Serengeti & Ngorongoro: 5-Day Private Safari with Lodges

Summary

Wild mornings, endless plains and the quiet thrill of safari life

You’ll travel Tanzania’s Northern Circuit with a private guide — waking up to wild sounds in Serengeti lodges, spotting lions in Ngorongoro Crater mist, sharing stories over picnic lunches, and watching endless plains roll by your window. It’s five days of real safari life: unpredictable, moving, sometimes funny — always unforgettable.

What’s the experience like?

Hands gripping the edge of the seat, I watched our driver-guide, Daniel, wave at a Maasai herder just outside Arusha — the man’s red shuka bright against that dusty roadside. We’d barely landed when Daniel handed us cold water and started pointing out little things: schoolkids in uniforms, women balancing baskets on their heads. The air smelled like earth and something sweet I couldn’t place (maybe jacaranda?). That first night in Arusha, I tried to sleep but my head was full of all these new sounds — distant music, someone laughing somewhere downstairs.

The drive to Serengeti is long. Like, really long. Seven hours if you don’t count the stops for snacks or photos (and we stopped a lot). But it’s not boring — the landscape keeps changing: banana groves then dry savannah then suddenly these huge open plains where you can see forever. Lunch was just outside the park gate; I remember biting into a mango and thinking it tasted like sunshine. When we finally rolled into Serengeti for our afternoon game drive, Daniel grinned and said “Karibu,” which means welcome. Within minutes we saw elephants moving slow through golden grass — so close you could almost hear them breathing.

I woke up before sunrise the next day (not sure if it was excitement or those noisy birds). Breakfast was strong coffee and chapati at the lodge while zebra grazed nearby like it was no big deal. Game drives here are a mix of patience and surprise — we’d sit quietly for ages then suddenly there’d be a cheetah with cubs or a tower of giraffes blocking the road. Daniel told stories about his childhood growing up near here; he laughed when I tried to pronounce “Ngorongoro” properly (I still can’t). The light kept shifting — sometimes gold, sometimes silver — and by evening I felt sunburnt but weirdly peaceful.

Leaving Serengeti felt harder than I expected. The road east towards Ngorongoro is bumpy but beautiful; we passed Maasai villages where kids waved at our dust cloud. The crater itself is… well, it’s hard to describe without sounding dramatic. Early morning mist hung over everything as we descended inside — lions lounging by the road, hippos snorting in muddy pools, flamingos standing on one leg in this pale pink line across a lake. Picnic lunch tasted better than any restaurant meal because of where we were eating it (and maybe because I was starving).

I keep thinking about that last morning in Ngorongoro Crater before heading back to Arusha airport — how quiet it got sometimes except for birds or an occasional lion roar echoing off the walls. There’s something grounding about being somewhere so old and wild; makes you feel small in a good way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival and transfer to Arusha

• Arrive at Arusha Airport
• Meet experienced driver-guide
• Transfer to hotel in Arusha
• Introduction to city and country
• Dinner and overnight in Arusha

Day 2 — Travel to Serengeti and game drive

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive 7 hours to Serengeti
• Enjoy lunch in Serengeti
• Afternoon game drive in Serengeti
• Dinner and overnight in Serengeti

Day 3 — Full day game drives in Serengeti

• Breakfast at lodge
• Morning game drive in Serengeti
• Picnic lunch in Serengeti
• Afternoon game drive in Serengeti
• Dinner and overnight in Serengeti

Day 4 — Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater

• Breakfast at lodge
• Morning game drive in Serengeti
• Picnic lunch in Serengeti
• Drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
• Settle in at lodge
• Dinner and overnight in Ngorongoro

Day 5 — Ngorongoro Crater and departure

• Early morning game drive in Ngorongoro Crater
• Picnic lunch in crater
• Return to Arusha Airport
• Flight home

Top questions

How long is the drive from Arusha to Serengeti?

The journey from Arusha to Serengeti takes about seven hours (335 km), not including stops.

Are meals included during this Tanzania safari?

Yes, breakfast and dinner are included in Arusha; all meals are included during safari days except dinner on departure day.

Is pickup from Arusha Airport included?

Yes, pickup from Arusha Airport is included at the start of your tour.

What kind of vehicle is used for game drives?

A 4x4 Toyota Cruiser is used for all game drives throughout the safari.

Is this tour suitable for children?

Yes; infants and small children can join with prams or specialized seats available.

Which parks are visited on this 5-day safari?

The tour visits Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area as part of Tanzania's Northern Circuit.

Are park fees included in the price?

Yes; all park entry fees are included in your booking.

What type of accommodation is provided?

You’ll stay one night in Arusha city and four nights in comfortable safari lodges selected by the operator.

What’s included

Your five-day trip includes pickup from Arusha Airport, all park entry fees across Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area, four nights’ accommodation in handpicked safari lodges plus one night in Arusha city hotel, daily breakfast and dinners (with full board during safari), soft drinks and water on game drives, plus a knowledgeable local driver-guide throughout your journey.