Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro: 5-Day Camping Safari & Maasai Visit

Wildebeest thunder in serengeti sunrise and maasai laughter by campfire

You’ll wake up to cold Serengeti mornings and fall asleep listening to distant animal calls under canvas skies. Watch wildebeest herds thunder past your jeep, sip hot tea at sunrise, stand on Ngorongoro’s rim feeling impossibly small, then swap stories with Maasai locals as dusk falls. It’s not always comfortable — but you’ll carry these moments home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arusha to Tarangire National Park

• Pick up from Arusha hotel at 8:00am
• Drive 3 hours to Tarangire National Park
• Full day game drive in Tarangire
• Drive to Jambo lodge for dinner and overnight

Day 2 — Tarangire to Serengeti National Park

• Breakfast at campsite
• Drive via Karatu and Ngorongoro Conservation Area
• Arrive Serengeti Seronera area for lunch
• Afternoon game drive in Serengeti until sunset

Day 3 — Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Tour

• Early breakfast at campsite
• 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
• Early morning game drive until 11:30am
• Return to campsite for hot lunch and pack
• Game drive en route to Ngorongoro Simba campsite
• 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 crater
• Ascend crater walls and visit Mto wa Mbu village
• Short village tour with local guide
• Drive to Arusha for overnight

The Experience

You know that sound when the jeep door thunks shut at dawn and the air smells like dust and coffee? That’s how our first morning started after leaving Arusha — still a bit groggy, bouncing along toward Tarangire. Our guide, Joseph, pointed out the baobab trees right away. He called them “the upside-down trees,” which I’d read somewhere but hearing him say it made me actually look. Elephants drifted in and out of the haze near the river. At one point we stopped so close I could see their skin creases — it looked almost soft from a distance but up close it’s more like old leather. There was this moment where everything went quiet except for birds and the low hum of insects; I didn’t expect to feel so small.

The drive into Serengeti took longer than I thought (those roads are no joke), but rolling down the window as we hit the plains — endless yellow-green stretching forever — made me forget about time. Lunch was simple: rice, chicken, vegetables packed by someone’s auntie back in Arusha (at least that’s what Joseph said). By afternoon we were chasing shadows of wildebeest herds. The migration is wild — you see it on TV but standing there with dust in your teeth while thousands of animals move together is something else entirely. We tried to count zebras until someone gave up around fifty.

One night at Seronera campsite, a hyena padded past our tents just outside the firelight. Someone (not me) dropped their flashlight in panic. The next morning came early: sunrise over Serengeti is all pinks and golds with cold air biting your nose until the sun finally warms things up. Joseph brewed tea on a little stove; I swear nothing has ever tasted better than that first cup with hands wrapped tight around the mug.

Ngorongoro crater felt different — quieter somehow, even though there were more jeeps circling for lions or rhinos (we got lucky with both). The air was cooler up there; you could smell damp grass and hear cowbells from Maasai cattle somewhere above us on the rim. Later we stopped at Mto wa Mbu village where our local guide, Rehema, showed us banana groves (over thirty kinds?!) and laughed when I tried to pronounce “ndizi” properly. Still can’t get it right.

Top questions

How long does this safari tour last?

This camping safari lasts 5 days from Arusha through Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro crater, ending back in Arusha.

Is hotel pickup included in Arusha?

Yes, pickup from your hotel in Arusha is included at 8:00am on day one.

Do you see the wildebeest migration on this tour?

If traveling June-September or January-March you have a good chance to see the migration during two days in Serengeti.

Are meals provided during the safari?

Yes, all meals are provided throughout the tour including breakfast, lunch and dinner each day.

Are park entry fees included?

All park entry fees are included in the price of this safari tour.

Is WiFi available during game drives?

You’ll have free WiFi inside your safari jeep during the tour.

Are accommodations camping style?

You’ll stay at campsites inside or near each park: Jambo campsite (Tarangire), Seronera campsite (Serengeti), Simba campsite (Ngorongoro).

Is this safari suitable for families or wheelchair users?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels; transportation options are wheelchair accessible and infant seats are available if needed.

What’s included

Your journey includes private transportation from Arusha with hotel pickup and drop-off, all national park entry fees and taxes covered upfront, unlimited drinking water plus free WiFi inside your safari jeep throughout each day’s drive. Every meal is taken care of—breakfasts before sunrise game drives, hot lunches back at camp or picnic-style on route—and you’ll sleep at established campsites inside Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro areas before returning to Arusha by evening.