3 Days Tanzania Safari, Ngorongoro Crater and Maasai Cultural Experiences

Day 1: Drive From Arusha To Ngorongoro Conservation Area & Do The Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive

On day one of your 3 days Tanzania safari, your tour driver guide shall pick you up from your place of stay in Arusha at 7.00 am or at Kilimanjaro Airport latest by 9.00 am. From there, you’ll begin a drive of about 4-5 hours north to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, one of the most biodiverse and precious wild spaces in Africa.

You’ll drive through rural traditional Maasai Villages and the colorful bustling town of Karatu, a favorite overnight stop for travelers touring the area’s various game parks. You will arrive in time for lunch at your lodge near the cater rime. After lunch, spend some time relaxing before descending 2000 feet to the floor of the crater for a thrilling game drive. It’ll be a memorable experience!

On the way into the crater, learn some amazing facts about this incredible natural wonder of Africa. Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) covers about 829,200 hectares next to the endless plains of Serengeti.

The main feature of the conservation area is the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater, the largest intact volcanic caldera on Earth, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an International Biosphere Reserve, and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa. At approximately 2000 feet deep and 260km² wide, the crater floor is home to over 30,000 wild animals.

Nearly all of Africa’s most iconic animals can be encountered in the crater, including all of the Big 5 (Elephant, Buffalo, Rhino, Leopard, and Lion). The crater is one of the only places in East Africa where you are almost guaranteed to see the fabled Black rhinos, which are otherwise notoriously difficult to spot.

You will return to the rim of the crater and go back to your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.

Accommodation:-

Luxury: – Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge/Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

Midrange: – Rhotia Valley Tented Lodge

Budget: – Karatu Simba Lodge

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive Distance & Time: – Approx.180km/4-5 hours

Activities & Services: –

• Transfer to Ngorongoro
• Game drives

Day 2: Whole-Day Game Drive inside Ngorongoro Crater.

Your day two of the 3 days Tanzania safari starts with an early breakfast at 6.00 am. You then descend to the crater floor for a full day of game drive. Ngorongoro Crater has formed its unique ecosystem about 2-3 million years ago when a giant volcano, roughly the size of Mount Kilimanjaro exploded.

Sinking to a depth of 610m, the crater floor is now home to the highest concentration of large animals in Africa. The crater is also rumored to be home to Africa’s highest lion density, possibly by creative marketing teams. Regardless of this speculation’s veracity, it is very rare to visit the crater without encountering Africa’s biggest cat. Their fiercest competitors, spotted hyenas, are also present in large numbers.

You will look out for Cheetahs, great-tusked elephants, Blue wildebeests, Coke’s Hartebeests, Plains Zebras, Warthogs, Elands, Gazelles, and Hippos, Bat-eared Foxes, Servals, Waterbucks, Reedbucks, etc.

After six hours of a game drive and a pleasant picnic lunch near the Ngoitokitok spring as you enjoyed the serenading of grunting hippopotamus bobbing about in the pool below the spring.

After lunch, you will explore more of the crater’s wildlife. Quite aside from mammals, Ngorongoro Crater is a bird Eden for around 500 species, including Flamingos at a soda lake, Ostriches, Secretary birds, Kori bustards, Golden-winged sunbirds, crowned cranes, and Ground hornbills.

After a game drive, return to the crater rim and go back to your lodge for relaxation. You will then enjoy a delicious dinner and a good night’s sleep.

Accommodation:-

Luxury: – Ngorongoro Serena Lodge/Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

Midrange: – Rhotia Valley Tented Lodge

Budget: – Karatu Simba Lodge

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Activities & Services: –

• Full-day game drive

Day 3: Visit A Maasai Village For A Traditional Cultural Experience. Drive Back To Arusha (Kilimanjaro International Airport). 

After a leisurely breakfast today, enjoy a guided walk over the Ngorongoro highlands towards a Maasai Village.

The walk takes about 1½ hours, at a gentle pace, and is a great opportunity to look out for wildlife and learn about the flora and fauna up close.

While giraffe is absent on the Crater floor, the rolling hills and plateaus of the Crater’s outside walls are home to impressive herds. You can drive (about 15 minutes) to the village if you prefer not to walk.

On arrival at the village, expect to be greeted traditionally: with plenty of singing and dancing, and participation is highly encouraged!

You also have an opportunity to learn about some of the customary practices such as fire-making and beadwork. You may even get the chance to meet and speak to villagers in their homes. During your visit, there is also the opportunity to purchase handmade leather and beadwork from the villagers.

Once your time in the village has come to an end, enjoy a picnic lunch and then drive back to Arusha at the end of this wonderful 3 days Tanzania safari tour.

Please Note: Extensions to Zanzibar, Uganda/Rwanda (for mountain gorilla trekking), or parks in Kenya can easily be arranged. Don’t hesitate to contact us.

End of the 3 Days Tanzania Safari

• Full Board Accommodation on Safari
• Transportation in 4X4 Safari Van/Land Cruiser all with Pop up roof &AC
• Fuel
• Professional English Speaking driver guide. Any other foreign language speaking guide can be arranged on request.
• Entrance fees to the tourist sites including Protected areas mentioned
• Activity fees of the tourist activities mentioned
• Bottled water while on safari

• General tips for the driver guide, site guides, and service staff at the lodges
• Laundry Services
• Other Beverages/drinks of personal nature like Alcohol
• International Flights
• Domestic Flights (Arranged on request)
• Visas
• Optional Activity fees
• Other extras not mentioned in the Itinerary
• Airport Transfer (Arranged on request)
• Accommodation in Arusha (Arranged on request)