This itinerary swaps the Ngorongoro Crater for extra Serengeti time, giving travellers who prioritise the plains and the Great Migration ecosystem more days there, alongside Tarangire’s elephants and Lake Manyara’s distinct forest-lake setting.
Detailed Itinerary
DAY 1
Your driver-guide meets you at Kilimanjaro International Airport for the drive to Tarangire, about two hours south-west of Arusha via the Makuyuni junction, arriving with time for an afternoon game drive among the park’s dense elephant population and baobab-studded landscape.
Arusha to Tarangire National Park
Accommodation Options
BudgetTarangire Sopa Lodge
Mid-rangeTarangire River Camp
LuxuryOliver’s Camp
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
DAY 2
A short onward drive to Lake Manyara, roughly two hours, for an afternoon game drive through groundwater forest and along the soda lake’s shoreline, home to the park’s famous tree-climbing lions.
Transfer to Lake Manyara
Accommodation Options
Mid-rangeLake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge
LuxuryTarangire Treetops
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 3
The longer drive to the Serengeti climbs through the Ngorongoro highlands without stopping at the crater itself, descending onto the plains via Naabi Hill gate. Afternoon game drive on arrival.
Transfer to Serengeti National Park
Accommodation Options
BudgetSerengeti Wildebeest Camp
Mid-rangeSerengeti Serena Safari Lodge
LuxuryFour Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4
A full day across the plains for lion, leopard, elephant and, seasonally, the Great Migration.
Full Day Serengeti Game Drives
Accommodation
As above
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5
A further day exploring different sectors of the park — the Serengeti’s scale rewards genuine time here rather than a single rushed visit.
Second Serengeti Game Drive Day
Accommodation
As above
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 6
The drive back to Arusha retraces the route through the Ngorongoro highlands, a scenic transit even without the crater stop, timed against your onward flight.
Return to Arusha
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Permits & Costs
| Tarangire park entry | ~$60 per person per day |
| Lake Manyara park entry | ~$53 per person per day |
| Serengeti park entry | ~$82 per person per day |
Who This Itinerary Suits
Travellers prioritising Serengeti time over the crater specifically, or those on a repeat trip who’ve already done Ngorongoro.Tour Includes
- Travel in a 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof hatch
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- All accommodation per itinerary
- Meals as specified
- Park entry fees
Tour Excludes
- International flights
- Visas
- Alcoholic drinks
- Tips & gratuities
- Travel insurance