4-Day Lodge Safari: Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Lake Manyara — Big Five on a Budget
Difficulty
easy
Duration
4 days (full-day game drives)
Fitness Level
Basic mobility required: long vehicle days and some short walks at viewpoints; minimal hiking.
Overview
A compact, budget-friendly lodge safari that hits Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara in four days. Expect long game-drive days, pop-up-roof viewing from a 4x4 Landcruiser, and a strong chance to see the Big Five.
4-Day Lodge Safari: Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Lake Manyara — Big Five on a Budget
Select participants and date
The jeep pulls off the red-dust road at sunrise and the Serengeti opens like a page: a low, green plain where wildebeest graze in loose lines and a lone acacia watches the horizon. You climb into the pop-up roof of a 4x4 Landcruiser and the world rearranges itself into windows—each frame a promise of a sighting. Over four days and three nights you cross ecosystems: the endless plains of the Serengeti, the closed bowl of Ngorongoro Crater, and the lakeside woodlands of Manyara.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Arrive in Arusha the day before
Plan to be in Arusha the night before pickup to avoid morning stress—airport transfers can add time and cost if delayed.
Layer for temperature swings
Mornings on game drive are cool and mid-days can be hot—pack a fleece plus sun-protective clothing.
Bring your own binoculars
Shared optics are limited; a compact 8x42 binocular dramatically improves sightings and bird ID.
Protect equipment from dust
Use a camera cover or zip-locks and clean lenses frequently—winds and unpaved roads kick up fine dust.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- African lion
- Black rhino
History
The Ngorongoro Crater is a collapsed volcanic caldera and the Conservation Area includes resident Maasai communities whose grazing practices shaped the landscape.
Conservation
The parks balance tourism with conservation; adhere to rules, avoid feeding wildlife, and use refillable water bottles to reduce plastic waste.
Select participants and date
Adventure Hotspots in Arusha
Recommended Gear
Binoculars (8x42)
Essential for spotting distant predators and identifying birds in open plains.
Sun hat and sunscreen
Long hours exposed to equatorial sun make protection necessary.
Light fleece or insulated jacket
Mornings and crater descents can be sharply cool, especially at elevation.
Dust-cover for camera
Keeps gear functioning through dusty roads and frequent stops.