Crowned Hornbill Safari: Day-by-day
Our aim is always to design a trip around your wishes; this is simply an idea for a safari guided by your own personal guide and 4WD. Do talk to us to design your perfect trip.
Starts: Kilimanjaro International Airport
On arrival at the airport, you will be greeted by a guide with a name board after you've collected your bags.
Game drive from Kilimanjaro to Ngorongoro
Your private guided safari starts from the moment your bags are loaded into the 4x4 that will be for your exclusive use on this trip. Typically it's a journey of around four hours to Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, but do talk to your guide about the options. You could, for example, stop and explore the bustling town of Arusha, or visit Mto wa Mbu village at the northern tip of Lake Manyara. Then, as you near the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, it's time to watch out for wildlife before you arrive at the lodge, scenically perched on the edge of the crater.
Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
The 97-room Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge is an international-style hotel positioned on the eastern edge of Tanzania's UNESCO-listed Ngorongoro Crater, with stunning views over the Crater. Most guests spend one or two nights at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge. It is close to the very quiet eastern road into the Crater, which sees less traffic than the more popular road on the western side.
The 97-room Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge is an international-style hotel positioned on the eastern edge of Tanzania's UNESCO-listed Ngorongoro Crater, with stunning views over the Crater. Most guests spend one or two nights at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge. It is close to the very quiet eastern road into the Crater, which sees less traffic than the more popular road on the western side.
"Wonderful location and very close to the entrance of the crater."
Mr A.fromTrentoArrived 4 Jun 2021, 2 nights
For travellers looking for something intimate, stylish and authentic, Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge is not the right place. However, it has a great feeling of space, the staff are very friendly and the views are magnificent. The lodge has quick access down to the Crater floor and it is great for families with younger children who would make the most of the pool, as well as for those travelling on a bit of a budget. See our full report on Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Guided walking safari
Safari in Ngorongoro Crater
To drive into the Ngorongoro Crater is to immerse yourself in a renowned wildlife park. Prides of lion and clans of hyena patrol amongst herds of zebra, wildebeest and Thomson’s gazelle, whilst flocks of crowned cranes keep out the way of jackals. Come for elephants with big tusks, too. And then there are the rhino… Read all about Ngorongoro Crater safari
Ngorongoro to the Serengeti
From Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, today's drive will take you across the central Seronera and on over the rolling grasslands of Serengeti National Park, with plenty of time to stop and observe wildlife along the way. There may even be the possibility of an impromptu visit to the Olduvai Gorge, so do discuss this with your guide if it appeals to you. Depending on your choices, you'll reach Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge, set up in the Kyabatero Hills overlooking the Serengeti plains, after around four hours.
Serengeti Serena
Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge in Tanzania is part of the international Serena Hotels group owned by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development. This 66-room Maasai village-inspired lodge opened in 1996 and accommodates more than 140 people when full. From its elevated position, sitting among acacia trees in the Kyabatero Hills, north-west of Seronera, it has lovely views across the Serengeti plains.
Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge in Tanzania is part of the international Serena Hotels group owned by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development. This 66-room Maasai village-inspired lodge opened in 1996 and accommodates more than 140 people when full. From its elevated position, sitting among acacia trees in the Kyabatero Hills, north-west of Seronera, it has lovely views across the Serengeti plains.
"This lodge is in a wonderful location... Enjoyed the sunsets from the balcony..."
Mr J.fromAtlantic BeachArrived 23 Jul 2021, 2 nights
Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge is family-friendly, with good facilities, and its central location makes it an ideal base from which to explore the Serengeti at most times of the year. If you're looking for a mid-range, hotel-style place to stay in the Serengeti, this could be a good choice. However, its popularity with tour groups means it can get very busy. See our full report on Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Hot air ballooning
Return to the Ngorongoro
Your return journey from the Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area may retrace similar ground, but whether you make this a four-hour wildlife-spotting trip or a full day's exploration is up to you, so have a chat with your guide before you set off - or even if something attracts you during the day. Either way, you'll arrive to a warm welcome at Rhotia Valley Lodge, set between the crater and the Rift Valley escarpment.
Rhotia Valley Ttd. Lodge
Perched high on a hill overlooking the valley of the seasonal Rhotia River, Rhotia Valley Tented Lodge is a simple and friendly camp in a good location between the Ngorongoro Crater and the Rift Valley Escarpment. Aside from being a good-value base to explore the surrounding area, the lodge has a noticeably positive impact on the local community through its work with a nearby children’s home – and guests can see this work first-hand.
Perched high on a hill overlooking the valley of the seasonal Rhotia River, Rhotia Valley Tented Lodge is a simple and friendly camp in a good location between the Ngorongoro Crater and the Rift Valley Escarpment. Aside from being a good-value base to explore the surrounding area, the lodge has a noticeably positive impact on the local community through its work with a nearby children’s home – and guests can see this work first-hand.
"All of the staff are delightful - kind, helpful, very interested in their guests"
Mr & Mrs DfromHampshireArrived 3 Sep 2019, 1 night
We loved the relaxed, well-integrated feeling here. There’s a good sense of management and staff working well together. Rhotia Valley Tented Lodge is certainly not the place to come for luxury, but it is rustic and homely. If you're seeking a simple, functional lodge, in a good location, with a real community slant, this could suit you well. See our full report on Rhotia Valley Tented Lodge
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Guided walking safari
Mountain biking
Ngorongoro to Kilimanjaro
As you leave Rhotia Valley on the last day of your private safari, you'll skirt the northern rim of Lake Manyara National Park before passing through rural Maasai farmlands; ask your guide beforehand if you'd like to buy souvenirs from a market or perhaps to wander around a village on the way. You'll then continue through the bustling streets of Arusha - or even stop if you like! - before arriving at Kilimanjaro Airport.
Lake Manyara Safari
Set against the spectacular backdrop of the Rift Valley escarpment, Lake Manyara National Park makes a great safari destination. Here, along with elephant herds and plains game, you’ll find jungle-like forests that are home to blue monkeys, a soda lake tinged pink by flamingos and some of Tanzania’s best birding. Read all about Lake Manyara Safari
Ends: Kilimanjaro International Airport
You'll arrive at Kilimanjaro in time to catch your onward flight.
Experiences you can add to this trip.
Optional extra day-trips and excursions possible whilst staying at lodges on this trip. These are usually best arranged in advance so talk to us.
Mto Wa Mbu Village Walk
Two to three hours
Discover the intricacies of day-to-day life in the large Tanzanian village of Mto Wa Mbu with a knowledgeable local guide. This is not a village set up for tourists; Mto Wa Mbu is a real community and offers a chance to see a side of the country that many visitors pass by.
More about Village Walk
Balloon Safari over the Serengeti
Three hours - approx. one hour flight
As the sun rises over the Serengeti National Park in Northern Tanzania, climb aboard for an extraordinary adventure. For an hour you’ll float in a hot air balloon over beautiful savannah and woodland and a diversity of plains wildlife.
More about Balloon Safari
Empakaai Crater Hike
Half day, two - three hour walk
Spend a half day hiking through the Empakaai Crater, in the Highlands area of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), led by an experienced guide and accompanied by a ranger.
More about Empakaai Crater Hike
Olmoti Crater walk
Half day - two to three hour walk
Follow an ancient Maasai cattle trail on this private hike up the Olmoti Crater, led by an experienced guide and accompanied by an armed ranger. The crater may not compete in size with the neighbouring Ngorongoro Crater, but the birding is good, the mountain views wonderful, and the array of ferns is a botanist’s dream.
More about Olmoti Crater walk
Crater Rim Walk
Half day - two hour walk
For some fantastic views, and the chance to see flora and fauna up close, take a walk along the rim of the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater. Led by an experienced safari guide and accompanied by an armed ranger, you will be able to take in the scale and beauty of the landscape from a different perspective.
More about Crater Rim Walk
Olduvai Gorge visit
One - two hours
See for yourself the renowned archaeological site of Olduvai (or Oldupai) Gorge, which lies en route between the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti National Park. Famed for the discoveries of early hominin remains as well as the Laetoli Footprints, the site offers beautiful views, an engaging museum and potentially the opportunity to visit an active dig.
More about Olduvai Gorge visit
Lake Manyara Treetop Walkway
Usually one hour
Experience the forest of Lake Manyara National Park from a whole new perspective – high up in the trees. The first suspended walkway in Tanzania, it stretches underneath the canopy for 370m between the mahogany and fig trees, giving intrepid visitors a unique view of the surrounding flora and fauna.
More about Manyara Treetop Walk