3-Day Tanzania Safari: Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater

Two of Tanzania's wildest places in one trip, with a guide who knows where to find them.

A 3-day group safari from Arusha that camps at Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, with an experienced guide, 4x4 Land Cruiser, all meals, and park entry included. You start before dawn on day one and spend two full days game driving through open plains and the crater floor, watching for lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras and rhinos. Children from age 5 can join. Tipping the guide is optional at checkout.

The experience

How do you see two of Tanzania's most famous wildlife zones without spending a week on the road? This 3-day trip solves it by moving you between them in a single afternoon, so you get a full morning game drive in Serengeti, then a full day inside Ngorongoro Crater. The route starts with a 6 a.m. pickup from your hotel in Arusha and a drive into Serengeti's open plains, where you watch for wildlife from inside a pop-top 4x4 Land Cruiser. A professional guide drives and narrates. You bring binoculars and patience.

Day two splits the difference: a cool morning game drive in Serengeti, then a lunch box and an afternoon drive to Ngorongoro Crater Rim, where you camp and eat dinner surrounded by the sounds of the African night. On day three, after breakfast, you descend into the crater itself: a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to a dense concentration of wildlife, including the Big Five. The crater floor is where rhinos, lions, buffalo, elephants and leopards live in close quarters, so sightings tend to cluster. As the sun sets, you drive back to Arusha, arriving in the evening.

All meals come with you: breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus drinking water during game drives. Park fees and the guide's wage are built in. The vehicle is wheelchair accessible, and the operator notes that all surfaces and areas are accessible. Infants can ride in a stroller or sit on an adult's lap. Children from age 5 are welcome.

What’s included

• Pickup from your Arusha hotel at 6 a.m. on day one.
• 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser with pop-top roof and an experienced professional guide who speaks English.
• all park fees and entry to Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater.
• breakfast, lunch and dinner each day.
• drinking water during game drives.
• guide and cook wages.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Youth (5 to 15 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 500

Live guideEnglish

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

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tanzania Serengeti Safaris

Is this one for you?Book this 3-day trip if you want to see both Serengeti and Ngorongoro in one safari without a longer commitment. The fixed schedule and shared vehicle keep costs down compared to private options, and the back-to-back game drives mean you spend most of your time actually watching wildlife rather than traveling between sites.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

3 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (5 to 15 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What wildlife will I actually see on a 3-day Serengeti and Ngorongoro safari?

Serengeti's open plains host lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras and gazelles. Ngorongoro Crater is known for a high concentration of wildlife including the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino) all living on the crater floor.

How much time do I spend actually game driving each day?

Day one includes a game drive from Arusha into Serengeti after your 6 a.m. pickup. Day two starts with a cool morning game drive in Serengeti before you leave for the crater in the afternoon. Day three is a full crater tour after breakfast, ending with the return drive to Arusha as the sun sets.

What is Ngorongoro Crater and why is it called the eighth wonder of the world?

Ngorongoro Crater is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a massive natural caldera in northern Tanzania. It is called the eighth wonder because it is a self-contained ecosystem: a sunken volcanic crater that holds an unusually dense concentration of wildlife in a relatively small area, making animal sightings frequent and varied.

Are meals included, and what do I eat on the camping nights?

Yes, all meals are included: breakfast, lunch and dinner each day, plus drinking water during game drives. On day two and three nights, you eat dinner at the camps near the crater rim and inside the crater area.

What vehicle will I travel in, and how many people are in the group?

You travel in a 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser with a pop-top roof, which allows you to stand and photograph wildlife safely. The operator runs this as a group join safari, so group size varies. The vehicle is shared with other travelers booked on the same dates.