5 Days Tanzania Big 5 Safari
Is seeing the big 5 on a safari in Tanzania your longtime dream? This is the itinerary you have been waiting for! Our 5 days Tanzania Big 5 Safari is an extraordinary adventure into the deeper parts of East Africa – Tanzania.
During this safari, you will explore places like Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and Lake Manyara National Park. All these places boost at least 4 of the big 5 animals if not all. You will see many elephants in Tarangire National Park. Serengeti National Park presents the big cats alongside the great wildebeest migration. Exploring its regions like Kogatende is a dream come true for anyone passionate about the big 5. You will also explore the Ngorongoro Crater and witness the world’s largest volcanic crater. This is in addition to exploring the Oduvai Gorge where you will see the remains of early man.
Below is a detailed itinerary for the 5 Days Tanzania Big 5 Safari;
Safari Summary
- Day 1: Arrival and Transfer to Tarangire National Park
- Day 2: Morning game drive and transfer to Serengeti National Park
- Day 3: Game drive in Serengeti and overnight in Ngorongoro Conservation Area
- Day 4: Lake Manyara National Park and Departure
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and Transfer to Tarangire National Park
We assume you arrive at the Kilimanjaro Airport in the morning or you spent a night in Arusha. You will meet our driver-guide. He or she will take you through briefing and a few formalities. Hit the road to Tarangire National Park. Lunch will be at your lodge in the park or Karatu town.
In the afternoon, you will go for a game drive in the park. Tarangire National Park boasts hundreds of elephants. It is a chance to witness the big 5 forehand. The park is also full of baobab trees. I am sure you will spot buffaloes and lions as well. Retreat to your lodge before sundown. Have dinner and spend the night over.
Meal plan: Lunch and dinner
Day 2: Morning game drive and transfer to Serengeti National Park
After breakfast at your lodge, you will go for a game drive before heading to Serengeti National Park. The morning game drive is an opportunity to spot more animals and increase your chances of spotting the big 5. An en-route lunch is inevitable as you drive northwards. Enter Serengeti National Park and start a game drive straight away. This park is known for vast savannah plains. You will witness wildebeests, lions, giraffes, elephants, leopards, and many bird species. Check in to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 3: Game drive in Serengeti and overnight in Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Start the day early enough to catch early risers of the park. Many hunters are trying to grab their last meal before they retreat to their hiding places. This is why a morning game drive in the Serengeti National Park is always exceptional. Breakfast will be under a tree in the middle of nowhere. Take advantage of the beautiful landscapes and take a photo as the sun rises.
Later on, drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This is an extension of Tanzania’s endless wilderness. It is at the edge of Serengeti National Park. The area is home to the world’s largest volcanic crater – the Ngorongoro Crater. It also boast animals including the big 5, zebras, giraffes, and many more. Check in to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 4: Lake Manyara National Park and Departure
After breakfast, check out of the accommodation facility and take an en-route game drive. This is also a chance to spot animals you might have missed the previous day. Proceed to Lake Manyara National Park. Known for large elephant herds, tree-climbing lions, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffalo, and hippos. The park is a haven for bird lovers with over 400 bird species, including pink flamingos, pelicans, hornbills, and storks.
The park’s landscape includes groundwater forests, acacia woodlands, open grasslands, and swamps. The Rift Valley escarpment provides dramatic views and a diverse ecosystem. It also offers breathtaking views of the Great Rift Valley escarpment and Lake Manyara itself, a shallow, alkaline lake that expands and contracts with the seasons.
Later on, you will drive to Arusha with an en-route lunch. Catch your outbound flight. This will be the end of your special 5 Days Tanzania Big 5 Safari.
