Moshi: 4-Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro Safari with Big Five

Four days, three parks, one chance at the Big Five

You get picked up from your hotel and driven through three of Tanzania's northern circuit parks over four days (Lake Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater) with early morning game drives, lodge accommodation each night, and a high chance of spotting all the Big Five. The guide adjusts the route based on where animals are that week, and you return to your hotel on the evening of day four.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel to Lake Manyara National Park

• Pick up from hotel after breakfast
• Visit Lake Manyara National Park
• See water birds and wildlife
• Game drive to spot lions in trees
• Drive to lodge for overnight

Day 2: Drive to Serengeti National Park

• Breakfast at lodge
• Drive through crater highlands
• Pass Ngorongoro Crater
• Arrive Serengeti National Park around midday
• Game drive to see wildlife and migration
• Overnight at Serengeti lodge

Day 3: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

• Early morning game drive at dawn
• Return to camp for breakfast
• Second game drive in Seronera region
• Picnic lunch
• Drive to Ngorongoro Crater rim
• Enjoy crater views
• Overnight at lodge near crater

Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha

• Early breakfast
• Drive down into Ngorongoro Crater
• Game viewing to see Big Five and other animals
• Picnic lunch in crater
• Drive back to Arusha or Moshi
• Arrive in early evening

The experience

The sound hits you first on the crater rim at dawn: thousands of hooves moving across the floor of Ngorongoro, a 600-meter-deep collapsed volcano where the wildlife density is almost unreal. That's the moment this 4-day Tanzania lodge safari becomes real. You start in Moshi or Arusha after breakfast, drive to Lake Manyara National Park for your first game drive, and spend the night at a lodge on the escarpment. The park stretches along a 600-meter-high Rift Valley wall, and the alkaline lake itself draws over 400 bird species (flamingos, eagles, storks), but what you're really watching for are the tree-climbing lions that lounge in the acacia branches in the afternoon heat.

Day two moves you toward the Serengeti, and the drive itself is part of the story. You pass through the crater highlands where farmers grow wheat and coffee, then cross the Ngorongoro Crater rim before the landscape opens into the Serengeti's short-grass plains and thick bush. The park holds more than 2.5 million mammals, and depending on the season, you might catch the annual migration: thousands of wildebeest and zebra moving toward Kenya, calves born on the move, predators waiting at the crocodile-infested Mara River. But migration is unpredictable, so the guide adjusts the route based on where the animals are that week. You stay at Tukaone Camps or a similar lodge, and the next morning you're up before sunrise for an early game drive in the Seronera region, where wildebeest and zebra graze within sight of lions, leopards and cheetahs. After breakfast and a second game drive with a picnic lunch, you drive toward Ngorongoro and watch the crater rim appear on the horizon.

The final day is the payoff. You descend the steep, narrow road into the crater floor while the landscape shifts from forest to savannah, and the wildlife density is concentrated enough that a few hours of driving gives you a real shot at all five (lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, leopard) plus warthogs, hippos, wildebeest, zebra and over 500 bird species. After a morning game drive and picnic lunch, you drive back to Arusha or Moshi, arriving in the early evening. The whole tour runs on lodge stays, not camps, so you have a bed and a shower each night, and the air-conditioned vehicle means the long drives between parks don't wear you down. Hotel pickup is included, as are all park fees and taxes.

What’s included

• Your four days include hotel pickup from Moshi or Arusha, private air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi on board, entry fees to Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area, lodge accommodation for three nights (Eileens Trees Inn and Tukaone Camps or similar), and all taxes.
• Game drives happen each morning and afternoon, with picnic lunches provided on days three and four.
• You return to your hotel on the evening of day four.

Information

Lasts 4d, runs every day at 08:00, from US$ 1,847.43 per person, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00Another time? ›

GroupPrivate7 group tours ›

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 24 pickup points.

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (17 to 90 years) · Youth (13 to 16 years) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

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 effortNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Bujo Tours

Is this one for you?A good fit if you want to see the Big Five and the Serengeti migration without arranging transport, park permits and lodge bookings yourself: the fixed itinerary and private vehicle handle all three. Plan for early mornings and long driving days. That pace is what fits three major parks and high wildlife viewing into four days.

Traveler reviews

4.88★★★★★★★★★★Exceptional8 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 16 years); Child (6 to 12 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What are the chances of seeing the Big Five on this safari?

The Ngorongoro Crater has high wildlife density and gives you the best odds of seeing lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard in a few hours. Lake Manyara and Serengeti add more sightings, but the Big Five are never guaranteed.

Is the annual migration included?

The migration is unpredictable and depends on the season. The guide adjusts the route based on where the animals are at the time of your tour, so you may or may not witness it.

How long are the drives between parks?

The drive from Moshi or Arusha to Lake Manyara takes a few hours. The drive from Lake Manyara to Serengeti is a full day, passing through the crater highlands. The return to Arusha or Moshi on day four is also a full day.

What time do game drives start?

Early morning drives begin at dawn, which is the best time to see wildlife. Afternoon drives also happen on some days. Exact times are set by your guide based on animal activity.

Are infants allowed on this tour?

Yes, infants can join but must sit on an adult's lap. The tour is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health due to the long drives and early starts.

Do I need a visa for Tanzania?

Visa requirements depend on your nationality. Check with the Tanzanian embassy for your country before booking.