4-Day Private Safari: Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro

Four days tracking elephant herds, the Great Migration and black rhino across three parks in one expedition.

A 4-day private safari from Arusha through Tarangire National Park, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with expert guide, all park fees and accommodation included. Day one enters the "Land of Giants" to track elephant herds among ancient baobabs. Day two climbs to the Ngorongoro viewpoint, then descends into the Serengeti for an afternoon game drive and sunset in the wild. Day three rises before dawn for a Serengeti sunrise game drive, then transits toward the highlands. Day four descends into the Ngorongoro Crater at first light to search for critically endangered black rhino, pauses at the hippo pool for lunch, then returns to Arusha.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Explore Tarangire National Park

• Depart at 7:00 am after breakfast
• Drive 2 hours to Tarangire National Park
• Track wildlife in the morning
• Enjoy picnic lunch by Tarangire River
• Afternoon game drive in Tarangire
• Transfer to Jungle Pearl Resort
• Dinner and relax at lodge

Day 2: Serengeti National Park Adventure

• Breakfast at lodge
• Depart 8:45-9:00 am to Ngorongoro viewpoint
• Pause for panoramic crater views
• Descend to Serengeti Naabi Gate
• Lunch at Serengeti entrance
• Afternoon game drive in Serengeti
• Sunset game drive to Nakupenda Camp
• Dinner and overnight at camp

Day 3: Serengeti Morning and Highlands

• Early morning game drive at sunrise
• Return to camp for breakfast
• Drive to Naabi Gate by midday
• Picnic lunch at Naabi Gate
• Transit game drive to Ngorongoro Highlands
• Arrive at Embalakai Luxury Tented Camp
• Dinner and sunset over crater rim

Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater and Return

• Depart 6:30-7:00 am to Ngorongoro Crater
• Game drive exploring crater floor
• Picnic lunch at hippo pool
• Continue game drive in crater
• Ascend and return to Arusha
• Private drop-off at accommodation

The experience

The expedition departs Arusha at 7:00 am on day one and heads to Tarangire National Park, a 2-hour drive into a landscape of ancient baobabs and Tanzania's largest elephant herds. Morning tracking gives way to a picnic lunch at a scenic vantage point overlooking the Tarangire River, then an afternoon game drive as the midday crowds thin. You stay at Jungle Pearl, a boutique lodge on the bed of Lake Manyara, where dinner and rest prepare you for the days ahead.

Day two begins after breakfast between 8:45 and 9:00 am with a climb to the Ngorongoro Crater viewpoint for a 20-minute pause over the ancient caldera before descending to the Serengeti's Naabi Gate. Lunch follows, then an immersive afternoon game drive into the "endless plains": a 1.5-million-hectare wilderness and home to the Great Migration. A sunset game drive heads toward Nakupenda Luxury Camp as predators stir to life. Day three rises with the sun for an early morning game drive when nocturnal lions conclude their hunts and the plains awaken. After breakfast, a transit game drive toward Ngorongoro offers a final look at the endless plains before the landscape shifts to rolling highlands. You arrive in early evening, timed for a golden sunset over the crater rim, and stay at Embalakai Luxury Tented Camp.

The final day descends into the Ngorongoro Crater between 6:30 and 7:00 am, arriving at first light to maximize chances of encountering the critically endangered black rhino in the quiet of the morning. From an open-roof 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof and cooler fridge, you explore this 600-meter-deep caldera: a self-contained wilderness with wildlife density found nowhere else in Tanzania. Midday brings a refined picnic lunch by the famous hippo pool, watching hippos in their natural habitat surrounded by towering crater walls. After a 7- to 8-hour game drive, you begin the scenic ascent back to Arusha for private drop-off at your accommodation.

What’s included

• Park fees for all three national parks.
• roundtrip airport transfer with free luggage storage.
• air-conditioned 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof, cooler fridge and charging ports.
• accommodation in mid-range lodges.
• all warm meals.
• professional safari guide for the full four days.
• all activities and binoculars.

Before you book

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

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (16 to 90 years) · Youth (5 to 15 years) · Child (under 5)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

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 today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessiblePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by African polecat safaris

Is this one for you?The early starts (7:00 am on day one, between 8:45 and 9:00 am on day two, before dawn on day three, and 6:30 to 7:00 am on day four) are what put you in the parks when wildlife is most active and sightings are most likely. If you prefer a slower pace or later mornings, a longer safari with fewer parks per day may suit you better.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

5 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

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 (5 to 15 years); Child (under 5).

What wildlife will I see on a 4-day safari through these three parks?

Tarangire holds Tanzania's largest elephant herds, the Serengeti is home to the Great Migration and predators like lions and cheetahs, and Ngorongoro Crater offers critically endangered black rhino, hippos and a wildlife density found nowhere else in Tanzania. Early morning and sunset game drives maximize sighting opportunities as animals are most active.

How early do I need to wake up each morning?

Day one departs at 7:00 am after breakfast. Day two leaves between 8:45 and 9:00 am. Day three rises before dawn for an early morning game drive to catch the Serengeti sunrise and nocturnal predators concluding their hunts. Day four descends into Ngorongoro Crater between 6:30 and 7:00 am to encounter black rhino at first light.

What is included in the accommodation and meals?

The safari includes mid-range lodge stays: Jungle Pearl on Lake Manyara, Nakupenda Luxury Camp in the Serengeti, and Embalakai Luxury Tented Camp in the Ngorongoro Highlands. All warm meals are served fresh, not in dry boxes, and park fees, government tax, airport transfer and all activities are included.

What is the Ngorongoro Crater like, and how much time do I spend there?

Ngorongoro Crater is a 600-meter-deep caldera described as a natural sanctuary and self-contained wilderness. You spend a 7- to 8-hour game drive exploring the crater floor from an open-roof Land Cruiser, pausing for a refined picnic lunch by the hippo pool where you watch hippos in their natural habitat surrounded by towering crater walls.

Do I need any special experience or fitness level for this safari?

The safari is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You travel in an air-conditioned 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof, cooler fridge and charging ports, so most of the day is spent seated during game drives. Infants can sit on an adult's lap, and the tour is wheelchair accessible.