Tanzania Safari: Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Lake Manyara Camping

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/12

Duration5d

GroupUp to 7

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Serengeti plains sunrise, lions in trees and crater mist

You’ll wake to wild sounds on this Tanzania safari—lions in trees at Lake Manyara, sunrise over endless Serengeti grasslands, campfire nights under stars, and misty mornings descending into Ngorongoro Crater. With a local guide handling everything from pickup to meals and campsites, you get close to wildlife—and closer to what travel really feels like out here.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arusha to Tarangire National Park

Breakfast at lodge
Depart between 08:30 and 09:00
Private guide picks you up
Start safari in 4x4 vehicle
Arrive at Tarangire lodge for lunch
Enjoy afternoon game drive
Dinner and overnight at Twiga camp

Day 2 — Lake Manyara National Park Game Drive

Breakfast at lodge
Pick up between 08:30 and 09:00
Drive to Lake Manyara National Park
Extended game drive with picnic lunch
Dinner and overnight at Twiga camp

Day 3 — Serengeti National Park Visit

Breakfast at lodge
Depart for Serengeti via Karatu and Ngorongoro
Arrive Serengeti Seronera area
Lunch at Serengeti
Afternoon game drive in Serengeti
Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Seronera Campsite

Day 4 — Serengeti to Ngorongoro Area

Early morning coffee, tea, and biscuit
Early morning game drive 08:00 to 14:30
Depart to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Simba Campsite

Day 5 — Ngorongoro Crater and Return

Early breakfast with coffee
Descend into Ngorongoro Crater for wildlife viewing
Visit Lake Magadi
Transfer back to Arusha city
Drop off at hotel or airport

The Experience

"Did you hear that?" someone whispered in the dark, right before dawn cracked open over Tarangire. I was still half-wrapped in my sleeping bag, listening — not sure if it was elephants or just the wind rattling the baobabs. Our guide, Juma, grinned like he’d heard it a thousand times. He handed out mugs of strong coffee before we climbed into the safari truck. The air smelled dry and a little smoky from last night’s campfire, and I remember my hands were cold on the metal railing as we bumped down the red track.

The first day felt long but good — zebras everywhere, their stripes almost flickering in the sun. At Lake Manyara, we watched flamingos crowding the water’s edge (I didn’t expect them to be so noisy). Juma pointed out a lion sprawled up in an acacia tree; honestly, I had to squint for ages before I saw her tail twitch. Lunch was picnic-style under a fig tree with vervet monkeys eyeing our sandwiches — one nearly got away with an apple. There’s something about eating outside with dust on your shoes and giraffes just... walking by.

Serengeti hit different. The grasslands just kept going — gold and green waves under this huge sky. Nights at Seronera campsite were loud with hyenas whooping somewhere off in the dark (not scary exactly but you do check your tent zippers twice). We woke early for game drives; sometimes it was quiet except for birds or wildebeest grunting nearby. One morning there was this weird hush right before sunrise — I still think about that moment when everything felt old and wild.

Ngorongoro Crater is colder than you’d think. We drove down through mist so thick I couldn’t see past the hood of the truck until suddenly there were buffalo everywhere. Juma spotted a rhino far off — just a grey shape moving slow through tall grass. By then I’d stopped trying to take perfect photos; it’s better to just watch sometimes, even if your boots are muddy and your hair smells like campfire smoke for days after.

What’s included

Your five-day journey includes hotel pickup in Arusha, all park entry fees across Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro areas.
full board meals each day.
group camping accommodations with tents provided.
plus daily guided game drives led by an experienced local guide before drop-off back in Arusha or at the airport.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Suricata Safaris