Savannahs and Lakes

Safari summary

3-Day Safari Guide: Tarangire & Lake Manyara National Parks, Tanzania
Introduction

Tanzania is a world-renowned destination for wildlife enthusiasts, offering some of the most spectacular safari experiences on the planet. This 3-day safari combines the vast, elephant-filled plains of Tarangire National Park with the lush, diverse landscapes of Lake Manyara National Park. In just three days, travelers can witness an incredible variety of wildlife, from towering elephants and graceful giraffes to tree-climbing lions and vibrant flocks of flamingos. This guide provides a detailed roadmap for your safari, ensuring that every moment is carefully planned, safe, and memorable. Whether you are a first-time visitor or an experienced safari-goer, this guide equips you with all the information needed to enjoy Tanzania’s extraordinary natural beauty.
Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire National Park
Morning Departure

Your safari begins in Arusha, the gateway to northern Tanzania’s wildlife parks. After breakfast at your lodge or hotel, you will meet your professional English-speaking safari guide. The drive to Tarangire takes approximately 2–3 hours, passing through scenic landscapes of rolling hills, farmland, and small villages. Along the way, your guide may point out local flora, baobab trees, and cultural landmarks, giving you a taste of Tanzania’s rural life.

Arrival and Game Drive

Upon arrival at Tarangire, check in for a morning or early lunch before heading into the park for your first game drive. Tarangire is famous for its elephant herds, which congregate around the Tarangire River during the dry season. Keep your camera ready for giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and large predators such as lions and leopards. The park is also a haven for birdwatchers, with over 500 bird species including lilac-breasted rollers, African fish eagles, and the rare ground hornbill.

Afternoon Game Drive

After lunch and a brief rest, continue your afternoon game drive. The golden light of the late afternoon provides perfect conditions for photography. Explore the park’s varied landscapes—open savannahs, termite mounds, and dense woodland—each hosting unique wildlife. Your guide will share knowledge about animal behavior, conservation efforts, and park ecology.

Evening and Accommodation

As the sun sets, exit the park and head to your lodge or tented camp near Tarangire. Lodging options range from luxury lodges with swimming pools to tented camps offering an authentic bush experience. Dinner is served at the lodge, often featuring traditional Tanzanian cuisine. Overnight stays include opportunities for star-gazing and nocturnal wildlife sounds, giving you a sense of the African wilderness.

Wildlife Highlights Day 1: Elephants, giraffes, lions, zebras, wildebeest, warthogs, impalas, various birds

Day 2: Tarangire to Lake Manyara National Park
Early Morning Safari

Wake up early for a morning game drive in Tarangire before departing for Lake Manyara. Early mornings are ideal for observing wildlife at water sources, catching predators and prey in action, and enjoying cooler temperatures. Photographers will appreciate the soft morning light over the park’s expansive plains.

Drive to Lake Manyara

After the morning safari and breakfast, drive approximately 2–2.5 hours to Lake Manyara National Park, a smaller but ecologically rich park at the edge of the Great Rift Valley. The park is renowned for its tree-climbing lions, large baboon troops, hippos, and spectacular flocks of flamingos along the soda lake. The changing landscapes—from lush forests to open lakeshores—provide a dramatic contrast to Tarangire’s dry savannah.

Full-Day Game Drive

Spend the day exploring Lake Manyara’s diverse habitats. Drive through the groundwater forest, home to elephants and monkeys, and onto the open plains where zebras and giraffes graze. Observe the lake’s shore for flamingos and other waterbirds. Your guide will point out animal tracks, discuss ecological interactions, and explain the park’s role in conservation and community projects.

Lunch and Relaxation

Enjoy a picnic or lodge lunch mid-day. Some lodges offer balconies or decks overlooking the lake, perfect for birdwatching or relaxing before the afternoon game drive.

Evening Game Drive

In the late afternoon, continue game viewing while the sun casts golden hues across the landscape. Return to your lodge or camp for dinner and overnight stay.

Wildlife Highlights Day 2: Tree-climbing lions, elephants, hippos, flamingos, baboons, zebras, giraffes, diverse bird species

Day 3: Lake Manyara – Arusha
Morning Activity

Start the day with an optional morning game drive or guided nature walk along the lake shores. This is a great opportunity to observe wildlife with fewer vehicles around, capturing unique photographic moments. Learn about local plants, bird species, and the lake’s ecology from your guide.

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About this tour

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Fine details

Safari highlights

• Bird watching—with professional guide
• Walking safari—with armed guard
• Photography safari—with professional guide

What’s included?

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