Tanzania Safari 6-Day Private 4x4 Serengeti & Tarangire

Elephant safari drive with flexible route to see real-time wildlife action

A 6-day private safari from Arusha through Tanzania's major parks—Tarangire, Serengeti, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater—in a dedicated 4x4 with an English-speaking guide. You travel at your own pace with a professional who adjusts the route based on animal sightings, staying in safari lodges and tented camps. All park fees, transport and meals are included; you choose accommodation before the safari or add it at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arusha to Tarangire National Park

• Pick up from hotel
• Meet guide and chef
• Drive to Tarangire National Park
• Game drive in Tarangire National Park
• Overnight at Suricata Boma Lodge

Day 2 — Mto wa Mbu to Serengeti National Park

• Breakfast at lodge
• Drive to Serengeti via Ngorongoro
• Stop at Ngorongoro gate and viewpoint
• Optional Maasai village visit
• Overnight at Land of Nature Camp

Day 3 — Serengeti National Park game drives

• Early breakfast
• Morning game drive in Serengeti
• Lunch at camp
• Afternoon game drive in Serengeti
• Dinner and overnight at camp

Day 4 — Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

• Early morning coffee
• Morning game drive in Serengeti
• Return to camp for breakfast and lunch
• Drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area with game drive en route
• Dinner and overnight at Ang’ata Camp

Day 5 — Ngorongoro Crater tour

• Breakfast at camp
• Drive to crater descending gate
• Game drive on crater floor
• Picnic lunch in crater
• Ascend crater rim and drive to Mto wa Mbu
• Dinner and overnight at Suricata Boma Lodge

Day 6 — Lake Manyara National Park to Arusha

• Breakfast at lodge
• Drive to Lake Manyara National Park
• Game drive in Lake Manyara National Park
• Visit hippo pool and hot springs
• Drive back to Arusha

The Experience

The drive from Arusha to Tarangire takes two hours and lands you in a park known for the largest elephant concentration in the country. Ancient baobab trees dot the landscape, and the guide positions the vehicle based on radio reports of predators—lions, cheetahs, leopards—since herbivores like giraffes, wildebeest and zebras are easier to find. A full day of game driving means you're not rushing between stops; the vehicle waits when something worth watching is happening.

Days two and three center on the Serengeti, reached via a six-hour drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. You stop briefly at the crater viewpoint and can visit a Maasai village if you want—both optional, both short. Once in the Serengeti, early morning game drives start before sunrise, and the guide heads north, south, east or west depending on where wildlife is moving that week. Lunch breaks at camp, then evening drives continue until dark. The Serengeti holds more predators and prey in one place than most reserves, and the guide's flexibility means you're not locked into a predetermined circuit.

Day four takes you down into Ngorongoro Crater itself—a 650-meter descent to the crater floor for a half-day game drive. The crater has permanent water, so resident animals stay year-round: buffalo, wildebeest, warthogs, and occasionally rhino. You ascend back to the rim by afternoon. On the final day, Lake Manyara National Park offers a different ecosystem: flamingoes crowd the lake, tree-climbing lions hunt in the acacia (though sightings are rare), and hippo pools let you watch them close. The drive back to Arusha ends the safari.

A professional guide travels with you the entire six days, speaking English and other languages. The 4x4 is yours alone—no shared seats, no other groups. Mineral water is provided throughout, and overnight stays rotate between safari lodges and tented camps depending on the park. Park entry fees are covered; you pay nothing extra at the gate.

What’s included

• All national park entry fees.
• transportation in a private 4x4 safari vehicle.
• professional English-speaking guide (also available in Spanish, Italian, French and one additional language).
• six nights in safari lodges and tented camps.
• mineral water throughout the safari.
• all meals during the safari.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Serengeti African Tours

Is this one for you?Book this safari if you want to follow wildlife movements instead of a fixed schedule—the guide's flexibility and private vehicle mean you stay longer when predators are active and adjust routes based on real-time sightings, rather than moving through predetermined stops on a set timetable.

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Top questions

How much time do you actually spend on game drives each day?

Game drives run early morning (starting around 6am) and again in the late afternoon through evening, with a midday break at camp for meals and rest. The exact timing shifts based on where animals are moving, so some days you're out longer if sightings are active nearby.

What's the difference between staying in a lodge versus a tented camp on this safari?

Lodges offer solid walls and en-suite bathrooms; tented camps provide canvas accommodation with basic facilities. Both include meals and are positioned near good game-viewing areas. The itinerary rotates between them depending on the park—you can choose which nights get which type at checkout.

Will the guide really change the route if animals move to a different part of the park?

Yes. The guide uses radio contact with other vehicles and park rangers to track where predators and large herds are located, then adjusts the day's route accordingly. This is why a private safari with a flexible itinerary differs from a fixed circuit—you follow the wildlife, not a predetermined path.

Can you skip the Maasai village visit or the Ngorongoro viewpoint stop?

The Maasai village visit is optional and takes 20–45 minutes if you choose it. The Ngorongoro viewpoint is a brief 20-minute stop. Both can be skipped without affecting the rest of the itinerary.

What animals are you most likely to see in each park?

Tarangire is known for elephant herds and baobab trees; the Serengeti holds the largest concentration of predators and prey across open plains; Lake Manyara features flamingoes and hippos; Ngorongoro Crater has permanent resident wildlife including buffalo, wildebeest and occasionally rhino.

Does the price include getting to and from Arusha airport?

Hotel pickup in Arusha is included, but airport transfers are not. Public transportation options are available near the airport, or you can arrange a separate transfer through the operator.