Serengeti Big Cats & Lake Manyara

Name: Serengeti Big Cats & Lake Manyara
Brand: Lucha Adventures and Travel
SKU: 548
Price: 2300 USD
Availability: InStock

Offered by

Lucha Adventures and Travel

Overview

Serengeti Big Cats & Lake Manyara is a classic Tanzania safari that combines diverse ecosystems with some of the best game viewing in East Africa. From the baobab-dotted landscapes of Tarangire to the endless plains of Serengeti, the wildlife-rich Ngorongoro Crater, and the scenic beauty of Lake Manyara, this journey offers a balanced and rewarding safari experience.

You will begin in Arusha before heading into the wilderness for unforgettable game drives across Tanzania’s most celebrated parks. Expect to search for lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, hippos, and a remarkable variety of birdlife. With well-paced travel days and immersive time in the parks, this safari is ideal for guests seeking both big game action and scenic variety.

Highlights

Arrival and safari briefing in Arusha
Game drives among elephants and baobab trees in Tarangire
Extended safari experience in the Serengeti plains
Opportunity to spot lions, leopards, and cheetahs
Scenic drive through the Ngorongoro Highlands

Game drive on the floor of Ngorongoro Crater
Wildlife viewing in the lush Lake Manyara ecosystem
Chance to see tree-climbing lions, hippos, and flamingos
Private safari vehicle with dedicated driver-guide
Beautiful mix of savannah, woodland, crater, and lake landscapes

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Arusha

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met by a representative from Lucha Adventures and Travel and transferred to your accommodation in Arusha. Depending on your arrival time, you can relax at the lodge and recover from your journey. Later, you will receive a safari briefing about the adventure ahead, including the parks you will visit and what to expect during the coming days.

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Will be arranged according to client budget

Day 2

Arusha to Tarangire National Park

After breakfast, depart Arusha and drive to Tarangire National Park, a beautiful wilderness known for its giant baobab trees and large elephant herds. Upon arrival, begin your first game drive and explore the parku2019s varied habitats, where wildlife often gathers around the Tarangire River. Keep an eye out for elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, buffaloes, and predators such as lions. In the late afternoon, proceed to your lodge or camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 3

Tarangire to Central Serengeti

After breakfast, depart Tarangire and travel toward the Serengeti, passing through scenic landscapes and the Ngorongoro Highlands along the way. This drive offers changing views of villages, farmlands, and open wilderness before you enter the vast Serengeti ecosystem. As you reach the park, enjoy a game drive en route to your lodge or camp. Wildlife sightings may begin immediately, with possible encounters of antelope, giraffes, elephants, and big cats on the plains.

Day 4

Full Day in Central Serengeti

Today is dedicated to a full-day safari in Central Serengeti, one of the best wildlife-viewing regions in Tanzania. The area is especially well known for year-round predator activity, making it an excellent place to search for lions, leopards, and cheetahs. Your guide will take you through different parts of the park depending on wildlife movements and recent sightings. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the bush before continuing your afternoon game drive.

Day 5

Full Day in Serengeti

Spend another full day exploring the Serengeti plains and river valleys. With more time in the park, you can go deeper into the wildlife-rich areas and maximize your chances of witnessing dramatic predator-prey interactions. The Serengeti is home to an extraordinary concentration of animals, and each game drive reveals something different. Beyond the big cats, you may also see hyenas, jackals, elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and countless grazers across the landscape.

Day 6

Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Enjoy a final morning game drive in Serengeti before departing for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This transition day still offers excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing as you leave the plains behind and head toward the highlands. The scenery changes beautifully, with cooler air and dramatic crater views. Arrive at your lodge or camp near Ngorongoro in time to relax, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the crater safari the next day.

Day 7

Ngorongoro Crater Tour

After an early breakfast, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a half-day game drive on the crater floor. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of Africau2019s most extraordinary wildlife destinations, with a dense concentration of animals in a relatively compact area. You may encounter lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeests, hyenas, hippos, and many bird species. The crater also offers one of the best chances to see the rare black rhino. After your game drive and picnic lunch, ascend the crater and continue to the Lake Manyara area for dinner and overnight.

Day 8

Lake Manyara National Park

Today you will explore Lake Manyara National Park, a scenic park famous for its groundwater forest, acacia woodland, lake shore, and varied birdlife. Though smaller than Serengeti and Ngorongoro, the park offers a very different safari atmosphere and impressive biodiversity. Look out for baboons, elephants, giraffes, hippos, flamingos, and the parku2019s famous tree-climbing lions. After your game drive, return to your lodge for your final evening on safari.

Day 9

Lake Manyara to Arusha and Departure

After breakfast, depart the Lake Manyara area and drive back to Arusha. Depending on your flight schedule, you may have time for lunch or a short stop in town before your transfer to the airport. This marks the end of your Serengeti Big Cats & Lake Manyara safari with Lucha Adventures and Travel, leaving you with unforgettable memories of Tanzaniau2019s wildlife and landscapes.

Inclusions

All airport transfers
Accommodation for 8 nights
Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
Professional English-speaking safari guide
All park entry fees and conservation fees
All scheduled game drives
Meals as stated in the itinerary
Bottled drinking water during safari
Government taxes and levies

Exclusions

International flights
Visa fees
Travel insurance
Personal expenses
Alcoholic and soft drinks unless stated
Tips for driver-guide and lodge staff
Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
Items of personal nature

Booking

All airport transfers
Accommodation for 8 nights
Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
Professional English-speaking safari guide
All park entry fees and conservation fees
All scheduled game drives
Meals as stated in the itinerary
Bottled drinking water during safari
Government taxes and levies

FAQs

What makes this safari special?

This itinerary combines four of Tanzania most rewarding safari destinations in one journey, offering a strong mix of big cat sightings, scenic diversity, and classic northern circuit wildlife experiences.

Is this safari good for first-time visitors to Tanzania?

Will I see the Big Five on this safari?

How many days are spent in Serengeti?

Is this a private safari?