Overview & Summary
This safari is for those who want to sink deep into Tanzania's two most iconic parks not just skim the surface. Spend three full days in the Serengeti, exploring the predator rich Seronera Valley, the kopjes where leopards laze, and if the season aligns, the thundering herds of the Great Migration. Add an optional sunrise hot air balloon for a perspective few will ever know. Then journey to the Ngorongoro Crater, where two separate descents one at sunset, one at dawn reveal the ever changing rhythms of Africa's densest wildlife sanctuary. With expert BMC TOURS & SAFARIS guides and a pace designed for immersion, this is the deep dive you've been waiting for.
Full Itinerary
Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer & Safari Orientation
Your safari begins with a warm welcome from your BMC TOURS & SAFARIS driver at Kilimanjaro International Airport. You are transferred to your comfortable hotel in Arusha, where views of Mount Meru greet you. The afternoon is yours to relax, perhaps exploring the vibrant local markets or simply unwinding by the pool. In the evening, your safari guide meets you for a private briefing, sharing insights on the days ahead the Serengeti's predators, the rhythm of the migration, and the two descents into the ancient crater. A delicious dinner awaits, setting the tone for the journey to come.
Dinner and overnight at Tulia Retreat Hotel & Spa
Ngorongoro Highlands Scenic Transit & Sunset Serengeti Game Drive
After breakfast, journey toward the legendary Serengeti National Park. The scenic drive takes you through the Ngorongoro Highlands, with stops at breathtaking viewpoints overlooking the Great Rift Valley and traditional Maasai homesteads dotting the landscape. As you descend onto the vast plains, the horizon stretches into eternity. Enter the Serengeti and begin your first game drive, encountering giraffes, elephants, zebras, and perhaps lions resting in the golden grass. Enjoy a picnic lunch en route before continuing your exploration. Arrive at your comfortable camp in Central Serengeti in the late afternoon, with time to settle in before an evening game drive as the sun sets over the endless plains. Return to camp for dinner under a blanket of stars.
Dinner and overnight at Osinon Serengeti Camp
Seronera Valley Big Cat Tracking & Kopjes Exploration
Wake before dawn for an early morning game drive as the Serengeti awakens in golden light prime time for predator sightings. The Seronera Valley, one of Africa's most predator rich regions, offers lions stalking zebras, cheetahs scanning from termite mounds, and leopards draped in acacia branches. Spend the day exploring open savannahs and ancient granite kopjes where predators laze and hyraxes scurry among the rocks. If the season aligns, witness the Great Migration with thousands of wildebeest and zebras stretching across the plains. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the bush, surrounded by the sounds of the wild. The afternoon offers more exploration through acacia woodlands and along the Seronera River. Return to camp as the sun sets, sharing stories of the day's wonders over dinner.
Dinner and overnight at Osinon Serengeti CampSunrise Hot Air Balloon Flight & Full Day Wilderness Game Drive
Rise before dawn for an optional sunrise hot air balloon safari a truly unforgettable way to experience the Serengeti from above. Drift silently above golden plains as wildlife awakens below. After landing, celebrate with a champagne breakfast in the heart of the wilderness. If you choose not to balloon, enjoy an early morning game drive tracking predators as they begin their day. After breakfast, set out for another full day of exploration. Depending on the season, your guide may take you to the Western Corridor to witness the dramatic Grumeti River crossings (May–July) or to the southern plains to see the calving herds (December–March). Enjoy a picnic lunch in the bush, then continue your wildlife encounters through the afternoon. Return to camp in the early evening for dinner and overnight.
Dinner and overnight at Osinon Serengeti CampTransit Game Drive & Breathtaking Sunset Views of the Crater Rim
After a final morning game drive in the Serengeti, enjoy a leisurely breakfast before beginning your scenic journey toward the Ngorongoro Highlands. Travel through changing landscapes, from endless grasslands to acacia woodlands, stopping at viewpoints that offer sweeping panoramas of the Great Rift Valley. Your guide shares stories of the land as you ascend into cooler, greener highlands dotted with traditional Maasai homesteads. Arrive at your comfortable lodge perched on the Ngorongoro Crater rim in the late afternoon, where you are welcomed with breathtaking views of the caldera below. Settle in, then enjoy a delicious dinner as the sun sets over this ancient volcanic landscape, anticipation building for tomorrow's descent into Africa's Garden of Eden.
Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Safari Lodge
Crater Floor Dawn Descent, Big Five & Soda Lake Magadi
Wake before dawn for an early breakfast, then descend 600 meters onto the Ngorongoro Crater floor for a full day game drive this time in the soft morning light. This natural wonder, formed over two million years ago, teems with over 25,000 animals. Lions stalk zebras on open grasslands, elephants graze near hippo pools, and the endangered black rhino browses peacefully in the distance. Explore Lake Magadi's shimmering flamingos and the lush Gorigor Swamp before enjoying a picnic lunch at scenic Ngoitokitok Springs, watching hippos surface just meters away. The afternoon continues with more exploration across the crater floor. Ascend the crater wall in the late afternoon and return to your lodge for dinner and overnight, reflecting on a day among the densest wildlife on earth.
Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Safari LodgeEmpakai Crater Lake Guided Hike or Rim Views & Departure
After breakfast, choose your final adventure. Stay on the crater rim for a morning game drive, taking in the breathtaking views of the caldera one last time. Or venture to Empakai Crater, a hidden gem in the Ngorongoro Highlands, for a guided hike down to its soda lake home to flamingos and surrounded by steep, forested walls. Either option offers a fitting conclusion to your deep dive into Tanzania's wild heart. After your activity, begin your scenic drive back to Arusha, stopping at a local art gallery or curio market to browse handmade crafts. Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport in the early afternoon for your departure, carrying memories of three days on the Serengeti plains and two descents into the ancient crater.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included
- Private transfers from Kilimanjaro Airport
- Accommodations as listed (6 Nights)
- All meals: 6 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 6 dinners
- Daily game drives with expert BMC guide
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Park entry fees for Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater
- Two Ngorongoro Crater descents with fees
- Bottled drinking water
- All government taxes
Excluded
- International flights
- Travel & medical insurance
- Tanzania visa fees
- Alcoholic & soft drinks
- Optional hot air balloon safari
- Personal expenses (souvenirs, laundry, spa)
- Tips for guide & lodge staff
- Accommodation before or after safari
Optional Activities
