Serengeti Safari: Great Migration & Tree-Climbing Lions

Four parks in five days: from elephant herds to the Great Migration

A 5-day guided safari tour through Tanzania's northern parks (Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti and Lake Manyara) with private 4x4 transport, expert local guide, lodge accommodations and full board meals. You'll witness the Great Migration in Serengeti, see the Big Five at Ngorongoro, watch tree-climbing lions at Lake Manyara and stand among Africa's largest elephant herds at Tarangire. The itinerary packs four distinct ecosystems into a single trip, moving each day to a new park and lodge. Pickup from Arusha or Kilimanjaro airport is included. Children from age 1 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Arusha lodge

• Arrive at Arusha or Kilimanjaro airport
• Meet and brief with representative
• Drive to lodge in Arusha
• Overnight at Arusha lodge

Day 2: Drive to Tarangire National Park

• Breakfast at Arusha hotel
• Drive to Tarangire National Park
• Game drive in Tarangire
• Lunch at picnic site
• Continue game drive
• Drive to lodge in Karatu
• Dinner and overnight at lodge

Day 3: Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti

• Breakfast at Karatu lodge
• Drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
• Stop at crater viewpoint
• Descend crater for game drive
• Lunch at Ngoitoktok hippo pool picnic site
• Complete game drive in crater
• Ascend crater and drive to Serengeti
• Dinner and overnight at Serengeti camp

Day 4: Serengeti National Park game drive

• Breakfast at Serengeti lodge
• Early morning game drive in Serengeti
• Explore wildlife and migration
• Dinner and overnight at Serengeti camp

Day 5: Lake Manyara and departure

• Breakfast at Serengeti lodge
• Drive to Lake Manyara National Park
• Game drive and activities at Lake Manyara
• Lunch at picnic site
• Drive to Arusha
• Farewell with representative
• Transfer to airport or extra night arrangement

The experience

You arrive at Arusha or Kilimanjaro airport and meet your guide, who briefs you before driving to your lodge in Arusha for the first night. The next morning, an early pickup takes you 2.5 hours to Tarangire National Park, where the Tarangire River draws the greatest concentration of African elephants on the continent. You'll see giraffes, zebras, buffalo, lions and leopards across the park's baobab-studded landscape, with lunch at a picnic site and an afternoon game drive before heading to your lodge in Karatu.

Day three moves you to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage site and geo-park. The crater drops 600 metres below the rim, and from the viewpoint you can see the entire crater floor before descending into it. This is the best place in East Africa to spot the endangered black rhino, completing the Big Five. Lunch sits at Ngoitoktok, a permanent hippo pool where you eat surrounded by wildlife. After your game drive you ascend and drive to Serengeti for the night. Day four is a full day in Serengeti National Park: the most famous park on Tanzania's northern circuit, covering 14,763 square kilometres and home to more than 2 million mammals. The Great Annual Migration brings over a million wildebeests, 250,000 zebras and antelopes through the park, one of the seven wonders of the world.

On the final day, you leave Serengeti early and drive three hours to Lake Manyara National Park, known for its bird life and its tree-climbing lions: a behaviour unique to this park. The lake sits in the rift valley south-west of Arusha, and after lunch at a picnic site you're driven back to Arusha where your guide gives you a farewell. If your flight departs the same day, the driver takes you straight to the airport. If you want an extra night in Arusha, that can be arranged in advance. Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language. All lodge stays include private amenities, and every meal (breakfast, lunch and dinner) is provided throughout the five days.

What’s included

• Private 4x4 transportation throughout the five days.
• expert local guide fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language.
• four nights in comfortable midrange lodges with private amenities.
• all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) each day.
• park entry fees for Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti and Lake Manyara.
• pickup from Arusha or Kilimanjaro airport on arrival.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Child (5 to 14 years): free · Infant (1 to 4 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

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.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Mimark Tours and Safaris

Is this one for you?Early starts each morning (between 0630 and 0800 hours) position you to see animals when they're most active, and the daily moves between parks mean you're traveling most afternoons. This pace suits travelers who want to cover multiple ecosystems and don't mind an active schedule. If you prefer to stay in one place and explore it deeply, a longer stay in a single park would suit you better.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

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

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 14 years): free; Infant (1 to 4 years).

What animals will I actually see on this safari?

Tarangire holds the largest elephant herds in Africa. Ngorongoro Crater is the best place in East Africa to spot black rhinos, completing the Big Five. Serengeti hosts the Great Migration of over a million wildebeests and 250,000 zebras. Lake Manyara is famous for its tree-climbing lions and prolific bird life. You'll also encounter giraffes, zebras, buffalo, lions, leopards and many other species across the four parks.

How early do I need to wake up each day?

Game drives start early: you'll be picked up between 0630 and 0800 hours depending on the day, with breakfast at your lodge beforehand. Early starts position you to see animals when they are most active and before the heat of midday.

What's included in the price?

All lodge accommodations for four nights, every meal (breakfast, lunch and dinner), private 4x4 transportation throughout the five days, expert guide services, park entry fees and pickup from Arusha or Kilimanjaro airport are included. Lunch is served at picnic sites within the parks.

What are the lodges like?

Overnight stays are at comfortable midrange lodges with private amenities: in Arusha you stay at Planet Lodge, A1 Hotel & Resort or Tulia Boutique Hotel & Spa; in Karatu at Marera Valley Lodge, Farm of Dreams Lodge or Bougainvillea Safari Lodge; in Serengeti at Mimark Serengeti Camp or Serengeti Queens Camp; and Lake Manyara lodges vary by booking. Each provides a restful base after each day's game drive.

Is this tour accessible for people with mobility concerns?

All areas and surfaces at the lodges and parks are wheelchair accessible, and transportation options are wheelchair accessible. However, the tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries due to the nature of game drives and terrain.