Serengeti Safari Tour: Big Five Wildlife & Ngorongoro Crater

Private safari through four parks in five days, up close with the Big Five

A 5-day private safari tour departing from Mto wa Mbu that crosses Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area with a professional guide, daily game drives, accommodations and meals. The private format means your guide and vehicle stay with your group alone, and the itinerary includes a cultural visit to a Maasai village on the final day before returning home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Serengeti game drive

• Arrive at Lake Manyara Airport
• Meet safari guide and briefing
• Drive through Ngorongoro Conservation Area
• Enter Serengeti National Park
• Game drive to Seronera region
• Picnic lunch inside the park
• Arrive at Seronera Campsite for dinner
• Overnight at Seronera Campsite

Day 2: Serengeti morning and afternoon game drives

• Breakfast at the lodge
• Morning game drive in Serengeti
• Picnic lunch at scenic spot
• Afternoon game drive exiting Serengeti
• Drive through Ngorongoro Highlands
• Dinner and overnight at Seronera

Day 3: Ngorongoro Crater wildlife exploration

• Early breakfast at lodge
• Drive to Ngorongoro Crater
• Descend into Ngorongoro Crater
• Game drive inside the crater
• Picnic lunch inside the crater
• Dinner and overnight at Jua Manyara

Day 4: Lake Manyara National Park game drive

• Breakfast at the lodge
• Drive to Lake Manyara National Park
• Game drive through diverse ecosystems
• Visit natural hot springs
• Picnic lunch in the park
• Dinner and overnight at Jua Manyara

Day 5: Mto wa Mbu cultural and Maasai tour

• Mto wa Mbu cultural tour
• Visit traditional Maasai village
• Learn about Maasai traditions and lifestyle
• Interact with local families and taste foods
• Explore local community
• Enjoy full meals

The experience

The route runs through four distinct ecosystems over five days, each one built around a morning and afternoon game drive. You start at Lake Manyara Airport, where your guide meets you and drives through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area into Serengeti National Park: the transition itself passes through rolling highlands and forests that frame what comes next. The Serengeti portion spans two full days of driving, with picnic lunches served inside the park and nights at Seronera Campsite. The scale of the park means the game drives cover ground, and the early mornings (when wildlife is most active) are when you'll have the best chance of spotting lions, elephants, cheetahs, zebras and wildebeests in their natural habitat.

Day three takes you to Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you descend 610 meters into a caldera formed by volcanic collapse over two million years ago. The crater floor concentrates wildlife densely: lions, buffaloes, hippos, hyenas, flamingos and occasionally black rhinos move through open grasslands, acacia forests and soda lakes. Your guide leads the game drive and explains the ecosystem as you move through it. Lake Manyara National Park, visited on day four, is known for tree-climbing lions and large baboon troops, plus hot springs that emerge from geothermal activity beneath the park. The final day shifts to culture: a walking tour through Mto wa Mbu village and a visit to a traditional Maasai settlement where you learn about daily life, see traditional houses (bomas), watch local dances and interact with families before heading home.

Accommodations are lodge-based except for the Serengeti nights, which are spent at Seronera Campsite. All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are included throughout. Your guide speaks English or French and stays with your group for the entire five days. The vehicle is a 4WD safari van suited to park terrain, and because this is a private tour, it carries only your party.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English or French.
• all game drives in a private 4WD safari vehicle.
• accommodations at lodges and Seronera Campsite.
• all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner).
• entry to Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
• cultural visit to a Maasai village on day five.
• hotel or airport pickup.

Options for this experience

2 options

5-Day, 4-Night Adventure: Serengeti National Park 4WD TourGuide in English or French · 09:00

Private tour, option 3Guide in English or French · 09:00Private game drives and cultural activities; accommodation for 5 days; breakfast, lunch and dinner included; Arusha to Serengeti and back; Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4 safari; professional English-speaking guide

You pick the guide language when booking.

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 09:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 20 · max 6 per booking

Live guideEnglish and French

Audio guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

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 7 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by FIRDAUS SAFARI

Is this one for you?A private tour keeps your group together with one guide and vehicle for all five days, which means the pace and stops are yours alone: no waiting for other groups or adjusting to a shared itinerary. This suits travelers who want flexibility in how long to spend at each location and prefer not to share the vehicle or guide's attention.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

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's the difference between the Serengeti game drives on day one and day two?

Day one is your arrival and first drive into the park heading toward Seronera, with a picnic lunch along the way. Day two starts before dawn with breakfast at the lodge, then a full morning game drive when animals are most active in the cool hours, followed by an afternoon drive as you exit the Serengeti through the Ngorongoro Highlands. The second day gives you more time in the park during peak wildlife hours.

How long does it take to descend into Ngorongoro Crater and what will I see there?

The descent is 610 meters into the crater floor, and your guide leads the game drive through diverse habitats (grasslands, acacia forests and soda lakes), where lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeests, hippos, hyenas and flamingos live at high density. A picnic lunch is served inside the crater during the drive.

What happens on the last day in Mto wa Mbu?

You walk through Mto wa Mbu village and visit a traditional Maasai settlement where you learn about Maasai culture, see traditional houses, watch local dances and interact with families. You'll also taste traditional foods and see handicraft making before the tour ends and you depart for home.

Are meals and accommodations included in the price?

Yes. All breakfasts, lunches and dinners are included throughout the five days. You stay at lodges except for two nights at Seronera Campsite in the Serengeti, and all accommodations are included in the tour price.