6-Day Fly-In Tanzania Safari
Overview
The ultimate comprehensive fly-in safari covering all four iconic parks of Tanzania's Northern Circuit with the comfort and speed of domestic flights. From the elephant-dense woodlands of Tarangire and the world-renowned Ngorongoro Crater to two full days in the Serengeti and the unique Lake Manyara ecosystem, this six-day journey leaves no stone unturned. With four scenic flights replacing two full days of road travel, you spend more time with the wildlife and less time in transit — the definitive Tanzanian safari experience for the discerning traveller.
Highlights
Gallery
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 — Fly from Arusha to Tarangire
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport and connect to your morning flight from Arusha Airport to Kuro Airstrip in Tarangire National Park. Your safari begins the moment you land, with an afternoon game drive through this underrated gem of the Northern Circuit. Tarangire is home to Tanzania's largest elephant population and a stunning landscape of baobab-dotted plains and riverine woodlands. The Tarangire River draws an incredible concentration of game, particularly in the dry season. Settle into Tarangire Safari Lodge with its panoramic river-bluff views.
Accommodation
Neptune Ngorongoro Luxury Lodge
Farm of Dreams Lodge
Octagon Lodge
Lunch, Dinner
Day 2 — Tarangire to Lake Manyara by Road
After an early morning game drive in Tarangire and breakfast at the lodge, take the short 45-minute road transfer to Lake Manyara National Park — one of the few drives in this fly-in safari that is brief and scenic. Lake Manyara is a compact but rewarding park, famous for its tree-climbing lions, large baboon troops, and the shimmering alkaline lake fringed with flamingos. The lush groundwater forest at the park entrance is a striking contrast to the open plains of Tarangire. After your game drive, continue to Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge on the crater rim.
Accommodation
Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
Rhino Lodge
Simba Public Campsite
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 — Ngorongoro Crater Full-Day Game Drive
Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater at dawn for a full day inside this natural wonder. The 260-square-kilometre caldera floor is a microcosm of East African wildlife, where you can spot the Big Five in a single morning. The soda lake at the crater centre attracts flamingos, while the surrounding grasslands and swamps support huge concentrations of zebra, wildebeest, gazelle, and their predators. A picnic lunch at the hippo pool is an experience in itself. Return to the crater rim for your second night at Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge.
Accommodation
Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
Rhino Lodge
Simba Public Campsite
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 — Fly from Ngorongoro to Serengeti
After breakfast with a view of the crater, transfer to Lake Manyara Airstrip for your flight to Seronera Airstrip in the central Serengeti. The aerial transition from the Ngorongoro Highlands into the Serengeti ecosystem reveals the geography that shapes this wildlife spectacle. Upon landing, an afternoon game drive takes you through the Seronera River Valley — home to a dense population of lion prides, leopards draped on sausage trees, and cheetahs scanning the plains from termite mounds. Arrive at Serengeti Sopa Lodge for sunset.
Accommodation
Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti
Into Wild Africa
Nyani Campsite
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 — Full Day Serengeti Game Drive
Dedicate a full day to exploring the far reaches of the Serengeti. Your driver-guide will navigate toward areas with recent predator and migration activity. Visit the Moru Kopjes, home to some of the Serengeti's oldest lion prides, or head to the Retima Hippo Pool for an up-close encounter with these formidable beasts. Depending on the season, you may witness the Great Migration's dramatic river crossings or the calving season on the southern plains. A bush picnic lunch maximizes your time in the wild.
Accommodation
Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti
Into Wild Africa
Nyani Campsite
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 — Morning Game Drive and Fly to Arusha
A final sunrise game drive gives you one last chance to tick off any remaining species on your wildlife checklist. The Serengeti in the early morning is a photographer's dream — soft golden light, mist rising from the plains, and animals at their most active. After breakfast at the lodge, transfer to Seronera Airstrip for the flight back to Arusha. Enjoy a bird's-eye farewell to Tanzania's wilderness before landing in Arusha, where you connect to your international departure or a Zanzibar beach holiday.
Included
- Scheduled domestic flights: Arusha–Tarangire, Manyara–Serengeti, Serengeti–Arusha
- All accommodation as per itinerary (Tarangire, Ngorongoro rim, Serengeti)
- All meals as indicated (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof for all game drives
- Services of a professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Park entry fees for Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, and Serengeti
- Ngorongoro Crater service and descent fees
- Airport and airstrip transfers throughout
Excluded
- International flights to Tanzania
- Tanzania visa fees
- Travel and medical evacuation insurance
- Tips and gratuities for driver-guide and lodge staff
- Alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, and laundry services
- Optional activities (balloon safari, Maasai village visit, Olduvai Gorge)
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