7 Day Adventure Camping & Trekking – Lake Natron, Ol Doinyo Lengai, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater

Day 2 – Ol Doinyo Lengai Summit and Descent

Rise at midnight for coffee, tea, and a light snack before setting off in your safari vehicle toward the foothills of Ol Doinyo Lengai, where your trek to the summit begins. The climb is demanding and takes place at night to avoid the extreme heat later in the day. There is no shade on the mountain, so a good hat and plenty of water are essential.

The ascent involves navigating steep gullies, loose scree, volcanic ash, and rough lava underfoot. Although challenging, the reward is well worth the effort. Upon reaching the summit, take time to explore the twin craters—one of which remains active—while exercising caution. From the top, enjoy breathtaking views over Lake Natron, the Great Rift Valley, and the surrounding volcanic landscape.

Descend back to the foothills by mid-morning, where your safari vehicle will be waiting to return you to camp. After such a strenuous climb, enjoy some well-earned rest and relaxation.

In the afternoon, choose how you’d like to spend your time: take a guided walk to the nearby waterfalls, visit the fascinating hominid footprints archaeological site, or enjoy a gentle game drive around Lake Natron.

Dinner and overnight at Lake Natron Kamakia Campsite or similar.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Lake Natron Kamakia Campsite or similar

Travel Time: Camp to Lengai foothills: Approx. 20–30 minutes
Descent to camp: Approx. 1 hour (depending on rest stops)

Day 3 – Lake Natron to Lake Manyara National Park

After breakfast, depart Lake Natron and begin the scenic drive toward Lake Manyara National Park. The landscape gradually shifts from the volcanic terrain of Natron to the lush forests and lakeside views that Manyara is known for. Along the way, enjoy glimpses of Maasai villages, wildlife, and the dramatic Rift Valley escarpment.

Arrive at Lake Manyara in the afternoon and enter the park for a game drive. This diverse reserve is famous for its tree-climbing lions, large herds of elephants, and one of the largest baboon troops in East Africa. The park also offers excellent birdwatching, with flamingos, storks, and pelicans often seen along the lakeshore.

After your game drive, exit the park and make your way to Twiga Campsite for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Twiga Campsite

Travel Time: Lake Natron to Lake Manyara National Park: Approx. 4–5 hours

Day 4 – Lake Manyara to Serengeti National Park via Maasai Village

After breakfast, begin your journey toward the world-famous Serengeti National Park. Along the way, stop at a traditional Maasai village for an opportunity to learn about Maasai culture, daily life, and traditional practices. This visit offers insight into one of Tanzania’s most iconic communities before you continue deeper into the Northern Circuit.

From here, enter the Serengeti for an afternoon of game viewing. The Serengeti is unequalled for its beauty, wildlife density, and scientific value, and it has come to symbolise the classic African safari. As you drive across its vast plains, look out for lions, elephants, giraffes, cheetahs, zebras, and a wide range of plains game and birdlife.

Continue through the heart of the park toward the central region before arriving at Seronera Campsite for dinner and an overnight stay surrounded by the sounds of the wilderness.

Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:
Seronera Campsite

Travel Time:
Lake Manyara to Serengeti (via Maasai village): Approx. 4–5 hours depending on stops and wildlife

Day 5 – Full Day Game Viewing in Serengeti National Park

You will rise early for a sunrise game drive, one of the most magical moments in the Serengeti. In the soft early light, animals begin grazing while predators may still be active before retreating to rest for the day. Sunrise on the Serengeti is truly special, offering extraordinary photographic opportunities as the plains glow in golden light.

Later in the morning, you can choose to return to the campsite for a hot lunch or take a packed lunch to enjoy at one of the designated picnic sites within the park. After lunch, continue your game viewing through the Serengeti’s diverse habitats.

As temperatures cool toward late afternoon, keep a lookout for lions becoming active again. Cheetahs are also more easily spotted during the early morning and late afternoon when it’s cooler—relying on daylight and their exceptional speed to hunt. Hippo pods can be found wallowing in larger pools and rivers, while crocodiles often sun themselves on the sandy banks.

Return to Seronera Campsite for dinner and an overnight stay surrounded by the sounds of the Serengeti.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Seronera Campsite

Travel Time: Full-day game drives within the Serengeti

Day 6 – Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Rise early for a sunrise game drive in the Serengeti, a prime time for wildlife activity and stunning morning light across the plains. Return to camp mid-morning to enjoy a relaxed breakfast before packing up and continuing your journey.

After breakfast, begin your en-route game drive toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, travelling through rich wildlife corridors and scenic landscapes. Along the way, you will have the option to visit Olduvai Gorge, the famous archaeological site where Louis and Mary Leakey discovered early human fossils, including Zinjanthropus boisei—a landmark moment in understanding human evolution.

Arrive in the afternoon at Simba Campsite, located on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. From here, enjoy sweeping views and the cool highland air as you settle in for the night.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Simba Campsite (Ngorongoro Crater Rim)

Travel Time: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater Rim: Approx. 3–4 hours, depending on stops and wildlife

Day 7 – Ngorongoro Crater Tour and Return to Arusha / Kilimanjaro Airport

Today you will descend into the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater, often referred to as Africa’s Eden and the 8th Natural Wonder of the World. The crater floor’s rich pastures and permanent water sources support a remarkable concentration of wildlife, with an estimated 20,000–25,000 large mammals living within its walls throughout the year.

Most of the crater floor is open grassland, making it ideal habitat for grazing species such as wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, buffalo, eland, and kongoni. As you explore, expect to see large herds moving across the plains while lions rest in the sun nearby. In the early morning, the endangered black rhino can sometimes be spotted returning to the forest edges after grazing on the dew-covered grasses at dawn.

After a rewarding morning of wildlife viewing, ascend the crater wall in the early afternoon and begin your drive back to Arusha or directly to Kilimanjaro International Airport, where your safari concludes.

Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:
End of safari (no accommodation included)

Travel Time:
Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha: Approx. 2.5–3 hours
Arusha to Kilimanjaro International Airport: Approx. 1 hour