6-Day Lake Natron, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Safari
A private 6-day safari from Arusha that takes the wild road: two nights at Lake Natron under Ol Doinyo Lengai, then across Maasai country into the Serengeti from the north-east, finishing on the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater.
The Rift Valley Route to the Serengeti
Most safaris reach the Serengeti through the Ngorongoro highlands. This one goes north first, down the Rift Valley to Lake Natron, a shallow soda lake where lesser flamingos feed, with the active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai on the skyline. After a day of walks to the Ngare Sero waterfall and the lake shore, you drive up the escarpment through Loliondo's Maasai lands and enter the Serengeti near Lobo, an area few vehicles visit.
From there you cross the park to the central Serengeti and finish the classic way, with a morning in the Ngorongoro Crater. It suits travellers who have seen the usual circuit, or who want landscapes and Maasai country as well as wildlife. The roads around Natron are rough and dusty, so this route is for people who don't mind a bumpy ride.
Only want Lake Natron? See the 3-Day Lake Natron & Ol Doinyo Lengai trip →
Highlights
- Two nights at Lake Natron, under Ol Doinyo Lengai
- A walk to the Ngarë Sero waterfall and to the flamingo shore
- A remote entry into the Serengeti through Loliondo and the Lobo area
- A night in the central Serengeti
- A game drive on the Ngorongoro Crater floor
What to bring
- Light clothes for Natron's heat, and a warm layer for the highlands
- Sandals or shoes you can wade in for the waterfall walk
- Sun hat, sunglasses and sun cream
- Binoculars and a camera with a zoom
- Your passport
Read our guides: Lake Natron, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater
Route Map
- By road
- Day of the trip
- Arusha
Lines show the order of travel, not the exact roads.
We collect you in Arusha in the morning and drive to Mto wa Mbu, then north along the foot of the Rift Valley escarpment through Maasai country. The last part is a rough, dusty track, about 4 to 5 hours in all with stops. Ol Doinyo Lengai rises ahead as you approach the lake. Late afternoon at your camp.
Overnight: Mid-range tented camp at Lake Natron
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
In the morning a local Maasai guide leads you up a narrow gorge, wading through the stream in places, to the Ngarë Sero waterfall. In the late afternoon you walk across the mudflats towards the lake shore, where flamingos feed when water levels are right. Flamingo numbers change a lot with the season and cannot be promised.
Overnight: Mid-range tented camp at Lake Natron
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
You climb the escarpment and drive through the Maasai lands of Loliondo, past Wasso, to Klein's Gate on the north-eastern edge of the Serengeti. After a picnic lunch you have your first game drive in the Lobo area, with its rocky hills and open valleys.
Overnight: Mid-range tented camp in the northern or central Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A game drive south through the park to the Seronera River valley in the central Serengeti, an area known for lions, leopards and cheetahs, arriving at camp in the late afternoon. Elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, impalas, wildebeest and hippos are common. Lions are seen often and leopards more rarely. Wild animals move freely, so no sighting can be guaranteed.
Overnight: Mid-range tented camp in the central Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A morning game drive on your way out of the Serengeti, then up into the cool, green highlands of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to your lodge.
Overnight: Mid-range lodge on the Ngorongoro rim or in Karatu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
An early descent to the crater floor for a game drive among buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, hippos and lions, with a picnic lunch, then the drive back to Arusha, arriving in the early evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Price Per Person — Private Safari
| Group Size | Price Per Person |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $3,960 |
| 2 People | $2,885 |
| 3 People | $2,525 |
| 4 People | $2,345 |
| 5 People | $2,240 |
| 6 People | $2,165 |
Price per person in US dollars, by the number of people sharing the vehicle, with mid-range camps and lodges. Groups of more than 6: price on request.
Optional extra: a sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the central Serengeti, about an hour in the air, followed by a bush breakfast. About 599 US dollars per person for flights in 2026 and about 660 US dollars from 1 January 2027. Children from 7 years. Ask us to add it when you book.
Trip Notes
- Start & end: your hotel in Arusha
- Private safari: your group only, on the dates you choose
- Rough roads around Lake Natron and Loliondo
- Camps and lodges named when we confirm availability
- Prices may change if park or local fees change
Includes
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof and a professional driver-guide
- Serengeti and Ngorongoro park fees and the crater vehicle fee
- Lake Natron local fees and a local guide for the walks
- 5 nights in mid-range camps and lodges with all meals
- Drinking water in the vehicle
- Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel in Arusha
Excludes
- International flights and visa fees
- Accommodation in Arusha before and after the safari
- Travel insurance
- Tanzania's compulsory inbound travel insurance for foreign visitors (44 US dollars per person, from 1 October 2026)
- Tips for your guides
- Drinks other than drinking water
- Ol Doinyo Lengai climb (ask us)
- Hot-air balloon flight (optional)
- Any government increase in park fees or taxes after booking
Questions Travellers Ask
Why go to the Serengeti through Lake Natron?
It is a quieter, wilder way in: you see the Rift Valley, a soda lake with flamingos and an active volcano, and you enter the Serengeti through the remote north-east instead of the busy southern gate.
How rough are the roads?
The tracks to and from Lake Natron and through Loliondo are unpaved, dusty and bumpy, and the days are long. Our 4x4 vehicles are built for it, but travellers with back problems should tell us before booking.
Can I climb Ol Doinyo Lengai on this trip?
Yes, as an extra night climb from Lake Natron. It is steep and very tiring, so we usually add a rest day. Ask us and we adjust the plan.
When are the flamingos at Lake Natron?
Numbers rise and fall with the water level. Lesser flamingos breed on the lake, and large numbers are often seen from about June to November, but no month is certain.
Is it hot at Lake Natron?
Yes. The lake sits low in the Rift Valley and afternoons are very hot, so walks are planned for the cooler early morning and late afternoon.
