5-Day Tanzania Safari: Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater
A million wildebeest crossing the Mara River, and a crater so dense with wildlife you'll spot five species before lunch.
This 5-day camping safari takes you through three of Tanzania's premier parks: a full day in Tarangire National Park among baobab trees and elephants, two days tracking the Serengeti's wildebeest migration across endless plains, and a full day descending into Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO site that holds roughly 25,000 animals in 260 square kilometers. Private transport, an English-speaking guide, and hotel pickup from Arusha are included. You sleep in campsites and wake early to catch sunrise game drives.
Step-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire National Park
- Pick up from Arusha hotel at 8:00 AM
- Drive 3 hours to Tarangire National Park
- Full day game drive in Tarangire National Park
- Drive to Jambo lodge for dinner and overnight
Day 2: Tarangire to Serengeti National Park
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Drive to Serengeti via Karatu and Ngorongoro
- Arrive Serengeti for lunch
- Afternoon game drive in Serengeti
- Overnight at Seronera campsite
Day 3: Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Tour
- Early breakfast
- Full day game drive following wildebeest migration
- Return to Seronera campsite for dinner and overnight
Day 4: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater
- Wake early for sunrise and breakfast
- Morning game drive until 11:30 AM
- Return to campsite for hot lunch and pack
- Game drive en route to Ngorongoro crater
- Dinner and overnight at Simba campsite
Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha
- Early breakfast and sunrise views over crater
- Drive down into Ngorongoro crater for game viewing
- Lunch inside or near crater
- Ascend crater walls and visit Mto wa Mbu village
- Drive to Arusha for overnight
What’s included
- Private transportation in a safari jeep.
- English-speaking guide.
- hotel pickup from Arusha.
- all national park entry fees and taxes.
- accommodation in campsites (Jambo, Seronera, and Simba).
- unlimited drinking water during drives.
- free WiFi inside the jeep.
- AMREF Flying Doctors emergency rescue coverage.
- Every day 07:30
Information
Wake to sunrise over Serengeti, watch wildebeest migration, explore Ngorongoro crater, and meet Maasai locals. Includes all transport, meals, and park fees.
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The experience
The safari starts with a 3-hour drive from Arusha to Tarangire National Park, where the Tarangire River draws elephants, lions, leopards and climbing tree pythons to its banks. The river is where the park gets its name. You spend a full day on game drives here, then overnight at Jambo campsite. The next morning you head toward the Serengeti, passing through the high farmland of Karatu and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area before descending into the park's central Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in Africa. An afternoon game drive gets you oriented before dinner.
Day three is your full Serengeti day. You wake early, eat breakfast, and spend the entire day following the Great Wildebeest Migration: a movement of roughly 1.5 million animals that shifts seasonally. From June through September, the migration crosses the Mara River in the north. From January to March, calving happens across the southern plains. Your driver knows where to position you for the best sightings, and you'll see zebras, gazelles, eland and impala moving alongside the wildebeest. You return to Seronera campsite for dinner.
On day four you wake at 5:45 to catch sunrise inside the Serengeti, then do an early morning game drive until 11:30. After lunch you continue driving toward Ngorongoro, arriving at Simba campsite for the night. The final day starts before dawn again: early risers see the sun rise over the crater's edge. After breakfast you descend the steep track into Ngorongoro Crater itself, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Africa's seven wonders. The crater is 610 meters deep, covers 260 square kilometers, and holds about 25,000 animals year-round. Within minutes of entering you'll see wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, elephants and over 500 bird species. If luck holds, you might spot an endangered black rhino. After lunch you climb back out and stop in Mto wa Mbu village, where a local guide shows you banana plantations growing over 30 species and explains the community's daily life. You then drive back to Arusha.
Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Youth (14 to 17 years); Child (5 to 13 years); Infant (under 5).
What's the best time to see the wildebeest migration on this safari?
The Great Wildebeest Migration happens year-round but varies seasonally. From June through September, the herds cross the Mara River in the northern Serengeti: the most dramatic river crossings. From January to March, wildebeest calving occurs across the southern plains. Your driver adjusts the route based on the season and current animal movement.
How many animals will I actually see in Ngorongoro Crater?
Ngorongoro Crater holds roughly 25,000 animals at any time, making it the densest wildlife concentration of all Tanzania's parks. You'll see wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, elephants and over 500 bird species within minutes of entering. The endangered black rhino lives there too, though sightings are less certain.
What's included in the 5-day safari price?
The safari includes private transportation throughout, all park fees and taxes, an English-speaking guide, hotel pickup from Arusha, unlimited drinking water in the jeep, free WiFi during drives, and AMREF Flying Doctors emergency rescue coverage. You stay in campsites each night.
Do I need to arrange my own flights to Tanzania?
Flights are not included in this safari. You'll need to book your own international or domestic flights to Arusha, where hotel pickup begins on day one.
What happens on the drive between parks? Is that just travel time?
The drive from Tarangire to Serengeti passes through the high farmland of Karatu and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, so you're seeing landscape and habitat change as you move between parks. On day four, the drive toward Ngorongoro includes afternoon game drives, so you're watching for animals the whole way.
Can I visit Mto wa Mbu village if I'm not interested in it?
Mto wa Mbu village is part of the final day's itinerary after you exit Ngorongoro Crater. A local guide shows you banana plantations and explains community life and economics. The visit is included in the tour schedule.
Operated by MERU SLOPES TOURS AND SAFARIS. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 5 days ago
5-Day Tanzania Safari: Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater
5d · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 1,280 per person
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