5 Days Serengeti and Ngorongoro Safari

Rwakabunga Safaris proudly presents the ultimate 5 Days Serengeti and Ngorongoro Safari, a luxury expedition designed for tourists seeking the most immersive and exclusive experience in Tanzania’s two premier wildlife destinations. This meticulously planned itinerary prioritises comfort, world-class service, and extraordinary game viewing, offering a deep dive into the ‘Big Cat Capital’ of the Serengeti and the phenomenal biodiversity within the geological masterpiece of the Ngorongoro Crater. From private charters to exquisite tented suites and gourmet dining under the stars, this journey encapsulates the opulence of a true African luxury safari, guaranteeing a spectacular and unforgettable encounter with the Great Rift Valley’s natural wonders.

Day 1: Arusha to Central Serengeti National Park

Your journey commences with a private luxury transfer from Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO/ARK) to a scheduled flight, or a private charter, directly to the Central Seronera region of the Serengeti National Park. Upon arrival at the airstrip, you will be warmly greeted by your expert guide and immediately begin an exciting en-route game drive as you transfer to your opulent tented camp. After settling into your lavish accommodation, a gourmet lunch will be served before you embark on an extended, exclusive afternoon game drive, strategically exploring the Seronera River Valley. This area is renowned for its high concentration of resident predators, including lion prides, leopards, and cheetahs, ensuring your first day is filled with dramatic wildlife sightings before you return to camp for a magnificent dinner under the stars.

Accommodation Options: Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, One Nature Nyaruswiga, Namiri Plains

Meals: (Lunch, Dinner)

Day 2: Full Day Exploration of Central Serengeti

Today is entirely dedicated to exploring the Central Serengeti, maximizing your opportunities for world-class game viewing in the “Big Cat Capital.” The day begins with an exhilarating pre-dawn morning game drive, a time when predators are most active, often found hunting or returning from an overnight kill, offering incredible photographic moments. Following a mid-morning rest and a sumptuous breakfast back at the camp, you will venture out again, focusing on the iconic granite outcrops, or ‘kopjes,’ which provide favorite vantage points for lions and the reclusive leopard. Alternatively, you may opt for a full day out in the plains with a custom-prepared luxury picnic lunch, ensuring you cover as much ground as possible and experience the raw, untamed beauty of the Serengeti from dawn till dusk.

Accommodation Options: Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, One Nature Nyaruswiga, Namiri Plains

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Highlands

After a final, reflective morning game drive and a leisurely breakfast in the Serengeti, you will say farewell to the endless plains and begin your scenic private transfer towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The drive is an experience in itself, offering continuous game viewing en-route as you traverse the vast plains and ascend the magnificent Great Rift Valley escarpment. Along the way, you have the option of visiting the Olduvai Gorge, the site of some of the earliest human fossil discoveries, or a local Maasai cultural boma (village), adding a profound cultural dimension to your safari. You will arrive in the cooler Ngorongoro Highlands to check into your beautiful, luxury lodge, often set within a coffee plantation or atop the crater rim, allowing for relaxation and incredible sunset views before a fine-dining dinner.

Accommodation Options: Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, The Manor at Ngorongoro, Gibb’s Farm

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater Descent – The World’s Eighth Wonder

Today is the highlight of the Ngorongoro experience, a full-day, exhilarating descent into the floor of the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest intact volcanic caldera, the crater floor acts as a natural enclosure for an astonishing density of wildlife, providing unparalleled year-round game viewing. Your expert guide will lead the search for the Big Five in a single location, with a specific focus on tracking the highly endangered black rhinoceros, for which the crater is the best place to spot in Tanzania. A delicious, gourmet picnic lunch will be enjoyed near the hippo pool, surrounded by the incredible biodiversity, maximizing your time in this ‘Garden of Eden’ before the afternoon ascent back to your luxury lodge on the crater rim.

Accommodation Options: Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, The Manor at Ngorongoro, Gibb’s Farm

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 5: Departure

Savour your final, leisurely breakfast overlooking the beautiful Ngorongoro Highlands and the surrounding landscape. Depending on your flight schedule, a final activity may include a nature walk around the lodge property, perhaps through the local coffee plantations or a scenic viewpoint, offering a gentle final immersion into the African natural environment. Following this, your private guide will provide a comfortable, luxury road transfer back to Arusha town or directly to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your international departure or onward travel arrangements. You depart with Rwakabunga Safaris having experienced the ultimate blend of wildlife, luxury, and indelible memories from the Serengeti and Ngorongoro.

Meals: (Breakfast)

End of the 5 Days Serengeti and Ngorongoro Safari.