9 Days Ngorongoro & Tarangire—Fly-in & Drive-out and Hot air Balloon

NGORONGORO CRATER AND TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK

Highlights

1 night at MARERA OR BOUGAINVILLEA OR MARTINAS LODGE KARATU, enjoying the brilliant herds of elephants and rolling hills of Tarangire National Park.
4 nights in the famed center Serengeti (Seronera) and Northern Serengeti under canvas, a wine/whisky safari experience in the center of the Serengeti as well as a safari from the sky with a hot air balloon! Safari experiencing the wildebeest migration moves across the Mara River.
1 night in the Ngorongoro conservation area, Enjoy lunch at the bottom of the Ngorongoro Crater, an astonishing one of the natural wonders of the world. Also, after the game in all parks, you will get a chance to enter Maasai Market.

Day 1: Fly to Northern Serengeti (Kogatende) & Game Drive

Morning flight from Arusha to Kogatende Airstrip (Northern Serengeti). Meet your guide and start a game drive in Northern Serengeti. Witness the Mara River crossings, where thousands of wildebeests and zebras cross crocodile-infested waters. Expect to see lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, and hippos

Day 2: Full-Day Game Drive in Northern Serengeti

Full-day game drive tracking the Great Migration. Search for big cats, hyenas, and elephants in open plains. Picnic lunch in the wild.

Day 3: Hot Air Balloon Safari & Transfer to Central Serengeti

Hot air balloon safari at sunrise over the Serengeti. Early in the morning, the balloon stuff will pick you up from your lodge to the lunch site. After a short brief about the hot air balloon, you will start experiencing the safari from the sky. Champagne breakfast after landing. After the hot air balloon, we will proceed with a morning game drive en route to Central Serengeti (Seronera). Afternoon game drive in Seronera Valley (known for leopards, lions, and cheetahs).

Day 4: Full-Day Game Drive in Central Serengeti

After breakfast, you will proceed for a sunrise game drive perfect for spotting big cats on the hunt. Visit the Retina Hippo Pool and explore the Serengeti kopjes (rock formations). Search for elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, and rare predators.

Day 5: Drive to Ngorongoro Crater & Game Drive

Morning game drive in Central Serengeti before a scenic drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area. You will also get a chance to pass through Olduvai Gorge and Maasai village.

Day 6: Ngorongoro crater to Karatu Town for the overnight

After breakfast, you will drive to Ngorongoro inside the Crater. Rhino Ngorongoro Lodge is located near the Ngorongoro crater, from the lodge to the crater it’s a 35-50-minute drive. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is an extensive highland area along the eastern arm of the Rift Valley, with the world-renowned Ngorongoro Crater as its focal point. Ngorongoro was established to conserve wildlife and other natural resources. Expect to see black rhinos, lions, elephants, buffaloes, and leopards. It also safeguards the interests of indigenous people and promotes tourism. Then after spending several hours of game viewing in the crater, you will start driving back to the lodge in Karatu for you to relax and spend some time in the swimming pool.

Day 7: Drive to Tarangire National Park, then Arusha Town for the overnight

Early morning drive to Tarangire National Park (approx. 3-4 hours). Game drive in Tarangire, home to large elephant herds, baobab trees, and diverse wildlife. Search for elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and diverse birdlife. After the game viewing, we start a scenic drive back to Arusha. On the way, we will stop at any nearby market for local souvenirs.

FULL 9 DAYS NGORONGORO ITINERARY