2-Day Lake Manyara & Ngorongoro Crater Safari
A private 2-day safari from Arusha: an afternoon among the forest and lake shore of Lake Manyara, a night in the green hills of Karatu and a morning on the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater.
A Short Safari With Two Different Worlds
Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater sit only about an hour apart, so they fit well into a short trip. Manyara is small and green, with tall fig and mahogany trees fed by underground springs, troops of baboons, blue monkeys and elephants on the forest roads, and a wide soda lake where flamingos and pelicans gather when the water is right. The next morning you drive down into the crater, a closed bowl of grassland with some of the densest wildlife in Africa.
It suits travellers with two free days in Arusha, families who prefer shorter drives, and anyone adding a safari to a Kilimanjaro climb or a business trip. Our 2-day Tarangire and Ngorongoro trip is the alternative if you would rather see Tarangire's big elephant herds.
Prefer Tarangire? See the 2-Day Tarangire & Ngorongoro Safari →
Highlights
- A game drive in Lake Manyara's forest and along the lake shore
- A night in a mid-range lodge in the Karatu highlands
- Up to about six hours on the Ngorongoro Crater floor
- Private vehicle with a pop-up roof and your own driver-guide
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Arusha
What to bring
- A warm layer: mornings on the crater rim are cold
- Binoculars and a camera with a zoom
- Sun hat, sunglasses and sun cream
- Your passport
Read our park guides: Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater
Route Map
- By road
- Day of the trip
- Arusha
Lines show the order of travel, not the exact roads.
We collect you from your hotel in Arusha in the morning and drive west across the plains, about two hours, to Lake Manyara. After a picnic lunch you spend the afternoon on a game drive through the groundwater forest, past hippo pools and out to the open lake shore. In the evening you climb the escarpment to your lodge in Karatu.
Overnight: Mid-range lodge in Karatu
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
An early start up to the crater rim and down to the floor for a game drive of up to about six hours, with a picnic lunch. Buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, hippos and lions are often seen, and the crater is one of Tanzania's best places to look for black rhino, usually at a distance. In the afternoon you drive back to Arusha, arriving in the early evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Price Per Person — Private Safari
| Group Size | Price Per Person |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $1,220 |
| 2 People | $825 |
| 3 People | $695 |
| 4 People | $630 |
| 5 People | $590 |
| 6 People | $565 |
Price per person in US dollars, by the number of people sharing the vehicle, with a mid-range lodge. Groups of more than 6: price on request.
Trip Notes
- Start & end: your hotel in Arusha
- Private safari: your group only, on the dates you choose
- Lodge named when we confirm availability
- Prices may change if park fees change
Includes
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof and a professional driver-guide
- Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro park fees and the crater vehicle fee
- 1 night in a mid-range lodge in Karatu with dinner and breakfast
- Lunch on both days and drinking water in the vehicle
- Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel in Arusha
Excludes
- Mto wa Mbu village and bike tour (optional, about $40 per person)
- International flights and visa fees
- Accommodation in Arusha
- Travel insurance
- Tanzania's compulsory inbound travel insurance for foreign visitors (44 US dollars per person, from 1 October 2026)
- Tips for your guide
- Drinks other than drinking water
- Optional extras such as the Lake Manyara treetop walkway (ask us)
- Any government increase in park fees or taxes after booking
Questions Travellers Ask
Is two days enough for Manyara and the crater?
Yes, for a first taste of safari. You get an afternoon in Lake Manyara and most of a day on the crater floor. With three days you could add Tarangire.
Why stay in Karatu?
Karatu sits between Lake Manyara and the crater gate, in cool, green hills with comfortable lodges, so the second morning starts close to the crater.
Will we see flamingos at Lake Manyara?
Sometimes. Flamingos come and go with the water level and the season, so they cannot be promised; pelicans, storks and other water birds are common.
Can children join?
Yes. The drives are short for a safari, which suits families. Tell us their ages and we send child prices.
Can we start from Karatu or end at the airport?
Yes. We can pick you up anywhere in Arusha or Karatu and drop you at Kilimanjaro International Airport on day 2 if your flight is late enough.
