Tanzania · Safari

4-Day Tanzania Budget Safari through Serengeti and Ngorongoro

4 Days Round trip from Arusha Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Enjoy stunning views over the Ngorongoro Crater and its unique ecosystem
02 Spot wildlife such as zebras, elephants, wildebeest, and, if lucky, rhinoceros
03 Explore the culture of the great Maasai tribe
04 Experience the serene beauty of Tarangire National Park's landscapes
05 See ancient baobab trees and one of Tanzania's largest elephant populations

Explore Tanzania's famous northern circuit on this 4-day safari through Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, and the Ngorongoro Crater. See ancient baobab trees, large elephant herds, and abundant wildlife across some of the country's most celebrated landscapes. The tour highlights the stunning views of the Ngorongoro Crater floor, where animal sightings are often easier, as well as close wildlife encounters in the Serengeti. You will also enjoy a beautiful sunrise in Serengeti with the essence of some cold winds.

Wake up early in the morning at 6:00 am, and after a hot cup of coffee, leave the campsite for morning game viewing in the heart of Serengeti National Park while enjoying the beautiful sunrise.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 4 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Budget

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

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

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arusha to Tarangire National Park Safari

We will pick you up from your hotel, and after getting familiar with the guide and chef, we will drive to Tarangire National Park, a 2-hour drive. The park is famous for its diverse landscape and is particularly known for its abundance of ancient baobab trees and the largest concentration of elephants in the whole country, providing unique chances to observe the interaction between elephant families.
We will enjoy a game drive through the park, depending on where there are reported sightings of animals. We will mainly look for predators such as lions, cheetahs, and leopards, as they are harder to spot, while herbivores such as giraffes, wildebeest, and zebras are plentiful throughout the park.
Later, we will go to the Tarangire River picnic site and enjoy the beautiful view of the river and animals while having lunch. Small monkeys and baboons may try to scare you away from your lunch, but there is nothing to worry about.
After lunch, we will proceed with the game drive and exit the park around 4:30 pm.
After the tour, we will head to our accommodation in Mto Wa Mbu for a campsite stay with meals included.

Day 02

Mto Wa Mbu to Serengeti via Ngorongoro

After breakfast, you will drive from Mto Wa Mbu to Serengeti. The drive takes 6 hours, including all stops, as it passes through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Stop at the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Arusha Region for a brief stop at the gate and viewpoint to admire the breathtaking view of the crater. (Duration: 20 minutes)
There is an optional visit to explore the culture of the great Maasai tribe, known for their historical traditions such as chasing lions off their kill, hunting lions to be considered warriors, and drinking raw animal blood. Most of these traditions have become a thing of the past, except for drinking blood. You can learn something about their culture here. (Duration: 20-45 minutes)
Arrive at Serengeti National Park, famous for the wildebeest and zebra migration, with over 1.5 million wildebeest and 250,000 zebras. Our focus will be the Seronera area in the center of Serengeti.
After lunch, you will go on a game drive in Seronera, experiencing the late evening wildlife and sunset. If you are lucky, you may witness a predator hunting or feeding on a kill.
At the end of the day, head to Seronera campsite for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 03

Sunrise Game Viewing and Transfer to Ngorongoro

Wake up early in the morning at 6:00 am, and after a hot cup of coffee, leave the campsite for morning game viewing in the heart of Serengeti National Park while enjoying the beautiful sunrise. It is going to be a bit chilly in the morning, so do not forget your warm clothes.
Continue with the game drive until mid-day, then drive back to camp for a full breakfast and lunch, which will be served as brunch.
Later on, leave the camp for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area while enjoying a game drive en route towards Ngorongoro Simba Campsite for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 04

Ngorongoro Crater Tour and Return to Arusha

On your last day of the Tanzania safari, after breakfast and enjoying a picnic lunch, you will take a short drive to the descending gate and then drive down to the crater floor, which is 650 meters deep, for a half-day game tour. If you are lucky, you may spot a rhinoceros. The crater is home to a variety of permanent resident animals, as it has permanent water throughout the year. Consequently, many animals prefer to stay, although they are free to move in and out of the crater.
After lunch, ascend to the crater rim back to camp, then drive to Arusha or directly to the airport.