4-day Tanzania Big Five safari: Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire

Land inside the crater and track the Big Five across Tanzania's top parks

A 4-day guided safari from Mto wa Mbu through Tanzania's Tarangire National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, with expert local guide, all transport, and lodge stays included. You descend 2,000 feet into the crater floor to search for the Big Five among more than 25,000 large mammals, then visit Lake Eyasi to meet the Hadzabe people and learn their traditional survival skills. The itinerary packs three major wildlife zones into four days with early starts and full-day game drives.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Mto wa Mbu Cultural Tour

• Arrive at Lake Manyara Airport
• Meet professional tour guide
• Transfer to Jua Manyara Lodge
• Check-in and relax
• Guided walking tour in Mto wa Mbu
• Visit banana plantations and wood-carving workshops
• Experience Maasai village culture
• Enjoy local lunch at banana plantation
• Return to Jua Manyara Lodge

Day 2: Tarangire National Park Game Drive

• Meet guide and drive to Tarangire National Park
• Afternoon game drive in Tarangire
• Observe elephants, buffalo, giraffe, and antelope
• Spot diverse bird species including Kori Bustard

Day 3: Ngorongoro Crater Safari

• Early breakfast
• Drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
• Arrive at crater rim
• Descend into Ngorongoro Crater
• Game drive to see Big Five and wildlife

Day 4: Lake Eyasi Cultural Experience and Departure

• Breakfast
• Drive to Lake Eyasi
• Cultural visit with Hadzabe People
• Learn traditional survival skills and customs
• Guided walk around Lake Eyasi area
• Transfer to Lake Manyara Airport
• Departure flight

The experience

You arrive at Lake Manyara Airport and your guide meets you in arrivals holding a sign with your name. After checking into Jua Manyara Lodge, the afternoon is yours to walk through Mto wa Mbu village (banana plantations, traditional wood-carving workshops, and a Maasai settlement), with lunch served at the plantation featuring more than ten traditional Tanzanian dishes. This first day orients you to the region before the safari proper begins.

Day two takes you into Tarangire National Park for an afternoon game drive. The Tarangire River draws massive elephant herds, buffalo, giraffe and antelope year-round, and the dry season (June to October) concentrates them further. The park holds over 550 bird species, more than any other African park, including the Kori Bustard, the heaviest flying bird in the world. You return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day three is the centerpiece: an early breakfast, then the drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The crater itself is a UNESCO World Heritage site, over 260 square kilometers, formed when a volcano collapsed 2 to 3 million years ago. It is now the world's largest intact volcanic caldera. Your guide drives you to the rim, then descends 2,000 feet onto the crater floor where you spend the day game-driving among more than 25,000 large mammals. Seeing all five of the Big Five (buffalo, elephant, rhino, lion and leopard) in a single day is not unusual here.

The final morning brings a drive to Lake Eyasi, a seasonal lake in northern Tanzania. You spend time with the Hadzabe people, learning their traditional hunting methods, survival skills and way of life, then walk the surrounding landscape. A packed lunch is provided during the excursion. In the afternoon, your guide transfers you to Lake Manyara Airport for your departure flight.

What’s included

• All transport between Lake Manyara Airport, the lodge, and each park.
• three nights at Jua Manyara Lodge with dinner and breakfast.
• a guided walking tour of Mto wa Mbu village with lunch at a banana plantation.
• full-day game drives in Tarangire National Park and Ngorongoro Crater.
• a cultural visit to Lake Eyasi with the Hadzabe people and a packed lunch.
• an expert local guide fluent in English or French.
• and transfer to Lake Manyara Airport for your departure flight.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and French

Audio guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by FIRDAUS SAFARI

Is this one for you?The itinerary calls for early starts on days two and three and full days in the vehicle, so come ready for long hours of driving and sitting. The Ngorongoro descent and ascent involve rough roads and significant elevation change, which is manageable for most travelers but worth knowing before you book.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What wildlife am I most likely to see on this safari?

The Big Five (buffalo, elephant, rhino, lion and leopard) are all present in the Ngorongoro Crater, and seeing all five in a single day is common. Tarangire National Park draws large elephant herds, particularly in the dry season, along with giraffe, antelope and buffalo. Over 550 bird species live across both parks, including the Kori Bustard.

How early do the game drives start each day?

Day three, the Ngorongoro Crater day, begins with an early breakfast before the drive to the crater rim. The other game drives are afternoon departures from the lodge, giving you time to rest and eat first.

What happens on the first day when I arrive?

Your guide meets you at Lake Manyara Airport arrivals and transfers you to Jua Manyara Lodge for check-in. After lunch, you take a guided walking tour of Mto wa Mbu village, visiting banana plantations and wood-carving workshops and exploring a Maasai settlement. Lunch is served at the plantation with over ten traditional Tanzanian dishes.

What is included in the price?

All transport between locations, three nights at Jua Manyara Lodge with dinner and breakfast, the guided walking tour in Mto wa Mbu with lunch, game drives in Tarangire and Ngorongoro, the cultural visit to Lake Eyasi with a packed lunch, and an expert local guide speaking English or French are all included. Hotel pickup from Lake Manyara Airport is part of the service.

How long does it take to descend into the Ngorongoro Crater?

The descent from the crater rim to the floor covers 2,000 feet and takes roughly 30 to 45 minutes by vehicle, depending on road conditions. Once on the crater floor, you spend the full day game-driving before the ascent back up.