Serengeti Safari 4-Day: Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Migration

Four days crossing Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro: wildlife safari with elephants, migration, and Big Five

A 4-day guided safari from Arusha covering Tarangire National Park, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area in a 4x4 landcruiser with professional guide and tented camp stays. You start with a full day at Tarangire watching elephants drink from the river, move into Serengeti for sunrise game drives and views of the wildebeest migration, then descend into Ngorongoro Crater to search for the Big Five among nearly 40,000 animals.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Tarangire National Park game drive

• Pick up from Arusha hotel at 8:00 AM
• Drive 3 hours to Tarangire National Park
• Full day game drive in Tarangire National Park
• Drive to Marera Valley Lodge for dinner and overnight

Day 2: Serengeti National Park game drive

• Breakfast and pack luggage
• Drive to Serengeti with en-route game drive
• Lunch inside the jeep
• Arrive Serengeti around 3:00 PM
• Evening game drive in central Serengeti
• Dinner and overnight at Robin Safari Camp

Day 3: Serengeti morning game drive and transfer

• Wake up at 5:45 AM for early breakfast
• Early morning game drive until 11:30 AM
• Return to campsite for hot lunch
• Pack luggage in jeep
• Game drive while heading to Ngorongoro Crater
• Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge

Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater game drive and return

• Breakfast at lodge
• Depart for Ngorongoro Crater
• Descend into Ngorongoro Crater for game drive
• Picnic lunch inside crater
• Continue game drive
• Depart crater and return to Arusha
• Overnight at Green Mountain Hotel in Arusha

The experience

The route moves through three distinct ecosystems, each with its own rhythm and wildlife. Day one is Tarangire National Park, 115 kilometers from Arusha: a three-hour drive gets you there by midday, leaving time for a full afternoon game drive before dinner at Marera Valley lodge. The park's name comes from the Tarangire River, where large herds of elephants gather to drink. You'll also see lions, leopards, climbing pythons in baobab trees and other animals concentrated around the water.

Day two takes you into Serengeti with an en-route game drive and lunch in the jeep. You'll pass through the Rift Valley and see the Ngorongoro Crater rim before arriving mid-afternoon for an evening drive in central Serengeti to watch the sunset. The park's major draw is the wildebeest migration (roughly 1.5 million herbivores and the predators that follow them), and your guide will position you to see part of it. Day three starts at 5:45 am for sunrise and an early morning game drive until 11:30, then a midday break before another drive heading toward Ngorongoro.

The final day descends into Ngorongoro Crater itself, one of the world's densest game areas holding nearly 40,000 animals. The crater is home to the Big Five (lion, leopard, rare Black Rhino, buffalo and elephants) plus wildebeest, zebra and Thomson's gazelle. After a picnic lunch inside the crater, you drive back to Arusha. The vehicle is an extended-body 4x4 with roomy seats, window access for every guest, a fridge, power sockets and VHF radio for communication with the base office.

What’s included

• Game driving at all three parks.
• accommodation in tented lodges for four nights.
• all meals.
• a 4x4 landcruiser vehicle.
• a professional guide.
• all national park fees and taxes.
• mineral water.

Information

Lasts 4d, runs every day, 4 start times, from US$ 1,900 per person, with live guides in 5 languages, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00, 08:00, 08:30 and 19:30Last departure this season: 12 Jan 2027

GroupPrivate5 group tours ›

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Africa Joy Tours - Day Tours / Mult Day Tours

Is this one for you?Book this four-day version if you want full days in each of the three parks (Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater) rather than splitting time or skipping one entirely.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★Exceptional7 verified traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

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

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What animals am I most likely to see in Ngorongoro Crater?

Ngorongoro Crater holds nearly 40,000 animals and is one of the densest game areas in the world. You have a strong chance of seeing the Big Five (lion, leopard, rare Black Rhino, buffalo and elephants) along with herds of wildebeest, zebra and Thomson's gazelle.

How much of the wildebeest migration will I actually see?

The Serengeti's wildebeest migration involves roughly 1.5 million herbivores and their predators moving across the park almost constantly because of drought. Your guide will position you to see part of it during the two days you spend in Serengeti, though which herds you encounter depends on the season and their movement.

What's included in the price of this safari?

Game driving, all accommodation in tented lodges, the 4x4 vehicle, a professional guide, all park fees and taxes, and mineral water are included. Tips and international flights are not.

How far is Tarangire National Park from Arusha?

Tarangire is 115 kilometers from Arusha, a three-hour drive. You'll be picked up from your hotel at 8 am on day one and arrive with time for a full afternoon game drive.