Tanzania Safari: Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro 4-Day

Four days of game drives across Tanzania's three greatest parks, ending at the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater at sunrise.

A four-day group safari departing from Arusha that moves through Tarangire National Park, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with three nights in mid-range lodges, a certified English-speaking guide, all transport and daily game drives included. The itinerary is fixed—departing after breakfast on day one, returning to Arusha on day four—so the timing and the route hold together without you building them. Minimum age is 15; pickup from Arusha hotels is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arusha to Tarangire National Park

• Depart from Arusha after breakfast
• Drive to Tarangire National Park
• Game drive in Tarangire National Park
• Picnic lunch amidst wildlife
• Afternoon safari game drive
• Relax at lodge in evening

Day 2 — Tarangire to Serengeti National Park

• Travel from Tarangire to Serengeti
• Hot picnic lunch
• Game drive in Serengeti National Park
• Arrive at lodge for overnight

Day 3 — Serengeti to Ngorongoro Highlands

• Early morning game drive in Serengeti
• Hot lunch
• Continue game drive
• Drive to Karatu area
• Arrive at lodge in Karatu

Day 4 — Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha

• Watch sunrise over Ngorongoro Crater
• Breakfast at lodge
• Guided tour into Ngorongoro Crater
• Picnic lunch in crater
• Drive back to Arusha

The Experience

You leave Arusha after breakfast and drive two hours to Tarangire National Park, where ancient baobab trees rise from the dry landscape and elephant herds move across the plains. The first game drive happens that afternoon after a picnic lunch in the field; you'll see zebras, giraffes and the park's signature wildlife before settling into your lodge at Suricata Boma. The sounds of the African bush carry through the night.

Day two takes you across the Serengeti's vast grasslands, where lions, cheetahs and the Big Five move through one of the world's most intact ecosystems. Another game drive follows lunch, and you stay at Tanzania Bush Camp, surrounded by the reserve itself. On day three, an early morning drive through the Serengeti precedes the journey toward Karatu and the highlands; the landscape shifts as you climb, and your lodge sits in the Marera Valley area (exact property depends on availability). The fourth day begins before dawn—you drive to the Ngorongoro Crater rim to watch the sunrise, then descend into the crater floor for a guided game drive through lush forests and open grasslands, spotting wildlife in a landscape unlike anywhere else. A final picnic lunch happens in the crater before the afternoon drive back to Arusha.

The guide is certified and speaks English throughout. Transport between parks, all game drives and the crater descent are included; so are three nights' accommodation and daily meals in the field. Small group size keeps the experience intimate, and the fixed schedule means the route and timing are already arranged—you show up and the safari unfolds.

What’s included

• Three nights in mid-range lodges (Suricata Boma in Tarangire, Tanzania Bush Camp in the Serengeti, and a lodge in the Karatu area for Ngorongoro).
• a certified English-speaking guide for all four days.
• all transport between Arusha and the three parks.
• game drives in Tarangire, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater.
• picnic lunches in the field each day.
• and hotel pickup in Arusha on day one.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Suricata Safaris

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English throughout, so you follow the commentary without translation. This works for anyone comfortable with English-language narration; if you need a guide in another language, check availability before booking.

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Top questions

What animals will I see on this safari?

The Serengeti and Tarangire both hold the Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino—along with cheetahs, zebras, giraffes and countless other species. The Ngorongoro Crater, where you descend on day four, concentrates wildlife in a closed ecosystem, so sightings are frequent. Exact animals vary by season and location within each park.

How much driving happens each day?

Game drives fill the afternoons of days one and two, the morning of day three, and the full day four in the crater. Between parks, you're in the vehicle for the scenic transfer—about two hours from Arusha to Tarangire, longer from Tarangire to the Serengeti. The pace is set by the itinerary, not by how far you want to go.

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

The safari includes three nights' accommodation, all transport between Arusha and the parks, every game drive, the crater descent, meals in the field and a certified guide. International flights, travel insurance and any activities or meals outside the itinerary are separate.

Do I need experience camping or roughing it?

No—you stay in mid-range lodges with beds, not tents. The accommodations are comfortable and situated in natural settings; the trade-off is that they're not luxury resorts, which is what keeps the price accessible. All three nights are covered.

Can I join this safari alone, or is it only for groups?

It's a group tour, so you'll travel with other visitors. Group size stays small for an intimate experience. If you're traveling solo, you'll be paired with other individuals or small parties on the same itinerary.

What time do we leave Arusha, and when do we return?

You depart after breakfast on day one (exact time depends on your hotel pickup) and return to Arusha in the afternoon of day four. Hotel pickup in Arusha is included, so you don't arrange your own transport to the starting point.