5-day Tanzania safari: Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro

Five days across three parks: elephants and baobabs, endless plains, a volcanic crater with lions

A 5-day guided safari tour from Arusha through Tanzania's top wildlife parks -- Tarangire National Park, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area -- with daily game drives, tented lodge accommodation and expert local guide. The itinerary moves you through each park in sequence, so you see the baobab-studded landscape and elephant herds of Tarangire, spend two full days on the Serengeti plains, and descend into Ngorongoro Crater for a concentrated day of wildlife viewing before returning to Arusha for your flight home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arusha to Tarangire National Park

• Depart from Arusha
• Explore Tarangire National Park wildlife

Day 2 — Tarangire to Serengeti National Park

• Travel to Serengeti National Park
• Enjoy game drives in Serengeti

Day 3 — Full day in Serengeti

• Morning game drive
• Afternoon game drive

Day 4 — Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater

• Travel to Ngorongoro Crater
• Descend into crater for wildlife viewing
• Return to accommodation

Day 5 — Transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport

• Transfer from Arusha to Kilimanjaro Airport

The Experience

You start in Arusha and drive to Tarangire National Park on day one, where the landscape opens into scattered baobab trees and dense elephant populations. The park holds over 500 bird species and herds of lions, giraffes and zebras across varied terrain -- dry season concentrates animals near the river, while the wet season spreads them across greener ground. Your guide handles the route and timing; you ride in the vehicle and watch the animals move through their day.

Day two takes you north to the Serengeti, and day three is a full day there -- morning and afternoon game drives mean you see the plains at different light and catch animals in their active hours. The Serengeti's scale is what separates it: endless grassland, the Big Five, and during the wet season the Great Migration moving through. You stay at Angata Serengeti Camp in the heart of the park, so the drive back from the afternoon game is short.

On day four you travel to Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a volcanic caldera that holds its own closed ecosystem. You descend into the crater floor for the day's game drive -- lions, elephants, rhinos and flamingos all live within the crater walls, concentrated in a way that makes wildlife viewing dense and direct. The lodge sits on the rim, so you return to altitude and a view after the day in the crater.

Day five is the transfer back to Arusha and then to Kilimanjaro International Airport, with scenic views along the route. Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language you choose at booking; pickup from your Arusha hotel is included, and the lodges and all game drives are arranged before you arrive.

What’s included

• Five nights of tented lodge accommodation across the three parks.
• daily game drives in Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro.
• expert local guide throughout.
• hotel pickup in Arusha and airport transfer on day five.
• descent into Ngorongoro Crater.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Extra Passion Safaris

Is this one for you?Small group tours keep the vehicle intimate and let your guide respond to animal movement and your interests, which suits first-time visitors and anyone who wants a personal pace rather than a fixed schedule with dozens of people. If you prefer to move at your own speed or skip stops, a self-guided itinerary would work better -- this one is led, so the guide's expertise and the group's rhythm shape the days.

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Top questions

What animals will I see on a 5-day Tanzania safari?

The Big Five -- lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards and rhinos -- appear across all three parks, though sightings depend on season and location within each park. Tarangire is known for large elephant herds; the Serengeti holds the full range of plains animals including cheetahs, hyenas and wildebeest; Ngorongoro Crater concentrates wildlife in a smaller area, so viewing is often more reliable there. Over 500 bird species live in Tarangire alone.

How much time do I spend on game drives each day?

Game drives happen in the morning and afternoon on most days, timed to when animals are most active. Day one includes a drive after arrival in Tarangire; day three is a full day in the Serengeti with both morning and afternoon drives; day four includes a descent into Ngorongoro Crater for the day's viewing. The exact timing depends on animal activity and light.

What is Ngorongoro Crater and why is it on this itinerary?

Ngorongoro Crater is a UNESCO World Heritage site -- a volcanic caldera about 20 kilometers across that holds its own ecosystem with lions, elephants, rhinos, flamingos and other wildlife living within the crater walls. Because the animals are contained in a smaller space than the open Serengeti plains, wildlife viewing is often concentrated and direct, making it a distinct experience from the other two parks.

Where do I sleep on this safari?

You stay at tented lodges within or near each park: Tarangire Ndovu Tented Lodge in Tarangire National Park, Angata Serengeti Camp in the heart of the Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge on the crater rim. On the final night before your airport transfer, you stay at Kibo Palace hotel in Arusha.

Is transportation from my hotel included?

Yes, pickup from your Arusha hotel is included. The safari vehicle and driver handle all transport between parks and all game drives. On day five, a transfer takes you from Arusha to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your departure.

What language does the guide speak?

Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or one of two additional languages -- you choose the language when you book.