
On the first day of your Ngorongoro Safari, you depart Arusha town between 7:00 and 8:00 AM and travel through the Maasai Steppe and past Lake Manyara in the Rift Valley; drive up the escapement and across Karatu to the Loduare Gate of Ngorongoro Conservation Area. After a brief registration halt at the park’s entrance, we travel up to the viewpoint, where we take photographs of some of the most spectacular views of the caldera floor. The remainder of the day is spent on the Ngorongoro Crater floor on wildlife safaris. After a picnic dinner, afternoon game safaris will continue at the picnic area by the hippo pool. We will travel up the crater rim to a lodge for the night. Karatu accommodations include the Ngorongoro Farmhouse, Acacia Farm Lodge, or something comparable. Both lunch and dinner are provided.
You will descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, also known as the “Eden of Africa,” after breakfast. Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest unbroken caldera, is unparalleled in terms of biodiversity concentration. Your driver will be in constant communication with other vehicles in order to locate the best animal sightings, and with a little luck, you will be able to see the Big Five inside the caldera. At the picnic site, lunch will be served, and in the late afternoon, we will return to the crater rim to unwind and take in the views. If you are staying at Ngorongoro Farmhouse, Acacia Farm Lodge, or a comparable property in Karatu, you will have the option to swim in the pool.
After a leisurely breakfast at the lodge on this day, you will have the option of visiting a Masai village or going on a nature stroll in the Ngorongoro forests (for a small additional charge). An armed ranger will lead you through the forest trails, where you may encounter masses of buffaloes and elephants, as well as other forest species such as duikers, lions, leopards, etc. Following the activities, you will return to Arusha town via Karatu and Mto wa Mbu market towns, where you may interact with residents and do some shopping if you so choose.
Explore the vast savannahs of East Africa on a safari customized to your preferences, whether it's encountering the Big Five in Tanzania's famous wildlife parks, or visiting the Rhino sanctuaries of Kenya.