6-Day Private Camping Safari: Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Tarangire

Four parks, six days of game drives in a private jeep with a window seat guaranteed

A 6-day private camping safari from Arusha visiting Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara national parks, with a guide, all park entry, accommodation and meals included. You travel in a pop-up 4WD jeep where every passenger sits at a window. Game drives run up to six hours daily, starting before dawn. The route covers the big five, elephants, leopards, wildebeest migration zones and the Ngorongoro Crater floor. Airport pickup and drop-off are included. Tips for the guide and cook are optional.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire National Park

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive to Tarangire National Park
• Lunch at picnic site
• Game drive in Tarangire
• Dinner and overnight at Fig Big Tree Lodge

Day 2: Tarangire to Southern Serengeti

• Early breakfast at Fig Big Tree Lodge
• Drive to Southern Serengeti
• Half day game drive in Serengeti
• Lunch at picnic site
• Dinner and overnight at Seronera Campsite

Day 3: Serengeti National Park

• Early light breakfast at Seronera Camp
• Early game drive in Central Serengeti
• Heavy breakfast at campsite
• Lunch at picnic site
• Game drive in Serengeti
• Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Wildlife Camp

Day 4: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater

• Early light breakfast in camp
• Early game drive in Serengeti
• Heavy breakfast at campsite
• Lunch at picnic site
• Drive to Ngorongoro
• Dinner and overnight at Simba Campsite

Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater to Lake Manyara

• Early breakfast in camp
• Game drive descending Ngorongoro Crater
• Lunch at picnic site
• Drive to Fig Big Tree Lodge
• Dinner and overnight at Fig Big Tree Lodge

Day 6: Lake Manyara to Arusha Town

• Early breakfast at Fig Big Tree Lodge
• Game drive at Lake Manyara National Park
• Lunch at picnic site
• Drive to Twiga Lodge
• Dinner and overnight at Arusha Tourist Inn

The experience

The safari runs six days straight from Arusha, moving through four parks on a fixed itinerary. Day one takes you 118 kilometers southwest to Tarangire, known for the highest concentration of elephants in Tanzania, over 300 marked in the park, and for dry-country antelope like the fringe-eared oryx and long-necked gerenuk that are rarely seen elsewhere. You'll spend six hours on game drive there, then overnight at Fig Big Tree Lodge. The next two days push into Serengeti's Southern and Central zones, where the endless plains hold wildebeest, zebra, gazelle and predators. You camp at Seronera both nights and drive six hours each day. Day four moves north through Serengeti before heading to Ngorongoro, where you'll camp at Simba Campsite. On day five you descend into the Ngorongoro Crater itself (the only park in Tanzania where you can see the big five in a single day), and overnight at Fig Big Tree Lodge again. The final day is Lake Manyara, where thousands of flamingos feed on the alkaline lake edge and tree-climbing lions are sometimes spotted. You return to Arusha by evening.

Every seat in the pop-up 4WD jeep faces a window, so you're not crammed in the middle. Game drives run six hours on most days, starting at 6 or 6:30 am with an early light breakfast before departure. Lunch happens at picnic sites inside the parks. Your guide speaks English, Spanish or French and drives and leads the game viewing. A cook prepares meals at camp. Accommodation is camping with sleeping bags, bath towels and soaps provided. If you prefer, the operator can arrange mid-range lodges or higher-end options instead. All five nights' lodging, all meals, drinking water and wine, and entry to all four parks are included. Walking safaris happen if the itinerary calls for them. Airport pickup and drop-off from your Arusha hotel are included. If you didn't book accommodation separately, the operator can arrange that too.

The itinerary also touches Olduvai Gorge, where you can learn about early human evolution, and passes through Maasai and Barabaig villages. Picnic sites offer a break from driving. The parks themselves hold pythons, Nile crocodiles, hyenas, wild dogs, servals, baboons, monkeys and hundreds of bird species alongside the large mammals. If you want a hot air balloon ride or canopy walk, those can be arranged as add-ons.

What’s included

• All entry to Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara national parks.
• five nights of accommodation (camping with sleeping bag, bath towels and soaps provided, or lodge upgrade on request).
• all meals and drinking water.
• wine.
• airport pickup and drop-off from your Arusha hotel.
• a private guide in English, Spanish or French.
• game drives in a pop-up 4WD jeep with window seats for all passengers.
• walking safaris as indicated in the itinerary.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 to 60 years) · Senior (61 and older) · Youth (14 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 13 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

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 8 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Serengeti Safari Booking

Is this one for you?Early starts run 5:30 to 6 am most mornings, and game drives stretch six hours on most days, so this pace suits travelers who want maximum wildlife viewing time and don't mind long days in the jeep. If you prefer shorter drives or later starts, a different itinerary may fit better.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (14 to 17 years); Child (5 to 13 years); Infant (under 5).

What wildlife am I most likely to see on this 6-day safari?

Tarangire holds over 300 elephants and dry-country antelope like the fringe-eared oryx; Serengeti's plains hold wildebeest, zebra, gazelle and leopards; Ngorongoro Crater is the only park in Tanzania where you can see the big five in a single day; Lake Manyara is known for thousands of flamingos and tree-climbing lions. Pythons, Nile crocodiles, hyenas, wild dogs and hundreds of bird species appear across all four parks.

How much time do I spend actually game driving each day?

Most days include six hours of game drive in the pop-up jeep, split between early morning (starting at 6 or 6:30 am) and afternoon sessions. Day five descending into Ngorongoro Crater runs a shorter half-day drive. Lunch at picnic sites breaks up the driving time.

What's included in the price, and what costs extra?

All park entry fees, five nights of accommodation (camping with sleeping bag and towels provided), all meals, drinking water and wine, airport pickup and drop-off, and the guide are included. Tips and gratuities for the guide and cook are optional and paid separately at the end of the safari.

Do I need any special experience or fitness level for this trip?

The safari suits all physical fitness levels. Early starts (5:30 or 6 am) and long days in the jeep are the main physical demands. The operator notes the trip is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health or pregnancy, and infants must sit on an adult's lap.

Can I upgrade from camping to a lodge?

Yes. The base price includes camping with provided sleeping bags and towels, but you can request mid-range lodges or higher-end accommodation instead. The operator will arrange this and adjust the price accordingly.