4 Days Ngorongoro & Lake Manyara Classic Safari Encountering a the age old elephant or the waving flocks of flamingos are experiences that go beyond the small word “safari.” With our 4 Days Ngorongoro & Lake Manyara Classic Safari you will have the laughable chance of travelling through the landforms you had only seen in documentaries, and marveling at lakes which leave you spellbound.
Your journey will start by the edges of Arusha or Moshi, the towns which have become reflexive stops for people wanting to visit the parks in the northern regions of Tanzania. From there, your itinerary includes exploring Lake Manyara, the Ngorongoro Crater, and the eerie, striking charm of Lake Natron. And as you goes about those days with the sleepless nights and the lethargic evenings, you will definitely feel an alteration somewhere, could be a quiet shush or some distant peaceful noise.
Your safari will take an expansive loop around the Great Rift Valley. First, you will rest for the night in Arusha and then travel towards Lake Manyara to see the famous tree climbing lions with their lush groundwater forests. After that, you will descend to the hidden world of the Ngorongoro Crater where you will spend the night in Karatu and continue to the salt flats of Lake Natron. Finally, you will stop in Mto Wa Mbu which gives you a sense of normalcy before returning to Arusha.
Every location has different ambiance. Every day is more than just a to-do list.
To begin, you will arrive at either Kilimanjaro International Airport or Moshi, which means you will undergo the “familiar is custom lines and baggage claim” experience. Steps through the doors and out into the world awaiting you always to breath a bit surreal. The light would always feel softer than you expect it to, the air possessing a sweet scent unlike any you can name.
A driver awaits with a sign holding your name, small comforts awaiting you. Your lodge in Arusha is just a short drive away. Along the way, spotting Mount Meru steeply rising and green against the mid-afternoon blue sky.
After you check in, you can rest for a bit or perhaps do some light unpacking. While some travelers are eager to get on with the day’s itinerary, others are content to sit on the lodge’s veranda and enjoy the evening.
Accommodation
Ilboru Safari Lodge
Outpost Lodge
Arusha Serena Hotel
Arusha Coffee Lodge
The early morning in this part of the world offers some sort of serene charm, as if even the birds are holding their breath in anticipation of the day. After breakfast, you begin your drive toward Lake Manyara National Park.
If you haven’t been, it feels like you are entering a secret paradise. The groundwater forest almost tries to embrace the track, and the air becomes cool under the rich greenery. Along the way, it’s common for baboons to block the road, reminding you that you are in their domain.
Your guide drives deliberately, looking up into the trees. Lake Manyara is famous for lions that climb into branches, though whether you see them is a matter of patience and chance. It is somehow comforting to know not everything can be second-guessed.
By mid-morning, you arrive at the floodplain with standing flamingos and congregating hippos in muddy pools. Take lunch at a designated picnic site. Food is simple but the focus is on a moving elephant along the edge of the clearing.
In the afternoon, continue with exploration and capture the acacia woodland or stream watching a herd of buffalo grazes slowly. As light begins to soften, exit the park for nearby lodge.
Accommodation
Migombani Public Campsite
Manyara Safari Camp
Kirurumu Manyara Lodge
Lake Manyara Serena Lodge
Today morning feels different. Maybe it is the intrigue or the cooling air while climbing to the Ngorongoro highlands. The winding road reveals breathtaking views of the crater rim.
Descending into the crater itself rewards you with an almost sacred silence. The floor of Ngorongoro encompasses miniature worlds like grasslands, fever trees, and lagoons where flamingoes gather alongside tranquil regions that rhinos inhabit, evoking memories of a bygone era. Observing the wildlife on game drives feels distinctively intentional. Stopping to observe a hyena crossing a shallow channel or a pride of lions relaxing in the short grass is commonplace and very much worth the wait. Until you experience it for yourself, the way the crater walls rise on all sides and contain air in a stillness that is hard to explain will remain a mystery.
During lunch, you’ll enjoy a meal by the hippo pool that includes a picnic-style lunch. The windows will be open allowing a gentle warm breeze to come through and the sounds of distant wildlife to be heard.
Later in the evening, the journey down to Karatu, which is a town that is nestled between green hills, begins. It is always and jarring and abrupt as if you are returning to a world you once knew that is now more familiar and softer in nature, and the contrast is always unexpected.
Accommodation
Simba A Campsite
Eileen’s Trees Inn
Acacia Farm Lodge
The Manor at Ngorongoro
Following breakfast, you depart from Karatu. Unlike the other roads, the one toward Lake Natron is a lot rougher. The area is more elemental and dry, almost desolate in nature. Occasionally, the wind will pick up fine dust and sweep across the region in pale veils.
You have not been to a place like Lake Natron. It has a volcano called Oldoinyo Lengai and a flamingo filled lake which has red tinged water due to algae. The volcano is quiet but imposing.
Your walking routes are along the small pathways and viewpoints next to the lake which will be shown to you by your guide. At times, you might get glimpses of Maasai herders moving their cattle over the cracked land and everything would feel zen and slowed down.
In the evenings, as you set to rest in your camp or lodge, you will feel the picturesque air and ridges cool down while the sun sets. Additionally, the flamingo filled lake resurfacing and glowing makes everything even more beautiful.
Accommodation
Moivaro Lake Natron Tented Camp
Lake Natron Tented Camp
Lake Natron Camp
Natron Public Campsite
Following Day – Return to Arusha and Mto Wa Mbu visit
As you visit Mto Wa Mbu, you will notice greenery and lively villages, all while heading back south. Not to mention how lively the village is, along with all of its markets.
With a guide you will stroll, stopping to taste fresh mango or observe artisans. After days spent in open vistas, the market reminds you of home with the aroma of spices, cooking oil, and ripe fruit.
Your lunch consisting of seasoned rice and vegetables is a local dish that may be difficult to recreate at home. Thereafter, you continue toward the last stretch of your journey, Arusha.
By now, the route feels comfortable and somewhat attendant. Perhaps you gaze at the continuously changing scenery with the understanding that, even if you lack the right vocabulary, there is something within you that has irrevocably transformed.
Step into the heart of Africa. Witness Tanzania’s wild wonders up close. Your soul-stirring safari begins here.
Address: 7th Floor, Market Street, Arusha – Tanzania
Phone: +255 767-837-026
Email: book@ngorongorocratersafaris.com
