4-Day Tanzania Safari: Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro

Four days of game drives across Tanzania's three greatest parks, ending inside the crater where black rhinos still roam.

A 4-day joining group safari from Arusha visits Tarangire National Park, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater on game drives with an English-speaking guide, camping accommodation and all park fees. Days start early to catch wildlife when animals are most active, moving through Tarangire's elephant herds and baobabs, across the Serengeti's 6,900 square miles of open plains where the Great Migration happens, and down into Ngorongoro's crater floor where nearly every East African species lives in one place.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire National Park

• Travel from Arusha to Tarangire
• Game drive in Tarangire National Park
• Observe elephants and baobab trees
• See Big 4 animals

Day 2: Mto wa Mbu to Serengeti National Park

• Early breakfast
• Drive to Serengeti National Park
• Enjoy scenic drive and plains views
• Game drive in Serengeti

Day 3: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater

• Early morning game drive in Serengeti
• Return to camp for brunch
• Travel to Ngorongoro Crater
• Explore Ngorongoro Crater wildlife

Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha city

• Early descent into Ngorongoro Crater
• Morning game drive in crater
• Picnic lunch near hippo lake
• Short game drive after lunch
• Ascend crater and return to Arusha

The experience

Tarangire opens the tour with a high density of elephants and the Big Four (lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo) scattered across plains dotted with massive baobab trees. The park's game drive sets the rhythm for the days ahead: early mornings when predators hunt and herbivores graze, afternoons for rest at camp, then another drive before dark. You stay at Fig Lodge & Campsite, where the group gathers between drives.

The drive to the Serengeti is long but the landscape itself becomes the spectacle. Once inside the park's 18,000 square kilometers, the plains stretch flat to the horizon in every direction. The name means "endless plains" in the local language. This is home to two million wildebeests, hundreds of thousands of zebras, and all the large predators: lions, cheetahs, leopards and hyenas. The river crossings that appear in wildlife documentaries happen here. You camp at Nyani Campsite and spend a full day on game drives, with an early morning outing timed to catch one of the best sunrises in Africa.

Ngorongoro Crater, the final stop, is a closed ecosystem 102 square miles across with 2,000-foot walls that trap almost every species indigenous to East Africa inside. It holds a river, swamps, a soda lake crowded with flamingos, forest and open plains, and it is one of the continent's rarest places to see black rhinos. The elephants here are the largest in the world, with tusks to match. You descend to the crater floor on the morning of day four for a game drive, then picnic by the hippo lake before the drive back to Arusha, arriving around 5pm.

What’s included

• Camping equipment.
• all national park entrance fees.
• hotel pickup in Arusha.
• English-speaking guide throughout the four days.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up to9h before

AgesAdult (14 to 60 years) · Senior (61 and older) · Youth (8 to 13 years) · Child (5 to 7 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupUp to 7

Live guideEnglish

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 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Safari G.O.A.T.S

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English, so anyone comfortable following commentary in English will follow the wildlife and landscape explanations. Small group size keeps the pace manageable for all fitness levels, and the early mornings are built into the schedule so you know what to expect each day.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (8 to 13 years); Child (5 to 7 years); Infant (under 5).

What animals will I see on a 4-day Tanzania safari?

Game drives across all three parks target elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, zebras, giraffes, hippos and many antelope species. Ngorongoro Crater is one of the few places on the continent where black rhinos still live, and the Serengeti holds two million wildebeests during the migration season.

How early do the game drives start each day?

The tour suggests very early wake-ups to catch animals when they are most active, particularly on the Serengeti and Ngorongoro days. Early morning drives are timed to see one of the best sunrises in Africa before returning to camp for brunch.

What is Ngorongoro Crater actually like?

Ngorongoro is a crater 102 square miles across with walls 2,000 feet high, creating a closed ecosystem that holds a river, swamps, a soda lake with flamingos, forest and open plains all in one place. Nearly every species of East African wildlife lives inside it, making it virtually a Noah's ark.

Where do I sleep on this safari?

The tour uses camping accommodation: Fig Lodge & Campsite on the Tarangire night, Nyani Campsite in the Serengeti, and Simba Ngorongoro Campsite near the crater. Camping equipment is provided.

Does the tour pick me up from my hotel in Arusha?

Yes, pickup from your hotel in Arusha is included. The tour returns to Arusha around 5pm on day four, though timing is flexible if you have a flight to catch.

What is the Serengeti actually famous for?

The Serengeti covers 18,000 square kilometers of open plains and is home to the Great Migration: two million wildebeests and hundreds of thousands of zebras moving across the park. It is also where many famous wildlife documentary scenes, including river crossings, have been filmed.