5-Day Tanzania Lodge Safari: Lake Manyara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater

Experience the pinnacle of East Africa’s wildlife circuits on this classic 5-day Tanzania lodge safari. Designed for travelers seeking solid-wall comfort, en-suite safari lodges, and comprehensive Big Five game viewing, this route departs and concludes in Arusha, connecting northern Tanzania’s three most celebrated destinations.

Search for rare tree-climbing lions along the Rift Valley escarpment in Lake Manyara, traverse the predator-rich savannas of the Central Serengeti, uncover early human origins at Olduvai Gorge, and descend into the volcanic caldera of the Ngorongoro Crater in this 5 day northern circuit lodge safari in Tanzania.

Day-by-Day Lake Manyara Serengeti Ngorongoro Lodge Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park – Afternoon Game Drive

Drive Distance: ~125 km (78 miles) | Drive Time: ~2 to 2.5 hours on smooth tarmac
Safari Focus: Groundwater forests, baboon troops, tree-climbing lions, and alkaline lake birdlife
Habitat: Underground spring-fed forest, acacia woodlands, and alkaline soda lake

Your safari begins in Arusha with lunch at the Impala Hotel (or your designated Arusha hotel), where you will meet your professional driver-guide from Bushtroop Tours & Safaris. Following a safari briefing, board your custom 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser and drive west along the Great Rift Valley corridor to Lake Manyara National Park.

Upon entering the park, elevate the pop-up roof for 360-degree wildlife viewing. The track winds through lush groundwater forests fed by mountain springs, home to olive baboons, agile blue monkeys, bushbucks, and forest elephants. Emerge onto open grassy floodplains flanking the lake, where thousands of lesser flamingos, pelicans, and storks gather along the shallows.

Scan the horizontal boughs of ancient mahogany and umbrella acacia trees for Manyara’s famous tree-climbing lions, an unusual behavioral adaptation developed to avoid ground flies and catch cool breezes. Pause by the hippo pool to observe massive pods wallowing at close range before ascending the escarpment for dinner and overnight rest.

Accommodation: Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge
Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner

5 day tanzania lodge safari

Day 2: Lake Manyara to Serengeti National Park via Olduvai Gorge

Drive Distance: ~145 km (90 miles) | Drive Time: 4 to 5 hours transit through Ngorongoro
Safari Focus: Prehistoric hominid archaeology, vast short-grass plains, and big cat tracking
Habitat: Montane highlands, acacia savannas, and granite kopjes

Following breakfast, journey through the cool highland forests of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area before dropping onto the boundless golden savannas of Serengeti National Park—the Maasai “Siringet,” meaning “the place where the land moves on forever.”

Stop en route at Olduvai Gorge, the famous paleoanthropological site known as the “Cradle of Humankind.” Tour the canyon museum where Dr. Louis and Mary Leakey unearthed hominid fossils including Homo habilis and Australopithecus boisei, dating back over two million years.

Cross into the Serengeti through Naabi Hill gate and begin an afternoon game drive across the golden grasslands. Arrive in the late afternoon at Nyika Camp. Enjoy sundowners and a three-course dinner.

Accommodation: Nyika Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Bush Picnic Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Full-Day Serengeti National Park Wildlife Safari

Safari Focus: Big cat hunts, predator-prey dynamics, and seasonal migration tracking
Activity: Morning and afternoon game drives with a scenic bush picnic lunch

Dedicate a full day to tracking the pulse of the wild across the vast Serengeti ecosystem:

Predator Tracking: Early mornings offer prime opportunities to spot apex predators—lions, cheetahs, and leopards—on the prowl before the midday heat. Scan rocky granite kopjes for lion prides surveying the savannas and acacias for resting leopards.
The Migration Rhythm: Follow seasonal movements of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles. From December to April, the herds gather in the southern Ndutu plains for calving; from May to June, they transit the Western Corridor; and from July to October, they push into the northern sector toward the Mara River.
Low-Season Advantage: Outside peak migration crossings, resident big cat densities remain among the highest on earth, offering intimate, uncrowded wildlife sightings.

Enjoy a picnic lunch in the wild under the shade of an umbrella acacia. Continue an afternoon safari tracking topis, elands, bat-eared foxes, and giraffes before returning to the lodge for dinner.

Accommodation: Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Bush Picnic Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Drive Distance: ~140 km (87 miles) | Drive Time: 3 to 4 hours game-viewing transit
Safari Focus: Dawn predator activity, savanna tracking, and crater rim panoramas
Habitat: Open savanna plains to high montane crater rim forest (2,200m)

Set out on an early morning game drive through the Seronera Valley—the prime window to catch active wildlife before temperatures rise. Return to the lodge for a warm breakfast, pack your luggage, and begin your slow game-viewing drive toward the southeastern Serengeti plains.

Exit into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, stopping again to take in the views across the Great Rift Valley. Arrive at your lodge perched along the crater rim in time for lunch.

Spend the afternoon taking in panoramic views 600 meters straight down onto the crater floor, or relax in the lounge by the open log fire with an afternoon nature walk along the crater rim.

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater Floor Safari – Return to Arusha

Crater Tour Duration: 5 to 6 hours caldera game drive | Drive to Arusha: ~3 hours (~160 km)
Safari Focus: Critically endangered black rhinos, high-density lion prides, and hippo pools

Rise early and descend 600 meters (2,000 feet) down the steep, forested caldera walls onto the floor of the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater—the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera at 260 sq km (part of the 8,300 sq km conservation area) and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Spend the day exploring this natural wildlife amphitheater, home to over 25,000 large mammals:

The Big Five: High probabilities of spotting resident lion prides, Cape buffaloes, bull elephants carrying massive tusks, leopards, and northern Tanzania’s most stable sanctuary for the rare black rhino.
Lake Magadi & Ngoitoktok: Watch large flocks of flamingos wading in the alkaline lake and enjoy an early picnic lunch beside the hippo pool at Ngoitoktok Springs.

By early afternoon, ascend the caldera walls and begin your scenic drive back to Arusha. Arrive in the late afternoon for drop-off at your hotel, or take a direct transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) / Arusha Airport (ARK)for your flight home or an onward beach extension to Zanzibar.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Bush Picnic Lunch

PRICE PER PERSON FROM;

Low season(April-June)
Price per person for 2 pax =$2900
Price per person for 4 pax=$2425
Price Per Person for 6 Pax=$2340
High season(Jan-Mar and Nov-Dec)
Price per person for 2 pax= $3450
Price per person for 4 pax=$2970
Price Per Person for 6 Pax=$2790
Peak Season (July-October)
Price per person for 2 pax=$3750
Price per person for 4 pax=$3290
Price Per Person for 6 Pax=$3095
Price includes:
– Transportation in a custom safari jeep with pop-up roof ideal for game viewing and sightseeing
– Services of a trained and experienced English speaking driver/guide
– Accommodations as in the Itinerary
– Meals as indicated in the itinerary
– Bottled water for use during the safari
– Game drives and park entry fees
-Airport transfers
Not included:
– International air transportation to and from Arusha
– Expenses of personal nature such as visas, travel/baggage insurance, laundry, beverages, tips