2-day Wildlife Safari

This safari will focus on two wildlife destinations in Tanzania that are naturally beautiful and filled with wildlife throughout the year: Tarangire National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater.

Arusha town, known as the safari capital, is the starting point for most safaris in the Northern Circuit of Tanzania. Arusha is conveniently located near Kilimanjaro International Airport but it also has its own small airport if you wish to fly here from another local city. Both Tarangire and Ngorongoro are located close enough to Arusha town that a 2-day, 1-night wildlife safari covering both parks can be great success for those that are short on time when in Tanzania.

We will depart from Arusha city in the morning for a full day game drive in Tarangire National Park. Here you will witness the large herds of elephants and huge baobab trees scattered around the savanna. After a day in Tarangire, we will overnight in Karatu, a nearby town conveniently located between Tarangire and Ngorongoro.

Staying in Karatu allows us to enter the Ngorongoro Crater early in the day – one of the best times to see wildlife there. The Ngorongoro Crater is considered the “Garden of Eden” for wildlife viewing. It will not disappoint. The beauty of the crater, with walls that create a fabulous backdrop for your photographs, will astound you. Here we will spend the day viewing as much of the crater as possible and enjoy a picnic lunch at a most beautiful location beside the water. Enjoy the spectacular views as we ascend the crater and return by evening to Arusha town.

Itinerary

Arrival day: Arrival in Arusha

Arrive at Arusha city, the starting point of your safari adventure. A member of our team will meet and greet you at Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport to transport you to your accommodations in Arusha City at a Hotel in Arusha. We will provide a safari briefing this day to ensure we are well prepared to set off on our safari in the morning. At your hotel, you can relax, enjoy a delicious dinner and prepare for an early departure to Tarangire National Park the following morning.

Optional Activity:

• Arusha City Tour
• Arusha National Park
• Coffee Tour
• Local Cooking Class
• Canoeing In Arusha National Park or Lake Duluti
• Horse Riding
• Golfing
• Sapuku Waterfalls
• Meserani Snake Park

 Meals: DINNER

Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire National Park

Your guide will meet you at the hotel after breakfast, where you will proceed to Tarangire National Park – our goal is to leave early to avoid traffic in Arusha and get to Tarangire in the morning light when animals are most active. Tarangire has located 150 km (93 miles) from Arusha city center, so it takes around 2-2.5 hours to arrive at the park. Tarangire National Park is known for its large herds of elephants and enormous baobab trees. You will see these massive elephants traveling in large family groups. Here you can surely bear witness to the extraordinary care they provide to their young ones. The elephants tend to travel in packs, following the same paths that they have taken year after year. When they see your vehicle coming closer, they will gather around their young to protect them and lead them on their way. In Tarangire, you will have the opportunity to simply sit and watch these magnificent gentle giants. Have your cameras ready to capture some incredible images of the elephants and the beautiful surroundings. But elephants are not the only animal you will see – there is a large population of lions, a variety of antelopes, zebra, giraffes and even the leopard can be spotted here. Birds abound, with over 500 species documented in the park. The Tarangire River runs through the center of the park, providing a source of water for the animals year-round and this means a great opportunity for wildlife viewing! Large herds of mammals and vast varieties of birds gather daily at the river for a drink and to cool off. Tarangire also boasts many enormous Baobab trees, impressive trees that can live for thousands of years. Animals can be found in the rainy seasons, but the concentration of wildlife tends to be better during the dry seasons. As the day ends, we will depart the park and drive to Karatu – a town located between Tarangire and Ngorongoro – where we will stay at Kudu Lodge. Here you can enjoy the pool, a delicious dinner, and relax in their beautiful garden setting.

 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 2: Ngorongoro Crater – return to Arusha

After breakfast at a Lodge, travel north to the Ngorongoro Crater for an amazing tour of this wildlife mecca. The Ngorongoro Crater is renowned as the largest intact volcanic caldera in the whole world. The crater was formed around 2-3 million years ago when a volcano that rivaled Kilimanjaro erupted and imploded. The Crater was officially hailed as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa in 2015. With crater walls reaching 600 meters (2,000 feet) and a diameter of 10 miles from rim to rim, the Crater forms a natural amphitheater with the densest populations of large animals anywhere in the world! The Crater is truly awe-inspiring and game viewing here is among the very best Africa has to offer. The Ngorongoro Crater hosts the black-maned lions and boasts a steady black rhinoceros population as well as elephants, leopards, Cape buffalo, antelope, hippos, and many more. With soda lakes in the crater, the bird life is incredible! The Ngorongoro Crater can shelter these animals as resident wildlife due to its permanent water features and therefore animals don’t find it necessary to migrate for food and water. Enjoy a packed picnic lunch at the picnic site within the crater and continue game viewing after lunch. Ascend the crater at the end of your day and return to Arusha town. Reminisce with your guide and members of the safari about the amazing adventure you just had!

 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner