4-Day Northern Tanzania Safari with Ngorongoro and Tarangire

4 Days Round trip from Arusha Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Explore Tarangire National Park, known for its elephant families and ancient baobab trees
  • 02 Descend into Ngorongoro Crater, a collapsed volcanic wilderness with dense wildlife populations
  • 03 Look for Lake Manyara's famous tree-climbing lions and thousands of wading birds
  • 04 Experience diverse landscapes across Tanzania's Northern Safari Circuit, from forest to savannah
  • 05 Enjoy game drives with opportunities to spot black rhino, zebra, wildebeest, and more

This 4-day mid-range safari showcases some of the highlights of Tanzania's Northern Safari Circuit. Experience breathtaking wildlife across diverse landscapes, from monkeys in the forest and lions in trees to elephants moving through the bush and a huge variety of animals inside a collapsed volcanic crater. Along the way, explore Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara National Park while enjoying comfortable mid-range accommodation.

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 4 Days
Tour type Private
Activity level Easy
Accommodation Included · Standard
Transport Included
Wheelchair access Yes
Cities Arusha, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara, Tarangire National Park
Languages English, French, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Arrival in Arusha

You will be picked up from the airport by a Lion King representative and driven to your accommodation in Arusha. Depending on your arrival time, you will hopefully have time to relax and prepare for the adventure of a lifetime.

Busy Arusha is an essential part of safari life in northern Tanzania, and most travellers pass through here at some stage.

Arusha Planet Lodge

  • Mid-range lodge located in Arusha (City)

Meals & Drinks:

  • Meals at own expense
  • Drinking water (other drinks not included)
2
Day 02

Tarangire National Park Game Drive

Your Lion King Safari guide will collect you from your accommodation after breakfast. You will then drive to Tarangire National Park. This transit drive is approximately two and a half hours on good tarmac roads.

The park is named after the Tarangire River, which runs through it. This 'river of warthogs' is the only source of water for wildlife in the region during the dry season. The park is well known for its elephant families, which can often be seen congregating by the river. You may also see giraffe, bushbuck, and hartebeest. These animals are closely followed by a range of predators, including lions and leopards.

There are more breeding species of birds found in Tarangire than anywhere else on the planet. The huge and ancient baobab trees can be seen here, and some of them are said to have lived for more than a thousand years.

Lunch will be at a picnic site inside the park. After your game drive, you will transfer to your accommodation in Karatu.

Eileen's Trees Inn

  • Mid-range lodge located 1-2 hours' drive from Tarangire NP

Meals & Drinks:

  • All meals included
  • Non-alcoholic drinks
3
Day 03

Ngorongoro Crater Safari

After breakfast, you will drive up into the cooler regions of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. When you first see Ngorongoro Crater, it looks like a forgotten world.

Concealed by the steep volcanic walls is a pristine wilderness of sweeping savannah, pockets of acacia woodland, and glistening lakes and swamps. The crater was created when a large volcano exploded and collapsed in on itself two to three million years ago, and it covers an area of 260 km².

The crater is famous both for its geological wonders and for being a natural reserve that is home to some of the densest large mammal populations on the African continent. After you descend into the crater, you quickly find yourself among large numbers of wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, and more than 500 bird species. The crater also provides you with the best chance of seeing the endangered black rhino.

Lunch will be at a picnic site on the crater floor. After your game drive, you will return to your accommodation in Karatu.

Eileen's Trees Inn

  • Mid-range lodge located 1-2 hours' drive from Ngorongoro Crater

Meals & Drinks:

  • All meals included
  • Non-alcoholic drinks
4
Day 04

Lake Manyara National Park and Return to Arusha

After breakfast, you will drive to Lake Manyara National Park, a small but diverse park 120 km west of Arusha. Everything you see here is on a different scale. It is both compact - one of the narrowest parks in Africa - and epic, with the Great Rift Escarpment towering over Lake Manyara's western boundary.

The park's namesake is a shallow salt lake. It covers a large area of the park, flooding and drying with the seasons, and is home to thousands of wading birds, including flamingos, as well as more than 500 other bird species. You may see baboons and elephants in the park's thick evergreen forest, and watch for the tree-climbing lions that have become famous throughout Africa.

Picnic lunch in the park. After your game drive, you will say farewell to your guide and be dropped off at a place of your choosing, such as Arusha, Kilimanjaro Airport, or Arusha Airport. We hope you have enjoyed your adventure with Kiliclimb.

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

  • Breakfast & lunch (dinner not included)
  • Non-alcoholic drinks

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Arusha 4 cities · 4 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Park fees (for non-residents)
  • All activities (unless labeled as optional)
  • All accommodation (unless listed as an upgrade)
  • A professional driver/guide
  • All transportation (unless labeled as optional)
  • All taxes/VAT
  • Round-trip airport transfer
  • Meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)
  • Drinks (as specified in the day-by-day section)

What's Not Included

  • International flights (from/to home)
  • Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
  • Tips (tipping guideline: US$10.00 pp per day)
  • Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
  • Government-imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
  • Some meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)

What to bring

  • Light, neutral clothing (khaki, beige)
  • A warm layer for mornings
  • Comfortable closed shoes
  • Hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Insect repellent
  • Water bottle
  • Camera with zoom
  • Binoculars
  • Power bank
  • Basic medicines
  • Some cash (USD or TZS)

Know before you go

  • Expect early starts, long game drives, and rough roads between parks.
  • Wildlife is not guaranteed on schedule and depends on animal movement.
  • Stay in the vehicle during game drives except in allowed areas.
  • Weather changes quickly, so dress in layers.
  • Mobile network can be limited in some parks.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Arusha, Tanzania
Tour start
Arusha, Tanzania
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 4 days finish where they began, in Arusha.

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Starting from

USD 752.50 /person
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Estimated room rates

Single Room $752.50 — $1,505.00
Double Sharing $752.50

When

Travellers

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