Are you travelling with young children and want to avoid to much time in your safari vehicle? Then this 4 nights-safari is for you and your family! Because even though you shorten the distances, you are given the opportunity to visit 3 amazing places for safaris, Tarangire National Park, the Ngorongoro crater and Lake Manyara National Park.
Day 1 – Welcome to Tanzania!
Africa & Tanzania welcomes you! Maybe you even were welcomed by the Roof of Africa while landing at Kilimanjaro Airport, the mighty mountain Kilimanjaro, the highest in Africa, that has given its name to the airport.
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 get to the gate of Tarangire National Park, where your first safari will take place. 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.
After a long day of traveling, you maybe want to call it a day but otherwise we can arrange a night safari for you. A great opportunity to meet the nocturnal inhabitants of Tarangire.
Accommodation: Tarangire, Sangaiwe Tented Lodge
Meal plan: Half board
Day 2 Full day safari in beautiful Tarangire
The whole day is devoted to Tarangire, the sixth’s biggest of Tanzania’s totally 22 national parks. To fully experience your amazing surroundings, we recommend you start the day with an early walking safari. This is a perfect way to experience Africa with all your senses before continuing the day in your safari vehicle.
Tarangire National Park is a favourite among many driver-guides thanks to its beautiful and everchanging landscapes. Here you can find acacia woodlands, savanna, the river that has named the park but above all, hundreds of the “trees of life” – the Baobab tree.
Except for the Baobabs this park is mainly known for the large herds of elephants that’s roams here part of the year. Tarangire is also home to vast variety of species like the lesser-known fringe-eared oryx & gerenuk and the more common ones like zebras, wildebeests and giraffes. And yes, of course you can find the majestic big cats here.
You will enjoy a picnic lunch in the park surrounded of the beautiful landscape maybe even in the shadow of a baobab tree. Eventually you will leave the park and make your way to Karatu
Accommodation: Karatu, Hhando Coffee Lodge
Meal plan: Full board
Day 3 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.
As yesterday today’s lunch will be a picnic in the wild. After an eventful day full of the Ngorongoro’s wonders, it’s time to head back to your lodge.
Accommodation: Karatu, Hhando Coffee Lodge
Meal plan: Full board
Day 4 Exploring the beauty of Lake Manyara National Park
Your last day of safari will be spent in Lake Manyara National Park. It might be one of Tanzania’s smaller national parks, but it doesn’t lack in beauty. With the mighty Great Rift Valley as a backdrop, the woodlands and the shore of the lake that has given the park its name, Lake Manyara, the park is staged like a magnificent scene.
The inhabitants of the lake, the pink flamingos is one of the park’s main attractions together with an abundant birdlife. But many people are also drawn to the park thanks to the unique tree climbing lion. No one knows why the lions is climbing the trees, but it is only here and in Queen Elisabeth Park in Uganda you can find this climbing behaviour among the lions.
In the lush woodlands on the slope of the Great Rift you can find, among others, baboons, blue monkey and elephant. The airier woodlands closer to the shore of the lake is instead home to giraffes, zebras and lions.
After the lunch that once again will be a packed lunch enjoyed in the marvellous nature, it’s time to head back to Arusha.
Accomendation: Arusha, Forest Hill Hotel
Meal plan: Full board
Day 5 Spice up the final day
Depending on the departure time of your flight you might have time to explore a bit of Arusha and its surroundings. We can offer you a range of activities to choose from, like a tour of the town, visit to a banana – or coffee plantation, visit to Napuru waterfalls and much more. Not in the mood for any more excursions – why not try out the local crafted beer at the Twiga Brewery.
In good time of your departure your transfer will take you to the Kilimanjaro Airport. You will arrive to the airport full of new amazing memories and wonderful experiences after your days with us!
This safari is excellent to combine with gorgeous and relaxing days in Zanzibar. If this is something you are dreaming of, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we will make your dream come true.
