6-Day Luxury Safari: Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro

The Ngorongoro Crater floor holds more wildlife per square mile than anywhere else on the continent.

This 6-day luxury safari departs from Arusha and moves through Tarangire National Park, the Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Conservation Area with private transportation, expert guides, and stays at handpicked lodges. You spend full days on game drives hunting the Big Five across three distinct landscapes: Tarangire's ancient baobabs and elephant herds, the Serengeti's endless plains and seasonal migration, and the Ngorongoro Crater's natural amphitheater. The itinerary pairs wildlife immersion with comfort, from tented camps to five-star accommodations, and includes a crater descent with a picnic lunch by a hippo-filled lake.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Arusha

• Arrive at Kilimanjaro or Arusha Airport
• Meet private driver
• Transfer to Gran Meliá Arusha hotel
• Relax and acclimate at hotel

Day 2: Game drive in Tarangire National Park

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive to Tarangire National Park
• Full-day game drive in park
• Picnic lunch in the wild
• Arrive at Lake Burunge Tented Lodge
• Optional nature walks or Maasai visits

Day 3: Travel to Serengeti National Park

• Breakfast at lodge
• Drive through Ngorongoro Conservation Area
• Game viewing en route
• Enter Serengeti National Park
• Arrive at Luxury Tented Camp

Day 4: Full day game drives in Serengeti

• Morning game drive
• Afternoon game drive
• Optional sunrise hot-air balloon safari
• Champagne breakfast in the bush
• Return to camp for dinner

Day 5: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

• Breakfast at camp
• Final morning game drive
• Drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
• Begin descent into Ngorongoro Crater if time allows
• Arrive at Ngorongoro Farm House lodge

Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater and return to Arusha

• Early descent into Ngorongoro Crater
• Half-day game drive in crater
• Picnic lunch by hippo lake
• Drive back to Arusha
• Drop off at hotel or airport

The experience

Tarangire National Park opens the safari with a full-day game drive through savannahs dotted with baobab trees and prolific elephant herds. You'll spot lions, giraffes, zebras, and birdlife while a picnic lunch happens in the field, then settle into Lake Burunge Tented Lodge with views across the water. The next day's drive crosses the Ngorongoro Conservation Area into the Serengeti, where the landscape shifts from woodlands to open plains and your first sightings of cheetahs and the park's massive herds arrive.

Two full days in the Serengeti let you hunt the Big Five across different habitats with morning and afternoon game drives led by an expert guide. Depending on the season, you may witness the Great Migration's herds of wildebeest and zebra. An optional sunrise hot-air balloon safari with champagne breakfast in the bush is available for an extra cost. Nights at Tukaone Weavers Tented Camp come with gourmet dinners and campfire storytelling. On the fifth day, a final morning game drive precedes the drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Ngorongoro Farm House, a lodge set among coffee plantations.

The last morning descends into the Ngorongoro Crater itself (the world's largest inactive caldera and a UNESCO World Heritage Site) for a half-day game drive on the crater floor. Rhinos, lions, elephants, and flamingos congregate here in dense numbers. A picnic lunch by a hippo-filled lake anchors the experience before the scenic drive back to Arusha, with the option to end at your hotel or head directly to the airport for departure.

What’s included

• Private transportation throughout the 6 days.
• park entrance fees for Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro.
• accommodation at Gran Meliá Arusha, Lake Burunge Tented Lodge, Tukaone Weavers Tented Camp, and Ngorongoro Farm House.
• expert guide services in English, Spanish, Italian, French, or one additional language.
• all game drives and the crater descent with picnic lunch by the hippo lake.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (36 to 59 years) · Senior (60 and older) · Youth (16 to 35 years) · Child (4 to 15 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years)

GroupPrivate

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Herbivore African Expeditions

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to move between three parks for varied landscapes and wildlife, or choose the Serengeti-only option if you'd rather unpack once and stay put.

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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 (16 to 35 years); Child (4 to 15 years); Infant (1 to 3 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What wildlife am I most likely to see across all three parks?

The Big Five (lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and rhinos) appear throughout, though sightings vary by park and season. Tarangire is known for its elephant herds; the Serengeti hosts cheetahs, wildebeest, and zebra in massive numbers; and the Ngorongoro Crater concentrates rhinos, lions, and flamingos in one natural bowl. Your guide will position you for the best viewing opportunities each day.

Does the tour include the hot-air balloon safari over the Serengeti?

The sunrise hot-air balloon safari with champagne breakfast in the bush is optional and costs extra. It departs during your two full days in the Serengeti, so you can add it when you book or arrange it once you arrive at camp.

What are the lodges like on this safari?

The tour uses handpicked accommodations that blend comfort with location. You start at Gran Meliá Arusha, a five-star hotel with fine dining and spa facilities. Lake Burunge Tented Lodge overlooks the water near Tarangire. Tukaone Weavers Tented Camp is a luxury tented retreat in the Serengeti with sweeping views. Ngorongoro Farm House sits among coffee plantations near the crater. Each lodge is chosen to balance wildlife access with rest and good meals.

Can I visit the Ngorongoro Crater on foot, or is it only by vehicle?

The crater descent and exploration happen by vehicle on a half-day game drive across the crater floor on your final morning. Walking is not part of the standard itinerary, though optional nature walks near the lodges are available upon request at some stops.

What is included in the price?

Private transportation, all park entrance fees, and accommodation at the named lodges are included. Meals at the lodges, the hot-air balloon safari, and Maasai cultural visits are not included unless you arrange them separately.

When does the Great Migration happen, and will I see it?

The Great Migration's timing varies by year and season. Wildebeest and zebra herds move through the Serengeti in response to rainfall and grass availability. Your guide will advise on the likelihood during your travel dates, and the itinerary is designed to maximize your chances if you travel during peak migration months.