Epic Tanzania Safari

Safari summary

An expedition that combines Ngorongoro Conservation Area with Lake Manyara National Park offers one of the most remarkable safari experiences in Tanzania. These two destinations balance each other beautifully: Ngorongoro impresses with its monumental landscapes, dense wildlife, and deep cultural history, while Manyara dazzles with its greenery, prolific birdlife, and unique animal behaviors. Together, they weave an epic story of nature, adventure, and discovery.

Your journey often begins at Lake Manyara National Park, tucked between the imposing Rift Valley escarpment and its shimmering soda lake. Though small compared to other parks, it is a mosaic of habitats that makes it feel endlessly rich—groundwater forests, acacia woodlands, open grasslands, and the lake itself. Upon entering the forested gate, you are greeted by baboons, which live in unusually large troops here. Blue monkeys leap among the branches while hornbills and woodland birds call overhead.

As you progress, the land opens up to sweeping views of the alkaline lake, where flamingos frequently gather in pink clusters that shimmer in the sunlight. Manyara is celebrated for its rare tree-climbing lions, an unforgettable sight if you catch one draped lazily across a branch. Elephants, often seen in impressive numbers, roam between the forests and plains, while giraffes, buffalo, wildebeest, and zebras share the grasslands. The park is also a haven for bird enthusiasts, with more than 400 species recorded—pelicans, cormorants, bee-eaters, and even the majestic fish eagle.

What makes Manyara distinctive is its intimacy. Unlike the wide savannahs, here the wildlife feels close, shaded by forests and mirrored in the lake. Encounters are vivid and personal. Beyond wildlife, visits to nearby communities enrich the experience, where Maasai traditions and village life offer cultural perspectives tied deeply to the land.

From Manyara, the route leads into the Ngorongoro Highlands, where the scenery shifts to rolling green hills and misty forests. At the heart of this region lies the legendary Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most celebrated natural wonders of Africa. Millions of years ago, a massive volcano collapsed, leaving behind the world’s largest intact caldera. Today it shelters an extraordinary concentration of wildlife in an enclosed, self-sustaining ecosystem.

Descending the crater rim in the early hours is breathtaking. Mist drapes across the grasslands while the vast crater floor reveals its residents. This is one of the rare places where you can spot the Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino—within a single day. Lions dominate the plains, sometimes stalking zebras or wildebeest. Spotted hyenas patrol in packs, while cheetahs can occasionally be seen sprinting across the open ground. Black rhinos, among the last in Tanzania, graze near the Lerai Forest. Herds of buffalo, elephants, and countless gazelles complete the scene.

Each habitat within the crater adds another dimension: marshes filled with hippos, woodlands where leopards hide, shallow soda lakes glowing pink with flamingos, and expansive savannahs dotted with antelopes. Every corner offers a new spectacle of survival, and the density of animals here means the action never feels far away.

Ngorongoro is not only about wildlife—it is also about people and history. The Maasai live within the conservation area, moving their cattle alongside wild herds, a living example of coexistence between culture and nature. Nearby, the Olduvai Gorge preserves some of humanity’s earliest footprints, linking this land to the dawn of mankind.

Evenings in the highlands are equally enchanting. From lodges and camps along the rim, the view across the crater at sunset is awe-inspiring, and at night, clear skies sparkle with countless stars.

Experiencing both Manyara and Ngorongoro together offers contrast and harmony. Manyara is lush, compact, and full of surprises like tree-climbing lions and flocks of flamingos, while Ngorongoro is vast, majestic, and teeming with life on an epic scale. Within just a few days, you move from forests and lakeshores to volcanic highlands and open crater plains, capturing the full spectrum of Tanzania’s wild beauty.

A tailored safari may begin with a day in Manyara, wandering through its varied habitats and bird-rich landscapes, followed by a night in Karatu or on the crater rim. The next day, a full descent into Ngorongoro brings face-to-face encounters with its dense wildlife. For travelers with more time, cultural visits to Maasai villages or hikes in the crater highlands deepen the journey further.

This expedition is more than animal viewing—it is an immersion into Africa’s heart. It tells a story of landscapes sculpted by geological forces, animals adapted to unique environments, and people who have lived here for generations.

About this tour

	Tour type	Custom, tailor-made, private
	Main focus	Game drives
	Activity level	Easy activity
	Best months	All months
	Countries	Tanzania
	Parks	Lake Manyara Ngorongoro Crater

Fine details

Safari highlights

• Photography safari—with professional guide
• Wildlife sanctuaries

What’s included?

• Accommodation
• Airport transfers
• Meals
• Park fees
• Private vehicle and driver

What’s not included?

• Alcoholic beverages
• All drinks
• Hot air balloons
• Internal flights
• International flights
• Laundry
• Premium alcoholic beverages
• Spa treatments
• Tips and gratuities
• Visas