Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro: 4-day safari with camping

Summary

Four days across Tanzania’s wild north—lions, laughter, and campfire stories

You’ll join a small group led by local guides through Tarangire’s elephant herds, Serengeti’s big cats, and Ngorongoro’s ancient crater—all with fresh meals cooked by your own camp chef. Expect real campfire nights under African stars and wildlife encounters you’ll remember long after you’re home.

What’s the experience like?

First thing I remember is our guide, Daniel, grinning as he helped me wrestle my backpack into the jeep outside Arusha. He asked if I’d slept well (I hadn’t—too much excitement), then introduced us to Mama Rose, our chef for the trip. She handed me a thermos of spiced tea before we even left the city. The streets were waking up—kids in uniforms waving at us through the window—and then suddenly we were out among baobabs in Tarangire National Park. Elephants everywhere. At one point I swear I could hear them breathing—deep and slow—while we ate lunch under a tree that looked older than time itself.

The drive to Serengeti was long but never boring. We stopped at the Ngorongoro crater viewpoint for maybe ten minutes; it’s hard to describe how huge it feels until you’re standing there with wind tugging at your shirt and Daniel pointing out where the herds move below. In Serengeti, we pitched tents at Seronera campsite while Mama Rose started chopping onions for dinner (her laugh carried over the grass). That night hyenas whooped somewhere close by—I pretended not to be nervous but honestly? My heart was racing. The sky was so wide and full of stars it almost made me dizzy.

Game drives blur together in my memory now: lions sprawled in the shade, giraffes picking their way through acacias, zebras flicking their tails at flies. One morning Daniel spotted a cheetah before anyone else did—he just has this sixth sense for wildlife. Lunches were always picnic-style on the hood of the jeep, dust everywhere but somehow food tasted better out there (maybe it was just hunger or maybe Mama Rose’s tomato stew really is magic). On our last night camping near Ngorongoro I tried to say “asante sana” properly; Daniel laughed so hard he nearly dropped his flashlight.

The final morning in the crater felt quieter somehow—mist hanging over everything, wildebeest moving like shadows across the grass. We watched a pride of lions from what felt like way too close (but Daniel seemed relaxed so I tried to be too). After lunch we headed back toward Arusha, tired and sunburned and already missing those endless horizons. There’s something about falling asleep in a tent after a day like that—I still think about that silence sometimes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arusha to Tarangire National Park

• Pickup and briefing in Arusha
• Drive to Tarangire National Park
• Full-day game drive with picnic lunch
• Overnight at Fig Tree Lodge & Camp

Day 2 — Tarangire to Serengeti via Ngorongoro

• Breakfast and depart Tarangire
• Stop at Ngorongoro crater viewpoint
• Game drive en route to Serengeti
• Lunch in Serengeti park
• Afternoon game drive in Seronera
• Dinner and overnight at Seronera campsite

Day 3 — Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater

• Breakfast and morning game drive in Serengeti
• Lunch in Serengeti National Park
• Drive to Ngorongoro crater
• Dinner and overnight at Simba Campsite

Day 4 — Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha

• Breakfast and morning game drive in Ngorongoro crater
• Lunch in Ngorongoro crater
• Drive back to Arusha

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this safari tour?

Yes, pickup from your hotel in Arusha is included at the start of the tour.

Are all meals provided during the safari?

Yes, all meals are freshly prepared by a dedicated chef throughout the trip.

Do I need to bring my own camping equipment?

No, all necessary camping equipment is provided for you at each campsite.

Which parks are visited on this 4-day safari?

The tour visits Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, and Ngorongoro Crater.

Is this safari suitable for all fitness levels?

Yes, it is suitable for all physical fitness levels as most activities are game drives.

Are infants allowed on this safari?

Infants are allowed but must sit on an adult's lap during transport.

How many bird species can be seen during this trip?

Around 500 different bird species can be spotted across these parks.

What’s included

Your four days include hotel pickup in Arusha, private transportation between parks and campsites, all camping equipment set up by staff each night, daily freshly prepared meals by your own chef (including picnic lunches), guided game drives with an experienced local guide throughout Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater—and return transport back to Arusha at the end of your adventure.