This 5 nights-safari takes you to some of the most beautiful places in Tanzania, the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park. You will have the most amazing animal encounters and pass through amazing landscapes. The last day you can choose between even more safari in Lake Manyara NP or some cultural activities.
Day 1 Karibu!
Tanzania welcomes you with open arms and tropical heat.
After clearing immigration and picking up your luggage, you will be warmly greeted by your Cross Road Safari driver-guide at arrivals.
Your adventure starts immediately as you set off on an approximately three-hour drive on tarmac road to Karatau. During the drive you have time to get to know your safari guide and go through your expectations, what wildlife to meet in coming days and if you have any special interests. You will also have time to sit back and fully enjoy the incredible and magnificent landscape, as well as the colourful Tanzanian everyday-life passing by outside your car window.
Accommodation: Karatu, Hhando Coffee Lodge
Meal plan: Half board
Day 2 Ngorongoro – paradise on earth?
Today something of extreme beauty awaits you – The Ngorongoro crater. To make the very most of this extraordinary experience we recommend you have a very early start. Reason being the crater has fewer visitors the earlier you go. But most importantly, the wildlife is entering the peak active hours as the sun rises over the rim.
Through beautiful winding roads climbing upwards, you will make your way to the viewpoint at the crater rim – and wow what a view! At your feet you have the caldera and due to its size, it’s hard to capture that the crater floor is 600 meters below you. This is the largest volcanic caldera in the world. All over the crater floor, as small, small dots, you can see the wildlife grazing in the landscape.
The Ngorongoro crater is home to no less than 25 000 animals and has one of the greatest densities of predators in the world. For example, in this “small” area alone, 60-70 lions are living. This is also one of the places where you, if lucky, could meet the mighty Big Five of Africa.
Your lunchbox will be enjoyed in this amazing and enchanting landscape.
Eventually it’s time to leave. The time has come to experience some true African massage as you set out on bumpy roads on your way to Serengeti. You will enter the Serengeti through Nabi Hill Gate and Serengeti welcomes you with its vastness. A grassland landscape as far as your eye can take you, just dotted with some occasional kopjes breaking the horizon, the so-called Simba kopjes. These kopjes are a great vantage point, and the lions – (simba in Swahili) loves to lure here.
Accommodation: Serengeti, Tanzania Bush Camps
Meal plan: Full board
Day 3 A full day Serengeti safari
Whether you are on the lookout for the Big Five, are a big cat lover or in search for elephants or birds, Serengeti has it all. You never know what you encounter in this vast and magical landscape but the thrill of the hunt for new acquaintances is the goal of today.
Serengeti is Tanzania’s second largest and probably the most famous, national park and it is also considered to be one of the planets oldest ecosystems. Very little has changed here the last million years.
In Serengeti and the adjacent Masai Mara you can witness one of Africa’s 7 natural wonders- the great migration. During July-October every year millions of wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebras and Thomson gazelles roams over the savanna from Tanzania to Kenya and back again. This is often named one of the world’s most powerful nature phenomena.
Serengeti has been a national park since 1951 and a World Heritage even longer than that. This truly wonderful park is home to approximately 70 different spices of large mammals and over 500 different spices of birds. We can never guarantee what species of animals you will encounter on the savanna, but we do promise that you will meet many of them in Serengeti’s utterly amazing nature.
Today you also could have a once in a lifetime happening. To an additional cost you can choose to book a hot-air balloon tour. Experience the majestic beauty of Serengeti from the sky – an unforgettable moment!
Accommodation: Serengeti, Tanzania Bush Camps
Meal plan: Full board
Day 4 Continuing exploring those endless plains of Serengeti
Did you know that the name Serengeti is derived from the Maasai word siringit, meaning endless plains? Your surroundings surely are endless and today you continuing to hunt for more animal encounters and beautiful settings.
After an adventurous day you will be back at the camp. In the light of the crackling fire, with something tasty in your glass, you can share stories with fellow travellers about your amazing day. All while the sun is setting behind the acacia trees and the darkness descends.
Accommodation: Serengeti, Tanzania Bush Camps
Meal plan: Full board
Dag 5 More game viewing, Masai culture and human history
After breakfast the time has come to leave Serengeti behind. So “pole pole” (slowly), you are making your way back towards Karatu. While still in Serengeti you will continue your game viewing along the way.
When you’re entering the Ngorongoro Conservation Area again, you can choose between some different intriguing activities. If you have an interest in history, we recommend a stop at Olduvai Gorge. The Olduvai Gorge is an interesting paleoanthropological site. It’s believed to be the place of found remains of the first human beings to walk on Earth.
If you are more into culture a visit to a Masai village might appeal more to you.
Accommodation: Karatu, Hhando Coffee Lodge
Meal plan: Full board
Day 6 The hardest thing today is to choose
Are you up for more safari adventures or is it time for some culture? This is the day for you to decide what you would like to do.
Do you want to go on a safari in Lake Manyara National Park to try to catch up with the tree climbing lions? Or maybe meet the Hadzabe tribe and learn more about their way of life? The Hadzabe bushmen are one of few tribes left in the world living as nomadic gatherers.
Another alternative that might tickle your curiosity is having a cooking class, starting with shopping in the local market? There are many wonderful & interesting activities to choose from in order to engage and experience the local Tanzanian culture. Not only to observe, but to dive in and fully be a part of the daily life.
After the lunch it’s time to head back to Kilimanjaro Airport. You will arrive to the airport full of new precious memories and wonderful experiences after your days with us.
Meal plan: Half board
This safari is excellent to combine with gorgeous and relaxing days in Zanzibar. If this is something you dream about, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we will make your dream come true.
