Serengeti · Ngorongoro Crater · Lake Manyara National Park
Fly-In Serengeti Escape: Five Days, No Long Drive
Be on the plains by lunchtime, then finish with the crater and Lake Manyara.
- Duration
- 5 days
- Destinations
- Serengeti · Ngorongoro Crater · Lake Manyara National Park
- Best months
- Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
- Group size
- 1 to 6 guests
- From
- $2,575 per person
Overview
Be on the plains by lunchtime, then finish with the crater and Lake Manyara.
The usual route into the Serengeti eats two days on the road. Here a charter flight from Arusha puts you straight into the Central Serengeti, and your first game drive starts the afternoon you land. Two full days follow in prime predator country, where lion, leopard and cheetah live all year instead of passing through with the seasons. Then comes a guided descent into Ngorongoro Crater, the largest intact caldera on the planet.
A last morning drive in Lake Manyara, wedged below the Rift Valley wall beside the soda lake, closes the trip before you head for your flight home. It is five days with very little of it spent simply getting from A to B.
Two accommodation levels are on offer, from a comfortable tented lodge to a high-end camp.
- A flight from Arusha straight to the Central Serengeti instead of two days on the road
- Two full days in predator country that holds lion, leopard and cheetah year-round
- A guided descent into Ngorongoro Crater, the largest intact caldera in the world
- A final morning game drive in Lake Manyara before departure
- Two accommodation levels, from tented lodge to luxury camp
Best forCouplesSolo travellersHoneymoonersLuxury seekers
Wildlife radar
What you can expect to see
With flights to the Serengeti, you can go whenever the wildlife suits you. June to October is the dry season with the clearest sightings, July to September is the Mara River crossing season in the north, and January to March is calving season in the south. April and May are green and quiet, with lower rates.
- LionHigh
- LeopardRare
- CheetahRare
- Black rhinoHigh
About 25 live on the crater floor
- Cape buffaloHigh
- FlamingoSeasonal
On the map
Your route
Follow the trip from the first night to the last, by road and by air.
- Start · Day 1Arusha
- Day 2-3Central SerengetiFlight from Arusha
- Day 4KaratuDrive from Central Serengeti
- End · Day 5ArushaDrive from Karatu
Day by day
Your itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Arusha
Arusha
Arrive in Arusha and transfer to your lodge for a night before the early flight into the Serengeti.
- Trail
- Kahawa House
- Summit
- Siringiti Arusha Villa
- Meals
- Dinner and breakfast
Day 2
Fly to the Central Serengeti
Central Serengeti
An early charter flight does in about 45 minutes what the road does in hours. Your first game drive begins as soon as you land, with the plains stretching away and the afternoon light turning gold.
Arriving by air means you start fresh instead of dusty, and that first afternoon drive often turns up the best sightings of the whole trip.
- Summit
- Siringiti Serengeti Camp
- Meals
- Full board
Day 3
A full day in the Serengeti
Central Serengeti
Game drives across the open plains all day. The Central Serengeti keeps resident lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant and buffalo year-round, so it is one of Africa's most dependable predator areas whatever the migration is doing. Your guide plans the drives around the busiest hours, early morning and late afternoon.
The Seronera Valley is often called Africa's predator capital, and its lion prides are among the best studied anywhere.
- Summit
- Siringiti Serengeti Camp
- Meals
- Full board
Day 4
Ngorongoro Crater and Karatu
Ngorongoro Crater and Karatu
Drive south and descend into the crater, a closed ecosystem of about 260 km². A full day of game viewing among some of Africa's most concentrated wildlife, with all of the Big Five resident, including black rhino that make this one of Tanzania's last dependable places to find them. You sleep at a lodge in Karatu, just above the rim.
Roughly 25 black rhino live on the crater floor, which is why a single day's drive here has a good chance of finding one.
- Trail
- Kitela Lodge
- Summit
- Gibb's Farm
- Meals
- Full board
Day 5
Lake Manyara and back to Arusha
Lake Manyara and Arusha
A morning game drive in Lake Manyara National Park, where forest, woodland and open water are packed into one circuit beneath the Rift Valley escarpment. The park is known for tree-climbing lions and more than 400 bird species. Afterwards, continue to Arusha for your onward flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast and lunch
Gallery
Along the route
Where you stay
Choose your style of stay
Price per person
Choose a level of stay and see what each person pays for your group size.
| Travelling together | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 1 traveller | $4,990 |
| 2 travellers | $3,800 |
| 3 travellers | $3,200 |
| 4 travellers | $3,205 |
| 5 travellers | $2,575 |
| 6 travellers | $2,975 |
- Prices are in US dollars, per person sharing a double or twin room. Vehicle and guide costs are shared, so the price per person changes with group size and does not always fall in a straight line.
- These rates are indicative. We confirm the exact price for your dates and group in your personal quote.
- Park fees are set by the authorities and can change, so the quote you accept is the price that applies.
What's included
- Return charter flights between Arusha and the Serengeti
- Park and conservation area fees
- Game drives in a private 4x4
- A professional guide for the whole trip
- Meals as listed
- Lodging as per the itinerary
- Airport and between-camp transfers
Not included
- International flights
- Tanzania entry visa
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities
- Optional hot air balloon flight over the Serengeti
- Personal items, laundry and phone charges
Good to know
- Rates are per person sharing a double or twin room; single supplements are available on request.
- Availability and rates can vary with the exact dates.
- Government authorities fix the park and conservation charges, so these can shift at short notice.
- Your deposit confirms the booking and the balance is due before you travel. The amounts and dates are set out in your personal quote and invoice.
Questions
Good to know
Fly-In Serengeti Escape: Five Days, No Long Drive
Tell us your dates and group size and we will confirm availability and a personal quote.