5-Day Tanzania Safari: Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater & Tarangire
Trip Overview
Experience an unforgettable 5-day Tanzania safari through three of the country’s most popular wildlife destinations: Central Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire National Park.
Starting and ending in Arusha, this safari combines spectacular landscapes, abundant wildlife, and exciting game drives in some of Tanzania’s most iconic destinations.
From the endless plains of the Serengeti to the wildlife-rich Ngorongoro Crater and the majestic baobab trees of Tarangire, this itinerary offers an excellent introduction to the best of northern Tanzania.
Travel with an experienced safari driver-guide who will help you discover Tanzania’s incredible wildlife and landscapes while making the most of every day on safari.
Day 1: Arusha to Serengeti National Park – Afternoon Game Drive
Overnight: Tukaone Camps or similar
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Your 5-day Tanzania safari begins at approximately 6:30 AM after breakfast in Arusha. You will depart for Serengeti National Park with packed lunch boxes.
The drive to the Serengeti takes approximately seven hours, but the journey itself is part of the experience. Along the way, you will pass through scenic viewpoints, culturally rich towns such as Mto wa Mbu, the highland farmland around Karatu, and the spectacular Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
You will arrive at the Serengeti National Park gate at approximately 1:00 PM. After enjoying your packed lunch, you will enter the park and continue toward Central Serengeti, particularly the famous Seronera area.
Seronera is one of the richest wildlife habitats in the Serengeti. The Seronera River provides an important source of water, attracting a wide variety of wildlife throughout the year.
Enjoy an afternoon game drive in Serengeti National Park until approximately 5:30 PM, giving you your first opportunity to search for lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, leopards, and other wildlife.
After the game drive, continue to Tukaone Camps or a similar accommodation for dinner and overnight.
Optional Activities
You can enhance your first day with one of the following optional experiences:
Maasai Village Tour: $25 per person
Olduvai Gorge Museum Visit: $35 per person
These activities take place in the Ngorongoro area while traveling toward the Serengeti and are subject to time and itinerary considerations.
Day 2: Full-Day Game Drive in Central Serengeti
Overnight: Tukaone Camps or similar
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
After breakfast, depart at approximately 8:00 AM with packed lunch boxes for a full day of wildlife viewing in Central Serengeti.
Today’s game drive will last approximately 8–9 hours, allowing plenty of time to explore the Seronera area and surrounding plains.
Central Serengeti is famous for its exceptional concentration of wildlife. The permanent water sources around the Seronera River attract animals throughout the year, making this one of the best areas in Tanzania for game viewing.
During your full-day safari, you may encounter lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, gazelles, hyenas, and many other species.
Your picnic lunch will be enjoyed at a designated scenic location during the game drive.
After a full day exploring the Serengeti, return to camp at approximately 5:30 PM for dinner and overnight.
Optional Activities
For an additional cost, you can add an exciting experience to your Serengeti safari:
Serengeti Balloon Safari: $540 per person
Walking Safari: $45 per person sharing or $60 for a solo traveler, approximately 3–4 hours
Day 3: Morning Game Drive in Serengeti – Transfer to Karatu
Overnight: Crater Rim Inn or similar
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Start your day with an early breakfast before departing at approximately 6:30 AM for a morning game drive in Central Serengeti.
The early morning is an excellent time for wildlife viewing, as many animals are active before the heat of the day. You will explore the Serengeti plains until around 12:00 PM, with opportunities to spot predators and other wildlife.
After the morning game drive, begin your journey toward Karatu, traveling through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
The changing landscape provides beautiful views as you leave the Serengeti behind and make your way toward the Ngorongoro Highlands.
Arrive at your accommodation in Karatu, where you can relax and enjoy dinner before your overnight stay.
Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater Tour – Transfer to Accommodation
Overnight: Nsya Lodge (Safari Bungalow) or similar
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
After an early breakfast, you will descend into the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater for approximately 5 hours of game viewing.
The Ngorongoro Crater is one of Tanzania’s most remarkable wildlife destinations. Its enclosed ecosystem supports a remarkable variety of wildlife, making it an excellent location for a game drive.
During your crater tour, you may see lions, elephants, zebras, hippos, hyenas, jackals, rhinos, and numerous bird species.
The crater is also home to a diverse range of birds, including eagles, vultures, flamingos, storks, and other water and raptor species. Flamingos can sometimes be seen around the crater’s lakes and wetlands.
After your game drive, enjoy a picnic lunch near the scenic Hippo Pool before beginning the steep ascent from the crater floor.
You will then continue to your accommodation at Nsya Lodge (Safari Bungalow) or a similar property for dinner and overnight.
Optional Activity
Ngorongoro Crater Rim Hike: $45 per person, approximately 3 hours
This optional hike offers the opportunity to experience the spectacular scenery around the crater rim from a different perspective.
Day 5: Tarangire National Park Game Drive – Return to Arusha
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
After breakfast, depart your hotel at approximately 8:00 AM and drive to Tarangire National Park with packed lunch boxes.
The journey to the Tarangire gate takes approximately 2.5 hours. Upon arrival, begin your game drive through this beautiful and wildlife-rich national park.
Tarangire National Park is famous for its magnificent baobab trees, which dominate the landscape and provide a striking backdrop for wildlife photography. The Tarangire River is the park’s main water source and attracts large numbers of animals.
Tarangire is particularly well known for its large elephant herds, but you may also encounter lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, Oryx, eland, and lesser kudu.
Enjoy a picnic lunch at a scenic picnic area before continuing your game drive through the park during the afternoon.
After your Tarangire safari, depart the park and drive back to Arusha, arriving at approximately 6:00 PM.
This marks the end of your 5-day Tanzania safari. Say goodbye to your safari guide and take home unforgettable memories of Tanzania’s wildlife and landscapes.
Hotel accommodation in Arusha can be arranged at an additional cost.
Safari Highlights
Explore the wildlife-rich Central Serengeti and Seronera Valley.
Enjoy a full-day game drive in Serengeti National Park.
Experience the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater.
Search for the Big Five and other African wildlife.
Visit Tarangire National Park, famous for its elephants and baobab trees.
Travel through the scenic Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Enjoy optional experiences including a Maasai village visit, Olduvai Gorge Museum, balloon safari, walking safari, and crater rim hike.
Start and finish your safari in Arusha, Tanzania.
Travel with an experienced safari driver-guide throughout your journey.
