3-day safari to Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Lake Manyara from Arusha

Baobab trees, crater wildlife and tree-climbing lions across three parks

A 3-day safari from Arusha visiting Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara National Park with a professional English-speaking guide, accommodation at a lodge in Karatu, meals, and game drives in a roof-hatch safari jeep. The route covers three distinct ecosystems in northern Tanzania: the baobab-studded plains and Tarangire River where elephants concentrate, the 600-meter crater where lions and black rhinos roam a closed ecosystem, and the acacia forests and cliffs of Lake Manyara where lions climb trees and flamingos gather at alkaline lakes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire park

• Depart from Arusha
• Stop at supermarket
• Drive through Masai Steppe
• Arrive at Tarangire National Park
• Complete park entry formalities
• Begin morning game drive
• Enjoy picnic lunch
• Continue afternoon game drive
• Drive to Karatu for overnight

Day 2: Ngorongoro crater exploration

• Breakfast at lodge
• Drive to Ngorongoro Crater
• Explore wildlife in crater
• Visit Lake Magadi
• Short walking safari near hippo pool
• Return to lodge for overnight

Day 3: Lake Manyara to Arusha town

• Breakfast at lodge
• Drive to Lake Manyara National Park
• Explore diverse habitats and wildlife
• Drive to Arusha airport
• End safari adventure

The experience

Tarangire National Park anchors the first day. You depart Arusha in the morning, stop briefly at a supermarket for supplies, then cross the Masai Steppe for roughly two hours before entering the park. Your driver handles entry formalities while you move straight into a game drive across grasslands dotted with baobab trees. Elephants concentrate here around the Tarangire River, and the park also holds lions, leopards and cheetahs. A picnic lunch breaks the afternoon exploration before you drive to Karatu, a town near Ngorongoro, for the night at a lodge.

Day two descends into Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that plunges over 600 meters into the earth. The crater floor holds a closed ecosystem where wildebeest, zebra, buffalo and African elephants share space with lions, hyenas, cheetahs and leopards. You'll visit Lake Magadi, an alkaline lake where flamingos and hippos gather, and take a short walking safari near a hippo pool at Engutoku tok before returning to your lodge in Karatu.

Lake Manyara National Park fills the final morning. The park's varied terrain (acacia forests, water forests, baobab-lined cliffs and hot springs) supports the world's largest concentration of baboons and the famous tree-climbing lions. After a day of exploration, your driver takes you to Arusha airport for onward travel.

What’s included

• Accommodation at a Karatu safari lodge for two nights.
• all meals during the safari.
• game drives in a roof-hatch safari jeep.
• professional English-speaking guide.
• park entry fees for all three parks.
• driver handling of park formalities.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 06:30, 07:30, 08:00 and 20:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (25 to 45 years) · Senior (46 to 80 years) · Youth (19 to 24 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Dancing Simba Safaris

Is this one for you?Three days is the minimum to cover all three parks without rushing the game drives, though it leaves little time for activities outside the safari circuit on either end of your trip.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (19 to 24 years); Child (5 to 12 years); Infant (under 3).

What wildlife will I see on a 3-day safari through these three parks?

Tarangire holds high concentrations of elephants, lions, leopards and cheetahs across its baobab grasslands. Ngorongoro Crater's closed ecosystem supports herds of wildebeest, zebra and buffalo alongside lions, hyenas, cheetahs, leopards and black rhinos. Lake Manyara is known for tree-climbing lions, the world's largest baboon population and abundant birdlife including flamingos at alkaline lakes.

What is included in the 3-day safari package?

The safari includes accommodation at a lodge in Karatu for two nights, all meals while on safari, game drives in a roof-hatch safari jeep, park entry fees, and a professional English-speaking guide throughout the three days.

How much driving is involved each day?

Day one involves roughly two hours from Arusha to Tarangire, then game drives within the park and an evening drive to Karatu. Day two is spent exploring Ngorongoro Crater and returning to Karatu. Day three covers Lake Manyara National Park before a drive to Arusha airport.

What makes Ngorongoro Crater different from the other two parks?

Ngorongoro Crater is a geological caldera that descends over 600 meters, creating a closed ecosystem where wildlife concentrates around water and vegetation. This unique geography means lions, elephants, buffalo and even black rhinos share a defined space, offering dense wildlife viewing in a single location rather than across open plains.

Is this safari physically demanding?

The tour suits all fitness levels. Days consist of game drives in a jeep with rest stops, a picnic lunch, and one short walking safari near a hippo pool. Most time is spent seated in the vehicle, though early starts and full days in the sun require reasonable stamina.