Short Safari Itineraries

SHORT SAFARI ITINERARIES
3 to 6 DAYS
swala@habari.co.tz
Revised August 25, 2006

3 Days 4 Days 5 Days 6 Days Kilimanjaro Climbs Zanzibar

Itineraries may be customized according to personal choice. As an addition to a safari, we recommend the Tanzania Coast. It is one of Tanzania's best kept secrets. The coast may not have the exotic appeal of Zanzibar but it has wonderful un-spoilt beaches. Tariffs for 3 days is from $200 per person. See Tanzania Coast page.

All safaris in northern Tanzania include Lake Manyara Park and Ngorongoro Crater. Lake Manyara Park is a Biosphere Reserve. Ngorongoro Crater is a World Heritage Site and is one of the finest game reserves in the world; it is almost guaranteed to see a variety of animals in a very short time. Tarangire National Park is very good between mid-July and beginning November. The Serengeti is best left for safaris of six or more days as it's a large park and very diverse in habitat; it is better to fly-in and drive out (or vice versa) as this saves at least one day of travel and allows more time for game viewing. The extra cost of a flight from Arusha to Seronera is $130 per person but you save a day of travel.

The safari itineraries that follow are recommended and can be modified according to what you may require. A map of Tanzania or East Africa belies the distance-time factor. What you may consider a three hour drive could well be a full day drive. Special rates apply to Family Groups. Tariffs are per person sharing rooms.

3 Days / 2 Nights: Lake Manyara + Ngorongoro 2 persons $480, 4 persons $390.

Day 1. Arrive Arusha and transfer to Lake Manyara, a two-hour drive taking you to the base of the rift valley. Migunga Forest Camp is in a quiet and secluded area close to the park.
Day 2. After breakfast drive to Ngorongoro Crater. Picnic lunch in Crater. This is a good opportunity of seeing rhino, lions, hyenas, plains animals, gazelle, and elephants (males only - no matriarchal herds). Ngorongoro Crater is amazing not only scenically but also for its wildlife, one of the very few places that has such an abundance of animals in such a small area and in so may varying habitats. Overnight Migunga Forest Camp.
Day 3. Return to Arusha.

4 Days / 3 Nights: Lake Manyara + Ngorongoro + Tarangire 2 persons $675, 4 persons $555.

Day 1. Arrive Arusha and transfer to Lake Manyara, a two-hour drive taking you to the base of the rift valley. The camp is in a quiet and secluded area close to the park. Overnight Migunga Forest Camp.
Day 2. After breakfast drive to Ngorongoro Crater. Picnic lunch in Crater. This is a good opportunity of seeing rhino, lions, hyenas, plains animals, gazelle, and elephants (males only - no matriarchal herds). Ngorongoro Crater is amazing not only scenically but also for its wildlife, one of the very few places that has such an abundance of animals in such a small area and in so may varying habitats. Return in late afternoon to Migunga Forest Camp.
Day 3. Day in Lake Manyara National Park. Overnight Migunga Forest Camp.
Day 4. Return to Arusha.

5 Days / 4 Nights: Lake Manyara + Ngorongoro + Tarangire 2 persons $900, 4 persons $750.

Day 1. Arrive Arusha and drive to Lake Manyara. For a morning departure, and if time allows, visit Tarangire National Park(supplement of $30 park entry fee per person). Continue in late afternoon for Lake Manyara. Overnight Migunga Forest Camp.
Day 2. Continue to Ndutu on the Serengeti Plain. Overnight Ndutu.
Day 3. Drive to Ngorongoro Crater. Picnic lunch in Crater. Overnight Migunga Forest Camp.
Day 4. Day in Lake Manyara National Park. Overnight Migunga Forest Camp.
Day 5. Return to Arusha

For safaris of 6 to 10 days there is the choice of flying to the Serengeti and driving back (or vice versa). The air fare is $140 per person one way. It will save two days of uncomfortable travel better spent in the Serengeti game viewing or walking. For safaris longer than 8 days see Long Safari Itineraries.

6 Days / 5 Nights. Lake Manyara + Ngorongoro + Serengeti + Tarangire 2 persons $1,100, 4 persons $920.

Day 1. Drive to Lake Manyara, a two-hour drive taking you to the base of the rift valley. Afternoon in Manyara National Park, well known for its tree-climbing lions - but not often seen. The park is a good introduction to the wildlife of Tanzania and has a variety of habitats in a relatively small area: ground water forest, grass plains, and acacia woodland. The camp is in a quiet and secluded area close to the park. Overnight Migunga Forest Camp.
Day 2. Drive to Serengeti via Ngorongoro Highlands and Olduvai Gorge. Visit to site museum. Continue across the Serengeti Plain to Naabi Hill, Seronera and to camp, game viewing en route. Overnight Ikoma Bush Camp.
Day 3. Game drives and/or hikes in Serengeti. There are the options of game drives, hiking, visiting a gold mine that uses traditional methods of extracting gold, and visiting the local village and its traditional life. A guide will accompany all hikes as game can be expected to be seen. Overnight Ikoma Bush Camp.
Day 4. Continue to Ngorongoro Crater via Olduvai Gorge. The road passes through the central part of the Serengeti and the Serengeti Plain, where between late December and May the big herds concentrate. Overnight Ngorongoro Lodge.
Day 5. Day in Ngorongoro Crater. This is a good opportunity of seeing rhino and if you haven't already seen enough lions this is the place to see them. Ngorongoro Crater is amazing not only scenically but also for its wildlife, one of the very few places that has such an abundance of animals in such a small area and in so may varying habitats. Exit crater in mid afternoon for the drive to Lake Manyara. Overnight Migunga Forest Camp.
Day 6. Return after breakfast to Arusha via Tarangire National Park.

EXTRA SERVICES: Single Room Supplements $35 per night.

Family Departures: Children under 16 sharing accommodation with parents, there is a discount of 40% per child; not sharing, less 25%.

Safari Cost includes: Vehicle+driver-guide, VAT, park fees, Crater fee, full board accommodation at de luxe permanent camps, lodges at Ngorongoro and/or northern Serengeti, hotel (Bed and Breakfast) in Arusha, hikes, Olduvai Gorge Fee, and transfers to and from Kilimanjaro airport.

Safari Cost does not include: meals in Arusha, bar drinks, bottled mineral water, gratuities, visa fees, airport tax, travel insurance, Nairobi-Arusha shuttle, and items of a personal nature. For those arriving via Nairobi, arrangements can be made to join a safari starting from Arusha or Lake Manyara. Shuttle buses depart Nairobi-Arusha and Arusha-Nairobi daily at 0800 and 1400 (a five hour drive) and cost $25/$50 single/return.

Gratuities: Tips are expected for your driver-guide. They work long hours and their skills should be recognized. We would prefer to have tips included in the safari cost, but it creates many problems - including that of income tax! If you prefer not to deal with tips, you may ask your safari coordinator to include the average tip in the safari cost. The average tip by a group for a driver-guide per day is $15 to $20. Tips to airport porters will be covered by your driver. Tips to hotel porters is $1. Tipping to staff at lodges is optional (there is a 5% service charge already included in your payment) but allow $1 per person per meal ($5 per person per visit).

There are separate tipping guides for Kilimanjaro Climbs in our Kilimanjaro page.

VEHICLES: game viewing vehicles in the national parks and game areas; transfers between camps/lodges are by minibus or 4-wheel drive, depending on the area and prevailing conditions. Minibuses are used for lodge tours. Our Tanzanian driver-guides are experienced and knowledgeable in wildlife. Their game spotting skills are excellent.