4-day Lake Manyara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro tour from Arusha

Four days crossing three parks: tree-climbing lions, the Serengeti plains, and a crater teeming with predators

A 4-day safari tour from Arusha through Lake Manyara National Park, the Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with a professional English-speaking guide, 4×4 jeep with pop-up roof, and lodge stays. You drive through varied habitats on day one to spot tree-climbing lions and Africa's largest elephant concentrations; cross 145 kilometers to the Serengeti's central Seronera area on day two; continue game driving on day three before heading to Ngorongoro; and descend into the crater on day four to watch lions, leopards, hippos and flamingos before returning to Arusha.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arusha to Lake Manyara

• Breakfast in Arusha
• Drive to Lake Manyara
• Lunch with lunch box
• Morning game drive in park
• Afternoon game drive in park
• Dinner at lodge
• Overnight at Marera View Lodge

Day 2: Serengeti National Park

• Breakfast at lodge
• Drive to Serengeti via Karatu and Ngorongoro
• Lunch at Serengeti
• Afternoon game drive in Serengeti
• Dinner at lodge
• Overnight at Serengeti Heritage Tented Lodge

Day 3: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater

• Early morning game drive
• Depart to Ngorongoro
• Dinner at lodge
• Overnight at Ang'ata Tented Lodge or Ngorongoro Wild Camp

Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha

• Early breakfast
• Descend into Ngorongoro Crater for wildlife viewing
• Visit Lake Magadi
• Late afternoon transfer to Arusha
• Dinner and overnight or airport drop off

The experience

The route starts in Arusha with a drive to Lake Manyara, where the park's varied terrain (acacia woodland, groundwater forest, and the alkaline lake itself) concentrates one of Africa's largest elephant populations alongside the park's signature tree-climbing lions. Morning and afternoon game drives let you move through these habitats as wildlife uses them, spotting zebra, buffalo, giraffe, baboons and warthog, plus the flamingos that gather on the lake's algae-rich water. Dinner and overnight happen at Marera Valley Lodge.

Day two covers 145 kilometers through the farmland of Karatu and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area highlands before dropping into the Serengeti itself. The drive takes three to four hours of non-game-viewing time, but once you reach the central Seronera area (one of the park's richest wildlife zones) the afternoon game drive begins. The Seronera River running through this section draws most of the Serengeti's species year-round, so a single afternoon here typically yields sightings across multiple animal families. You stay at Serengeti Heritage Tented Lodge.

An early morning game drive on day three catches the Serengeti at its most active, then you depart for Ngorongoro and the lodge there. On the final day, you descend over 600 meters into the crater itself: a year-round water and fodder source that supports herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo and eland, plus a dense population of predators including lions, hyenas, cheetahs and leopards. Lake Magadi, a shallow alkaline lake in the crater's southwestern corner, usually holds flamingos, hippos and water birds. Late afternoon brings a transfer back to Arusha or the airport.

What’s included

• Game driving in all parks.
• a 4×4 safari jeep with pop-up roof.
• mineral water.
• pickup and drop-off to Arusha airport.
• a professional English-speaking guide.
• lodging for three nights.
• lunch, dinner, bed and breakfast each day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Infant (5 to 15 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Cubs Expeditions Limited

Is this one for you?Book this if you want lodging included throughout the parks rather than commuting from an Arusha base. You'll stay inside or near each park and move between Arusha, Lake Manyara, Tarangire, and Ngorongoro without gaps between drives.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (5 to 15 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What animals am I most likely to see on this safari?

Lake Manyara holds one of Africa's largest elephant concentrations and the park's tree-climbing lions, plus zebra, buffalo, giraffe, baboons and warthog; the Serengeti's Seronera River area attracts most of the park's species year-round; Ngorongoro Crater supports wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, hippos and a dense population of predators including lions, leopards, cheetahs and hyenas, with flamingos and water birds on Lake Magadi.

How much driving is involved between the parks?

The drive from Arusha to Lake Manyara is included in day one; day two covers 145 kilometers to the Serengeti, with three to four hours of non-game-viewing travel time; day three involves a shorter drive to Ngorongoro; and day four includes a 210-kilometer return to Arusha or the airport, also three to four hours of non-game-viewing time.

What kind of accommodation do I stay in?

You stay at lodge properties each night: Marera Valley Lodge on day one, Serengeti Heritage Tented Lodge on day two, and Ngorongoro Wild Camp on day three. Accommodation on day four in Arusha can be added for an extra cost if you need it.

Does the tour include meals?

Lunch, dinner, bed and breakfast are included each day. You travel with a lunch box on day one and eat at the lodges for other meals.

What's included in the price?

Game driving throughout all four parks, a 4×4 safari jeep with pop-up roof, mineral water during drives, pickup and drop-off to Arusha airport, and a professional English-speaking guide are all included. Tips and personal items are not.