5-Day Tanzania Camping Safari with Serengeti and Maasai Visit

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Game drives through Tarangire among elephants, baobabs, giraffes, and zebras
• 02 Full-day Serengeti safari guided by seasonal wildlife patterns and local knowledge
• 03 Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for Big Five viewing opportunities
• 04 Respectful Maasai village visit focused on homes, crafts, music, dances, and community life

This 5-day Tanzania camping safari combines Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, and the Ngorongoro Crater with an authentic Maasai cultural experience. Starting and finishing in Arusha, the journey follows Tanzania's Northern Safari Circuit with game drives among iconic wildlife, a full-day Serengeti safari focused on seasonal wildlife movements, and a descent into the Ngorongoro Crater. The experience also includes a respectful visit to a Maasai village, while accommodation is primarily in quality safari campsites with camping facilities.

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 5 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Yes

Cities Arusha, Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tarangire National Park

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Arusha to Tarangire National Park Safari

• Depart: Arusha for Tarangire.
• Game drives: Enjoy game drives among elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffalo, and baobabs, with lions and many bird species also possible.
• Lunch: Picnic lunch.
• Wildlife viewing: Continue with afternoon wildlife viewing before camping.
• Overnight: Tarangire/Karatu camping area.
• Accommodation: Public/private safari campsite.
• Meals: Lunch & Dinner.
• Highlights: Elephants • Baobabs • Giraffes • Zebras • Lions • Birdwatching.

2

Day 02

Tarangire to Serengeti via Ngorongoro

• After breakfast: Travel through scenic northern Tanzania and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area toward Serengeti.
• Game drive: Enter the park for an afternoon game drive searching for wildebeest, zebra, gazelles, giraffes, buffalo, and predators.
• Note: Migration concentrations may be encountered depending on the season.
• Overnight: Serengeti National Park campsite.
• Accommodation: Public/private campsite.
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
• Highlights: Serengeti plains • Wildebeest • Zebra • Gazelles • Lions • Cheetahs • Possible leopard sightings.

3

Day 03

Full-Day Serengeti Wildlife and Migration Safari

• After an early breakfast: Spend the day on a full-day Serengeti game drive with a packed picnic lunch.
• Guide: The guide uses seasonal patterns and local wildlife knowledge to select suitable areas.
• Wildlife: Large herds, lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and leopards may be encountered.
• Overnight: Serengeti National Park campsite.
• Accommodation: Public/private campsite.
• Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch & Dinner.
• Highlights: Wildebeest migration • Zebra & gazelle • Lions • Cheetahs • Hyenas • Possible leopards.

4

Day 04

Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater and Maasai Village

• Travel: From Serengeti to Ngorongoro.
• Ngorongoro Crater: Descend into the crater for wildlife viewing.
• Wildlife: Search for lions, elephants, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, hippos, gazelles, and, with luck, black rhino.
• Maasai village visit: Learn about traditional homes, cattle keeping, crafts, music, dances, and community life.
• Overnight: Karatu/Ngorongoro camping area.
• Accommodation: Campsite.
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
• Highlights: Ngorongoro Crater • Big Five opportunities • Black rhino possibility • Maasai culture.

5

Day 05

Ngorongoro or Karatu to Arusha

• After breakfast: Return to Arusha.
• Optional time: Depending on the departure schedule, there may be time for local crafts, souvenirs, or a short market stop.
• Arrive: Arusha in the afternoon and conclude the safari.
• Safari ends: Arusha.
• Meals: Breakfast & Lunch.
• Highlights: Scenic return journey • Local crafts • Arusha • Safari completion.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• 5-day safari
• 4 nights' camping accommodation
• Safari camping equipment
• Professional English-speaking safari guide
• Safari cook
• 4×4 safari vehicle
• Applicable park and conservation-area fees for the itinerary
• Game drives as scheduled
• Full-day Serengeti game drive
• Ngorongoro Crater game drive
• Maasai village cultural visit
• Meals according to the itinerary
• Drinking water during the safari
• Camping equipment setup
• Applicable government taxes and park-related charges

What's Not Included

• International flights
• Tanzania visa
• Travel insurance
• Personal medical expenses
• Alcoholic beverages
• Soft drinks and personal drinks unless stated
• Laundry
• Tips and gratuities
• Souvenirs and personal shopping
• Private room or hotel upgrades
• Arusha hotel before or after the safari unless specifically included
• Hot-air balloon safari
• Private safari vehicle
• Optional activities not listed
• Personal expenses
• Any service not specifically listed under inclusions

What to bring

• Passport and Tanzania visa documents.
• Travel insurance documents.
• Comfortable closed walking shoes.
• Lightweight clothing.
• Long-sleeved shirts and trousers.
• Warm jacket or fleece.
• Hat/cap and sunglasses.
• Sunscreen and insect repellent.
• Personal medication and toiletries.
• Camera and binoculars.
• Extra batteries/power bank.
• Phone charger.
• Reusable water bottle.
• Small day backpack.
• Headlamp/flashlight.
• Hand sanitizer and wet wipes.
• Personal sleeping bag if preferred.

Know before you go

• Vegetarian, vegan, and other dietary requirements can be accommodated when advised in advance.
• Nights around the Serengeti and Ngorongoro highlands can be cold. Warm layers are recommended, especially for early-morning game drives.
• A soft-sided bag is preferable to a large hard suitcase.
• Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.
• The Great Wildebeest Migration follows rainfall, grazing, and natural animal movements.
• Specific herd locations and river crossings cannot be guaranteed.
• The itinerary may be adjusted because of weather, road conditions, park regulations, wildlife movements, or campsite availability.
• Guests must follow guide instructions and park regulations.
• A comparable campsite may be substituted when the originally planned campsite is unavailable.
• The Maasai visit should be conducted respectfully and according to the community's arrangements.
• Recommended 2026 Travel Period: For wildebeest migration, July-October is generally the most popular period, particularly for the Northern Serengeti and possible Mara River activity. For calving and newborn wildlife, January-March is generally preferred around the southern Serengeti/Ndutu area. These are seasonal patterns, not guarantees.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Kilimanjaro International Airport

Tour start

Arusha, Tanzania

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.