This 2-day Lake Manyara & Ngorongoro safari is designed for travelers who want to experience Tanzania’s Northern Circuit highlights in a short but rewarding itinerary.
Day one takes you to Lake Manyara National Park, nestled along the Great Rift Valley escarpment. Its diverse habitats—groundwater forest, open plains, and lakeshore—support flamingos, pelicans, hippos, giraffes, and the park’s unique tree-climbing lions. Lake Manyara is also renowned for its birdlife, with over 400 recorded species (BirdLife International).
Day two focuses on the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Africa’s best places to see the Big Five in a single day. Within its 260 km² caldera, expect elephants, buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, lions, and possibly the rare black rhino. A picnic lunch is enjoyed at a hippo pool before ascending back to the rim and returning to Arusha.
👉 Short on time but want Tarangire too? See our 3 Days Tarangire, Manyara & Ngorongoro Safari.
2 days 1 nights
Daily Tour
12 people
English
Drive from Arusha/Kilimanjaro to Lake Manyara. Enjoy a game drive through forest, plains, and lakeshore. Spot flamingos, hippos, giraffes, and—if lucky—tree-climbing lions. Overnight near Ngorongoro.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Ngorongoro lodge/tented camp
Descend into Ngorongoro Crater for a full-day safari. See elephants, buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, and rhinos with a picnic lunch at hippo pool. Ascend crater rim in the afternoon and return to Arusha/Kilimanjaro.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Not at all. Many guests with limited time love this circuit. You’ll experience both Lake Manyara’s birdlife and Ngorongoro’s Big Five in just two days.
Mid-range lodges in Karatu with en-suite rooms and warm hospitality. Luxury tented camps on the crater rim can be arranged on request.
Yes. The short distances between parks make it family-friendly, and lodges can provide family rooms.
Expect 4–5 hours of game viewing on the crater floor — enough to explore major habitats and spot a wide variety of wildlife.
See our blog: What to Pack for an African Safari.
Member Since 2025
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