2 Days – Tarangire & Lake Manyara Safari

Tour Overview

This 2-day Tarangire and Lake Manyara safari offers an incredible diversity of wildlife and landscapes, combining two of Tanzania's most unique and rewarding national parks. Tarangire National Park, known for its massive elephant herds and iconic baobab trees, delivers spectacular wildlife viewing, especially during the dry season when animals congregate around the Tarangire River. Lake Manyara National Park, nestled at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, is famous for its tree-climbing lions, thousands of flamingos, and over 400 bird species.

This safari is perfect for travelers who want to experience the best of Tanzania's Northern Circuit without the long distances required to visit Ngorongoro or Serengeti. Both parks are located within easy reach of Arusha, making this an ideal 2-day getaway for those with limited time.

Tour Duration: 2 Days / 1 Night
Price: Available on Request
Destinations: Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park
Activities: Private game drives, birdwatching, hippo viewing, tree-climbing lion spotting
Departure: Arusha or Moshi

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arusha – Tarangire National Park

The day begins with an early morning pickup from your hotel in Arusha or Moshi. After a brief introduction from your professional driver-guide, you will embark on a scenic 2-hour drive through the Great Rift Valley. The journey offers stunning views of Mount Meru, passing through traditional Maasai villages and farmland.

Upon arrival at Tarangire National Park, you will enter through the main gate and begin your full-day game drive. The park is famous for having the highest concentration of elephants in Tanzania, with herds of up to 300 individuals roaming the landscape. As you explore the park, you will encounter elephants bathing in the Tarangire River, lions resting in the shade of ancient baobab trees, giraffes feeding on acacia leaves, and large herds of zebras and wildebeests. The iconic baobab trees, some over a thousand years old, create a dramatic and unforgettable backdrop. The park is also home to over 550 bird species, including yellow-collared lovebirds, hornbills, and ostriches.

Midday brings a delicious picnic lunch at a designated site inside the park, where you can relax and watch wildlife at a safe distance. In the afternoon, you will explore different areas of the park, visiting the Silale Swamp and the Tarangire River, where predators like lions and spotted hyenas are often seen. In the late afternoon, you will depart the park and transfer to your accommodation for check-in, sundowner drinks, and a relaxing dinner.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Choice of budget, mid-range, or luxury

Day 2: Lake Manyara National Park – Arusha

After an early breakfast, you will drive to Lake Manyara National Park, a short 30-45 minute journey through the scenic Great Rift Valley. Upon arrival, you will begin your full-day game drive through the park's diverse habitats, from groundwater forests to soda lakes.

The park's groundwater forest is home to one of the largest baboon troops in Africa, along with blue monkeys, bushbucks, and waterbucks. The forest gives way to acacia woodlands where you will search for the park's famous tree-climbing lions, a rare behavior seen in only a few places in Africa. As you continue toward the lake shore, thousands of flamingos line the alkaline waters, joined by pelicans, storks, and over 400 bird species. At the hippo pools, you can observe hippos wallowing and crocodiles basking on the shores.

Midday brings a delicious picnic lunch at a scenic site with views of the lake and Rift Valley escarpment. In the afternoon, you will explore different habitats, from seasonal swamps to open grasslands, searching for giraffes, zebras, elephants, and predators like lions and spotted hyenas. In the late afternoon, you will depart the park and begin your scenic drive back to Arusha, arriving in the evening for drop-off at your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Not included (return to Arusha)

What's Included

What's Not Included

Accommodation Options