9 Days Safari in Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Off the beaten paths

9 days · 8 nights Tanzania Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater +2

About this tour

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is home to a variety of mammals, including the “Big Five” (black rhinos, elephants, buffaloes, lions, and leopards), carnivores such as hyenas and cheetahs, herbivores, as well as a large number of wildebeest, elands, zebras, and antelopes. Except giraffes, all these animal species can be found on the crater floor and in other places nearby.

On this safari we will not only take you to the famous Big Five. Let yourself be surprised by animal and nature encounters off the beaten tracks.

Customization
This tour can be customised
Duration
9 days
Minimum age
5 years
Countries
Tanzania
Comfort level
Budget
Physical level
Easy

Trip itinerary

Airport pickup · ≈ 4 h 45 min · 190 km Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) → by 4×4 Land Cruiser

Day 1 · Start

Day 1

4×4 Land Cruiser 1 meal

Today we welcome you at Arusha – International Airport Kilimanjaro.

Over a cup of Tanzanian coffee or a cool refreshment, we will discuss the safari planning and answer your questions. Afterward, our Safaríguide will take you to Tarangire National Park to your accommodation for the first overnight

Main activities
Relaxation
Transport
4×4 Land Cruiser
Meals
Full Board
Drinks
Mineral water, Coffee

Accommodation

Sangaiwe Tented Lodge

Tented camp

No transfer · another full day in

Day 2

Day 2

4×4 Land Cruiser

Tarangire National Park – full-day game drive

Tarangire is Tanzania's fifth-largest national park on the edge of the Great Rift Valley and home to Tanzania's largest elephant population. The landscape consists of low hills with sparse acacia forests, huge baobab trees, and savannah grasslands. The Tarangire River is the main water source of the park and is ideal for wildlife viewing of all kinds. Herds of wildebeest, buffalo, elephant, zebra, giraffe, hippos, and many antelopes are waiting to be photographed by you. With a little luck and good eyes, you might even get the well-camouflaged leopard in front of your lens.

Main activities
Game Drive
Transport
4×4 Land Cruiser
Drinks
Coffee, Mineral water

Accommodation

Kankari Lodge

Lodge

≈ 2 h 20 min · 92 km → Karatu by 4×4 Land Cruiser

Day 3

Karatu

4×4 Land Cruiser 1 meal

Hike to the Endoro Waterfalls and Elephant Caves

Endoro Falls is a fascinating place on the southern border of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, opposite the town of Karatu. The Endoro River plunges 40 meters to the ground from the crater rim here. This hike takes you through the habitat of elephants, buffalo, and bush pigs; and is equally appreciated by bird lovers. It takes about two to three hours to explore the beauty of this pristine forest.

The Endoro Elephant Caves are within walking distance of the waterfall. Over the course of many generations, elephants dug burrows into the volcanic rock with their tusks to access vital nutrients in the mineral-rich soil. Other cave visitors such as buffalo, waterbuck, and bushbuck are grateful to the elephants for the preparatory work

Main activities
Hiking
Transport
4×4 Land Cruiser
Meals
Full Board
Drinks
Coffee, Mineral water

Accommodation

Kankari Lodge

Lodge

≈ 2 h 50 min · 113 km Karatu → South Serengeti by 4×4 Land Cruiser

Day 4

South Serengeti

4×4 Land Cruiser 1 meal

Transfer to the South Serengeti – Visit to a Maasai village – Olduvai Gorge

A visit to a Maasai village is a cultural highlight of your safari and is as much a part of Tanzania as lions and elephants. During our visit to a Maasai boma, you will be greeted with the traditional jumping dances of the young warriors and the common singing of villagers. The Maasai will be happy to answer your questions about their culture and their everyday life. This will give you an insight into the customs and way of life between mud huts and Land Cruisers.

Olduvai Gorge and Museum

The Olduvai Gorge in northern Tanzania is also known as the "Cradle of Humankind". The earliest evidence of the existence of human ancestors was found here. Hundreds of fossilized bones and tools that are millions of years old have led to the conclusion that humans originated in Africa. Early humans used the habitats there over a period of 200,000 years

Main activities
Game Drive
Transport
4×4 Land Cruiser
Meals
Full Board
Drinks
Coffee, Mineral water

Accommodation

Africa Safari South Serengeti

Tented camp

≈ 5 min · 0 km South Serengeti → Ndutu by 4×4 Land Cruiser

Day 5

Ndutu

4×4 Land Cruiser 1 meal

South-Serengeti – Ndutu Plain

On the edge of the southern Serengeti is the Ndutu Plain. This part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is one of the best places to spot predators, enjoy the unique landscape of giant acacia trees, and panoramic views of Lake Ndutu and Lake Masek

South Serengeti – Ndutu Plain – Full Day Game Drive – Laetoli Footprints

The Ndutu area with its plains, lakes and swamps is the habitat of giraffes, impalas, dikdiks, lions, hyenas, cheetahs, hyenas, bat-eared foxes, genets, jackals and hundreds of species of exotic birds.

Laetoli Footprints

About 3.6 million years ago, early ancestors of humans migrated through moist volcanic ash. When the nearby volcano erupted again, fresh ash covered and preserved the oldest footprints of early humans.

Main activities
Game Drive
Transport
4×4 Land Cruiser
Meals
Full Board
Drinks
Coffee, Mineral water

Accommodation

Africa Safari South Serengeti

Tented camp

≈ 2 h 45 min · 111 km Ndutu → South Serengeti by 4×4 Land Cruiser

Day 6

South Serengeti

4×4 Land Cruiser 1 meal

South Serengeti – Ndutu Plain – Game Drive Full Day

The best time to visit the Ndutu Plain begins at the end of December when the herds of the Great Migration gradually arrive from the north to give birth to their offspring. During this calving season, which peaks around February, thousands of calves are born every day.

Main activities
Game Drive
Transport
4×4 Land Cruiser
Meals
Full Board
Drinks
Coffee, Mineral water

Accommodation

Ngorongoro Coffee Lodge

Lodge

≈ 1 h 25 min · 56 km South Serengeti → Ngorongoro Crater by 4×4 Land Cruiser

Day 7

Ngorongoro Crater

4×4 Land Cruiser 1 meal

Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact and unfilled volcanic crater on earth, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the main attraction of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. It is home to over 25,000 large animals that always live in the crater and the largest lion population in Tanzania. Nowhere in Africa is the Big Five (elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros, lion, and leopard) more likely to be encountered than here.

Olmoti Crater

From Olmoti Crater at the northern end of the Ngorongoro Crater, you have a view of Mount Lolmalasin. Tanzania's third-highest mountain. Unlike the Ngorongoro, the Olmoti Crater is a shallow, sunken caldera covered in grass and intersected by a river valley that provides a reliable grazing area for many antelope species and other wildlife throughout the year.

Empakaai Crater

The Empakaai Crater in the Ngorongoro Highlands probably has the highest rim of all volcanic calderas in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The soda lake in the crater center covers almost 75% of the area. The flocks of flamingos that gather here are the main attraction of the crater.

Main activities
Game Drive
Transport
4×4 Land Cruiser
Meals
Full Board
Drinks
Coffee, Mineral water

Accommodation

Lake Eyasi Safari Lodge

Lodge

≈ 1 h 10 min · 48 km Ngorongoro Crater → Lake Eyasi by 4×4 Land Cruiser

Day 8

Lake Eyasi

4×4 Land Cruiser 1 meal

Lake Eyasi – Hadzabe Buschmen

The Hadzabe are an indigenous ethnic group of about 2,000 people in Tanzania. They are one of the last remaining groups of hunter-gatherers in Africa and have lived in the region for thousands of years. A visit to a Hadzabe village begins before sunrise. Watch the local hunters demonstrate the hunting techniques and practices they use to attract and kill their prey.

Main activities
Cultural Tour
Transport
4×4 Land Cruiser
Meals
Full Board
Drinks
Coffee, Mineral water

Accommodation

Africa Safari Lake Manyara

Tented camp

≈ 2 h 50 min · 112 km Lake Eyasi → Lake Manyara National Park by 4×4 Land Cruiser

Day 9 · End

Lake Manyara National Park

4×4 Land Cruiser 1 meal

Manyara National Park – Game Drive Half Day

The park is a habitat for elephants, lions, leopards, zebras, wildebeests, and more than 400 species of birds. Among them are pink flamingos, which can be seen in large numbers on the lakeshore. A special attraction are tree-climbing lions; A unique phenomenon that can only be observed in this park. However, you will find that wildlife is less present in the park than in other national parks in the north of the country. This is where your ability to observe, search, and find is required. With a little spirit of discovery, you can discover the animals of the park in the green of the forests.

In the afternoon return to Arusha. Your driver will make sure you catch your flight home or connecting flight to Zanzibar

Main activities
Game Drive
Transport
4×4 Land Cruiser
Meals
Half Board
Drinks
Coffee, Mineral water

What is included

Price includes

  • All Accommodations
  • All meals
  • All transport
  • All activities
  • A professional guide
  • All taxes

Price excludes

  • International Flight
  • Domestic Flights
  • Pre-arrival accommodation
  • Additional Accommodation after Safari
  • Personal Item expense
  • Alcoholic Drinks
  • Additional excursions

Payment terms

  1. With the binding booking confirmation, the customer will be informed of the bank details of TANGER SAFARIS, including the payment details. Due to local requirements in the destination country, TANGER SAFARIS maintains a bank account on a US-$ basis. Accordingly, the invoice amount shown in the customer invoice is also in US Dollars.
  2. After conclusion of the contract, an immediate down payment of 50% of the invoice amount is due. Decisive for this is the receipt of payment within 5 working days on the account of TANGER SAFARIS.
  3. The final payment is due 30 days before the start of the trip, provided that the trip can no longer be cancelled for the reason stated in § 9. If there are less than 30 days between booking and the start of the trip, the total price is due for payment immediately. Also in this case, the payment must be received within 5 working days on the account of TANGER SAFARIS.
  4. If the customer does not pay the deposit and/or the final payment in accordance with the agreed payment due dates, TANGER SAFARIS is entitled to withdraw from the travel contract without prior warning and to charge the customer with cancellation costs in accordance with § 6.

Cancellation policy

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From $2,510 USD
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