This 3-day trip takes you to the northern part of Tanzania, starting with breakfast in Arusha, lunch in Tarangire National Park, and ending with a final breakfast at Lake Manyara National Park.
Tarangire National Park is the closest conservation area to Arusha City, while Lake Manyara National Park is located between Lake Manyara and the Great Rift Valley. Both parks are known for their rare tree-climbing lions.
This trip highlights Africa’s Big Five—lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffaloes—along with breathtaking landscapes and lush vegetation.
Activities include game drives, photography, sightseeing, bird watching, and cultural experiences. Enjoy local dishes and learn a few Swahili words. All accommodations, transfers, and arrangements are provided.
Day 1: Pick-Up and Transfer to Tarangire National Park – Sunset Game Drive
Meet your driver at the agreed pick-up point in Arusha City. After a briefing on the itinerary, begin the 1-2 hour drive to Tarangire National Park, passing through the outskirts of Arusha with scenic views of rolling hills and plantations. Arrive early at the park headquarters for registration, then proceed to the lodge for check-in and lunch.
At around 15:00, set off for the first game drive of the day, lasting about 2-3 hours in the cooler evening hours when animals are winding down from the day’s activities. Besides the beautiful landscape and the Tarangire River, you may spot various birds, plants, primates, reptiles, prey, and predators.
Wildlife sightings may include elephants, wildebeests, lions, leopards, giraffes, rhinos, warthogs, waterbucks, zebras, olive baboons, elands, Grant’s gazelles, cheetahs, African wild dogs, dik-diks, banded mongooses, and more. The park features acacia woodlands, baobab trees, and combretum woodlands. At sunset, return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 2: Drive to Lake Manyara National Park – Game Drive
After breakfast at the lodge, depart for Lake Manyara National Park, a journey of about one hour. Enjoy an en-route stopover for lunch and relaxation, taking in the beautiful views of the landscape and plantations along the way.
Arrive at the park in the evening, register, and embark on a 2-3 hour night game drive. The sunset game drive offers a great chance to spot nocturnal animals and night hunters such as lions, leopards, owls, hyenas, cheetahs, and more. After the drive, proceed to your lodge for check-in, dinner, and a restful night.
Day 3: Departure – Cultural Encounter
Begin the day with breakfast at the lodge. Then, set off on a 2-3 hour drive back to Arusha. Along the way, stop at Mto wa Mbu town for a cultural exchange with the Maasai warriors. During the two-hour visit, explore the Manyattas, experience the life of these pastoralists, enjoy local performances, and have the opportunity to purchase local crafts as souvenirs.
Afterward, continue the drive with a stop for lunch before reaching your preferred drop-off point, marking the end of your three-day safari in northern Tanzania.
