Tanzania Safari 4-Day: Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro

Three parks, four days, one route through Tanzania's greatest wildlife zones.

A 4-day guided safari from Arusha that moves through Tarangire National Park, the Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater with private transport, midrange accommodation and all park entry fees. You start with a morning game drive among Tarangire's baobabs and elephant herds, spend two full days in the Serengeti watching predators and the Great Migration, then descend into Ngorongoro Crater for a half-day drive before returning to Arusha.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire Safari

• Pick-up early morning from Arusha
• Drive to Tarangire National Park
• Morning game drive in Tarangire
• Picnic lunch inside the park
• Afternoon game drive at Silale Swamp
• Drive to Karatu for overnight stay

Day 2: Karatu to Serengeti via Ngorongoro

• Breakfast at lodge in Karatu
• Drive through Ngorongoro Conservation Area
• Stop at Ngorongoro crater viewpoint
• Drive to central Serengeti
• Afternoon game drive in Serengeti
• Sunset game drive for predator spotting

Day 3: Full Day Game Drive in Serengeti

• Sunrise game drive in Serengeti
• Breakfast at camp
• Day-long game drive with picnic lunch
• Sunset game drive
• Return to camp for dinner and overnight

Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater and Return to Arusha

• Breakfast at Serengeti camp
• Drive to Ngorongoro Crater
• Half-day game drive inside crater
• Picnic lunch at Hippo Pool
• Ascend crater and drive back to Arusha
• Drop-off in Arusha late afternoon

The experience

Tarangire opens the route on day one. A 6 a.m. pickup from Arusha leads a 2.5-hour drive into the park, where morning and afternoon game drives take you past baobab trees and along the Tarangire River: the water source that draws elephants, lions, leopards, giraffes and zebras. Lunch is a picnic inside the park. The evening drive heads toward Karatu, where you stay at Marera Valley Lodge.

Day two is the long drive into the Serengeti. After breakfast, you travel 4.5 to 5 hours through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, stopping at the crater viewpoint before reaching Shuhudia adventure camp in central Serengeti. An afternoon game drive in the Seronera region catches lions, cheetahs, leopards and, depending on the season, the Great Migration herds. A sunset drive follows, and you return to camp for dinner.

Day three stays in the Serengeti for a full day of game drives. A sunrise drive is the best window for watching predators hunt. After breakfast at camp, you continue through the park until late evening, with lunch at a picnic site and a sunset before heading back to Shuhudia for the night.

The final morning, you drive four hours from central Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater and descend for a half-day game drive inside the UNESCO site. The crater floor holds rhinos, lions, hippos, wildebeest, zebras, buffaloes and flamingos on Lake Magadi. Lerai Forest and the swamp area are where elephants and birds gather. Lunch is at the Hippo Pool. You then ascend and drive three hours back to Arusha, arriving in the late afternoon.

What’s included

• All accommodations at midrange lodges and tented camps.
• private transportation for the entire route.
• all national park entry fees and taxes.
• game drives as outlined in the itinerary.
• picnic lunches inside the parks.
• breakfast and dinner at your lodging.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (16 to 59 years) · Senior (60 to 90 years) · Youth (6 to 15 years) · Child (2 to 5 years): free · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Utukufu Travels and Adventures

Is this one for you?Choose this 4-day itinerary if you want a full day tracking the Serengeti's predators and migration without committing to a longer safari, though expect several hours daily in the vehicle between parks.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 15 years); Child (2 to 5 years): free; Infant (under 2): free.

What wildlife will I actually see on a 4-day Tanzania safari?

Tarangire is known for massive elephant herds, and the Serengeti holds lions, cheetahs, leopards and, depending on the season, the Great Migration. Ngorongoro Crater is one of the few places left where you can see black rhinos, along with hippos, wildebeest, zebras, buffaloes and flamingos on Lake Magadi.

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

Day one has a morning and afternoon game drive in Tarangire. Day two includes an afternoon game drive in the Serengeti after the long drive from Arusha. Day three is a full day in the Serengeti with sunrise and sunset drives and midday game time. Day four is a half-day game drive inside Ngorongoro Crater before the return to Arusha.

What kind of accommodation do I stay in?

Marera Valley Lodge in Karatu is a midrange lodge for the first night. Shuhudia adventure camp in central Serengeti is a midrange tented camp where you stay for nights two and three. Both are included in the tour price.

How long is the drive from Arusha to the Serengeti?

The drive from Arusha to central Serengeti takes 4.5 to 5 hours, passing through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The return drive from Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha on the final day is 3 hours.