Morning: First, you depart early from Arusha and join your group for the journey to Tarangire National Park. Tarangire is known for its large elephant herds and ancient baobab trees, so it makes a superb first stop. After a scenic 2-hour drive, you then enter the park for a full-day game drive.

Activities:

• Game drives in the morning and then again in the afternoon
• Spot elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and over 500 bird species
• Also explore the Tarangire River ecosystem, which draws wildlife during the dry season

Meals: At midday, you enjoy a picnic lunch inside the park. Later, you have dinner at your lodge or campsite.

Accommodation: You stay in shared lodges or tented camps in the Mto wa Mbu/Karatu area. However, the exact choice depends on your booking preference.

Morning: After an early breakfast, you drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Then you descend 600 meters into the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Africa’s highest density of wildlife.

Activities:

• A 5-6 hour crater game drive
• Then search for the Big Five: lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo
• Also marvel at the varied habitats, such as forests, lakes, open grassland and swamps

Lunch: During the game drive, you enjoy a picnic lunch near the hippo pool.

Afternoon: Finally, you climb out of the crater and drive back to Arusha, arriving by late afternoon or early evening.