Tanzania Safari: Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro 5-Day

Game drives across three parks in five days, camping under the African sky

This 5-day group camping safari departs from Arusha and covers the three flagship parks of Northern Tanzania: Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. You travel by 4WD Land Cruiser with an English-speaking guide, stay in campsites on a full-board basis, and spend each day on game drives looking for elephants, predators and the Big Five. The itinerary is fixed, the vehicle is shared, and all transport, accommodation and meals are arranged. You arrive in Arusha and the rest unfolds on schedule.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire National Park

• Drive from Arusha to Tarangire
• Game drives with picnic lunch
• Drive to Manyara for dinner
• Dinner and overnight at Kizumba Camp

Day 2: Tarangire to Serengeti National Park

• Breakfast at camp
• Depart for Serengeti with picnic lunch
• Game drives en route to Serengeti
• Dinner and overnight at Seronera Campsite

Day 3: Full day in Serengeti National Park

• Morning game drive in Serengeti
• Return to camp for hot lunch
• Afternoon game drive with picnic lunch
• Dinner and overnight at Seronera Campsite

Day 4: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

• Breakfast at camp
• Game drives in Serengeti
• Drive to Ngorongoro Crater Rim with picnic lunch
• Dinner and overnight at Simba Campsite

Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha

• Breakfast at camp
• Descend into Ngorongoro Crater for game drives
• Picnic lunch inside crater
• Ascend from crater and drive to Arusha
• End of services

The experience

You start on Day 1 with an 8:30am departure from Arusha to Tarangire National Park, a quieter reserve famous for its elephant migration and birding. The morning and afternoon are spent on game drives with a picnic lunch, then you drive to the Manyara area for dinner and overnight at Kizumba Campsite. Day 2 takes you from Tarangire toward the Serengeti, Africa's most famous park, with game drives en route and another picnic lunch. You arrive at Seronera Campsite for dinner and overnight.

Day 3 is a full day in the Serengeti: you can do a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch, or return to camp for a hot lunch and rest before an afternoon drive. The endless grassy plains here hold the largest herds and the highest concentrations of predators on the continent. Day 4 continues with morning game drives in the Serengeti, then you drive toward Ngorongoro Crater Rim with a picnic lunch, arriving at Simba Campsite for dinner and overnight. On Day 5, you descend into Ngorongoro Crater itself (a UNESCO World Heritage site and the best place in East Africa to see the Big Five) for game drives with a picnic lunch. Late afternoon you ascend and drive back to Arusha, where the tour ends.

The vehicle is a 4WD Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof for unobstructed views. Accommodation is camping at established campsites, with all meals provided on a full-board basis. Bottled water, coffee and tea are included throughout. You'll need a valid passport or ID card, and Tanzania may ask for a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate on entry. Baggage on domestic flights is limited to 15kg per person including hand luggage. Bring only a duffle bag, not a suitcase.

What’s included

• Camping accommodation at established campsites for all five nights.
• all meals on a full-board basis (breakfast, lunch and dinner).
• game drives as scheduled in each park.
• transportation in a 4WD Land Cruiser with pop-up roof.
• English-speaking safari guide.
• bottled water, coffee and tea throughout the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (15 to 80 years) · Under 15: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideEnglish

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 13 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Avocet Tanzania Safaris

Is this one for you?Book this if you have five days and want to move through Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater on a fixed group schedule with camping accommodation included.

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Top questions

What wildlife will I see on this 5-day safari?

Tarangire is known for elephant migrations and abundant birding. The Serengeti holds the largest herds and highest predator concentrations on the continent, including lions, leopards and cheetahs. Ngorongoro Crater is the best place in East Africa to see the Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros) all in one day.

Is the itinerary the same every day, or do I choose where we go?

The itinerary is fixed: the route, the parks, the campsites and the timing are set before you depart. Game drives happen each day as scheduled, and you travel with the group on the same vehicle and pace throughout the five days.

What's included in the price, and what do I pay extra for?

Included are all camping accommodation, all meals on a full-board basis, all game drives, 4WD transport in the Land Cruiser, bottled water, coffee and tea, and an English-speaking guide. Not included are international flights, visas, travel insurance, tips and gratuities, personal expenses like laundry and phone calls, and visits to Maasai cultural villages.

Do I need any vaccinations or documents to enter Tanzania?

You must carry a valid passport or identification card. Tanzania may ask for a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate on entry, so check current requirements before you travel. Tourist visas are obtained at entry points, but it's advisable to verify the current process beforehand.

How many people travel together on this safari?

This is a group joining safari, so you travel with other travelers in a shared 4WD vehicle. The exact group size varies by departure, but the vehicle is a Land Cruiser designed for safari viewing with a pop-up roof.

What should I pack for a camping safari?

Bring only a duffle bag, not a suitcase: camps have limited storage space. If you're connecting on a domestic flight within Tanzania, baggage is strictly limited to 15kg per person including hand luggage, so pack light. Bring layers for cool mornings and evenings, sun protection, binoculars and a camera.