6-Day Tanzania Safari: Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Big Five

The Ngorongoro Crater holds over 20,000 animals inside a single volcanic caldera.

A 6-day guided safari through Lake Manyara, Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater with private 4x4 vehicle, English-speaking driver-guide, Serena Lodge accommodation and all meals included. You track the Great Migration across the Serengeti, descend into the crater at dawn to hunt for black rhinos and lions, and stop at a Maasai village to see traditional life. Park entry, picnic lunches and three-course dinners at the lodges are all covered. You pick your own pace through each day's game drives.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Arusha

• Arrive at Kilimanjaro Airport
• Meet personal guide
• Transfer to Kibo Palace Hotel
• Overnight at Kibo Palace Hotel

Day 2: Safari at Lake Manyara or Tarangire

• Depart Arusha after breakfast
• Drive to Lake Manyara or Tarangire National Park
• Picnic lunch by Tarangire River
• Afternoon safari in Silale Floodplain
• Check-in at Tarangire Serena Safari Lodge
• Dinner and overnight at lodge

Day 3: Drive to Serengeti National Park

• Breakfast at lodge terrace
• Drive through Maasai farmland and Karatu highlands
• Optional visit to Olduvai Gorge museum
• Lunch at Naabi Hill picnic site
• Afternoon game drive in Serengeti Seronera Valley
• Check-in at Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge

Day 4: Full day Serengeti game drives

• Morning game drive in Serengeti
• Picnic lunch during safari
• Afternoon game drive in Serengeti
• Optional sunrise hot air balloon safari
• Overnight at Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge

Day 5: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

• Morning game drive in Serengeti
• Drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
• Optional stop at Olduvai Gorge
• Optional visit to Maasai Village
• Check-in at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge
• Dinner and overnight at lodge

Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater game drive and departure

• Early descent into Ngorongoro Crater
• Game drive in Ngorongoro Crater
• Picnic by hippo pool
• Drive back to Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport
• End of safari

The experience

You arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport and your guide meets you with a vehicle ready to drive to Arusha, where you spend the first night at Kibo Palace Hotel. The next morning the safari begins: you head to either Lake Manyara (December to May, known for tree-climbing lions and flamingos) or Tarangire (June to November, famous for giant baobabs and elephant herds), depending on the season. A picnic lunch sits beside the Tarangire River with hippos visible along the bank, then an afternoon game drive through the Silale Floodplain follows before you check into Tarangire Serena Safari Lodge.

Days three and four center on the Serengeti. You drive through Maasai farmland and the Karatu highlands, with an optional stop at Olduvai Gorge museum (entry fees apply) before lunch at Naabi Hill overlooking the Rift Valley. The afternoon brings your first game drive in the Seronera Valley, hunting lions, leopards and hippo pods. On day four you spend a full day in the central Serengeti: morning and afternoon drives or a full-day outing with picnic lunch, depending on the migration's location and season. A sunrise hot air balloon safari with champagne breakfast is available for an extra cost. Both nights you stay at Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge, nestled among ancient kopjes.

Day five takes you from the Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You may stop at Olduvai Gorge to see paleoanthropological sites revealing early human evolution, or visit an authentic Maasai village to watch traditional dances and see beadwork. You arrive at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge by late afternoon, positioned right on the crater rim. On the final morning you descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, the world's largest intact volcanic caldera, for a half-day game drive hunting black rhinos, lions, elephants and hippos. A scenic picnic sits by the hippo pool before you return to Arusha, Moshi or Kilimanjaro Airport for departure.

What’s included

• Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof and guaranteed window seat.
• English-speaking driver-guide for all six days.
• entry and admission fees for all four parks.
• all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) as listed in the itinerary.
• accommodation at Serena Lodges.
• unlimited drinking and mineral water throughout.
• hotel pickup from Kilimanjaro International Airport and return transport to the airport or Arusha at the end.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00Last departure this season: 1 Jan 2027

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (5 to 15 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 6 days before the start.Between 2 and 6 days before the start, 50% refund.After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Dream Peak Tours & Safaris

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to visit all four northern parks in one trip without retracing your route, with two full days in the Serengeti for migration tracking and a dawn arrival at Ngorongoro Crater.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 15 years); Infant (under 5).

What animals will I actually see on a 6-day Tanzania safari?

The Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, buffalo) appear across all four parks, with seasonal variations. Lake Manyara and Tarangire are known for large elephant herds; the Serengeti offers predator sightings and the Great Migration depending on the month; Ngorongoro Crater shelters over 20,000 animals including black rhinos, which are rare elsewhere in Tanzania.

Is the Great Migration included in this 6-day itinerary?

The Serengeti portion (days three and four) may follow the migration depending on the season and your lodge location. Your guide tracks herds in real time, so the exact viewing depends on when you travel. The itinerary builds in full-day game drives to maximize your chances.

How does the 6-day length compare to longer Tanzania safaris?

Six days covers all four northern parks in one trip (Lake Manyara, Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro) with two full days in the Serengeti. Longer safaris add more time in the Serengeti or explore southern parks. This length fits the classic northern circuit without rushing between lodges.

What meals and lodging are included?

All breakfasts, lunches and dinners appear in the itinerary. You stay at Serena Lodges (Kibo Palace in Arusha, then Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodges). Unlimited drinking water and mineral water are provided throughout the safari. Alcoholic drinks are available to purchase.

Does pickup from the airport come with this safari?

Yes, your guide meets you at Kilimanjaro International Airport and drives you to Arusha for the first night. On the final day you return to Arusha, Moshi or the airport for departure.

Can I add a hot air balloon safari to this trip?

A sunrise hot air balloon safari with champagne breakfast is available as an optional add-on in the Serengeti for an extra cost. It is not included in the base package.