5 Days Lodge-to-Lodge Group Joining Safari – Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Manyara
This 5-day lodge-to-lodge group joining safari is designed for travelers who want the complete Northern Circuit highlights with extra comfort, strong wildlife time, and a well-managed shared experience. Starting from Arusha, you begin with Tarangire National Park for elephants and baobab scenery, then head to the legendary Serengeti plains for big cats and classic safari landscapes. After a full Serengeti game drive, you continue to the Ngorongoro highlands and descend into the Crater for one of Africa’s most concentrated wildlife experiences, finishing with a scenic game drive in Lake Manyara before returning to Arusha.
The routing is planned to match the best viewing windows while keeping drives practical and comfortable. Overnights are in carefully selected lodges and camps along the route, giving you proper rest, hot meals, and a smooth safari rhythm. You travel in a shared 4x4 safari vehicle with a professional guide and a maximum of six guests per jeep for clear viewing and good comfort throughout the journey.
Daily departures make it easy to join without complicated logistics. Pickup is available from Arusha town or your lodge in Arusha, with drop-off back to Arusha town or Arusha Airport on the final day. Guides are English-speaking (included). Other languages are available on request, subject to availability.
Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire National Park – Overnight in Karatu (Country Lodge / Marera Valley Lodge)
Your group joining safari begins with a morning pickup from Arusha town or your Arusha hotel. After a short briefing, you drive to Tarangire National Park, known for its huge baobab trees, river habitats, and excellent elephant sightings. Once inside the park, you start your first game drive with time to settle into the safari pace—stopping for wildlife, enjoying the scenery, and following your guide’s best routes based on the day’s sightings.
Tarangire offers strong chances for elephants, buffalo, giraffes, zebra, wildebeest, and a wide range of birdlife. Predators are also present and can be seen in the right areas, especially close to riverine vegetation. You enjoy a picnic lunch inside the park, then continue game viewing until the afternoon.
After the safari, you drive to Karatu for dinner and overnight at Country Lodge or Marera Valley Lodge, a comfortable base in the highlands with a relaxing evening atmosphere.
Day 2: Karatu to Serengeti National Park – Dinner & Overnight at Serengeti Tortilis Camp / Serengeti Heritage Camp
After breakfast, you begin the journey toward Serengeti National Park, traveling through the Ngorongoro highlands before reaching the endless Serengeti plains. The route is scenic and helps you appreciate Northern Tanzania’s changing landscapes, from cooler highland areas to open grassland ecosystems. Your guide shares insights about the region, wildlife behavior, and the best areas to focus on depending on the season.
Once you enter the Serengeti, you begin game viewing en-route as you head toward camp. This is often a productive time for wildlife, as you may spot lions resting near acacias, cheetahs scanning the plains, elephants crossing open areas, and herds of zebra and wildebeest moving across the grasslands. You stop for sightings whenever the moment is right and continue deeper into classic safari territory.
In the evening, you arrive at Serengeti Tortilis Camp or Serengeti Heritage Camp for dinner and overnight, enjoying comfort in the bush and the sounds of wildlife in the distance.
Day 3: Serengeti Game Drive – Overnight at Ngorongoro Wild Camp / Ngorongoro Ang’ata Camp
Today is dedicated to Serengeti wildlife viewing. After breakfast, you depart for a game drive focused on prime activity hours—when predators can still be active and the plains are alive with movement. Your guide targets key habitats such as kopjes, open plains, and water sources where wildlife gathers, giving you the best chance to experience the Serengeti’s famous variety.
Depending on the season, you may encounter large herds, excellent predator opportunities, and a wide range of wildlife including giraffes, topi, hartebeest, hippos, crocodiles, and many bird species. After lunch, you begin your transfer toward the Ngorongoro highlands, positioning you close to the Crater for an early descent the next day.
Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Wild Camp or Ngorongoro Ang’ata Camp, a convenient location for an efficient start and a smooth Crater experience.
Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive – Overnight at Marera Valley Lodge / Africa Safari Manyara Escarpment
After an early breakfast, you descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for one of Tanzania’s most iconic safari days. The Crater’s natural amphitheater landscape includes grasslands, swamps, woodland, and a soda lake, creating a rich habitat that supports a high concentration of wildlife year-round. Your guide follows the best routes based on fresh tracks and daily movement patterns to maximize sightings.
You can expect excellent chances to see lions, buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, hyenas, hippos, and elephants, with abundant birdlife throughout the day. With luck, you may also spot the rare black rhino on the open plains. You enjoy a picnic lunch inside the Crater, then continue game viewing before ascending in the afternoon.
After the Crater, you drive to your lodge for dinner and overnight at Marera Valley Lodge or Africa Safari Manyara Escarpment, resting well for the final day in Lake Manyara.
Day 5: Lake Manyara National Park Game Drive – Departure to Arusha (Town or Airport)
Your final day features a game drive in Lake Manyara National Park, famous for its lush groundwater forest, dramatic escarpment views, and excellent birdlife around the lake. The scenery is a beautiful contrast to the Serengeti plains, and the park often offers close encounters with elephants, buffalo, giraffes, zebra, and many forest and lake species depending on conditions.
You enjoy a well-paced game drive with stops at key viewpoints and productive wildlife areas, followed by lunch. This day is designed to be scenic and relaxed, allowing you to conclude your safari with a different ecosystem and a fresh set of sightings.
After the Lake Manyara experience, you drive back to Arusha for drop-off at Arusha town or Arusha Airport, concluding your 5-day lodge-to-lodge group joining safari.
Rate Per Person (USD)
| Package | Price |
|---|---|
| 5 Day Group Joining (Lodge to Lodge) | $1,890 |
Daily departures • Max 6 guests per safari jeep
Language Guides Available
- ✓English-speaking guide (included)
- ✓Other languages (on request)
Included
- ✓All park & conservation fees (Tarangire + Serengeti + Ngorongoro + Manyara)
- ✓Shared 4x4 safari vehicle with professional guide
- ✓4 nights accommodation (as listed: Karatu + Serengeti + Ngorongoro + Manyara area)
- ✓Meals on safari (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- ✓Picnic lunch during game drives
- ✓Pickup & drop-off: Arusha town/lodge + Arusha town/airport
Excluded
- ✗International flights & visas
- ✗Travel insurance (highly recommended)
- ✗Tips for guide and lodge/camp staff
- ✗Personal items, alcohol, and anything not listed as included
