2-Day Tarangire & Ngorongoro Safari from Arusha: Includes dinner

Elephants and crater wildlife in two days, camping between the parks

This 2-day safari from Arusha takes you by vehicle through Tarangire National Park and down into Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with an overnight camp in between. Day one is a game drive through Tarangire, known for its massive elephant herds and baobab trees; day two descends over 600 meters into the Ngorongoro Crater to view wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, hippos and predators including lions and leopards. Pickup from Arusha is included, as is an English-speaking guide, meals and camping accommodation.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arusha to Tarangire National Park

• Have breakfast
• Depart for Tarangire National Park
• Game drive in Tarangire National Park
• Enjoy picnic lunch at the park
• Overnight at Twiga Campsite

Day 2 — Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha

• Have early breakfast
• Descend into Ngorongoro Crater for wildlife viewing
• Visit Lake Magadi
• Drive back to Arusha in late afternoon

The Experience

You leave Arusha after breakfast and drive to Tarangire National Park for a full game drive with a picnic lunch inside the park. Tarangire anchors an annual migration cycle that brings up to 3,000 elephants, 25,000 wildebeest and 30,000 zebras through its boundaries. The park's baobab trees and dense wildlife make it one of Tanzania's most rewarding stops outside the Serengeti. You spend the night at Twiga Campsite.

The second day starts before dawn. After an early breakfast you descend into the Ngorongoro Crater itself—a 600-meter drop into a caldera that holds its own year-round ecosystem. The crater floor supports herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland and warthog, plus hippos and giant African elephants. The predator population is dense: lions, hyenas, jackals and cheetahs are common; leopards are harder to spot but present. You also visit Lake Magadi, a shallow alkaline lake in the southwestern corner where flamingos, hippos and water birds gather. Late afternoon you drive back to Arusha.

The guide is English-speaking and travels with you both days. Transport between Arusha and the parks, all game drives, park entry and camping accommodation are included. Dinner is provided; you bring or arrange breakfast and lunch beyond what the park picnic covers. The itinerary is fixed, so timing and logistics stay coordinated without you managing them separately.

What’s included

• Pickup from Arusha.
• English-speaking guide for both days.
• game drives through Tarangire National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
• park entry fees.
• camping accommodation at Twiga Campsite.
• picnic lunch on day one at Tarangire.
• dinner.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Suricata Safaris

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're arriving in Arusha without a car or staying in the city and want to see Tanzania's major parks in a short window—the fixed itinerary and included pickup mean the two days hold together without you coordinating transport, timing or park logistics separately.

Traveler reviews

4.98★★★★★★★★★★

159 verified traveler reviews

5 ★156

4 ★3

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What animals will I actually see on a 2-day safari in Tarangire and Ngorongoro?

Tarangire is known for its huge elephant population—the park anchors a migration bringing up to 3,000 elephants through annually—plus baobab trees and smaller herds of wildebeest and zebra. Ngorongoro Crater holds year-round wildlife including wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, hippos and giant African elephants; predators include lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs and leopards, though leopards require a trained eye to spot. Lake Magadi within the crater draws flamingos, hippos and water birds.

How does the 2-day itinerary work—where do I sleep and what's included?

Day one is a game drive through Tarangire with a picnic lunch at the park, then you overnight at Twiga Campsite. Day two starts before dawn with a descent into Ngorongoro Crater for wildlife viewing and a visit to Lake Magadi, ending with a late afternoon drive back to Arusha. Camping accommodation, all transport, park entry, an English-speaking guide and dinner are included.

Do I need my own car, or does the tour handle transport from Arusha?

Pickup from Arusha is included in the tour. The guide and driver handle all transport to both parks and between them, so you don't need a car or arrange separate transfers.

What is the Ngorongoro Crater actually like—how far down is it and what will I see?

The Ngorongoro Crater is a caldera you descend into over 600 meters. The crater floor holds a year-round water supply and grassland that support a dense concentration of wildlife—herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippos and elephants all share the space, along with a high predator population of lions, hyenas, jackals and cheetahs. Lake Magadi, a shallow alkaline lake in the southwestern corner, is a major feature where flamingos and hippos congregate.