2-Day Safari: Tarangire & Ngorongoro from Arusha

Elephants at the riverbed, then the Big Five inside a volcanic caldera

A 2-day group safari from Arusha visits Tarangire National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with a professional English-speaking guide, all meals, accommodation at Fig Tree Lodge, and park entry included. Day one is a full game drive through Tarangire's 2,850 km² savannah, where herds of up to 300 elephants gather at the riverbed during the dry season. Day two descends into the Ngorongoro Crater to spot the Big Five, including rare black rhinos, before returning to Arusha.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Tarangire National Park game drive

• Have early breakfast
• Depart to Tarangire National Park
• Full-day game drive in Tarangire
• Enjoy picnic lunch
• Dinner at Fig Tree Lodge
• Overnight stay at Fig Tree Lodge

Day 2: Ngorongoro Crater tour and return

• Have early breakfast
• Drive to Ngorongoro Crater
• Game drive in Ngorongoro Crater
• Drive back to Arusha

The experience

How do you see Tanzania's two most famous parks without spending a week on the road? This 2-day safari chains them back-to-back, starting with an early departure from Arusha to Tarangire National Park, 120 km southwest. The full-day game drive runs through savannah dotted with baobab trees, where the dry season (June–October) concentrates wildlife along the Tarangire River: elephants scraping the riverbed for water, wildebeest and zebra massing at shrinking lagoons, lions and leopards working the herds. A picnic lunch happens in the field. Overnight is at Fig Tree Lodge.

Day two starts before dawn. After breakfast, the drive heads to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, about 180 km west, and descends into the crater itself: a 2,000-foot-deep volcanic caldera and the largest intact crater on earth. The crater floor holds an estimated 30,000 large mammals: the Big Five (including African black rhinos, rare in most parks), hippos, Cape buffalo, zebras, and elephants. A game drive circles the crater floor, and you watch wildlife move across the lush grassland. Lunch is a picnic beside the hippo pool. The return to Arusha closes the day.

A professional driver-guide handles all navigation and narration in English. Transport, all park fees, meals, drinking water, and accommodation are included. You bring only personal items and any tips for the guide and cook.

What’s included

• All transportation from Arusha to both parks and back.
• professional English-speaking driver-guide.
• all park entry fees.
• full-day game drives on both days.
• overnight accommodation at Fig Tree Lodge.
• all meals and drinking water.
• dinner on day one and breakfast on both mornings.
• picnic lunches in the field.
• all activities and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 60 years) · Senior (61 and older) · Youth (14 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 13 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 2

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 9 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Budget Safaris Tanzania

Is this one for you?This tour suits families, couples, and honeymooners who want two major parks in a single trip without committing to a longer safari. The group format keeps costs down and pairs you with other travelers. If you prefer a private vehicle and guide, a private option may be available at checkout.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (14 to 17 years); Child (5 to 13 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What's the difference between the dry and wet seasons on this safari?

The dry season (June–October) is when wildlife congregates along the Tarangire River and at shrinking lagoons, making predator encounters and large herds far more likely. The wet season brings dispersed animals and lush vegetation, so sightings are less predictable and the roads can be muddy.

What animals am I most likely to see at Tarangire?

Tarangire is known for its elephant herds: up to 300 gather at the riverbed during the dry season. You'll also see wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, gazelle, hartebeest, eland, and predators including lions and leopards hunting along the water sources.

What is the Ngorongoro Crater, and why is it special?

The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact volcanic caldera in the world, dropping 2,000 feet to a crater floor that holds roughly 30,000 large mammals. Its natural walls contain the wildlife inside, so the Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and the rare African black rhino) live together in one enclosed ecosystem, making sightings very likely.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the meeting point?

Pickup is included in the tour, so your driver will collect you from your Arusha hotel or accommodation before the early departure on day one.