Start your day with a transfer from your Zanzibar hotel to the airport. After a short scenic flight to Arusha, your safari guide will meet you at the airport and drive you about two hours to Tarangire National Park.

Tarangire is known for its massive elephant herds, ancient baobab trees, and the Tarangire River, a magnet for wildlife during the dry season. Look out for giraffes, wildebeests, zebras, lions, and over 500 bird species during your game drive in an open-roof safari vehicle.

In the evening, settle in at your comfortable lodge in the Karatu Highlands.

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Marera Mountain View Lodge

After an early breakfast, drive about 90 minutes to the Ngorongoro Crater, often referred to as the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” This massive caldera is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to some of the densest wildlife populations in Africa—including the Big Five.

Descend 600 meters to the crater floor for a 6-hour game drive, with a scenic picnic lunch at the Ngoitoktok Springs, where you can watch hippos wallow while enjoying your meal. Expect sightings of lions, buffaloes, hyenas, wildebeests, and possibly endangered black rhinos.

Return to your lodge in the late afternoon.

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Marera Mountain View Lodge

Enjoy breakfast and a short 40-minute drive to Lake Manyara National Park. Famous for its tree-climbing lions, Lake Manyara offers a completely different environment, with lush forests, hot springs, and the alkaline lake itself teeming with flamingos.

Keep your camera ready as you spot baboons, giraffes, zebras, elephants, and diverse birdlife. After your morning game drive, return to Arusha Airport for your flight back to Zanzibar, where your adventure ends.