Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro: 5 Day Private Safari Tour

Summary

Five days of wildlife, open skies and real Tanzanian moments

You’ll set out from Arusha for five days of close-up wildlife encounters across Tarangire’s elephant-filled woods, Serengeti’s wide plains, and down into Ngorongoro Crater—all with a private guide who knows every shortcut and story. Expect full days outside, nights in cozy lodges or tents (with hot showers!), all meals included—and more quiet moments than you’d expect.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is the dust—soft red clouds swirling as we bumped along from Arusha to Tarangire. Our guide, Joseph, had this way of pointing out animals before anyone else even noticed them. He’d just tap the window and there’d be a whole herd of elephants under those giant baobabs. I could hear their low rumbles through the open jeep window; honestly, it felt like the park belonged to them. Lunch was a picnic by the river—bread that tasted faintly sweet, chicken wrapped in foil still warm, and the smell of acacia trees everywhere. The air was dry but not harsh. I tried to count how many giraffes we saw but gave up after ten.

The drive toward Serengeti took longer than I expected (I think Joseph said it’s about six hours?), but watching the land change kept me awake—Karatu’s green hills fading into endless grass. When we finally rolled into camp near Seronera, it was just after sunset. The tented camp had these thick blankets and showers that actually ran hot water (a small miracle). At night you could hear hyenas yipping somewhere far off—I lay awake for ages listening, half nervous, mostly curious.

Game drives in Serengeti are something else. We saw lions stretched out on rocks like they owned them (which they probably do), wildebeest moving in these crooked lines across the plain, and once a cheetah so close I held my breath without thinking. There were birds everywhere—bright flashes of blue and yellow—and Joseph knew all their names. He laughed when I tried to repeat “ashy starling.” The days felt long but never slow; sometimes you just sit quietly watching buffalo graze or hippos grunting in muddy pools. It’s not always action—sometimes it’s just silence and sun on your arms.

Ngorongoro Crater surprised me most—the descent feels like dropping into another world. Mist hung over the rim early in the morning and then cleared so suddenly you could see everything at once: zebra herds, black rhino (Joseph spotted one way off—everyone got excited), even lions right by the road. We ate lunch on the crater floor with warthogs sniffing around for scraps; I still think about that view sometimes when I’m back home stuck in traffic or something silly like that.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arusha to Tarangire National Park

• Breakfast in Arusha
• Drive to Tarangire National Park
• Full day game drive in park
• Picnic lunch in park
• Dinner and overnight at lodge

Day 2 — Tarangire to Serengeti National Park

• Breakfast at lodge
• Drive via Karatu and Ngorongoro
• Arrive Serengeti National Park
• Dinner and overnight at tented camp

Day 3 — Full day Serengeti National Park

• Breakfast at camp
• Full day game drive in Serengeti
• Lunch at lodge or campsite
• Dinner and overnight at tented camp

Day 4 — Serengeti to Ngorongoro

• Early breakfast at camp
• Morning game drive in Serengeti
• Drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
• Dinner and overnight at lodge

Day 5 — Ngorongoro Crater game drive

• Breakfast at lodge
• Descend into Ngorongoro Crater
• Game drive in crater
• Picnic lunch on crater floor
• Drive back to Arusha

Top questions

How long is the drive from Arusha to Tarangire?

It usually takes about 2-3 hours by safari vehicle from Arusha to Tarangire.

Are meals included during this 5 day safari?

Yes, all meals are included for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians throughout the safari.

What kind of accommodation is provided?

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

Is this safari private or group-based?

This is a private safari for a minimum of two people per booking.

Can infants join this tour?

Infants can join but must sit on an adult’s lap during drives.

Which parks will we visit on this tour?

You’ll visit Tarangire, Serengeti (mainly Seronera area), and Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Are drinks provided during game drives?

You get 1.5 liters of drinking water per person per day included.

Is pickup from my hotel in Arusha included?

The tour includes pickup from your accommodation in Arusha at the start of your safari.

What’s included

Your five-day journey includes daily hotel pickup in Arusha, transport throughout in a 4x4 safari vehicle with an experienced driver-guide who really knows these parks inside out; overnight stays at comfortable lodges or tented camps with hot showers; all meals whether you’re vegetarian or not; plus plenty of drinking water along the way before returning to Arusha late afternoon on day five.