5 Days Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater Safari

Early departure from Arusha driving through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area highlands with panoramic views. Stop at the Ngorongoro Crater rim viewpoint for jaw-dropping first views of the caldera below. Continue descending into the Serengeti ecosystem. Arrive at your camp in the Serengeti by afternoon. First game drive on the legendary Serengeti plains — endless grasslands stretching to the horizon teeming with wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, and the predators that follow them.

Full day exploring different sectors of the Serengeti. Morning game drive in the Seronera Valley — the park's wildlife-rich central area where the Seronera River attracts huge concentrations of animals year-round. Spot lion prides resting under kopjes (granite boulder outcrops), leopards in sausage trees, elephants crossing the plains, and massive herds of wildebeest. Picnic lunch in the bush. Afternoon drive focusing on predator activity as the heat of the day fades and cats become active hunters.

Another full day in the Serengeti exploring the western corridor or northern sector depending on migration patterns and season. The Serengeti is 14,750 square kilometers — there is always more to discover. Focus on the areas where current wildlife concentrations are highest. Your guide communicates with other guides via radio to locate the most spectacular sightings. Watch for cheetah hunts on the open plains, hyena dens with pups, and African wild dogs if lucky.

Morning game drive in the Serengeti, then after lunch drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Check into your lodge perched on the crater rim with spectacular views down into the caldera 600 meters below. Watch the sunset transform the crater into a palette of gold, purple, and crimson. Dinner at the rim lodge with the crater as your backdrop.

Early morning descent 600 meters into the Ngorongoro Crater floor — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world's largest unbroken volcanic caldera. The crater is 20 kilometers across and home to approximately 25,000 animals including the Big Five. Spend the morning game driving on the crater floor. Spot endangered black rhinos, massive-maned lions, elephants, buffalo herds, flamingo-fringed soda lakes, and hippo pools. Picnic lunch by the hippo pool. Ascend from the crater in the afternoon and drive back to Arusha arriving by evening.