6 days - Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater

Best time to visit: Lake Manyara, July - Oct for large mammals; Nov-June for waterfalls & bird watching; Serengeti, year round; Ngorongoro, year round

Experience the wonders of the Serengeti National Park. Watch the phenomenon of the annual migration of thousands of wildebeest and zebra, described as one of the greatest spectacles in the natural world. Marvel at the historic Ngorongoro Crater, formed over 3 million years ago. Its permanent population of more than 3 million animals is truly amazing. See lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant.

DAY 1: Arrive Namanga/Taveta and transfer to Arusha for lunch. Afternoon departure for Lake Manyara Hotel, situated on the brink of the Great Rift Valley overlooking the soda lake and National Park below. Game drive in the Park which covers a relatively small area with five distinct vegetation zones ranging from an area of ground water forest to characteristic scrubland on the precipitous face of the Rift Valley wall. Sight a variety of wildlife including buffalo, elephant, leopard, lions (sometimes seen on trees), giraffe and pink flamingoes on the lakeshore. Dinner and overnight at Lake Manyara Hotel.

DAY 2: Morning departure for Seronera, situated in the famous Serengeti National park. Sight herds of wildebeest and zebra, to lazy prides of lion and leopard, which can often be found resting on trees along the Seronera River. Full board and overnight at Seronera, Lobo or Ndutu Wildlife Lodge.

DAY 3: Full day game drive across the immense Serengeti Plains. Keep your cameras ready to capture spectacular photographs of black-mane lions, cheetahs, and other predators. Visit the hippo pool 6 km from Banagi. See a variety of birds, such as the secretary bird, ostrich, starling and Marabou stork. Full board and overnight at Seronera, Lobo or Ndutu Wildlife Lodge. 

DAY 4: Morning departure for Ngorongoro Crater, Africa's "Garden of Eden", via the famous Olduvai Gorge. This site is famous for the archaeological digs and is where the Leakey family discovered the remains of prehistoric man, mammals and other fossils dating back millions of years. Leisure afternoon. Full board and overnight at Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge, Crater Lodge, Sopa Lodge or Serena Lodge.

DAY 5: After breakfast descend 2,000 ft in a Land Rover to the crater floor, the second largest caldera in the world, for a full day game drive. The soda lake, forest and grassland provide a home animals such as the rhinoceros, zebra, eland, lion, wildebeest, gazelle and flamingo. Picnic lunch in the crater. Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge, Crater Lodge, Sopa Lodge or Serena Lodge.

DAY 6: Morning departure for Arusha with a stop over at Mto wa Mbu to visit the local market. Lunch at Arusha. Afternoon transfer to Namanga/Taveta/Airport.