4-Day Tanzania Safari: Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro

Herds of 300 elephants, the Serengeti's endless plains, and the Big Five on the crater floor

A 4-day group lodge safari from Arusha through Tarangire National Park, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, with a professional driver-guide, all park fees and accommodation included. Day one is a full-day game drive in Tarangire; days two and three split between the Serengeti's open plains and an en-route drive to Ngorongoro; day four is a six-hour crater floor drive before returning to Arusha.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Tarangire National Park game drive

• Early breakfast
• Depart to Tarangire National Park
• Full-day game drive with picnic lunch
• Dinner and overnight at Eileen's Trees Inn Lodge

Day 2: Serengeti National Park game drives

• Early breakfast
• Drive to Serengeti National Park
• Four-hour game drive
• Late-evening game drive
• Dinner and overnight at Shuhudia Tented Lodge

Day 3: Serengeti to Ngorongoro transfer

• Early morning game drive in Serengeti
• Brunch and pack luggage
• En-route game drive to Ngorongoro
• Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Safari Lodge

Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater tour and return

• Early breakfast
• Six-hour game drive inside Ngorongoro Crater
• Picnic lunch at Ngoitoktok Spring
• Ascend crater rim
• Drive to Arusha with en-route game drive
• Drop off at hotel or airport

The experience

The safari opens with a full day in Tarangire National Park, where herds of up to 300 elephants scrape the waterless riverbed for alternative streams during the dry season. Wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, gazelle and eland mass around the remaining lagoons. You'll have a picnic lunch in the park and overnight at Eileen's Trees Inn Lodge.

Days two and three belong to the Serengeti. After an early breakfast, you drive from the lodge across the endless open plains, then split the time between a four-hour game drive and a late-evening drive to catch wildlife in different light. The second night is at Shuhudia Tented Lodge. On day three, you're back in the Serengeti at dawn for another game drive where you may see wildebeest, lion, elephant, leopard, cheetah and the wildebeest migration if the season aligns. After brunch, you pack and head toward Ngorongoro with an en-route game drive, arriving at Ngorongoro Safari Lodge on the crater rim in the evening.

Day four takes you down to the crater floor for six hours of game watching inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The crater holds the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and black rhino) along with hippopotami, giraffes, warthogs, baboons and birds. You'll have a picnic lunch at Ngoitoktok Spring, then ascend the rim and drive back to Arusha with an en-route game drive through Mto wa Mbu village. Drop-off is at your hotel or the airport in the evening.

What’s included

• Accommodation at three lodges (Eileen's Trees Inn Lodge, Shuhudia Tented Lodge, Ngorongoro Safari Lodge).
• all meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner each day.
• water and soft drinks throughout.
• a professional driver-guide.
• all national park fees.
• transport in a 4x4 safari jeep with pop-up roof.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 to 60 years) · Senior (61 and older) · Youth (14 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 13 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

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 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Budget Safaris Tanzania

Is this one for you?Four days is the span needed to cover all three parks without rushing the Serengeti, where almost two days lets you drive at different times and increase your chances of seeing the migration. If you have only two or three days, a shorter itinerary covers fewer parks. If you have six days or more, a longer safari adds the Northern Circuit or extends time in one park.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (14 to 17 years); Child (5 to 13 years); Infant (under 5): free.

How many elephants will I see in Tarangire?

Tarangire holds herds of up to 300 elephants during the dry season, when they scrape the waterless riverbed for alternative water sources. The park is known as the home of elephants in Tanzania.

What animals can I see on the Ngorongoro crater floor?

The crater floor holds the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and black rhino) plus hippopotami, giraffes, warthogs, baboons and a wide range of birds. The crater is also called the "Garden of Eden" for its concentration of wildlife.

How much time do I spend in the Serengeti?

You spend almost two days in the Serengeti National Park. Day two includes a four-hour game drive and a late-evening drive. Day three begins with an early morning game drive before you head toward Ngorongoro.

What meals and drinks are included?

All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are included each day, along with water and soft drinks throughout the safari. You'll have a picnic lunch in Tarangire on day one and another at Ngoitoktok Spring inside the crater on day four.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the safari?

Pickup is included. A professional driver-guide collects you and handles all transport in a 4x4 safari jeep with a pop-up roof. The guide speaks English, Spanish or French, depending on availability.

What is the Ngorongoro crater tour like?

The crater floor drive lasts six hours and takes you down into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO site. You'll search for wildlife on the crater floor itself, have lunch at a spring, and then ascend the rim before heading back to Arusha.