6-Day Tanzania Safari through Serengeti and Ngorongoro from Arusha

6 Days Round trip from Arusha Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Game drives through Tarangire's baobab-dotted landscapes with the country's largest concentration of elephants
02 Explore Lake Manyara's lush forests, large baboon troops, and scenic lakeside wildlife views
03 Discover the Serengeti's endless plains, home to the Great Migration and iconic big cats
04 Take in unforgettable views over Ngorongoro Crater, one of the natural wonders of East Africa
05 Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater floor for wildlife viewing in a collapsed volcanic caldera

Experience breathtaking wildlife across some of Tanzania's most diverse landscapes, from Tarangire's ancient baobabs and elephant herds to Lake Manyara's lush forests and Serengeti's endless plains. This safari also takes you to the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater, where vast, rolling, lush green grassland shelters an extraordinary variety of animals. Along the way, look out for monkeys in the forest, lions in trees, elephants amongst acacias, and the chance to see herds of elephants inside the crater. It is a memorable journey through some of East Africa's most remarkable safari settings.

Book this 6-day Tanzania Safari through Serengeti and Ngorongoro from Arusha with Serengeti Wildlife Safaris, a licensed Tanzania tour operator based in Arusha since 2017. Every itinerary can be tailor-made to your travel dates, budget and interests, and combined with Serengeti and Ngorongoro safaris, Kilimanjaro climbs or Zanzibar beach stays.

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 6 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Yes

Cities Arusha, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara, Tarangire National Park

Languages English, Spanish, Swahili

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arusha to Tarangire National Park Safari

We will pick you up from your hotel at 8 am and take you to a very special national park. Tarangire is famous for its diverse landscape, with nine different vegetation zones. The park is particularly known for its abundance of ancient baobab trees, the largest trees on the continent, which fill the landscape and dwarf the animals beside them. The park's river is full of wildlife, ranging from many birds to lions, leopards, zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes, and elephants. The park has the largest concentration of elephants in the country and provides unique chances to observe the interaction between elephant families.
The lunch area is fascinating, boasting an observatory with amazing river and wildlife views, with good chances of seeing a hunt while having your picnic. We will continue with a game drive in the afternoon before heading on to your accommodation.

Day 02

Full-Day Game Drive in Lake Manyara National Park

Enjoy a beautiful short journey across the Great Rift Valley to Lake Manyara National Park for a full-day game drive. Although small in size at 205 sq. miles, the park offers breathtaking scenery. It is well known for its lush acacia forest, giant figs, mahogany trees, and a growing population of baboons and blue monkeys. Permanent residents of this park also include giraffes, elephants, impalas, and a huge number of buffaloes. The lake is also home to a large number of hippos. Lake Manyara's landscapes can hardly be described in words, and the game drives along the lake provide stunning photo opportunities of giraffes and buffaloes in the foreground and the lake, with its flamingoes, in the background.
During this day, some extra tours are possible, including a bike tour or a boat excursion. In the afternoon, transfer to the camp for dinner.

Day 03

Journey to Serengeti National Park

After an early breakfast, depart for the most famous national park in the world, the Serengeti. You will drive up the crater highlands, stopping at the rim for an out-of-this-world view of Ngorongoro Crater. This will be an unforgettable moment for anyone seeing it for the first time.
As you travel deeper into the Serengeti, you will understand why the name means, in Swahili, "endless plains." The park covers 6,900 sq. miles, and for much of it, the plains stretch to the horizon, defying your senses and perception of distance. It is home to the Great Migration and to 2 million wildebeests, hundreds of thousands of zebras, and all kinds of antelopes, including the abundant impalas and Thomson's gazelles. For big cats and large predators, this is the place to look out for lions, cheetahs, leopards, and hyenas, with many television scenes, including the famous river crossings, filmed in this park.

Day 04

Flexible Game Drives in Serengeti National Park

Spend a full day in Serengeti National Park. We are completely flexible with your preferences, and this day will be organized according to your wishes. Every day of the safari, your guide will discuss the best schedule for you, including game drive times and your wake-up time.
For example, on this day, you could do a morning game drive, return to the camp for lunch and relaxation, and finish with an afternoon game drive. Alternatively, you could enjoy a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch.

Day 05

Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater Rim

On this day, we suggest waking up very early for an early morning game drive, when the animals are more active, and to witness one of the best sunrises you will ever see.
After the game drive, we return to the camp for a rewarding brunch, and then proceed to Ngorongoro, the 8th wonder of the Natural World. The crater spreads across 102 sq. miles and has 2,000 ft high walls, making it virtually Noah's Ark and home to almost every species of wildlife indigenous to East Africa. It is one of the rare locations on the continent where you can witness the Black Rhino. The crater has a river, several swamps, a soda lake with a great concentration of flamingos, a forest, and open plains. It is also famous for its elephants, which are among the largest in the world and have huge tusks. Ngorongoro Crater is truly a wonder of the Natural World. You will reach Ngorongoro in time for a sundowner.

Day 06

Ngorongoro Crater Safari and Return to Arusha

We will start the day very early and descend to the crater floor for an incredible morning of wildlife viewing in one of the most stunning places on Earth.
After the game drive, there will be time for a picnic lunch near the beautiful Hippo Lake. After lunch, we will have time for a short game drive, ascend the crater, and exit the Ngorongoro Conservation Area towards Arusha.
We expect to be back in Arusha around 5 pm, although we are flexible in case there is a flight to catch or another situation.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Arusha 5 cities · 6 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

All accommodations.
All activities, unless indicated as optional.
All transportation, unless labeled as optional.
Meals, as specified in the day-by-day section.
Taxes / VAT.
All transport by road.
Park fees.
Professional guide.
Drinking water on all days.
Government-imposed increases of taxes and/or park fees.
All meals on safaris.
Quality safari jeep.
Guide wages.
Airport pickup.
Air-conditioned car.
Free accommodation on arrival.
Beer.
Free transfer in Zanzibar.
Airport pickup in Zanzibar.

What's Not Included

Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour.
International flights.
Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.).
Tips (tipping guideline: US$10.00 pp per day).

What to bring

For luggage, choose a duffel bag or soft-sided bag. Ideally, the fabric should be hardy and waterproof, and the bag should be lockable.
Clothes: pack for hot days and cool nights.
Shoes: as long as you are not going on a safari that requires a lot of walking, you will be fine with light hiking boots and sports sandals.
Sun protection.
First aid, antiseptic ointment, antihistamine cream and tablets, Nurofen or an equivalent painkiller, eye drops, anti-diarrhea treatment, a couple of bandages, and medication for personal allergies or asthma.
Photography and electrical equipment.

Know before you go

Your safety on safari: Our 4x4 Land Cruisers are checked and serviced before every trip, every vehicle carries a first aid kit, and our guides are first-aid trained. Guides carry radios to stay in contact where there is no internet, including with park rangers, and you can reach our Arusha office at any time by WhatsApp or phone call.

Option to downgrade or upgrade your accommodation level.
A Serengeti Wildlife Safaris representative will collect you from the airport and take you to your accommodation in Arusha for the night.
We are happy to book accommodation before and after your safari if needed.
Flying into Arusha / Kilimanjaro Airports is quite straightforward. English is widely spoken and used for signs and directions.
Arusha Airport is a 30-minute drive from Arusha.
Kilimanjaro Airport is roughly a one-hour drive from Arusha. If you arrive on an international flight, clearing immigration can be a lengthy process.
The local currency is the Tanzanian shilling. US dollars and euros are widely accepted. Most places will not accept older US dollar bills printed before 2006.
If you intend to use your credit or debit card to withdraw funds, we suggest taking more than one card with you, as you may find that your card is not accepted at the first ATM. Visa and Maestro cards work best.
We recommend informing your bank that you will be using your card abroad to avoid it being blocked.
ATMs are available in Arusha and allow you to withdraw local currency.
We advise you to arrive in Arusha at least one day before your trip begins. Return flights can be booked for the late afternoon or evening of the final day of your safari, but please ensure your guide is aware of this so that you can arrive at the airport in plenty of time for your flight.
Please check with the relevant embassy in your country for up-to-date visa and passport information. Ensure your passport will not expire within six months of your trip, and that it has at least three clear pages.
You will probably need a visa to enter Tanzania. Check with your country's government travel website to find out how to get your visa. Most visas can be bought on arrival into the country.
You will require vaccinations for your trip. As we are not medically trained, we cannot give detailed advice on vaccination requirements. However, the following vaccinations are normally recommended for Tanzania:
Tetanus
Polio
Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Rabies
Yellow Fever
Malaria
Yellow Fever is compulsory when entering Tanzania from a country with Yellow Fever.
Vaccination certificates are often checked at immigration. If you are entering Tanzania from a country that does not have Yellow Fever, vaccination is not needed. Please visit the World Health Organization website for an up-to-date list.
Malaria: in some areas we visit, there is a risk of contracting malaria. You must know that whatever malaria tablets you take only offer partial protection. They must be coupled with physical efforts to avoid being bitten, which is the best prevention. Malaria-carrying mosquitoes come out at sunset, so you should wear long sleeves and trousers from this time. Exposed skin, especially ankles, should have insect repellent containing 'Deet' applied to it.
We strongly recommend that you have extensive travel insurance to cover your trip. It is also wise to leave a copy of your insurance policy with a friend or relative for safekeeping. Your policy should include adequate medical emergency and repatriation coverage.
There is a well-established culture of tipping in Tanzania. Guides: if you feel you have received good service, a typical tip is USD 10-15 per person per day.
Accommodation can be downgraded or upgraded on request.