3-day Serengeti & Ngorongoro safari from Arusha: Camping tour

A morning flight to the Serengeti, then several days hunting the crater's black rhino

A 3-day camping safari from Arusha takes you through Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area with a driver-guide, hotel pickup, and all meals. Day one is an 8-hour drive through the rift valley to Seronera Campsite; day two runs an early game drive through central Serengeti before moving to Simba Campsite near the crater rim; day three descends into Ngorongoro Crater at 6:15 a.m. to search for black rhino before returning to Arusha.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arusha to Serengeti National Park

• Breakfast in Arusha
• Drive to Serengeti via Ngorongoro
• Stop at Ngorongoro Crater viewpoint
• Optional visit to Maasai village
• Arrive at Seronera Campsite

Day 2: Game drive in Central Serengeti

• Early breakfast
• Morning game drive in Serengeti
• Lunch at camp
• Drive to Simba campsite near Ngorongoro
• Evening at Simba campsite

Day 3: Ngorongoro Crater tour and return

• Early breakfast
• Descend Ngorongoro Crater for game drive
• Lunch in crater
• Ascend crater and pack
• Return to Arusha

The experience

The drive out of Arusha starts at 7:20 a.m. and takes eight hours, but it is not a straight shot to the park. You stop at Ngorongoro Crater's viewpoint for twenty minutes to see the scale of the collapsed volcanic caldera, then pass through the conservation area where Maasai herds graze. The road itself is the first game drive: monkeys in the forest, giraffes among the acacias, and the landscape shifts from highland to savanna as you drop into the rift valley. You sleep at Seronera Campsite inside the Serengeti boundary.

Day two starts before dawn. The 6:30 a.m. game drive is when the animals move. Lions in trees, elephants at water, the full roster of what the Serengeti holds. You return to camp for lunch, then drive out again in the afternoon, heading toward Simba Campsite near the crater rim, a two-hour journey where wildlife keeps appearing even as you travel. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, and you sleep in a tent at the campsite.

The crater descent happens at 6:15 a.m. on day three. Ngorongoro is a floor crater, not a slope, so animals concentrate in the basin: easier to spot than in the open plains, though black rhino are rare and the search is the point. After lunch and a final game drive, you ascend the crater wall and drive back to Arusha. A bottle of wine comes with the final night's dinner.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from Arusha.
• driver-guide speaking English or French.
• all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) for three days.
• camping accommodation at Seronera Campsite and Simba Campsite.
• park entry fees.
• a complimentary bottle of wine on the final evening.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 70 years) · Senior (80 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12 · max 6 per booking

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Enroute Africa

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to travel with other guests on set dates and sleep in a tent. The group departure means you'll share the experience and costs with fellow travelers, while the fixed itinerary handles all routing and timing for you.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (4 to 12 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

How long is the drive from Arusha to the Serengeti on day one?

The drive takes eight hours and includes stops at Ngorongoro Crater's viewpoint and a pass through the conservation area. You depart at 7:20 a.m.

What animals are you most likely to see in Ngorongoro Crater?

The crater floor concentrates wildlife: lions, elephants, zebras, wildebeest and many others are common. Black rhino are the hardest to spot but are present in the crater.

What time do the game drives start each day?

Day two's drive departs at 6:30 a.m. Day three's crater descent begins at 6:15 a.m. Both are timed to catch animals when they are most active.

Is the Maasai village visit included in the price?

The Maasai village stop on day one is optional and costs extra. It runs 20 to 45 minutes and lets you learn about Maasai culture and traditions.

What meals and drinks are included over the three days?

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included throughout the safari. A complimentary bottle of wine comes with dinner on the final night.