Overview
This 3-day adventure takes you to two amazing places in northern Tanzania. You’ll visit Lake Manyara National Park, famous for its tree-climbing lions and thousands of pink flamingos. Then you’ll explore the incredible Ngorongoro Crater, where animals live inside a giant volcanic bowl. The trip also includes a special visit to a Maasai village, where you’ll meet local people and learn about their traditional way of life. It’s perfect for people who want to see amazing wildlife and experience authentic African culture in a short time.
Day 1: Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park
Your safari starts early when your guide picks you up from your hotel in Arusha. The drive to Lake Manyara takes about two hours through beautiful countryside with banana plantations and coffee farms. Lake Manyara National Park is small but packed with wildlife. The park sits at the bottom of the Great Rift Valley with steep cliffs on one side and a large soda lake on the other. You’ll see elephants walking through the forest, hippos cooling off in pools, and maybe even lions resting in tree branches. The park is also home to hundreds of bird species including flamingos that turn parts of the lake bright pink.
Day 2: Ngorongoro Crater Full Day Safari
Today brings the highlight of your safari as you descend into the famous Ngorongoro Crater. This natural wonder formed millions of years ago when a massive volcano collapsed on itself. Now it’s like a huge bowl that’s 20 kilometers wide and home to over 25,000 animals. You’ll spend the whole day driving around the crater floor, which has grasslands, forests, swamps, and a soda lake. The crater is one of the best places in Africa to see the Big Five animals: lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and the rare black rhino. You’ll have lunch by a hippo pool where you can watch these huge animals splashing in the water.
Day 3: Cultural Visit and Return to Arusha
Your final day starts with a visit to an authentic Maasai village called a boma. The Maasai people are famous warriors and cattle herders who have lived in this area for hundreds of years. They still wear traditional red robes and colorful jewelry made from beads. You’ll learn how they build their houses from mud and cow dung, see their cattle which are very important to their culture, and watch traditional dances where the men jump high into the air. The women will show you how they make fire without matches and create beautiful beadwork. After lunch, you’ll drive back to Arusha with stops at local markets where you can buy handmade crafts and souvenirs.
Includes
- All accommodation in safari lodges with full board meals.
- Professional English-speaking safari guide and 4WD vehicle with pop-up roof.
- All park entry fees for Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
- Ngorongoro Crater service fees and vehicle permits.
- Cultural visit to authentic Maasai village with local guide.
- Airport transfers in Arusha on arrival and departure.
- Bottled water during all safari activities.
- Game drives as per itinerary with unlimited mileage.
- All government taxes and service charges.
Excludes
- International flights to and from Tanzania.
- Tanzania visa fees and travel insurance.
- Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks at lodges.
- Personal shopping and souvenirs at markets.
- Tips for safari guide and lodge staff.
- Optional activities not mentioned in itinerary.
- Medical expenses and required vaccinations.
- Items of personal nature like laundry and phone calls.
- Emergency evacuation insurance.