Serengeti & Ngorongoro: 3-Day Safari with Private Guide

Summary

Wildlife-packed days from arusha to serengeti plains then the crater

You’ll wake up to wild sounds on this 3-day Serengeti safari from Arusha, chase sunlight across open plains with your private guide, picnic near lions and elephants, then descend into Ngorongoro Crater’s misty green bowl before heading home—still buzzing from it all.

What’s the experience like?

“Did you hear that?” our guide, Daniel, whispered as we bumped along the track out of Arusha. I’d barely finished my coffee and already the air felt different—dusty but fresh, with a hint of woodsmoke from roadside stalls. The drive toward Serengeti was longer than I expected, but somehow it didn’t drag; Daniel kept pointing out birds I’d never seen (he called one a “go-away bird”—I thought he was joking). By the time we reached the park gates, the sun had that heavy gold look. We rolled down the windows and it hit me: this is actually happening.

The first game drive was honestly a blur—giraffes loping in that slow-motion way, herds of wildebeest kicking up little clouds, and at one point we just stopped and watched a lioness flick her tail in the grass for what felt like ages. Lunch was picnic style on the hood of our 4x4 (Daniel had packed chapati and something spicy—my mouth still tingled hours later). That night at Enkirari Wilderness Camp, I lay awake listening to distant grunts and snorts outside my tent. It sounds silly now but I kept thinking: what if it’s right there? But sleep won eventually.

The next day was all about chasing light across those endless Serengeti plains. Sometimes we’d drive for twenty minutes seeing nothing but zebras or impalas—and then suddenly Daniel would spot something nobody else could see. He handed me his binoculars more than once (“You have to see this cheetah’s eyes,” he said), and yeah, he was right. The air smelled like dry grass and diesel by afternoon; we drank so much water I lost count. Evenings back at camp felt almost too quiet after all that.

Ngorongoro Crater surprised me most. We left before sunrise—cold enough for jackets—and descended into this green bowl full of fog and animal shapes moving through it. There were hippos wallowing in muddy pools, buffalo everywhere, even flamingos (I didn’t expect pink here). Daniel explained how local Maasai still graze cattle along the rim sometimes; you could see their red shukas from far off. By late afternoon we were back in Arusha—tired but sort of floating from it all. I keep thinking about that lioness in the grass.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Travel to Serengeti and afternoon game drive

• Pick up from Arusha hotel
• Drive to Serengeti National Park
• Enjoy scenic views en route
• Begin afternoon game drive
• Search for lions, elephants, giraffes
• Proceed to camp for dinner and overnight

Day 2 — Full day game drives in Serengeti

• Breakfast at camp
• Spend day on Serengeti game drives
• View lions, leopards, cheetahs, and more
• Capture wildlife and landscape photos
• Return to camp for dinner and overnight

Day 3 — Ngorongoro Crater game drive and return

• Early breakfast and depart for Ngorongoro
• Descend into Ngorongoro Crater
• Game drive in wildlife-dense crater floor
• Return to Arusha in late afternoon
• Drop off at Arusha hotel

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this Serengeti safari?

Yes, pickup and drop-off from your hotel in Arusha are included.

How many days is the Serengeti & Ngorongoro safari?

The tour lasts three days with two nights at Enkirari Wilderness Camp.

Are park entrance fees covered?

All park entrance fees for both Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater are included.

What animals can I expect to see on this safari?

You may see lions, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, hippos, crocodiles, cheetahs, leopards, gazelles and more.

Is food provided during game drives?

Yes—meals are included as per itinerary plus unlimited soft drinks, tea & coffee during drives.

Is this a private safari or group tour?

This is a private safari with your own vehicle and English-speaking guide.

Are accommodations luxury camps?

You’ll stay two nights at Enkirari Wilderness Camp—a luxury tented camp inside Serengeti.

Can children join this safari?

Children can join if accompanied by an adult; specialized infant seats are available upon request.

What’s included

Your journey includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Arusha, all park entrance fees for both Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater (including service fees), private 4x4 vehicle with pop-up roof plus fridge and binoculars onboard for wildlife spotting, a professional English-speaking safari guide throughout your trip, unlimited bottled water as well as soft drinks during game drives, daily meals (breakfasts, lunches and dinners), two nights’ accommodation at Enkirari Wilderness Camp inside Serengeti National Park—and plenty of time out on the plains before returning to Arusha in the afternoon.