Arrival Day
Arrive Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to Kigongoni Lodge outside Arusha. Kigongoni Lodge is set on a hilltop and most of its rooms have views of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Day One: Tarangire National Park (recommended for December/January trips only)
Leave Arusha at 9am for Tarangire National Park. The drive to Tarangire is approximately two and a half hours. After reaching Tarangire, proceed on a game drive for the rest of the day, eating a picnic lunch in the park. Tarangire is famous for its large elephant population, scenery and diversity of birdlife. At approximately 5pm, reach Oliver's Camp, a tented camp that offers guided bush walks.
Tarangire's wildlife includes elephant, giraffe, lion, warthog, impala and ostrich.
Day Two: Tarangire National Park
Go on a morning bush walk with Oliver’s Camp staff. Return to the camp for brunch. After a short rest, go out on a game drive. Dinner and overnight at Oliver’s Camp.
Day Three: Lake Manyara National Park
Leave Oliver's Camp at 8am for Lake Manyara National Park. Arrive in Lake Manyara at 11am and go on a game drive for the rest of the day. At 6pm, proceed to Manyara Serena Lodge for dinner and overnight. (Optional night game drive for an additional fee.)
Wildlife commonly seen in Lake Manyara includes hippo, elephant, giraffe, baboon, and many species of birds.
Day Four: Lake Manyara to Ngorongoro
Go on a morning game drive or walk around Lake Manyara. Return to the lodge for lunch. After lunch, depart for Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Spend the night at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge, viewing the Crater from above.
Day Five: Ngorongoro Crater
Depart at 6:30am for an Ngorongoro Crater game drive. Return to the Ngorongoro Serena Lodge for dinner and overnight.
The Crater’s resident wildlife includes lion, flamingo, hippo, elephant, leopard and zebra.
Day Six: Ngorongoro to Southern Serengeti
After breakfast, leave for the Southern Serengeti. Spend the rest of the day viewing animals in the Serengeti’s short grass plain. Arrive at Olakira Camp at approximately 5:30pm. Acquaint yourself with the small tented camp before dark. (Optional stop at Olduvai Gorge)
Species commonly seen in the Serengeti include wildebeest, cheetah, zebra, lion, giraffe, impala, topi, and leopard. The Serengeti is also home to more than 540 species of birds. The wildebeest migration is usually located in the Southern Serengeti from January through May.
Day Seven: Southern Serengeti Region
Early morning game drive from 6:30am until 11am. Return to the lodge for a hot lunch. Game drive again in the afternoon from 3pm until 6:30pm. Return to Olakira Camp for dinner and overnight.
Day Eight: Southern Serengeti
Early morning game drive from 6:30am until 11am. Return to the lodge for a hot lunch. Game drive again in the afternoon from 3pm until 6:30pm. Return to Olakira Camp for dinner and overnight.
Day Nine: Southern Serengeti to Serengeti National Park
Depart Olakira Camp at 9am for the Central Serengeti. Game drive along the way, viewing the Central Serengeti's resident carnivore population. Arrive at the Serengeti Serena Lodge at 6:30pm for dinner and overnight.
The Central Serengeti's wildlife includes lion, cheetah, leopard, as well as many species of resident antelope.
Day Ten: Serengeti to Arusha or Zanzibar
Go on an early morning game drive at 6:30am. Return to the lodge at 8:30am for breakfast. Proceed to Seronera Airstrip at 10:30am for your flight to Arusha or Zanzibar. (Optional sunrise hot air balloon ride)
