Morning / Afternoon

• Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). Meet your Chipmunk Expeditions driver/guide who will assist with luggage, brief you on the vehicle and safari plan, and drive you toward Arusha (or, if you prefer an earlier transfer toward the Ngorongoro highlands, we can transfer you straight to Karatu). The drive from JRO to Arusha typically takes 45–90 minutes depending on traffic; to Karatu allow ~3 hours.

• For international flights arriving midday or late afternoon, a gentle day in Arusha/Karatu helps with jetlag and last-minute shopping for safari essentials (sunscreen, batteries, local SIM if needed).

Accommodation options (choose one for Night 1)

• Eileen’s Trees Inn (Karatu) — a locally owned, gardened country lodge with comfortable en-suite rooms, shaded gardens and a pool. It’s a restful, value-for-money option near gateway roads to Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara. Good for travelers who prefer authentic local hospitality and easy access to Ngorongoro entrance gates.

• Marera Valley Lodge (Karatu) — a slightly more resort-style option with large rooms, balconies or terraces, a well-regarded restaurant and a scenic valley setting. If you prefer a polished property with a pool and panoramic views, Marera is a great pick. 

Evening

• Welcome dinner at the lodge, safari briefing with your guide (vehicle plan, what to expect, camera tips). Early night recommended.

Drive time: ~2–3 hours from Arusha area to Tarangire (depending on pick-up point).
Morning

• Early breakfast and depart to Tarangire National Park. Enter via main gate and begin game drive. Tarangire is famous for its high elephant densities, seasonal waterholes and dramatic baobab trees. You’ll travel through open plains and riverine corridors — ideal for spotting large mammals and a wide variety of birds. 

Afternoon

• Lunch (picnic inside park or at lodge), followed by afternoon game drive. Look for concentrations of elephants near the river, herds of buffalo, giraffe, and resident predators. Tarangire’s scenery is great for photography and offers a different feel from Ndutu’s soda-lake grasslands.

Suggested lodge for Night 2 (Tarangire area)

• Tarangire Safari Lodge — classic, established lodge perched on a bluff with panoramic views of Tarangire plains and river below. Comfortable cottages, lounge areas and an easy jump-off point for park drives. Bookable via TripAdvisor or the lodge website.

Evening

• Dinner at lodge. Briefing for next day’s transfer to Ndutu (southern Serengeti area).

Drive time: Varies — typically a long travel day (4–6+ hours depending on exact route, stops and track conditions).
Morning

• Optional short early game drive in Tarangire for final sightings. Return to lodge for brunch, check-out, and depart toward the Ndutu area (the southern Serengeti/Ngorongoro plains). The drive takes you through farmland, highland scenery, and then down onto the wide open plains approaching Ndutu. Expect a day of scenic change and occasional roadside stops at viewpoints or small towns.

Afternoon / Evening

• Arrival in Ndutu late afternoon. Check into your lodge and freshen up. Sundowner drive if time allows — a short late-afternoon game drive to stretch your legs and get your first glimpses of the calving plains.

• Lodge (Ndutu base): Ndutu Safari Lodge — a long-standing lodge with stone cottages or bandas right on the edge of the plains and Lake Ndutu. It’s widely recommended for calving-season stays because of its proximity and authentic bush atmosphere. Rooms are simple but comfortable and the setting places wildlife close to your cottage. 

Evening

• Dinner and an early briefing for two full days in Ndutu — tips for photography, predator tracking, and the rhythm of full-day game drives.

All day

• Dawn game drive (drivers usually leave before sunrise): dawn is peak predator activity and often when new calves are born or take their first shaky steps. You’ll spend the morning moving across plains, watching herds, and allowing the guide to wait on action when predators or birth events occur.

• Midday: break for a picnic or a return to the lodge for lunch, depending on sightings and personal preference. Midday light is harsh for photography but quieter for relaxed wildlife watching.

• Afternoon to sunset: continue scanning the plains. The golden hours before sunset often produce dramatic predator hunts or mother-and-calf interactions.

• This day is the heart of the trip: patience and a good guide are rewarded with intimate moments — newborn calves, attentive mothers, cautious herds and predators on the prowl. Expect emotional, memorable scenes and close photographic opportunities.

Night

• Return to Ndutu Safari Lodge for dinner and story-sharing. Guides often review photos and plan follow-up drives for the next day.

All day

• Another full day to maximize sightings. After the initial birth peak, predators concentrate on vulnerable calves — lions and hyenas typically use numbers and ambush, cheetahs exploit open plains for daylight chases. Guides often reposition to study and film predator behavior.

• Use this day to also search for rarer behaviors: cheetah coalitions, hyena clan interactions, and scavenger sequences — plus great birding at wetlands/soda lakes. Lake Ndutu can hold flamingos and numerous waders when conditions are right. 

Optional afternoon activity

• Some lodges and operators offer short guided nature walks close to camp (subject to ranger rules). These are bird- and plant-focused and add a different perspective to the big vehicle drives.

Night

• Final Ndutu night at Ndutu Safari Lodge or similar. Prepare for next day’s drive to Ngorongoro.

Morning

• Breakfast at lodge, depart Ndutu and travel toward the Ngorongoro highlands. En route you’ll move from soda plains into cooler, greener highlands and crater rim country. The change in elevation brings different habitats and microclimates.

• Arrive at the Ngorongoro Crater and descend (permit depending) for a game drive on the crater floor. The crater’s bowl contains water sources, grasslands and forest which support dense populations of many species — hippos, flamingos (when lakes hold water), elephant, buffalo, black rhino (rare but present), lion, and more. This is a highlight day: concentrated wildlife viewing in a scenic volcanic amphitheatre.

Afternoon

• After a thorough crater drive, ascend to the rim and drive to your Karatu/Ngorongoro highland lodge for the evening.

Accommodation options for Night 6 (choose one)

• Option A — Eileen’s Trees Inn (Karatu): friendly, garden-setting lodge favored for its local touch, simple comfort, pool and proximity to the main Ngorongoro gates — ideal for travelers who want a relaxed, affordable, and well-run country lodge. (Eileen’s has 20+ rooms, gardens and an easygoing dining area.)

• Option B — Marera Valley Lodge (Karatu): larger rooms, valley views, pool and a restaurant with organic produce; slightly more up-market feel than basic country lodges — good if you want a little more comfort and scenic terraces.

Evening

• Dinner at your chosen lodge. This is also a good time to relax and download photos, enjoy a hot shower, and reflect on the wildlife highs of the week.

Morning options

• Option 1: Optional short crater rim walk (some lodges offer guided walks early morning for birding and landscape photography). Check with the lodge for availability and ranger escort requirements.

• Option 2: Leisurely breakfast and a relaxed morning at the lodge (pool, shop local crafts, or village visit) if you have an afternoon flight.

Late morning / Afternoon

• Drive back to Arusha (approx. 3–4 hours depending on traffic and stops). Stop en route for lunch and final souvenir shopping if time allows. Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for departure. If you have a late flight, you may prefer to stay one extra night in Arusha (we can add this on).

Trip end

• End of services. If desired, add transfer to Zanzibar or extend with Serengeti extra days or a hot-air balloon safari.