4-Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro Safari from Arusha: Budget Camping

Sleep under the stars at unfenced camps while tracking the Big Five by pop-up roof jeep

A 4-day group safari from Arusha that camps at Serengeti National Park and descends into Ngorongoro Crater, with an English-speaking driver-guide, 4x4 transport and park entry included. You'll spend two full days on game drives across Serengeti's 14,763 square kilometers, then move to Ngorongoro to hunt the Big Five on the crater floor before returning to Arusha. Accommodation is in unfenced public campsites. Midrange lodges are available at extra cost.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arusha to Serengeti National Park

• Pick up from Arusha at 8:00 am
• Drive to Serengeti National Park with picnic lunch
• Arrive Serengeti around 3:00 pm
• Start game drive to Seronera campsite
• Dinner and overnight at Seronera campsite

Day 2: Full Day Serengeti Game Drives

• Breakfast at campsite
• Morning game drive in Serengeti
• Lunch break
• Afternoon game drive in Serengeti
• Visit hippo pool watering hole
• Overnight at Seronera campsite

Day 3: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater Rim

• Early morning game drive at 6:00 am
• Return to campsite for breakfast
• Check out and drive to Ngorongoro Crater Rim with lunch en route
• Game viewing on the way to Ngorongoro
• Overnight at Ngorongoro Simba A Campsite

Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater Floor to Arusha

• Breakfast at campsite
• Drive to Ngorongoro Crater at 7:30 am
• Descend into crater for game drives
• Lunch at Ngoitoktok spring picnic site
• Continue game viewing while ascending crater
• Drive back to Arusha and drop off

The experience

The tour leaves Arusha at 8am on day one and drives five hours to Serengeti, arriving mid-afternoon for a first game drive to Seronera Campsite. Day two is devoted entirely to Serengeti: morning and afternoon drives across the plains where your guide tracks the migrating herds of wildebeest and zebra. The park holds lion, leopard, elephant, cheetah, buffalo and wild dog, plus over 500 bird species. Nights are spent at the unfenced public campsite, which has a shared kitchen, dining area and cold and hot showers.

On day three you wake early for one more Serengeti drive before breakfast, then drive toward Ngorongoro Crater with game viewing along the way. The crater itself (the world's largest unbroken caldera at 260 kilometers across and 610 meters deep) sits on the rim that night. Day four descends into the crater floor at dawn. All the Big Five live here: rhino, lion, leopard, buffalo and elephant roam alongside zebra, hippo, wildebeest and hyena. Lunch is at Ngoitoktok spring, then you continue game viewing while climbing back out. The drive back to Arusha ends the afternoon.

The 4x4 Jeep has a pop-up roof for unobstructed animal viewing. Your guide is English-speaking and knows where the herds move. The Serengeti is vast enough that sightings depend on migration patterns, not a fixed route. Park entry fees are paid in cash on the morning of the tour and vary by option. Camping means you're sleeping where the animals are, not behind hotel walls. That's the trade for the lower price.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off in Arusha.
• transportation by 4x4 Jeep with pop-up roof.
• 3 nights camping accommodation at public campsites.
• English-speaking driver-guide.
• bottled water throughout the tour.
• park entry fees depending on your option choice.

Options for this experience

2 options

Budget camping safari to Serengeti and Ngorongoro: 4 days, 3 nights in TanzaniaGuide in English · 08:00Includes pickup

With Entry FeesGuide in English · 08:00Meals are included as per the itinerary, and a chef will prepare fresh meals for you. Camping accommodation is included. The itinerary is the same as the one given above. You will travel in a safari Land Rover with a pop-up roof for easy animal viewing. Entry fees and conservation fees are included. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (under 12)

GroupUp to 100

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 210

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by African Beast tours and safaris

Is this one for you?Book this if you want both parks in one trip and are comfortable in shared camping: the group format and fixed itinerary let the operator cover Ngorongoro and Serengeti together within four days.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 12).

What animals will I actually see on a Serengeti game drive?

Serengeti holds the Big Five plus zebra, wildebeest, eland, gazelles, wild dog, hyena and crocodile. Bird species include eagles, ducks, geese, egrets, vultures, secretary birds, ibis, storks, herons, kites, pelicans and cranes. Sightings depend on where the migrating herds are at the time of your tour. Your guide knows how to locate them across the park's 14,763 square kilometers.

How much time do I spend actually driving and looking for animals?

Day one includes a game drive after arrival around 3pm. Day two is a full day of both morning and afternoon game drives in Serengeti. Day three starts with an early morning drive before breakfast, then you drive toward Ngorongoro with game viewing en route. Day four descends into Ngorongoro Crater at dawn for a full game drive before lunch and the return to Arusha.

What is Ngorongoro Crater actually like when you get there?

Ngorongoro is the world's largest unbroken caldera, 260 kilometers across and 610 meters deep. The crater floor is a protected habitat where all the Big Five live (rhino, lion, leopard, buffalo and elephant) alongside zebra, hippo, wildebeest and hyena. You descend into it on day four for game drives, with lunch at a spring inside the crater before you climb back out.

What's the difference between the unfenced public campsite and the upgrade options?

The public campsite at Seronera has a shared kitchen, communal dining area with power outlets, and toilets with cold and hot showers. Midrange permanent camps and lodges are available at extra cost if you request them when booking. The operator can arrange the upgrade.

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

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The itinerary is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or pregnant travelers due to the long drives and rough terrain in a 4x4 vehicle. Infants must sit on an adult's lap during transport.