Tarangire or 2 days in Serengeti?
 

Hi! We are trying to decide between 2 very similar 5 day safaris from Arusha. One visits Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro, and the other does Lake Manyara, 2 nights in the Serengeti, and Ngorongoro. We will be there in late February. Any thoughts on which park to spend more time in that time of year? We will have been in Kenya at several of the lakes and Masai Mara the previous week. Thanks!

I wouldn't spend any less than 3/nts in the Serengeti, preferrably at a camp or lodge in the southeast; or in the Ndutu area... space dependent anywhere as February is peak season and many lodges/camps are already fully booked. Drive to get here straight on can take almost a full day.

You can consider, departing Arusha:
Day 1 - Drive (4-4.5/hrs) to Ngorongoro; afternoon crater tour - o/n
Day 2 - Drive (3-4/hrs) to Ndutu/Southeast Serengeti - o/n
Days 3 & 4 - Ndutu/Southeast Serengeti - o/n
Day 5 - Drive (4.5/hrs) to Lake Manyara; afternoon game drive - o/n
Day 6 - Drive (2hrs) to Arusha.

Good luck!

I would skip Tarangire in this time of the year and considering your limited amount of days.
Not sure what your aims for safari are, but the migration will be there so good chance to witness that (and maybe even the many wildebeest births) in the Serengeti/NCAA.

Not sure about your budget, but you might wanna check out Piyaya camp as well, its a lovely remote/private place.

Nikao-

Just to clarify, the migration will be in parts of the Serengeti in Feb, right?

We are looking at budget camping safaris right now and unfortunately our original plan we have been looking at for weeks fell through - hence the bit of a scramble now. We have pretty much decided on a company, but were torn between their two itineraries. Thanks for the suggestions!

yes bjamie, although you really should consider staying in Ndutu or Piyaya in my opinion. That's because formaly thats not in the serengeti but in the NCAA. This means you can go of-road which is not allowed in the serengeti.
Of course it will always be a gamble where the migration exactly is, it still is unpredictable nature ;)

I just checked the itinerary and the safari we are looking at stays in the Seronera campsite, and then the Simba campsite at the crater. Thoughts?

not sure what the exact location is,i think it is central serengeti and that might be a bit to much north/central for the migration at that time? .. your probably better of in Ndutu like sandi sugested (olakira)

If you're doing budget camping have the outfitter determine if there is any space at public camp sites in the Ndutu area rather than Seronera, which is farther north.