Arusha · 1 night
Midrange choices
Kahawa House / Pazuri Inn
Luxury choices
Arusha Coffee Lodge / Hamerkop House
Named options from the brochure; each property and room is quoted separately, subject to availability.
5 days / 4 nights · Classic safari
5-Day Tarangire, Manyara & the Crater
$2,500–$3,700 USD pp · midrange planning range
Journey reference: BA-5D-CLASSIC
Lake Manyara and the Rift Valley landscape in northern Tanzania · Photo credit ↗A compact circuit through three different wildlife habitats. Three nights at the same Karatu lodge make room for separate Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro visits.
Ideal for first-time visitors who prefer a road safari and a steady lodge base. This route does not include Serengeti or a night game drive.
What makes this journey special
- Three northern wildlife parks
- Three nights at one Karatu lodge
- No long Serengeti transfer
When to go & how it flows
Year-round in principle, subject to weather, park access and accommodation. Manyara water levels can change the available game-drive routes.
One Arusha night, followed by three nights at one Karatu lodge. Days 2-4 cover the parks; Day 5 is departure. Lake Manyara and the crater are visited on separate days.
Private road safari with locally guided activities where listed
Your journey, day by day
Arrival and the final travel day are included in the trip length. Driving times are planning guides; weather, roads and formalities can change the day.
Day 1
Arrival in Tanzania
Meet your Boker Adventures representative at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and transfer to your hotel. Rest after your flight; no safari or cultural visit is scheduled today. Your briefing covers the route, daily timings, meals, medical or mobility needs, wildlife etiquette and any booked extras. Late arrivals receive their briefing the following morning.
- Overnight
- Arusha
- Meals
- dinner
Planning time: JRO to hotel: approximately 1-1.5 hours, depending on traffic and hotel location. Late dinner must be arranged in advance.
Day 2
Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, travel to Tarangire for a game drive among baobabs, woodland and river habitats. Look for elephants, giraffes, antelope and birds, with a picnic lunch at a designated site. Your guide adjusts the route to wildlife and conditions. Leave with enough time to reach your Karatu lodge for dinner; this is a safari-and-transfer day.
- Overnight
- Karatu
- Meals
- breakfast, lunch and dinner
Planning time: Arusha to Tarangire: about 2-3 hours; park exit to Karatu: 1.5-2.5 hours, plus game drives and stops.
Day 3
Lake Manyara National Park
After breakfast, drive down the escarpment to Lake Manyara. Explore the accessible forest and lake-margin routes with a picnic lunch. Look for primates, birds and other wildlife; tree-climbing lions and large flamingo gatherings are not guaranteed. Return to the same Karatu lodge with time to relax before dinner.
- Overnight
- Karatu
- Meals
- breakfast, lunch and dinner
Planning time: Karatu to the park gate: approximately 30-60 minutes each way, depending on the lodge. Water levels and track closures affect the viewing route. This is a dedicated daytime park visit, not a night safari.
Day 4
Ngorongoro Crater safari
Leave early for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and descend into the crater after formalities. Explore grassland, wetland and other habitats, looking for the resident wildlife; a rhino or predator sighting is a possibility, never a promise. Enjoy a picnic lunch and return to your Karatu lodge after the permitted crater session. The same lodge awaits tonight.
- Overnight
- Karatu
- Meals
- breakfast, lunch and dinner
Planning time: Karatu to the crater access area: about 1.5-2 hours each way, depending on the lodge, gate queues and descent route. The crater session follows permit limits.
Day 5
Return to Arusha and departure
After breakfast, return to Arusha with lunch arranged en route or in town. Continue to JRO for a flight whose timing Boker has checked before booking, or finish at an Arusha hotel. No game drive is scheduled. An early flight requires a separately quoted additional night or a revised itinerary.
- Overnight
- No overnight stay included
- Meals
- breakfast and lunch
Planning time: Karatu to Arusha: about 3-4 hours; onward to JRO: a further 1-1.5 hours, plus stops and airline check-in time. No hotel night is included today.
Places to stay
These are alternatives from the itinerary, not a reservation. We confirm the property, room and meal plan for each stop in your quote. Upgrades can change the budget.
Karatu · 3 nights
Midrange choices
Ngorongoro Farm House / Tloma Lodge
Luxury choices
Kitela Lodge / Gibb's Farm
Named options from the brochure; each property and room is quoted separately, subject to availability.
Included in the planned route
- Four accommodation nights in the confirmed rooms; private 4x4 with English-speaking driver-guide for the stated road programme.
- Listed park visits and relevant entry, overnight and vehicle permits; one Ngorongoro Crater descent.
- Dinner on Day 1; breakfast, lunch and dinner on Days 2-4; breakfast and lunch on Day 5: four breakfasts, four lunches and four dinners. Drinking water in the safari vehicle.
- JRO-to-Arusha arrival transfer on Day 1 and the departure arrangement described on Day 5; briefing and applicable taxes on the quoted services.
Not included
- International flights, visas, travel/medical insurance, tips, personal purchases, laundry and drinks other than those specified. Optional activities, single-room supplements, additional nights and Zanzibar extensions cost extra. Domestic flights are excluded.