Savannah Horizons Safari – 6 Days: Serengeti National Park & Ngorongoro Crater

Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and receive a warm Karibu sana welcome from your Pita Safaris driver-guide. Enjoy a scenic transfer to your lodge in Arusha, passing lush coffee farms, banana plantations, and iconic red-soil landscapes. Depending on arrival time, relax at the lodge, explore Arusha’s vibrant craft markets, or enjoy a local coffee tasting experience. Tonight, unwind with a delicious dinner and prepare for your safari adventure tomorrow.

Highlights:

• Private airport transfer (~55 km | ~1 hour)
• Scenic drive through northern Tanzania’s agricultural landscapes
• Arrival evening at lodge with sunset views

Optional Experiences:

• Explore Arusha craft markets
• Visit a local cultural center or coffee plantation

Accommodation Options:

• Midrange: Kibo Palace Hotel
• Upper Midrange: Arusha Serena Hotel
• Luxury: Gran Melia Arusha

After breakfast, depart Arusha and journey through Karatu and Ngorongoro Highlands toward the Serengeti (~335 km | ~6 hours with game stops). Enter the park via en-route game drives, spotting giraffes, elephants, and lions basking on kopjes. Arrive at your tented camp or lodge in time for dinner and a golden Serengeti sunset.

Highlights:

• En-route game drive to Serengeti
• Wildlife sightings: giraffes, elephants, lions
• Sunset over the endless savannah

Optional Experiences:

• Sunset photography session
• Visit a local village along the way

Accommodation Options:

• Midrange: Serengeti Heritage Camp
• Upper Midrange: Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
• Luxury: Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge

Spend a full day exploring Serengeti’s dramatic landscapes. Morning and afternoon game drives reveal predators stalking prey, herds of wildebeest, and zebras grazing peacefully. During the Great Wildebeest Migration (seasonal), witness millions of animals moving across the plains — a true natural spectacle.

Highlights:

• Full-day game drives in Serengeti
• Big Cats, elephants, and migratory herds
• Iconic plains photography opportunities

Optional Experiences:

• Hot air balloon safari with champagne breakfast (advance booking)
• Guided walking safari near camp

Accommodation Options:

Same as Day 2

Rise early for a sunrise game drive to witness predators at their most active. Explore Seronera Valley, known for resident big cats, or venture north for seasonal wildebeest crossings. Optional: experience a hot air balloon safari followed by a bush champagne breakfast. Relax in the afternoon or enjoy sundowners around the campfire.

Highlights:

• Sunrise game drive in Serengeti
• Big Cats and abundant wildlife
• Optional aerial perspective via hot air balloon

Optional Experiences:

• Hot air balloon safari with champagne breakfast
• Photography session at sunset

Accommodation Options:

Same as Day 2 & 3

After breakfast, enjoy a final game drive in the Serengeti before driving toward Ngorongoro (~145 km | ~4 hours). Stop optionally at Olduvai Gorge, the “Cradle of Mankind,” and visit Maasai villages. Arrive at your lodge on the crater rim to enjoy breathtaking panoramic views and a relaxing evening.

Highlights:

• Scenic drive through Ngorongoro Highlands
• Visit Olduvai Gorge (optional)
• Sunset views over Ngorongoro Crater

Optional Experiences:

• Cultural visit to Maasai villages
• Photography at crater viewpoints

Accommodation Options:

• Midrange: Ngorongoro Farm House
• Upper Midrange: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
• Luxury: The Manor at Ngorongoro

Rise early and descend 600 meters into the Ngorongoro Crater for a half-day game drive. Spot lions, elephants, hippos, buffalo, and the rare black rhino. Enjoy a picnic lunch near the hippo pool before ascending the crater rim and returning to Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your departure.

Highlights:

• Half-day game drive inside Ngorongoro Crater
• Big Five wildlife encounters
• Picnic lunch beside hippos and scenic crater exit

Optional Experiences:

• Extended photography stop in crater
• Visit local Maasai market en route