4-Day Tanzania Safari: Serengeti, Tarangire & Ngorongoro

The Ngorongoro Crater holds all the Big Five in one enclosed space, and you descend 600 meters to drive its floor.

A four-day lodge safari from Arusha covering Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, with two nights at a tented lodge in the Serengeti and full-day game drives led by an English-speaking guide. The itinerary descends into the Ngorongoro Crater on the final day, where predators, elephants, zebras and endangered black rhinos share a closed ecosystem. Pickup from Arusha is included. Minimum age is 15.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire National Park

• Breakfast in Arusha
• Drive to Tarangire National Park
• Full day game drive in Tarangire
• Picnic lunch in the park
• Dinner at Farm of Dreams Lodge

Day 2: Tarangire to Serengeti National Park

• Breakfast at lodge
• Drive to Serengeti via Karatu and Ngorongoro
• Arrive at Seronera area in Serengeti
• Dinner at Matawi Tented Luxury Lodge

Day 3: Full day game drive in Serengeti

• Sunrise game drive in Serengeti
• Return to camp for hot lunch
• Afternoon game drive in Serengeti
• Dinner and overnight at Matawi Lodge

Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha

• Breakfast at lodge
• Drive to Ngorongoro Crater
• Descend to crater floor for wildlife drive
• Picnic lunch in crater picnic area
• Drive back to Arusha in late afternoon

The experience

Four days means two full days in the Serengeti itself. You start at Tarangire National Park on day one, where the river and swamps draw the largest elephant herds in Africa during the dry season. The park also holds three rare species: the Greater Kudu, Fringed-eared Oryx and Ashy Starlings. After a picnic lunch and a full game drive, you head toward the Serengeti via the highlands of Karatu and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, descending into the endless plains of central Serengeti by evening.

Days two and three are built around the Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife zones in the park, where the Seronera River draws the species you came to find. You start at sunrise and drive until midday, return to the lodge for lunch, then head out again in the afternoon. The Serengeti holds over 500 bird species (from ostriches and secretary birds on the grassland to black eagles soaring above the savannah), so the game drive is not only about the mammals. You stay at Matawi Tented Luxury Lodge, which has private bathrooms and a bathtub.

On day four, you drive to the Ngorongoro Crater and descend onto its floor for a wildlife drive. The crater is a closed system where few animals leave and few enter, so the concentration of wildebeests, zebras, hippos, elands, elephants and topis is dense. Predators here include lions, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals and leopards. The endangered black rhino also lives here. After a picnic lunch at one of the crater's designated areas, you drive back to Arusha in the late afternoon.

What’s included

• Accommodation at Farm of Dreams Lodge and Matawi Tented Luxury Lodge with private bathrooms.
• full-day game drives at Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater.
• picnic lunches on days one and four.
• an English-speaking guide throughout.
• and pickup from Arusha with return transport on day four.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up toStart time

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

GroupPrivate

Live 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 24 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 or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancy

Operated by Meijo Safaris

Is this one for you?Most Tanzania safaris from Arusha split time across four or five parks in short bursts. This one gives you two full days in the Serengeti itself, which is what lets you see the seasonal movements and predator behavior that a single afternoon cannot show. The Ngorongoro Crater on the final day closes the loop: a different ecosystem entirely, where the Big Five are concentrated in one place.

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Top questions

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 is the Ngorongoro Crater and why is it called the Garden of Eden?

The Ngorongoro Crater is a collapsed volcanic caldera in northern Tanzania, locally known as the Garden of Eden because it holds a large variety of animal species in one enclosed space. Few creatures enter or leave the crater, so the wildlife concentration is high. You can expect to see wildebeests, zebras, hippos, elands, elephants, topis, predators like lions and cheetahs, and the endangered black rhino all in one day.

How many days do I actually spend driving and watching wildlife?

You have a full game drive on day one at Tarangire, then two complete days in the Serengeti (starting at sunrise on day two and driving again in the afternoon after lunch), and a morning game drive at Ngorongoro Crater on day four before returning to Arusha. That is four days of game drives across three parks.

What is included in the tour and what do I need to arrange separately?

The tour includes accommodation at Farm of Dreams Lodge (day one) and Matawi Tented Luxury Lodge (days two and three), all game drives, an English-speaking guide, and pickup from Arusha. Picnic lunches are provided on days one and four. You do not arrange your own transport between parks or book the lodges separately.

Can I see the Big Five on this safari?

The Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater both hold all members of the Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino. Tarangire is known for its large elephant herds but is not guaranteed to show all five. The Ngorongoro Crater, being a closed ecosystem, gives you the best chance of seeing all five in a single day.

What is the Serengeti's Seronera area and why do you spend two days there?

Seronera is the central area of Serengeti National Park and one of its richest wildlife habitats, fed by the Seronera River which provides water year-round. Spending two full days there (with sunrise and afternoon game drives) increases your chances of seeing the full range of Serengeti species, from large mammals to over 500 bird species.

Is this tour physically demanding?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You spend most of each day in a vehicle during game drives, with breaks for meals and lodge rest. The main physical activity is the descent and ascent of 600 meters into and out of the Ngorongoro Crater on foot, which is manageable at a steady pace. The tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers.