Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Tarangire: 5-Day Safari with Lodges

Summary

Chasing elephants in Tarangire then sunrise over Ngorongoro

You’ll wake up under canvas in Serengeti listening for lions, count elephants beneath Tarangire’s baobabs, descend into Ngorongoro’s misty crater with your guide pointing out hidden wildlife, then finish by watching flamingos sweep across Lake Manyara’s shallows. It’s five days of wild motion and small moments you’ll keep replaying long after you’re home.

What’s the experience like?

We bumped along the road out of Arusha before sunrise, dust curling behind our wheels — I remember the way my coffee tasted a bit like campfire as our guide, Joseph, grinned and pointed out the first streaks of pink over Mount Meru. By the time we rolled into Tarangire, the air was thick and warm and there were elephants everywhere. I mean everywhere. Their skin looked almost blue-grey against those fat baobab trunks. We stopped for a picnic lunch near the river and I tried to count how many giraffes you could see from one spot (gave up at seven). Joseph had this way of spotting animals before anyone else — he’d just go quiet, squinting into the grass, then suddenly gesture: “There.”

The next morning was an early one — boots on before dawn for Ngorongoro Crater. There’s this moment as you drive down into the caldera where everything goes silent except for birds and your own heartbeat. Wildebeest flicked their tails in the mist; lions sprawled on sun-warmed dirt like they owned it (which, I guess, they do). The crater feels like its own world. After lunch we started towards the Serengeti — that drive is long but somehow hypnotic; Maasai kids waved at us from beside the road. The light changes as you get closer to those endless plains. Our tented camp was waiting with hot showers and something that smelled like cinnamon stew (I still don’t know what it was).

Game drives in Serengeti are wild — literally and otherwise. We left before sunrise to catch the herds moving through golden grass, dust hanging in the air behind them. Zebras made this low chuffing sound I’d never heard before. At one point we saw a cheetah crouched so still I thought it was a rock until it flicked its tail. Lunch was eaten with dusty hands on the hood of our truck while vultures circled above (not for us, thankfully). That night back at camp everyone swapped stories around a little fire — someone tried to teach me Swahili numbers; I failed miserably but got a laugh out of it.

On our last day we hit Lake Manyara — flamingos everywhere, their pink just ridiculous against all that green water and sky. Monkeys darted through fig trees right above us while buffalo lazed in muddy pools nearby. It felt both busy and peaceful at once; maybe that’s just what safaris do to your head after a few days out here.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival and relaxation in Arusha

• Pick up from airport
• Transfer to Arusha Planet Lodge
• Overnight at lodge

Day 2 — Safari in Tarangire National Park

• Breakfast at lodge
• Drive to Tarangire National Park
• Game drive from open roof truck
• Picnic lunch in park
• Drive to Eileen's Trees Inn
• Dinner and overnight at lodge

Day 3 — Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti

• Early breakfast
• Drive to Ngorongoro Crater
• Explore Ngorongoro Crater wildlife
• Drive to Serengeti National Park
• Arrive at Serengeti Heritage Luxury Tented Camp
• Dinner and overnight at camp

Day 4 — Serengeti game drive and Karatu

• Early breakfast
• Morning game drive in Serengeti
• Drive to Karatu
• Dinner and overnight at Eileen's Trees Inn

Day 5 — Lake Manyara and return to Arusha

• Breakfast at lodge
• Drive to Lake Manyara National Park
• Explore Lake Manyara wildlife
• Return to Arusha

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this 5-day safari?

Yes, airport pickup in Arusha is included at the start of your safari.

What kind of accommodation is provided?

You’ll stay in mid-range lodges and tented camps throughout the tour.

How long is the drive from Arusha to Tarangire?

The drive from Arusha to Tarangire takes about two hours.

Are meals included during the safari?

Yes, all meals are included during your safari days.

Do we visit both Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater?

Yes, both Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater are visited on this tour.

Is this safari suitable for all fitness levels?

Yes, it’s suitable for all physical fitness levels.

Will there be a local guide with us?

You’ll have an experienced local safari guide throughout your trip.

Are park entry fees covered?

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

What’s included

Your journey includes airport pickup in Arusha, all park entry fees across Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, and Lake Manyara; four nights’ accommodation in comfortable lodges or tented camps; daily breakfast, lunch (often picnic-style), dinner; plus game drives led by an expert local guide before returning to Arusha at tour’s end.