6-day Tanzania Safari: Ngorongoro Serengeti Big 5

Six days tracking lions, cheetahs and the full cast of African wildlife across two parks.

A 6-day private safari in Tanzania takes you through Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Serengeti National Park with an English-speaking guide, 4x4 vehicle, all meals and airport transfers. You descend into the Ngorongoro Crater on day two, spend three days in Central Serengeti with the option of a hot air balloon ride at sunrise, then return to Ngorongoro for two more game drives before heading back to the airport. Accommodations range from tented camps to lodge stays, with dinner served each night except departure.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to lodge

• Meet guide at airport
• Transfer to Karatu lodge
• Dinner and overnight at lodge

Day 2: Ngorongoro Crater to Serengeti

• Breakfast at lodge
• Descend into Ngorongoro Crater
• Picnic lunch in crater
• Continue game drive to Central Serengeti
• Check in at Serengeti lodge
• Dinner and overnight at lodge

Day 3: Serengeti balloon safari and game drive

• Early morning transfer to Seronera
• Hot air balloon safari over Serengeti
• Champagne breakfast in the bush
• Relax at camp or afternoon game drive
• Overnight at Serengeti lodge

Day 4: Game drive in Ngorongoro Conservation Area

• Breakfast and check out from lodge
• Game drive towards Ngorongoro Crater
• Packed lunch during game drive
• Continue game drive after lunch
• Transfer to Ngorongoro lodge
• Dinner and overnight at lodge

Day 5: Ngorongoro game drive and transfer to Karatu

• Breakfast and check out from lodge
• Game drive with packed lunch
• Ascend to Karatu
• Check into Karatu lodge
• Dinner and overnight at lodge

Day 6: Transfer to airport and departure

• Breakfast and check out from lodge
• Transfer to Arusha or Kilimanjaro airport
• View Mount Kilimanjaro if weather permits

The experience

The route stacks two parks known for different wildlife concentrations. Ngorongoro's crater floor holds one of the highest densities of large animals in Africa (lions, buffalo, zebras and rhinos in a contained basin), while the Serengeti's open plains let you track the seasonal movements of wildebeest and follow predators across vast distances. Your guide drives the 4x4 and handles all navigation. You sit in the vehicle during game drives and watch from the lodge at dawn and dusk.

Day three is the pivot point. You leave the lodge before sunrise for a one-hour hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti (if you book that option), landing in the bush for a champagne breakfast. The afternoon is yours: some travelers take a second game drive at 3pm, others rest at camp. This flexibility is built in. The rest of the days follow a rhythm: early morning drive, return for lunch, afternoon drive, dinner at the lodge. Meals are prepared at each accommodation. Dietary needs can be arranged when you book.

Airport transfers are included from Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport on arrival and departure. The lodges and tented camps vary by availability: Karatu Farmhouse Lodge or Arusha Coffee Lodge for the first night depending on your flight time, then Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge or Asanja Moru Camp in the Serengeti, and Serene Safari Lodge or The Retreat at Ngorongoro for the crater nights. Luggage space in the vehicle is limited to 15 kg per person if you're flying onward, so pack accordingly.

What’s included

• 4x4 safari vehicle for all game drives.
• English-speaking guide throughout the 6 days.
• airport pickup and drop-off.
• breakfast, lunch and dinner each day (except lunch on arrival and dinner on departure).
• all accommodations at the lodges and tented camps.

Options for this experience

2 options

Excluding the hot air balloon rideGuide in English · No fixed timeIncludes pickup

Including the hot air balloon rideGuide in English · No fixed timeHot air balloon safari: a bush breakfast can be arranged during your stay in the Serengeti. Includes pickup

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 6d, runs every day with no fixed time, from US$ 3,900 per person, with a live guide in English and as a private tour.

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate2 group tours ›

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyNot recommended during pregnancyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Adventours by LK

Is this one for you?Choose the hot air balloon option if sunrise views and a bush breakfast matter more than an extra game drive. Skip it if you want maximum wildlife-tracking time and prefer to rest in the morning. Either way, six days gives you time in both parks without rushing. The Serengeti alone could fill a week, but this route lets you compare the crater's density with the plains' scale.

Top questions

What's the difference between the hot air balloon option and the standard 6-day safari?

The hot air balloon option includes a one-hour sunrise flight over the Serengeti on day three, followed by a champagne breakfast in the bush. The standard version skips the balloon and uses that morning for an optional game drive or rest at camp instead.

How much time do I actually spend watching wildlife each day?

Most days include an early morning game drive (roughly three to four hours), a midday break at the lodge, and an afternoon game drive (roughly two to three hours). Day three offers flexibility to skip the afternoon drive if you prefer to stay at camp.

What animals am I most likely to see in Ngorongoro versus the Serengeti?

Ngorongoro's crater concentrates lions, buffalo, zebras, rhinos and hyenas in a smaller area, making sightings frequent. The Serengeti's open plains are better for tracking cheetahs, wildebeest herds and predator movements across longer distances.

Are meals included, and can dietary needs be handled?

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included on all days except arrival (no lunch) and departure (no dinner). Any dietary requirements should be communicated at booking so the lodges can prepare accordingly.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to and from the airport?

No, pickup and drop-off are included. Your guide will meet you at Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport on arrival and return you there on day six after breakfast.

What's the accommodation like, and will it be the same lodge all six nights?

You stay at different lodges and tented camps across the route: one night in Karatu or Arusha, three nights in Central Serengeti (Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge or Asanja Moru Camp), and two nights in Ngorongoro (Serene Safari Lodge or The Retreat). Each offers dinner and overnight stays with varying comfort levels.