5-Day Private Safari Tanzania: Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro

Early mornings, herds of elephants, and the crater floor in one five-day loop

A 5-day private safari from Arusha explores Tarangire National Park, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area with a professional guide in a 4x4 Jeep, staying at mid-range lodges and conducting early morning and full-day game drives. You'll track herds of up to 300 elephants at Tarangire's riverbed, watch wildebeest and zebra migrations across the Serengeti plains, and spend six hours on the Ngorongoro crater floor searching for the Big Five.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire National Park

• Early breakfast in Arusha
• Depart to Tarangire National Park
• Full-day game drive with picnic lunch
• Dinner and overnight at Kankari Lodge

Day 2: Visit Lake Manyara National Park

• Breakfast at Kankari Lodge
• Depart to Lake Manyara National Park
• Explore park habitats and wildlife
• Dinner and overnight at Kankari Lodge

Day 3: Game drive in Serengeti National Park

• Breakfast at Kankari Lodge
• Game drive in Serengeti National Park
• Dinner and overnight at Central Serengeti Luxury Camp

Day 4: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Highlands

• Early game drive in Serengeti
• Brunch in Serengeti
• Pack luggage and depart to Ngorongoro
• En-route game drive to Ngorongoro
• Dinner and overnight at Ang'ata Ngorongoro Camp

Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater and return to Arusha

• Early breakfast at camp
• 6-hour game viewing in Ngorongoro Crater
• Picnic lunch at Ngoitoktok Spring
• Ascend crater rim
• En-route game drive via Mto wa Mbu village
• Drop off at Arusha hotel or airport

The experience

The safari starts before dawn on day one, when you leave Arusha for Tarangire National Park and a full-day game drive. Tarangire holds massive elephant herds, up to 300 at a time, that scrape the dry riverbed for hidden water, while wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala and gazelle cluster around the shrinking lagoons. You'll eat a picnic lunch in the park and overnight at Kankari Lodge in Karatu. Day two takes you through Lake Manyara National Park, a smaller reserve packed with acacia woodlands, baobab cliffs and hot springs. It holds the world's largest concentration of baboons and lions known for climbing trees. You return to Kankari Lodge for the night.

Days three and four center on Serengeti National Park, where the landscape shifts from woodlands to open grassland. The park is famous for its migrating herds of zebras and wildebeest (they move south to the grassy plains from April to June, then return north in November and December), but you'll also see impalas, buffalos, crocodiles, hippos, and predators. On day four, an early game drive precedes your move to Central Serengeti Luxury Camp, then an en-route drive to Ngorongoro as you head toward the crater rim.

The final day is the crater itself. After breakfast, you descend to the crater floor for a six-hour game drive in search of lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo and black rhinos, the Big Five. You'll also spot hippos, giraffes, warthogs and baboons, and eat a picnic lunch at Ngoitoktok Spring inside the crater. After ascending the rim, you drive back to Arusha via Mto wa Mbu village, with a stop for wildlife viewing along the way, and arrive at your hotel or the airport by evening.

What’s included

• All park entry fees.
• professional guide.
• 4x4 Jeep transportation.
• four nights' accommodation at mid-range lodges.
• picnic lunches inside the parks.
• drinking water, beer, wine and sodas.
• roundtrip airport transfers from Arusha.
• pre- and post-safari accommodation.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (15 to 50 years) · Senior (51 and older) · Youth (5 to 14 years) · Child (3 to 4 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

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 4 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Serengeti Luxury Safaris

Is this one for you?Early starts are built into the schedule (game drives begin before dawn each day), so you're positioned at waterholes and grassland when wildlife is most active and sightings are most likely. The five-day span lets you cover three major parks without rushing through any one of them.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

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

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (5 to 14 years); Child (3 to 4 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What animals will I actually see on this safari?

Tarangire holds herds of up to 300 elephants, plus wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, gazelle, hartebeest and eland. Serengeti is home to impalas, buffalos, crocodiles, hippos, and the migrating zebras and wildebeest the park is known for. Ngorongoro crater floor is where you hunt for the Big Five (lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo and black rhinos) along with hippos, giraffes, warthogs and baboons.

How early do the game drives start?

Game drives begin before dawn each day so you're at the waterhole and grassland when wildlife is most active. Early morning is when animals come to drink and feed, and when predators are hunting.

Where do I sleep during the safari?

You stay at Kankari Lodge in Karatu for the first two nights, Central Serengeti Luxury Camp on night three, and Ang'ata Ngorongoro Tented Camp on the crater rim on night four. All lodges are included in the price.

How much time do I spend inside Ngorongoro Crater?

You have six hours on the crater floor after an early breakfast, which gives you time to drive the full circuit, spot the Big Five and other wildlife, and eat a picnic lunch at Ngoitoktok Spring before ascending the rim.

What's included in the price?

The safari includes all park fees, accommodations at the lodges, all game drives and activities, transportation in a 4x4 Jeep, a professional guide, roundtrip airport transfers, and drinks such as water, beer, wine and sodas. International flights, tips, personal items and travel insurance are not included.