5-Day Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Safari

Day-by-Day Itinerary:

Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire National Park

Depart Arusha after breakfast and drive to Tarangire National Park, known for its large elephant herds, massive baobab trees, and abundant birdlife. The park’s river attracts wildlife throughout the year, offering excellent opportunities to observe lions, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and more. Enjoy a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch inside the park, followed by a transfer to your lodge or camp for overnight stay.

• Distance: Approx. 2.5–3 hours by road

• Meals: Lunch, Dinner

• Accommodation Options:

  • Standard: Tarangire Safari Lodge / Sangaiwe Tented Lodge

  • Luxury: Tarangire Sopa Lodge / Lemala Mpingo Ridge Lodge

Day 2: Tarangire to Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, leave Tarangire and drive through the scenic highlands of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area en route to Serengeti National Park. Along the way, enjoy views of the Rift Valley and make short stops for photos or to visit a Maasai village (optional). Enter the Serengeti in the afternoon and begin your first game drive across its expansive savannahs before arriving at your lodge or tented camp in time for dinner.

• Distance: Approx. 6–7 hours by road

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Accommodation Options:

  • Standard: Into Wild Africa Camp / Tanzania Bush Camp (Central Serengeti)

  • Luxury: Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge / Melia Serengeti Lodge

Day 3: Full-Day Game Drive in Serengeti

Spend the entire day exploring the Serengeti. With your guide, follow wildlife tracks in search of predators like lions, cheetahs, and leopards, as well as vast herds of wildebeest and zebras. Depending on the time of year, you may witness the dramatic scenes of the Great Migration. Enjoy lunch in the bush or at a designated picnic site. Continue the game drive into different habitats before returning to your accommodation in the evening.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Accommodation Options:

  • Standard: Into Wild Africa Camp / Tanzania Bush Camp

  • Luxury: Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge / Melia Serengeti Lodge

Day 4: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

After a relaxed breakfast or an optional early game drive, begin your journey toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. You’ll exit Serengeti with game viewing along the way and drive across the vast plains until you reach the crater rim by late afternoon. The cooler temperatures and highland scenery mark a sharp contrast to the open plains of Serengeti.

• Distance: Approx. 4–5 hours by road

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Accommodation Options:

  • Standard: Rhino Lodge / Ngorongoro Forest Tented Lodge

  • Luxury: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge / The Highlands Ngorongoro

Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive – Return to Arusha

Wake early and descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a half-day safari in this wildlife-rich ecosystem. The crater floor supports almost every species found in East Africa, including the endangered black rhino, large prides of lions, and flocks of flamingos at Lake Magadi. After a picnic lunch inside the crater, begin your journey back to Arusha, arriving by late afternoon or early evening.

• Distance: 3–4 hours game drive + 4–5 hours to Arusha

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

• Accommodation: Not included (can be arranged on request)