Tanzania · Safari

5-Day Tanzania Safari through Tarangire Serengeti and Ngorongoro

5 Days Round trip from Arusha Moderate pace

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Encounter Tarangire's diverse wildlife and famous elephant families
02 Traverse the iconic Serengeti's vast ecosystems and endless plains
03 Explore the wildlife-rich Seronera area in central Serengeti
04 Descend into the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater
05 Look out for the Big Five across northern Tanzania's premier parks

Embark on a 5-day safari through northern Tanzania, starting in Arusha before heading to Tarangire National Park, the iconic Serengeti National Park, and the awe-inspiring Ngorongoro Crater. Along the way, enjoy game drives through diverse landscapes, from Tarangire's wildlife-rich plains and ancient baobab trees to the vast Serengeti and the remarkable wildlife haven of Ngorongoro. This journey combines classic safari scenery with abundant opportunities to spot some of Tanzania's most celebrated animals before returning to Arusha.

When you first see Ngorongoro Crater, it looks like a forgotten world.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 5 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Budget

Transport Included

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

Languages English, French, German, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arrival and Transfer to Arusha

You will be picked up from the airport by a tour representative.
You will then be driven to your accommodation in Arusha.
Depending on your arrival time, you will hopefully have time to relax.

Day 02

Arusha to Tarangire National Park

Your safari guide will pick you up from your accommodation after breakfast, and you will drive to Tarangire National Park.
The transit drive is approximately two and a half hours on good tarmac roads.
Lunch will be at a picnic site inside the park. After your game drive, you will continue to your accommodation in Karatu.

Day 03

Karatu to Serengeti via Ngorongoro

After breakfast, we head towards Serengeti National Park.
We pass through the beautiful high-lying farmland of Karatu and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Leaving the highlands behind, we descend into the heart of wild Africa - Serengeti National Park.
We head to the central park area, known as the Seronera area.
We arrive in time for lunch at Nabi Gate. Enjoy a late 2-hour afternoon game drive in Serengeti National Park.

Dinner and overnight stay in the lodge/camp.

Day 04

Game Viewing in Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, you will have a game-viewing safari in Serengeti National Park.

Dinner and overnight stay in the lodge/camp.

Day 05

Ngorongoro Crater and Return to Arusha

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.
After you descend into the crater, you quickly find yourself among large numbers of wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, and more than 500 bird species.
In the late evening, you will drive to Arusha town/airport.

Where this trip takes you

Tarangire National Park's ancient baobab trees, the vast Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Arusha 5 cities · 5 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Park fees (for non-residents)
All activities (unless labelled as optional)
All accommodation (unless listed as upgrade)
Camping equipment
A professional driver/guide
All transportation (unless labelled as optional)
All taxes/VAT
Roundtrip airport transfer
Meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)
Drinking water (on all days)
Sleeping bag
Airport pick-up and drop-off
Government-imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
Accommodation before and at the end of the tour

What's Not Included

International flights (from/to home)
Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)

What to bring

Clothes.
A warm sweater, as the nights can be chilly at high altitudes.
Comfortable shoes.

Know before you go

Prepare for the adventure of a lifetime.
Arusha is an essential part of safari life in northern Tanzania.
Most travellers pass through Arusha at some stage.
The park is named after the Tarangire River.
Tarangire River is the only source of water for wildlife in the region during the dry season.
The park is well known for its elephant families.
Elephants can often be seen congregating by the river.
Other animals you may see include 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.
Huge and ancient baobab trees can be seen in Tarangire.
Some baobab trees are said to have lived for more than a thousand years.
The Serengeti is characterized by endless plains rolling into the distance as far as the eye can see.
Seronera is one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park.
It features the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source attracting wildlife representative of most of the Serengeti's species.
The Serengeti, Tanzania's largest national park, covers nearly 6,000 square miles of grassland plains, savannah, kopjes, hills, woodlands, and riverine forest systems.
These ecosystems serve as critical water sources and are often excellent sites for wildlife viewing.
Luxury safari tours & trips in Northern Circuit Tanzania.
Beyond the heralded migration of wildebeest and zebra, the Serengeti is best known for its big predators.
Predators include cheetah and leopard, as well as large prides of lions and clans of hyenas.
You may be able to see the Big Five.
Concealed by the steep volcanic walls is a pristine wilderness, including 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.
It covers an area of 260 km².
The crater is famous for both its geological delights and for being a natural reserve that is home to some of the densest large mammal populations on the African continent.
The crater provides you with the best chance of seeing the endangered black rhino.