Ngorongoro & Serengeti Express

Every night is at a Serena lodge. You spend one night at Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge, two nights at Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge in the Central Serengeti and two nights at Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge. Staying two nights in both of the main parks means less packing and more of each day out on game drives.

For a first safari with limited time, yes. The route is set up so you aren't rushing: you get a full day of game drives in the Central Serengeti and a full day on the Ngorongoro Crater floor, plus a game drive in Lake Manyara on day one. If you can spare more time, our Arusha team can add days.

Lake Manyara is known for its elephants and tree-climbing lions, in a mix of groundwater forest and lakeside grassland. The lake draws flamingos, pelicans, storks and shorebirds, so it's a good park for birds as well as big game. The day one game drive is a gentle start before the longer drive to the Serengeti.

You're out on game drives for the day across open plains broken by granite kopjes. Large lion prides, leopards, cheetahs and impala live here year-round, so there's always something to look for. Your guide has time to stay with a sighting rather than move on. On the drive in the day before, you can stop at Olduvai Gorge.

After an early breakfast you descend to the crater floor and stay there all day. You may see rhino, elephant and lion, as well as large herds of zebra and wildebeest, with the crater wall behind them. Lunch is a picnic overlooking a hippo pool, and Lake Magadi often has flamingos and other water birds.

It starts in Arusha, where your guide picks you up for the drive to Lake Manyara National Park. It ends back in Arusha in time for lunch on day six, followed by a transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward connection. Book an afternoon or evening flight so you aren't rushed.

Yes. Our Arusha team is happy to adjust the lodges or add days, for example more time in the Serengeti. Couples, families and small groups can all travel on this route. Tell us your dates and what matters most to you, and we'll shape the trip around that.

The resident wildlife in Lake Manyara, the Central Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater can be seen all year, so the route works in most months. The drier months are the most popular. The long rains, roughly April and May, can make some roads muddy. There are no fixed departure dates, so ask us and we'll advise on timing.

Pack light, neutral-coloured layers and a warm fleece for the cooler Ngorongoro highlands, where you spend two nights. Add a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and your own binoculars if you have them, as Lake Manyara is good for birds. Keep luggage simple, since you stay at three different lodges over the six days.

The Ngorongoro & Serengeti Express is 6 days and 5 nights. The day-by-day itinerary on this page shows where you go and stay each day.

This trip visits Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

It is rated moderate: a reasonable level of general fitness is enough.

It runs for groups of 2 to 12 travellers.

Included: Full board accommodation at handpicked lodges and camps, All game drives in 4x4 safari vehicles with pop-up roofs, Professional English-speaking safari guide, Park entry fees for all national parks and conservation areas, Ngorongoro Crater descent fee, Bottled water during game drives, All transfers and transportation and Emergency medical evacuation insurance.

Not included: International flights, Visa fees, Travel insurance (recommended), Alcoholic beverages, Tips and gratuities for guide and lodge staff, Personal items and souvenirs, Optional activities not mentioned in itinerary and Additional meals and drinks outside of full board.