Serengeti & Ngorongoro: 3-Day Group Camping Safari with Guide

Summary

Wildlife encounters and open skies from arusha to serengeti plains

You’ll wake to lion calls in Serengeti, spot elephants among acacias, and camp above Ngorongoro’s misty crater rim on this three-day group camping safari with local guide. Expect picnic lunches on jeep hoods, stories by firelight, and wildlife everywhere — plus all meals, park fees, and pickup included.

What’s the experience like?

“Did you hear that?” someone whispered in the dark, just before dawn at Seronera campsite. I was half-awake in my sleeping bag, listening — there it was again, a low rumble somewhere out in the grass. Our guide Joseph grinned when I asked if it was a lion (it was), like he’d heard this question a hundred times but still found it funny. The air smelled faintly of woodsmoke and something sweet from last night’s tea. Honestly, I didn’t expect to feel so awake that early — but you can’t really sleep when you know the Serengeti is right outside your tent.

The drive from Arusha felt long but not in a bad way; we watched the landscape change from busy town to endless plains, acacias stretching out under this huge sky. Joseph pointed out giraffes before I even spotted them. There’s this moment when you realize how big everything is here — not just the animals but the silence too. We stopped for lunch on the hood of the jeep (still warm from the sun), and I tried ugali for the first time. It’s kind of sticky? But good with beans if you eat it like Joseph showed us.

Day two started with zebras right by our camp, then hours of bouncing over dirt tracks spotting elephants and even a cheetah — which I almost missed because I was distracted by these bright blue birds everywhere. After lunch we headed toward Ngorongoro crater, winding up into cooler air. The view from Simba campsite hit me harder than I expected — mist curling around the rim, everything below looking unreal. We shared stories around a small fire that night; someone tried to explain why hyenas sound like they’re laughing (I still don’t get it). It got cold fast up there — bring a hat or just borrow one like I did.

The last morning we dropped down into Ngorongoro itself — early light catching on water buffalo and flamingos way off in the distance. Picnic breakfast inside an old Land Cruiser isn’t glamorous but somehow perfect after all that dust and wind. By afternoon we were back in Arusha, tired but kind of wired too. Sometimes I still think about that sunrise roar or how quiet it got after dark.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arusha to Serengeti National Park

• Breakfast in Arusha
• Drive from Arusha to Serengeti
• Evening game drive in Serengeti
• Dinner at Seronera Campsite
• Overnight at Seronera Campsite

Day 2 — Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater

• Morning game drive in Serengeti
• Early lunch in Serengeti
• Drive from Serengeti to Ngorongoro
• Dinner at Simba Campsite
• Overnight at Simba Campsite

Day 3 — Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha

• Early breakfast at Ngorongoro
• Crater floor tour with picnic lunch
• Drive back to Arusha

Top questions

How long does it take to drive from Arusha to Serengeti?

It’s about a three-hour drive from Arusha to Serengeti National Park.

Is camping equipment provided on this safari?

Yes, camping gear is provided at Seronera and Simba campsites during your trip.

Are meals included during the safari?

All meals are included throughout the 3-day camping safari.

Do we visit both Serengeti and Ngorongoro?

Yes, you spend time in both Serengeti plains and Ngorongoro crater area.

Is hotel pickup available at the start?

Pickup from your accommodation in Arusha is included.

How much wildlife will we see?

You’ll likely see lions, elephants, monkeys, giraffes, zebras, and many more animals along the way.

Where do we sleep each night?

You’ll camp at Seronera campsite in Serengeti first night and Simba campsite near Ngorongoro crater second night.

Is this suitable for all fitness levels?

The tour is suitable for most fitness levels but not recommended for those with spinal injuries or certain health conditions.

What’s included

Your safari includes pickup from Arusha hotels or meeting points each morning, all park entry fees for both Serengeti and Ngorongoro areas, two nights’ camping accommodation at Seronera and Simba campsites with tents supplied, all meals prepared fresh daily by your crew (breakfasts, lunches—often picnic style—and dinners), plus guidance throughout from an experienced local driver-guide who shares wildlife insights as you travel together across Tanzania’s wild landscapes before returning to Arusha late afternoon on day three.