3-Day Safari from Arusha: Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro

You can spot the big five in a single day inside Ngorongoro Crater.

A 3-day joined group safari from Arusha visiting Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, and Ngorongoro Conservation Area with a professional English-, Spanish- or French-speaking guide. The tour includes hotel and airport pickup, all park entry, accommodation for three nights, meals, and six hours of game driving each day across three distinct ecosystems. You travel in a pop-up four-wheel safari jeep and stay at mid-range lodges between each park.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire National Park

• Breakfast at Arusha Tourist Hotel
• Drive 2 hours to Tarangire National Park
• Lunch at picnic site
• 6 hours game-drive in Tarangire
• Dinner and overnight at Fig Big Tree Lodge

Day 2: Tarangire to Lake Manyara National Park

• Early breakfast at Fig Big Tree Lodge
• Drive 1 hour to Lake Manyara
• 6 hours game-drive in Lake Manyara
• Lunch at picnic site
• Dinner and overnight at Fig Big Tree Lodge

Day 3: Ngorongoro to Arusha Town

• Early breakfast at Fig Big Tree Lodge
• Drive to Ngorongoro Crater for game drive
• 6 hours game-drive in Ngorongoro
• Lunch at picnic site
• Drive to Arusha Town
• Dinner and overnight at Arusha Tourist Inn

The experience

The safari starts with breakfast at your Arusha hotel, then a two-hour drive to Tarangire National Park, where you'll spend six hours on game drive in a pop-up jeep. Tarangire holds the highest concentration of elephants outside the Serengeti (more than 300 have been marked in the park), and you'll also see zebra, buffalo, giraffe, and Tarangire pythons moving through the sparse baobab and acacia woodland. Lunch happens at a picnic site midday. You return to Fig Big Tree Lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day two moves you to Lake Manyara National Park, a one-hour drive away. The park's evergreen forests, swamps, and alkaline lake edge support over 500 bird species, including thousands of flamingos feeding along the shore. Six hours of game driving here puts you in range of tree-climbing lions, wildebeest, gazelle, hippopotamus, and leopard. The lake is also home to 180 documented butterfly species. After lunch at a picnic site, you return to Fig Big Tree Lodge.

The final day takes you into Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where you descend into the crater at first light for six hours of game driving. The crater's fertile volcanic soil supports the big five (elephants, lions, buffalo, leopards, and rhinoceros) often visible in a single day, along with wildebeest, golden jackal, and East African wild dog. You'll also see Maasai families in their circular homesteads called Bomas. After lunch at a picnic site, you exit the crater and drive back to Arusha, where you spend your final night at Arusha Tourist Inn before airport drop-off the next morning.

What’s included

• Professional driver and guide speaking English, Spanish, or French.
• all park entry fees for Tarangire, Lake Manyara, and Ngorongoro.
• three nights of accommodation at mid-range lodges.
• all meals including breakfast, lunch at picnic sites, and dinner.
• drinking water and wine during game drives.
• sleeping bag and bath towels.
• all camping and safari equipment.
• airport and hotel pickup and drop-off in Arusha.
• a free day tour of Arusha Village on request.
• other dietary requirements on request.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to12h before

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

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 10 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Serengeti Safari Booking

Is this one for you?Early starts (breakfast at 7 am, pickup at 8 am), and six hours of game driving each day mean this tour demands stamina and comfort with long hours in a vehicle, but the fixed schedule is what fits three distinct parks and the big five into a single three-day window.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

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

What wildlife can I actually expect to see on a 3-day safari from Arusha?

Tarangire holds the highest elephant population outside the Serengeti, and you'll see zebra, buffalo, and giraffe across all three parks. Lake Manyara is known for tree-climbing lions and over 500 bird species including flamingos. Ngorongoro Crater is the only park in Tanzania where you can see the big five (elephants, lions, buffalo, leopards, and rhinoceros) often in a single day, plus wildebeest, gazelle, and East African wild dog.

How much time do I actually spend on game drives each day?

You have six hours of game driving each day in a pop-up four-wheel safari jeep, with lunch at a picnic site breaking the middle of the day. The first day includes a two-hour drive from Arusha to reach Tarangire, and the final day includes the drive back to Arusha after you exit Ngorongoro Crater.

Does the tour include hotel pickup and meals?

Yes, free pickup and drop-off from Arusha hotels and the airport are included. All three nights of accommodation at mid-range lodges are included, along with breakfast, lunch at picnic sites, and dinner each day. Drinking water and wine are provided during the safari.

What is Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and why is it different from the other parks?

Ngorongoro is a UNESCO World Heritage Site built around a massive volcanic crater with fertile soil that supports diverse habitats and wildlife. It's the only park in Tanzania where you can reliably see the big five in a single day, and it's also home to Maasai families living in traditional circular homesteads called Bomas. The crater is also recognized as a key site for understanding early human evolution.