6-Day Kilimanjaro Safari: Lake Manyara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro

Four parks in six days: tree-climbing lions, the Great Migration, and a crater descent with black rhino.

A private 6-day safari from Arusha through Tanzania's northern parks (Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire) with a personal guide and 4×4 vehicle. You drive from Arusha to Lake Manyara for an afternoon game drive, spend two full days in the Serengeti with chances to see the Great Migration, descend into Ngorongoro Crater for a half-day safari, and end with a morning drive through Tarangire before returning to Arusha. All meals, park entry and accommodations are included. You choose your comfort level from budget to elite camps.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park

• Drive from Arusha to Lake Manyara
• Afternoon game drive in Lake Manyara
• Overnight at chosen lodge

Day 2: Lake Manyara to Serengeti National Park

• Drive to Serengeti with game drive en route
• Overnight at chosen Serengeti camp

Day 3: Full-Day Serengeti Safari

• Full-day game drive in Serengeti
• Optional sunrise hot air balloon safari
• Overnight at same Serengeti camp

Day 4: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater

• Morning game drive in Serengeti
• Drive to Ngorongoro with optional visits
• Overnight at chosen Ngorongoro lodge

Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive

• Morning descent into Ngorongoro Crater
• Half-day safari in crater
• Overnight at same Ngorongoro lodge

Day 6: Tarangire National Park and Return

• Morning game drive in Tarangire National Park
• Afternoon return to Arusha

The experience

The route moves through four distinct ecosystems in six days, each one built around a different wildlife pattern. Lake Manyara's shallow waters draw flamingos and pelicans. The park is known for tree-climbing lions that drape themselves across acacia branches. From there you drive into the Serengeti, where two full days of game drives put you in the path of the wildebeest migration, along with lions, cheetahs, zebra and hyenas. The Serengeti leg includes an optional sunrise hot air balloon safari if you want to see the herds from above, though that costs extra.

Ngorongoro Crater comes next: a half-day descent into the crater floor where black rhino, elephants, hippos and flamingos concentrate in a space roughly 12 miles across. On the way there, you can stop at Olduvai Gorge and visit a Maasai village if cultural visits interest you. The final morning takes you through Tarangire National Park, where large elephant herds and baobab trees dominate the landscape, before the drive back to Arusha.

You travel in a private 4×4 vehicle with a guide who speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or German. All meals and accommodations are included. You pick your camp tier at booking (budget lodges, mid-range tented camps, or luxury properties), and the same level runs through all six nights. Pickup from Arusha is included, and the itinerary is built around your interests, not a fixed group schedule.

What’s included

• Private 4×4 vehicle transportation throughout the six days.
• park entry and government fees for all four parks.
• all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner each day except the final morning).
• accommodations in your chosen camp tier.
• a personal guide.
• and hotel pickup from Arusha on Day 1.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (13 to 65 years) · Under 13: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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 16 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by African Giant Adventures

Is this one for you?Choose your accommodation tier at booking (budget camps offer comfort and value, mid-range tented camps balance amenities with the safari setting, and luxury properties add private facilities and refined service), so you control what the six nights feel like without changing the route or the wildlife access.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

2 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

What wildlife will I actually see on a 6-day Kilimanjaro safari?

The four parks each hold different species. Lake Manyara is known for tree-climbing lions, flamingos and pelicans. The Serengeti holds the Great Migration (wildebeest, zebra, lions, cheetahs and hyenas), and Ngorongoro Crater concentrates black rhino, elephants, hippos and flamingos in a confined space. Tarangire ends the trip with large elephant herds, baobab trees and giraffes.

How much time do I spend actually driving versus game viewing?

Day 1 is a 2.5 to 3-hour drive from Arusha followed by an afternoon game drive. Days 2 and 3 are full-day game drives in the Serengeti with breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Day 4 combines a morning game drive in the Serengeti with a drive to Ngorongoro and optional stops at Olduvai Gorge and a Maasai village. Day 5 is a half-day crater safari. Day 6 is a morning game drive in Tarangire before the afternoon return to Arusha.

Can I add a hot air balloon ride to the Serengeti portion?

Yes, a sunrise hot air balloon safari is available as an optional add-on during the Serengeti days at an additional cost beyond the tour price.

Do I stay in the same camp all six nights or move each day?

You move to a different camp each night as the route progresses through the parks. Your accommodation tier (budget, mid-range, luxury or elite) stays the same throughout, so you experience consistent comfort levels across all six nights.