Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro: 4-Day Safari Private Jeep

Summary

Serengeti sunrise, crater silence, wild herds and real campfire stories

You’ll wake early for elephants in Tarangire, cross wild Serengeti plains with a local guide, and share quiet moments above Ngorongoro Crater. Expect picnic lunches under acacias, evenings at camp with hot showers, and plenty of time for animal sightings—plus those small surprises that only happen on a private 4-day safari.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is the dust — fine, orange, sticking to my hands as we bumped along out of Arusha. In Tarangire, the air smelled sharp, like dry grass and something sweet from the baobabs. Our guide Joseph grinned when I asked if the elephants always block the road (“Only when you’re late for lunch,” he said). We watched them — a whole family — shuffling past so close I could see their eyelashes. Lunch was on a checked cloth under an acacia; I got red dirt on my sandwich but didn’t care.

The drive to Serengeti felt long but never boring — Karatu’s green hills gave way to those endless yellow plains you see in documentaries. It’s not just flat emptiness; there are sudden bursts of zebra or wildebeest, and once a jackal darted by so fast I almost missed it. The tented camp that night was simple but comfortable (hot shower actually worked), and after dinner someone played a radio quietly by the fire. I lay awake listening to hyenas whooping far off — it sounds less scary than you’d think, more like laughter carried on the wind.

Ngorongoro Crater was colder than I expected. Mist clung to the windows as we drove down into what looked like another world — green everywhere, herds moving in slow motion. Joseph pointed out black rhinos through his binoculars (I barely caught a glimpse) and told us about how old Maasai stories call this place “the bowl where animals gather.” We had lunch right on the crater floor with buffalo watching us from a distance. There’s something about eating surrounded by that much life — it makes your own worries feel small.

I still think about that last morning: light slanting through dust, coffee steaming in my hands while everyone packed up quietly. Four days went too fast. If you want a safari from Arusha that feels private but never lonely — with real people guiding you and enough time to let things sink in — this one honestly sticks with you.

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 Octagon Lodge

Day 2 — Tarangire to Serengeti National Park

• Breakfast at Octagon Lodge
• Drive via Karatu and Ngorongoro
• Arrive Serengeti and have lunch
• Afternoon game drive in Serengeti
• Dinner at Tukaone Camps

Day 3 — Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

• Early breakfast at Tukaone Camps
• Morning game drive in Serengeti
• Drive to Ngorongoro with game drive en route
• Dinner at Octagon Lodge

Day 4 — Ngorongoro Crater full-day game drive

• Breakfast at Octagon Lodge
• Descend into Ngorongoro Crater
• Full-day game drive in crater
• Picnic lunch on crater floor
• Drive back to Arusha

Top questions

How many days is this safari from Arusha?

This is a 4-day safari starting and ending in Arusha.

Are all meals included during the tour?

Yes, all meals are included for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian preferences.

What kind of accommodation is provided?

You’ll stay in lodges and tented camps with self-contained rooms and hot showers.

Is this safari private or shared?

This is a private safari; minimum two people per booking.

Which parks are visited on this tour?

The tour includes Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, pickup from your accommodation in Arusha is included.

Are park fees covered?

Yes, all park entry fees are included in the package price.

Is drinking water provided during the trip?

You’ll get 1.5 liters of drinking water per day per person.

What’s included

Your days include hotel pickup in Arusha, all national park entry fees, private game drives in a pop-up roof 4x4 jeep with your guide Joseph (or someone just as friendly), overnight stays at lodges or tented camps with hot showers every night, three daily meals for every diet preference—even picnic lunches out among the wildlife—and plenty of bottled water along the way before returning back to Arusha at sunset.