3-Day Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater Safari from Zanzibar

See the Serengeti at sunrise, then descend into Ngorongoro's crater for the Big Five

A 3-day fly-in safari from Zanzibar that combines the Serengeti's predator-rich plains with Ngorongoro Crater's enclosed wildlife viewing. You fly in on day one, spend a full day on Serengeti game drives, cross into Ngorongoro on day two with a Maasai boma visit, and descend into the crater on day three before flying back to Zanzibar. Accommodation, all meals, an English-speaking guide, and park fees are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Zanzibar to Serengeti Safari

• Arrive at Seronera Airstrip
• Meet safari guide and have picnic lunch
• Begin game drive searching for big cats
• Return to lodge for dinner and overnight

Day 2: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Area

• Early sunrise game drive in Serengeti
• Late breakfast at lodge
• Drive to Ngorongoro with game viewing
• Visit Maasai boma and participate in dance
• Tour Maasai village and shop at market

Day 3: Ngorongoro Crater to Zanzibar

• Breakfast at lodge
• Depart for Ngorongoro Crater viewpoint
• Game drive in Ngorongoro Crater
• Picnic lunch by hippo pool
• Return to Arusha Airport

The experience

The Serengeti leg starts with a midday arrival at Seronera Airstrip, where your guide meets you with a picnic lunch and takes you straight into a game drive. You'll spend the afternoon and evening searching for predators and ungulates across the open plains, then settle into your lodge. The next morning you're out before sunrise (the best time to spot lions, leopards and cheetahs actively hunting), and the drive to Ngorongoro becomes a game drive in itself, with your guide working to find the Big Five and the wildebeest migration along the way.

On the second day you'll also visit a Maasai boma, a traditional village where you can watch and join in Maasai dances, walk through the settlement, and browse the local market. The final day takes you to Ngorongoro Crater itself, where you descend into a vast caldera home to over 120 mammal species. The crater is known for black rhinoceros sightings and large hippo populations. You'll have lunch by the hippo pool before the drive back to Arusha Airport and your return flight to Zanzibar.

All national park fees, accommodation at lodges like Land of Nature and Farm of Dream, breakfast, lunch and dinner, mineral water, and transport in a 4×4 pop-up roof vehicle are included. Flights from Zanzibar are part of the package, as is your professional guide who speaks English and can arrange interpretation in Spanish, Italian, French or another language on request.

What’s included

• All national park fees.
• accommodation at lodges.
• breakfast, lunch and dinner each day.
• professional English-speaking guide with options for Spanish, Italian, French or other languages.
• mineral water.
• round-trip flights from Zanzibar.
• transport in a 4×4 pop-up roof safari vehicle.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 60 years) · Senior (61 to 80 years) · Youth (14 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 13 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 16 pickup points.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 160

Prices and times updated 17 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Serengeti African Tours

Is this one for you?Small groups work best on this itinerary, and the fixed 3-day schedule is what fits both the Serengeti's wildlife patterns and Ngorongoro's crater descent into a single trip without rushing either one.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

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

What's the best time on a Serengeti game drive to see predators hunting?

Early morning, just after sunrise, offers the best chance to spot lions, leopards and cheetahs actively hunting. The Serengeti sunrise game drive on day two is designed around this window.

Can I see the Big Five in Ngorongoro Crater?

Ngorongoro Crater is home to lions, leopards, cheetahs, cape buffalo and the endangered black rhinoceros. The crater's enclosed ecosystem makes it one of the most reliable places in Tanzania to see all five species in a single day.

What happens during the Maasai boma visit?

You'll visit an authentic Maasai village where you can watch traditional Maasai dances, participate in them, walk through the settlement and shop at the local market for souvenirs.

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

Day one includes an afternoon and evening drive after your midday arrival. Day two starts with a sunrise game drive on the Serengeti, then transitions into a full drive to Ngorongoro with the Maasai boma visit along the way. Day three is spent in and around Ngorongoro Crater before your return flight.

Are meals included in the safari package?

Yes, breakfast, lunch and dinner are included all three days, along with mineral water. A safari cook travels with the group.