Arusha: 6-Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro Game Drive Safari

Six days hunting the Big Five across Tanzania's northern parks

You're picked up in Arusha and driven through four major parks over six days: Lake Manyara's tree-climbing lions, Ndutu's migration and leopard populations, the Serengeti's endless plains, and Ngorongoro Crater's Big Five concentration. Park fees, meals, lodging in tented camps and lodges, and a private driver-guide are all included, so you arrive and the safari begins.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arusha to Lake Manyara game drive

• Pick up from Arusha accommodation
• Drive to Lake Manyara National Park
• Full day game drive in Lake Manyara
• Lunch inside Lake Manyara National Park
• Overnight at Africa Safari Karatu lodge
• Dinner at Africa Safari Karatu restaurant

Day 2: Transfer to South Serengeti via Ngorongoro

• Breakfast at Africa Safari Karatu
• Drive through Ngorongoro Conservation Area
• Lunch en route to South Serengeti
• Afternoon game drive around Lake Ndutu
• Dinner at Africa Safari South Serengeti lodge
• Overnight at Africa Safari South Serengeti

Day 3: Full day game drive at Lake Ndutu

• Breakfast at Africa Safari South Serengeti
• Full day game drive around Lake Ndutu
• Lunch in the bush during game drive
• Dinner at Africa Safari South Serengeti lodge
• Overnight at Africa Safari South Serengeti

Day 4: Full day game drive in Serengeti

• Breakfast at Africa Safari South Serengeti
• Full day game drive in Serengeti National Park
• Lunch in the bush during game drive
• Dinner at Africa Safari South Serengeti lodge
• Overnight at Africa Safari South Serengeti

Day 5: Full day game drive in Ngorongoro Crater

• Breakfast at Africa Safari South Serengeti
• Full day game drive in Ngorongoro Crater
• Lunch in the bush during game drive
• Dinner at Africa Safari Karatu restaurant
• Overnight at Africa Safari Karatu lodge

Day 6: Return transfer to Arusha

• Breakfast at Africa Safari Karatu
• Drive back to Arusha
• Drop off at Arusha accommodation or airport

The experience

The driver pulls up at your hotel or the airport in Arusha before dawn breaks, and from that moment the jeep becomes your home for the next six days. You're heading two hours south into Lake Manyara National Park, where the first surprise waits in the acacia trees: lions that climb them, draped across branches like house cats, something you won't see anywhere else. The park is small but packed: 400 bird species, thousands of flamingoes turning the alkaline lake pink, buffalo and giraffe on the grassy banks. Lunch happens in the middle of it all, the view of the water stretching out while you eat.

Day two moves you through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area: Maasai land, where the landscape shifts and wildlife appears in the gaps between conversations with your guide. By afternoon you're at Lake Ndutu in the South Serengeti, and if you're traveling between November and April, you're in the middle of either the Great Migration or the Calving Season. Lions are common here. The riverbank holds one of the world's densest leopard populations, which means your camera stays ready. You sleep in a tented lodge that night, the sounds of the savannah close enough to feel real.

Days three and four are full-day game drives: one around Ndutu, one across the Serengeti itself. The Serengeti spans 14,763 square kilometers and hosts six million wildebeest during migration, plus 200,000 zebras, 300,000 Thomson's gazelle, and the predators that follow them. Buffalo, elephant, hippo, hyena. They're all here, and your guide knows where to look. The fifth day takes you into the Ngorongoro Crater, the world's largest intact volcanic caldera, where the Big Five are concentrated by the natural rim. Standing at the lookout with the clouds hovering and the mountain breeze, you understand why people say this is one of the most rewarding experiences of a lifetime. On day six, your driver brings you back to Arusha. A three-hour drive that gives you time to process what you've seen.

Everything is handled: park entry fees, transport in a safari jeep with a rooftop hatch, an experienced driver-guide who stays with you the whole time, overnight stays in unique lodges and tented camps on a full board meal plan, and airport pickup and drop-off. You don't arrange park logistics, meals, or timing. The fixed itinerary does that. The only thing you bring is moderate fitness and a willingness to sit in a jeep for hours at a time, which is exactly what makes seeing this much wildlife in six days possible.

What’s included

Your six days include airport pickup and drop-off in Arusha, transport in a private safari jeep with rooftop hatch, an experienced driver-guide for the entire duration, entry fees to Lake Manyara National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Ndutu, and Serengeti National Park, five nights in tented lodges and unique accommodations near the parks, and full board meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) throughout the tour.

Options for this experience

3 options

431 - Accommodation at comfort levelUp to 6 per booking · Guide in English · 08:00431 - Accommodation at comfort level, pickup is included

431 - Accommodation at luxury levelUp to 6 per booking · Guide in English · 08:00431 - Accommodation at luxury level, pickup is included

431 - Accommodation at standard levelUp to 2 per booking · Guide in English · 08:00431 - Accommodation at standard level, pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (under 16)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 1.50

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Beach & Safari

Is this one for you?Right for travelers with six days and moderate fitness who want the northern circuit parks without arranging transport, park logistics, or meals themselves. Expect long days in the jeep (game drives run from early morning through afternoon), which is what lets you cover four parks and see the Big Five in one trip.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 16).

What's the best time to see the Great Migration and Calving Season?

November through April, when the migration moves through Ndutu and the Serengeti. Calving season specifically runs December to February.

Are park fees included in the price?

Yes. All park entry fees, transport, lodging, meals, and the driver-guide are included.

What kind of accommodation do you stay in?

A mix of tented lodges near the parks: Africa Safari South Serengeti and Africa Safari Karatu, both with full board meals included.

How long is the drive from Arusha to Lake Manyara?

About two hours. The return drive to Arusha on day six is roughly three hours.

Is this tour private or in a group?

It's a private tour with your own driver-guide and jeep.

What's included in the meals?

Full board (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) at your lodges each night, plus lunch during game drives.

Can you see the Big Five on this safari?

Yes, especially in the Ngorongoro Crater, where the natural rim concentrates wildlife. Lion and leopard sightings are common at Ndutu and the Serengeti.

Is airport pickup included?

Yes, pickup and drop-off at Arusha airport or your hotel are both included.

What's the rooftop hatch on the jeep for?

It lets you stand and photograph wildlife without leaving the vehicle, which is safer and gives you a better angle for photos.

Who is not recommended for this tour?

Travelers with spinal injuries, pregnant travelers, or those with poor cardiovascular health. Infants must sit on an adult's lap. Moderate physical fitness is required.