SERENGETI SAFARI 2026
Overview
Itinerary
Day 1 – Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge (Ngorongoro Crater) FB
Your day: Leave Arusha and wind into the green highlands. As the air cools, the views open and the road climbs to the crater rim. It’s the kind of drive where you roll the window down just to breathe it in. Arrive in time for lunch and that first big view across the caldera.
Spend the afternoon taking it easy. Wander the terrace, watch the light shift across the bowl below, and settle into the slower rhythm of the highlands. Dinner by the fire rounds out a gentle first day and sets the tone for the adventure ahead.
Day 2 – Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge (Ngorongoro Crater) FB
Your day: After breakfast on the rim, drop down into the crater for a full day on the floor. The scenery is wide and wild, and the wildlife is close: lions in the grass, elephants along the marsh, black rhinos crossing open flats, hippos stacked in calm pools.
Lunch is a picnic in the wild, set at a scenic spot with cold drinks from the car fridge. Your guide sets an easy pace so you can watch behaviour, not just tick sightings. By late afternoon, climb back to the rim for sunset and dinner at the lodge. Optional ideas today or tomorrow: a crater rim walk or a stop at Olduvai Gorge on the route to the Serengeti.
Day 3 – Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge (Central Serengeti) FB
Your day: Leave the highlands and watch the world open into the Serengeti. Horizon after horizon, big sky, and that feeling of being exactly where you’re meant to be. Depending on timing, pause for a picnic in the wild with something cold from the vehicle fridge.
The afternoon is your first Serengeti game drive. Look for cheetahs on low mounds, lions on kopjes, leopards draped in acacias, elephants along the rivers, and giraffes stepping across golden grass. Back at the lodge, a relaxed dinner and a bright starry sky finish the day. Add-on to consider for tomorrow: a sunrise hot air balloon flight ending with a champagne bush breakfast.
Day 4 – Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge (Central Serengeti) FB
Your day: Dawn is when the Serengeti feels most alive. Roll out for that soft first light and the morning calls of the plains. Work the river lines and the koppies where elephants move, hippos grunt, and big cats often patrol.
Lunch is another picnic in the bush with chilled drinks on hand. In the afternoon, follow the action at an easy pace. In season, you might see long lines of wildebeest and zebra; year-round there’s always something to watch. Return for dinner and, if you like, a sundowner at a favourite lookout. Other add-ons here: balloon safari, private bush breakfast, or a curated sunset stop.
Day 5 – Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge (Lake Manyara National Park) FB
Your day: Drop down the Rift Valley to Lake Manyara. It’s compact, green, and full of character. Forest tracks hold blue monkeys and hornbills, the lake draws pelicans and, in the right season, clouds of flamingos. Elephants like the edges; occasionally lions rest in the fig trees.
Choose a picnic in the park with cold refreshments from the fridge, or lunch at the lodge. An unhurried afternoon drive shows off how varied this little park can be. Sunset from the escarpment is the kind of view you remember. Add-ons today: the treetop walkway, a village and market visit in Mto wa Mbu, or a guided cycling loop.
Day 6 – End of Itinerary (Arusha) FB
Your day: One last breakfast with a view, then an easy drive back to Arusha. You’ll arrive by lunch, with a camera full of photos and a head full of stories.
It’s been six days of wide horizons, calm evenings, and real time on the land. If you want to keep going, we can add a beach finish or another park. Otherwise, it’s a relaxed ride back to town and onward travel.
Rates (USD) — Per Person Sharing
| Travel Dates (2026) | Per Person Sharing | Single Room Supplement |
|---|---|---|
| 02 – 31 Jan | $3,100 | $700 |
| 01 – 28 Feb | $4,100 | $1,200 |
| 01 – 31 Mar | $3,000 | $700 |
| 01 Apr – 25 May | $2,800 | $500 |
| 26 May – 25 Jun | $4,100 | $1,200 |
| 26 Jun – 31 Oct | $4,100 | $1,200 |
| 01 – 15 Nov | $3,000 | $700 |
| 16 – 31 Dec | $4,100 | $1,200 |
What’s Included
- Accommodation as per itinerary
- 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- English-, French-, and German-speaking driver-guides available
- Game drives and park fees as per itinerary
- All government taxes and levies
- Meet & greet services
- 24-hour stand-by contact
- Meals as indicated (Full Board on safari)
- Guaranteed window seats (5–7 pax per vehicle)
- On-safari accessories (first-aid kit, wildlife books, cool box, HF radio, fire extinguisher)
- VAT and concession fees
What’s Excluded
- Personal expenses (phone, laundry, etc.)
- Tips and gratuities
- Drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic)
- Domestic/international flights and departure taxes
- Transfers: Kilimanjaro Airport ($60/vehicle) • Namanga Border ($165/vehicle)
- Any new or additional park fees introduced after booking
- Visa fee (currently US $50 per person)
- Flying Doctors cover (optional US $50 per person / 14 days)
- Personal travel insurance (recommended)
Transfers
Good to Know 🌍
Packing: Light, neutral clothes for daytime; a warm layer for Ngorongoro evenings; a hat and comfortable shoes. Soft bags fit better in 4×4 vehicles than hard suitcases.
Power & Wi-Fi: 230V, 50Hz, British three-pin plugs (Type G). Most lodges have Wi-Fi in shared areas, but expect patchy signal in remote parks.
Tipping: Around US $10–15 per guest per day for your guide, plus small tips for lodge teams if you’d like.
Seasons & Wildlife: June–Oct is dry with strong predator viewing. Nov–May is green and full of newborns. Migration movements in central Serengeti usually fall around May–July, but nature sets the schedule.
Extras: Balloon safaris, crater rim walks, village visits, bush breakfasts, treetop walkways, sunset setups. Best to pre-book.
Travel Notes: Passport valid 6+ months; tourist visa US $50. Travel insurance and Flying Doctors cover recommended.
Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge
