DAY 1: ARRIVAL AT THE AIRPORT

Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK) – for domestic flights – you will be greeted by a representative from African Big Cats Safaris who will transport you to your accommodation in Arusha. You will spend the night at your accommodation in anticipation of your safari the following day.

Your lodging for the night will be at Ilboru Safari Lodge and will include a Bed & Breakfast meal plan.

DAY 2: ARUSHA TO LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK

On the second day, after an early breakfast, you will depart for Lake Manyara National Park, an unspoilt paradise renowned for its wealth of birds and tree-climbing lions. The park’s western boundary is formed by the dramatic western escarpment of the Rift Valley, while the shallow, alkaline Lake Manyara lies to the east. During the rainy season, the lake is home to thousands of flamingos. The park’s vegetation is varied and ranges from savannah to evergreen forest. During your exploration of the park, you may encounter giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, and elephants. If you’re lucky, you may even spot lions lounging in the trees.

After lunch and an extensive game drive, we will proceed to our partner lodges in Karatu, where you will enjoy dinner and spend the night at Marera Valley Lodge. Your meal plan will include breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

DAY 3&4: NGORONGORO CRATER TO SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

Days 3 and 4 will take you from Ngorongoro Crater to Serengeti National Park. After an early breakfast, you will depart for Ngorongoro Crater. The crater’s steep volcanic walls conceal a pristine wilderness that includes sweeping savannah, pockets of acacia woodland, and glistening lakes and swamps. The crater was formed when a large volcano collapsed in on itself two to three million years ago. It is famous for being a natural reserve that is home to some of the densest large mammal populations in all of Africa. The drive down into the crater is an adventure in itself, and once you reach the crater floor, you will quickly find yourself surrounded by large numbers of wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, and more than 500 bird species. The crater provides the best chance of seeing the endangered black rhino, which can sometimes be spotted in the open grasslands. After lunch, you will proceed to Serengeti National Park, where you will spend two nights at Embalakai Camp. Your meal plan will include breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

DAY 5: SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK TO KARATU

On Day 5, after an early breakfast, you will continue your game drive in the Serengeti on your way to Karatu. Serengeti National Park is the best-known wildlife sanctuary in the world, unrivaled in its natural beauty and scientific value, and home to the greatest concentration of plains game in Africa. The Serengeti is famous for the annual migration of over a million wildebeest and about 200,000 zebras. Late in the afternoon, we will proceed directly to Karatu via Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where you will spend the night at Marera Valley Lodge. Your meal plan will include breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

DAY 6: TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK TO ARUSHA

On the sixth and final day, after an early breakfast, we will depart for Tarangire National Park. The park is named after the Tarangire River, which runs through it and is the only source of water for wildlife in the region during the dry season. The vegetation in the park can be quite dense, including elephant grass, acacia woodlands, and lush groundwater forests. Tarangire is well-known for its elephant families, which can often be seen congregating by the river. Other animals you may encounter include giraffe, bushbuck, and harte