Northern Tanzania Safari: Private 5-Day Wildlife Tour & Luxury Camps

Summary

Private safari adventure from Arusha through Tarangire Serengeti and Ngorongoro

You’ll feel Tanzania’s wild pulse on this private 5-day safari from Arusha—watch elephants in Tarangire, track lions in Serengeti’s golden grass, then wake above Ngorongoro’s misty crater rim. With expert local guides and nights spent in luxury camps surrounded by nature’s soundtrack, each day brings new wildlife encounters and small moments you’ll remember long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect the air to feel so thick with birdsong when we rolled into Tarangire that first morning — honestly, I’d pictured silence or maybe just distant animal calls. Our guide, Emmanuel, grinned at me when I asked about the baobabs (“they’re older than my grandmother,” he said) and pointed out elephant tracks in the reddish dust. The smell of crushed grass drifted through the open roof as we bounced along. Lunch was picnic-style under a crooked acacia; I kept glancing around for giraffes but only spotted a few warthogs trotting by like they had somewhere important to be.

The drive toward Serengeti took longer than I thought (Tanzania’s distances are sneaky), but Emmanuel made it feel like a moving classroom. He knew every bird call — even tried to teach me one, which ended in both of us laughing. The first time we saw lions lounging under a thorn tree, I actually forgot to take a photo. There’s something about seeing them up close that makes you put your camera down for a second. That night at Olkarien Eco Safari Camp, the canvas walls let in every sound: hyenas whooping far off, wind brushing over the plains. I barely slept but didn’t mind.

The next day was all about chasing shadows across those endless Serengeti plains. We watched cheetahs stalking (so quietly — you barely notice until they move), and Emmanuel explained how migration herds shift with the seasons. Lunch was another picnic, this time with zebras grazing nearby and dust swirling in little spirals around our boots. My hands still smelled faintly of sunscreen and diesel from the jeep — not exactly poetic, but real.

Ngorongoro felt different: cooler air, steep roads winding up to the crater rim where our lodge perched above green misty slopes. Dinner tasted better after a day squinting into sun and dust; maybe it was just relief or maybe because someone else cooked it for me (the soup was spicy — I liked that). On our last morning, descending into Ngorongoro Crater felt almost unreal. Flamingos scattered across shallow water while buffalo stared back at us like old men sizing up newcomers at a bar. The drive back to Arusha was quiet; everyone seemed lost in their own thoughts — or maybe just tired from counting animals.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arusha to Tarangire National Park

• Breakfast in Arusha
• Drive to Tarangire National Park
• Full-day game drive in Tarangire
• Picnic lunch inside the park
• Afternoon game drive
• Drive to lodge for dinner and overnight

Day 2 — Tarangire to Serengeti National Park

• Breakfast at camp
• Travel toward Serengeti National Park
• Game viewing en route
• Arrive in central Serengeti (Seronera)
• Picnic lunch in the park
• Afternoon game drive
• Evening game drive
• Arrive at luxury camp for dinner and overnight

Day 3 — Full-day Serengeti game drive

• Breakfast at camp
• Full-day game drive across Serengeti plains
• Picnic lunch at designated site
• Continue afternoon safari
• Return to camp at sunset

Day 4 — Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

• Morning game drive in Serengeti
• Travel to Ngorongoro
• Wildlife viewing en route
• Arrive at crater rim lodge
• Dinner and overnight with crater views

Day 5 — Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha

• Breakfast at lodge
• Descend into Ngorongoro Crater
• Full-day crater safari
• Picnic lunch by crater floor
• Continue wildlife exploration
• Drive back to Arusha
• Proceed to hotel or airport

Top questions

Is this northern Tanzania safari private?

Yes, it’s fully private with your own guide and vehicle throughout the tour.

Are luxury camps included during the safari?

Yes, accommodations include hand-selected luxury lodges and tented camps each night.

How long is the drive from Arusha to Serengeti?

The journey takes most of the day with game viewing stops along the way.

Is airport pickup included?

Yes, airport pickup and drop-off are included as per your itinerary.

Are meals provided during the safari?

All meals are included as listed: breakfast, lunch (often picnic-style), and dinner daily.

What parks will we visit on this tour?

You’ll explore Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Is this safari suitable for families or travelers with mobility needs?

Yes, it’s wheelchair accessible and suitable for all physical fitness levels; infant seats are available too.

What’s included

Your days include airport pickup and drop-off from Arusha, all national park entrance fees covered upfront, unlimited bottled water plus tea or coffee during game drives (trust me you’ll want both), four nights’ stay at luxury lodges or tented camps selected for comfort and scenery, daily private safaris with an English-speaking local guide who knows every shortcut trail, all meals as listed—usually hearty breakfasts before heading out early and picnic lunches right inside the parks—plus government taxes already sorted so you can just focus on spotting wildlife instead of paperwork.