Tanzania Safari 5 Days: Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater

Five days, four parks, one driver who knows where the animals are

You get picked up from your Arusha hotel at 8am and spend five days moving through Tanzania's Northern Circuit (Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara) with a professional driver-guide handling the route, timing, and wildlife spotting. All park entry fees, meals, and accommodation are included. You just show up and let the days unfold. The pace is steady but full. Expect long drives between parks and full-day game drives once you arrive, which is exactly what lets you see this much in five days.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire National Park

• Meet at Arusha hotel reception
• Drive to Tarangire National Park
• Picnic lunch during game drive
• See elephants drinking at river
• Drive to lodge for dinner

Day 2: Tarangire to Serengeti National Park

• Depart for Serengeti National Park
• Picnic lunch during game drive
• Enjoy wildebeest migration viewing
• Drive to camp for dinner

Day 3: Full day in Serengeti National Park

• Full day game drive with picnic lunch
• Visit hippo pool
• Optional hot air balloon ride

Day 4: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Highlands

• Morning game drive in Serengeti
• Drive to Ngorongoro Highlands
• Descend into Ngorongoro Crater for game drive
• Picnic lunch in crater
• Visit Masai boma and meet elder
• Drive to lodge for dinner

Day 5: Ngorongoro to Lake Manyara and departure

• Game drive in Lake Manyara National Park
• See lions in trees
• Optional tree walkaway
• Village walk and interact with locals
• Drop off at Arusha town

The experience

Your hotel in Arusha gets a knock at 8am. The representative meets you at reception, introduces your driver-guide, and you're in the vehicle heading toward Tarangire National Park: about two hours north. The road settles into rhythm: acacia trees, red earth, the landscape opening up. By midday you're on your first game drive with a picnic lunch waiting, and the elephants are already there, moving toward the river in loose herds. That evening you sleep at Hhando Coffee Lodge, close enough to hear the park settle into dark.

Day two is the long drive to Serengeti: four hours, but the guide talks through it, pointing out the shift in vegetation as you climb. You arrive with time for an afternoon game drive before dinner at Signature Serengeti Camp. The plain is massive in a way photographs don't prepare you for. The animals aren't concentrated in one spot but scattered across grassland that seems to go forever. Day three is a full day in the Serengeti, sunrise to sunset, with a hippo pool stop and the option to add a hot air balloon ride with champagne breakfast if you want it (that costs extra). Most people wake early for the balloon. It's the kind of morning you don't forget.

On day four you leave before the heat peaks, drive three hours to Ngorongoro Highlands, and descend into the crater floor itself. This is the part that shifts something in how you see the landscape. You're inside a caldera, surrounded by walls, and the animals are concentrated in a way that makes the game drive feel almost orchestrated. A Masai elder meets you at a boma to talk about life in the conservation area. It's brief but real, not performed. That night back at Hhando Coffee Lodge.

The final day takes you to Lake Manyara National Park, where the forest is thick and the light filters green, and lions sometimes rest in the trees. Your guide will spot them if they're there. There's a tree walkway if you want it, and a village walk to interact with locals. By afternoon you're back in Arusha town, dropped at your hotel or onward connection. Five days, four parks, one driver who's been doing this long enough to read the landscape like a map.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Arusha at 8am on day one, professional driver-guide for all five days, entry fees to Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and Lake Manyara National Parks, accommodation at Hhando Coffee Lodge and Signature Serengeti Camp, all meals including picnic lunches during game drives and dinners at lodges, a Masai boma visit with an elder, and a village walk at Lake Manyara.
• Optional activities like the hot air balloon ride with champagne breakfast and the tree walkway cost extra.
• Return transport to Arusha town on day five is included.

Information

Lasts 5d, runs every day at 08:30, from US$ 2,817 per person, with live guides in 5 languages, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30Another time? ›

GroupPrivate7 group tours ›

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 7 pickup points.

AgesAdult (15 to 85 years) · Youth (13 to 14 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

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

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by African Savannah Trekkers

Is this one for you?A good fit if you want to see Tanzania's four major Northern Circuit parks in one trip without arranging transport, park permits, or daily logistics yourself: the fixed five-day structure and included driver-guide are what make fitting all four parks into one journey possible. Expect full days in the vehicle and long game drives. That's the trade that lets you cover this much ground.

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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 (13 to 14 years); Child (3 to 12 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What time does the safari start each day?

Hotel pickup in Arusha is at 8am on day one. After that, timing depends on the park and lodge schedule, but game drives typically start early morning or late afternoon to catch animal activity.

Are meals included?

Yes. Picnic lunches are provided during game drives, and dinners are at your lodge. All meals and park fees are included in the price.

What's the drive time between parks?

Arusha to Tarangire is about 2 hours. Tarangire to Serengeti is roughly 4 hours. Serengeti to Ngorongoro is about 3 hours. Lake Manyara is the final stop before returning to Arusha.

Is the hot air balloon included?

No. The balloon ride over Serengeti with champagne breakfast is optional and costs extra. It's offered on day three if you want to add it.

Can I do a village walk or tree walkway?

Yes. A village walk at Lake Manyara is included. The tree walkway at Lake Manyara is optional. A Masai boma visit is included at Ngorongoro.

What's the physical fitness level required?

Moderate fitness is recommended. Long days in a vehicle and game drives on rough terrain are involved. Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or poor cardiovascular health.

What accommodation do I stay in?

You stay at Hhando Coffee Lodge (nights 1 and 4) and Signature Serengeti Camp (nights 2 and 3). Both are included.

Do I need a visa for Tanzania?

Most visitors need a visa. Check Tanzania's entry requirements for your nationality before booking. The tour operator can advise on the process.

What should I pack?

Binoculars, sun protection, neutral-colored clothing for game drives, a light jacket for early mornings, and comfortable walking shoes. The operator will send a full packing list after booking.