to Arusha Airport for your flight back to Zanzibar (16:35-17:35), bringing unforgettable memories of Africa’s wild heart.

Breakfast & Lunch