5-Day Ngorongoro Crater Safari from Arusha: Game Drives & Camping

Five days of game drives across three parks, sleeping in campsites between dawn and dusk wildlife viewing

This 5-day safari from Arusha visits Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park and Lake Manyara, with daily game drives led by a professional guide. You stay in campsites outside the parks and spend mornings and afternoons driving to spot wildlife, including a 6-hour crater descent on day four. The itinerary moves through three distinct landscapes, each day ending with a return to camp for dinner and overnight rest.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire National Park

• Breakfast in Arusha
• Drive to Tarangire National Park
• Game drive in Tarangire
• Picnic lunch during game drive
• Drive to campsite outside Tarangire
• Dinner and overnight at campsite

Day 2: Tarangire to Serengeti National Park

• Breakfast at campsite
• Drive to Serengeti via Ngorongoro Conservation Area
• Game drive en route
• Lunch at Naabi Hills Gate
• Sunshine game drive to Serengeti
• Dinner and overnight at Seronera campsite

Day 3: Serengeti to Ngorongoro

• Early morning sunrise game drive
• Return to lodge for lunch
• Afternoon game drive in Serengeti
• Drive to Ngorongoro Simba campsite
• Dinner and overnight at Simba campsite

Day 4: Ngorongoro to Lake Manyara

• Breakfast at campsite
• Descend to Ngorongoro Crater
• Six-hour game drive with picnic lunch
• Drive to campsite outside park
• Dinner and overnight at campsite

Day 5: Lake Manyara to Arusha

• Breakfast at campsite
• Drive to Lake Manyara National Park
• Half-day game drive in Lake Manyara
• Picnic lunch in park
• Drive back to Arusha
• Drop off in Arusha late afternoon

The experience

The route begins in Tarangire National Park on day one, with a game drive after breakfast and a picnic lunch before returning to camp outside the park. Day two crosses into Serengeti National Park, passing through Ngorongoro Conservation Area en route. You drive through the afternoon and into sunset before reaching Seronera campsite. Day three starts before sunrise for predator spotting, then continues with afternoon game driving as you work your way back toward Ngorongoro. The fourth day is the deepest into the crater itself: after breakfast you descend for a full 6-hour game drive with a picnic lunch, then return to camp outside the park. On day five, you spend the morning at Lake Manyara National Park watching for flamingoes in the alkaline lake and wildlife in the water forest, then drive back to Arusha, arriving between 5pm and 6pm.

Camping equipment, all park fees, transportation between sites, accommodation and meals are included, along with a professional driver-guide who speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language. Mineral water is provided throughout. You'll need to be at least 16 years old to join. The camps sit outside the park boundaries, typically 30 minutes or more from the gates, so each day involves a drive to the park entrance before the game drive begins.

What’s included

• Camping equipment and all accommodation at campsites.
• game driving and park entry fees.
• all transportation between Arusha and the parks.
• roundtrip airport transfer.
• all meals and activities.
• a professional driver-guide.
• mineral water throughout the five days.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 06:00 and 08:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Under 16: can't be booked

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

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

Operated by Cubs Expeditions Limited

Is this one for you?Early starts are built into the schedule (day three begins before sunrise for predator spotting, and day four requires a 6-hour crater descent), so this tour suits travelers who want to maximize wildlife viewing time and don't mind waking early. The camping format and multi-day pace mean you're moving between sites and spending full days in the field rather than returning to a hotel each night.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

What is the Ngorongoro Crater like during the 6-hour game drive on day four?

Ngorongoro Crater is a conservation area with one of the highest concentrations of game in Africa. The 6-hour descent and drive on day four lets you spend the full morning and early afternoon spotting wildlife inside the crater itself, with a picnic lunch served during the drive.

How much time do I spend driving each day versus resting at camp?

Each day includes a game drive in the morning and often again in the afternoon, with picnic lunch during the drive. You return to camp by late afternoon or evening for dinner and overnight rest, so the pattern is drive-lunch-drive-camp each day.

Will I see flamingoes at Lake Manyara?

Lake Manyara is an alkaline lake where thousands of flamingoes can be seen at certain times of the year. The half-day game drive on day five focuses on the lake and the water forest around it, so flamingo sightings depend on the season you travel.

What are the campsites like, and how far are they from the parks?

You stay at campsites such as Jambo, Fanaka, Seronera and Simba, all located outside the park boundaries. Most are 30 minutes or more from the park gates, so you'll have a short drive each morning before the game drive begins.