2 Days Afcon Tanzania Safari to Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara

Early Pickup and Journey to Ngorongoro

You will begin your AFCON safari early in the morning when our guide collects you from your hotel or another agreed location in Arusha. After a brief introduction to the itinerary, you will travel west in a comfortable safari vehicle through the countryside of northern Tanzania. Along the way, you will pass local communities, farmland and the dramatic landscapes of the Great Rift Valley. The journey continues through Karatu and into the forested Ngorongoro Highlands, where cooler temperatures and green scenery create a striking contrast to the open plains below.

Crater Viewpoint and Morning Game Drive

When you arrive at the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, our guide will complete the necessary entrance procedures before taking you to a viewpoint overlooking the crater. You will have time to photograph the enormous volcanic caldera before descending approximately 600 metres to its floor. Your morning game drive will lead across open grasslands where you may see zebras, wildebeest, gazelles, buffaloes and warthogs. Our guide will search carefully for lions, spotted hyenas, elephants and the endangered black rhinoceros while sharing information about the crater’s wildlife, geology and conservation.

Hippo Pool Lunch and Afternoon Exploration

Around midday, you will visit a designated picnic area, often located near a freshwater pool occupied by hippos. You will enjoy your packed lunch while observing the surrounding landscape and listening to the sounds of the crater. After lunch, our guide will continue toward habitats such as Lerai Forest, wetlands and seasonal lakes. You may encounter large bull elephants among the trees, lions resting on the plains and numerous waterbirds near the lake. Flamingos may also be present when water levels and feeding conditions are suitable.

Crater Ascent and Transfer to Karatu

Later in the afternoon, you will complete the final section of your Ngorongoro game drive before ascending the crater wall. The journey continues through the beautiful highlands to your selected lodge or tented camp in Karatu or the Lake Manyara area. After checking in, you will have time to relax, enjoy dinner and reflect on your first day of wildlife encounters. Our guide will brief you on the next day’s programme before you settle in for the night.

Dinner and overnight: Selected lodge or tented camp in Karatu or the Lake Manyara area.

Destination:

Ngorongoro Crater

Overnight:

Octagon Lodge

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Lunch, Dinner

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Breakfast and Drive to Lake Manyara

You will enjoy breakfast at your accommodation before checking out and travelling to Lake Manyara National Park. As you approach the park, you will see the towering Great Rift Valley escarpment rising above the surrounding landscape. Our guide will complete the entrance formalities and explain what you can expect during the day. You will then enter the park through its lush groundwater forest, beginning your second wildlife experience during your AFCON break.

Groundwater Forest and Wildlife Drive

Your game drive will begin beneath a dense canopy of mahogany and fig trees fed by underground springs. You will search for blue monkeys, vervet monkeys and large troops of baboons moving through the forest. As the habitat opens into woodland and grassland, you may encounter elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, impalas and warthogs. Lake Manyara is also associated with tree-climbing lions, although their presence in the branches depends entirely on their natural movements and cannot be guaranteed.

 Lakeshore Safari and Picnic Lunch

Our guide will take you toward the park’s lakeshore and wetland areas, where different animals gather depending on the season and water levels. You may observe hippos in suitable pools and see waterbirds such as pelicans, storks, herons, kingfishers and Egyptian geese. Flamingos can sometimes be seen when lake conditions provide suitable feeding areas. You will stop at a designated picnic site for lunch before continuing through the park, with the Rift Valley escarpment providing an impressive background for wildlife viewing and photography.

Final Game Drive and Return to Arusha

After lunch, you will enjoy a final game drive as our guide selects productive routes toward the park exit. This will give you another opportunity to observe elephants, giraffes, monkeys and other animals that may have been less active earlier in the day. You will then leave Lake Manyara and travel back to Arusha through Mto wa Mbu and the surrounding countryside. Upon arriving in the late afternoon or early evening, our guide will drop you off at your hotel or another agreed location, concluding your two-day AFCON Tanzania safari in time for you to rest before the next match.