Serengeti Safari 4-Day from Arusha: Elephants & Wildebeest

Thousands of elephants and wildebeest move through these parks every season, and you cross all three in four days.

A 4-day guided safari from Arusha covering Tarangire National Park, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area with park entry, accommodation, a pop-up roof 4x4 jeep and an English-speaking guide. The tour runs game drives across three ecosystems in sequence, starting with Tarangire's elephant herds and baobab trees, moving through the Serengeti's Seronera region where predators hunt alongside wildebeest and zebras, and ending with a crater descent into Ngorongoro where the Big Five often appear within hours. Pickup from Arusha is included. You can add extra nights if the itinerary appeals but you want more time in one park.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire National Park

• Breakfast in Arusha
• Drive to Tarangire National Park
• Full day game drive in Tarangire
• Picnic lunch at the park
• Drive back to accommodation
• Dinner and overnight stay

Day 2: Tarangire to Serengeti National Park

• Breakfast at accommodation
• Depart for Serengeti via Karatu and Ngorongoro
• Arrive Serengeti and have lunch
• Afternoon game drive in Serengeti
• Dinner and overnight at campsite

Day 3: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

• Early morning game drive
• Return to camp for breakfast
• Another game drive in Serengeti
• Lunch at camp
• Drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
• Enjoy views at crater rim
• Dinner and overnight at campsite

Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha

• Early breakfast
• Drive down into Ngorongoro Crater
• Morning game viewing in crater
• Picnic lunch in crater
• Drive back to Arusha
• Drop off at accommodation or airport

The experience

The jeep leaves Arusha after breakfast on day one, heading straight into Tarangire National Park for a full day of game driving with a picnic lunch at the park. Tarangire anchors the opening because of its elephant population. The park holds up to 3,000 of them in its annual cycle, along with 25,000 wildebeest and 30,000 zebras. The baobab trees frame the landscape. You return to Panorama Safari Camp for dinner and overnight.

Day two crosses into the Serengeti via Karatu's farmland and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area rim, arriving at the Seronera region: the park's richest wildlife habitat, centered on the Seronera River. An afternoon game drive follows lunch. You sleep at Seronera Campsite. Day three starts before dawn with an early game drive, returns for breakfast, then heads out again. This is where lions, leopards and cheetahs hunt alongside wildebeest and zebras in the same grassland. After lunch you drive toward Ngorongoro, climbing to the crater rim where the 600-meter-deep collapsed volcano opens below you. Simba A Campsite is your overnight.

The final morning takes you down the steep, narrow road into the crater itself. The forested slopes give way to savannah, and the wildlife density shifts: the Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, leopard) often appear in a few hours of crater game viewing. After a picnic lunch you drive back to Arusha, arriving in the early evening for drop-off at your hotel or the airport.

What’s included

• All national park fees and taxes.
• accommodation at three campsites.
• a pop-up roof 4x4 safari jeep shared with other travelers.
• bottled water.
• pickup from Arusha and drop-off at your hotel or airport on day four.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (16 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (14 to 15 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years): free

GroupUp to 7

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 6 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportInfant seats availableNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Afromasai Eastern Safaris

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or one additional language. Choose yours at checkout so the commentary reaches you clearly across all four days. Children from age one travel on this tour, though infants sit on an adult's lap unless you arrange a specialized infant seat in advance.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (14 to 15 years); Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (1 to 3 years): free.

What animals will I actually see on this 4-day safari?

Tarangire holds up to 3,000 elephants, 25,000 wildebeest and 30,000 zebras in its annual cycle. The Serengeti's Seronera region shows wildebeest and zebras alongside lions, leopards and cheetahs. Ngorongoro crater often yields sightings of the Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard) within a few hours of descent.

How much time do I spend actually game driving each day?

Day one is a full day of game driving in Tarangire with a picnic lunch at the park. Day two includes an afternoon game drive in the Serengeti after arrival. Day three has an early morning drive, a return to camp for breakfast, then another full game drive before the afternoon drive toward Ngorongoro. Day four focuses on the crater itself, with a morning game drive and a picnic lunch before the return to Arusha.

Where do I sleep on this tour?

Accommodation is included at three campsites: Panorama Safari Camp near Tarangire on night one; Seronera Campsite in the Serengeti on night two; and Simba A Campsite, a budget camping option, on night three. You return to Arusha on day four.

Does the tour include park entry fees and transport?

Yes. All park fees and taxes are included, along with the pop-up roof 4x4 safari jeep for the entire tour. Pickup from Arusha is also included. You can arrange drop-off at your hotel or directly to the airport on the final day.