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3-Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro Budget Safari Tanzania
3 Days / 2 Nights Days
Arusha, Tanzani → Arusha, Tanzani
Wildlife
Easy
From
USD 1230
per person
Why Choose This Safari?
This is the safari for people who want the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater and nothing else — no side trip to a park you're only half interested in, just two nights at Elwai Camp deep in the Serengeti and a half-day on the crater floor before you're back in Arusha. It works especially well as a weekend add-on to a longer trip to Tanzania, or as a first safari for someone who wants to know what all the fuss is about without committing a week to it. Because it skips everything but the two headline parks, the wildlife density per day is about as high as a short safari gets.
Destinations to Travel
Ngorongoro Conservation Area · Serengeti National Park · Ngorongoro Crater
Itinerary
Day 1 — Arusha to Serengeti National Park via Ngorongoro Conservation Area
You leave Arusha early, driving through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area with panoramic views over the crater highlands before the road opens onto the Serengeti's vast plains. You enter the park itself in the afternoon, with your first game drive built right into the drive to Elwai Camp, deep inside the wilderness. Dinner and the night are at camp.
Day 2 — Full-Day Safari in Serengeti National Park
A full day in the Serengeti, with morning and afternoon game drives covering as much of the savannah as possible — lion, cheetah, elephant, giraffe, buffalo and hyena are all regulars here, and if you're traveling in season, the Great Wildebeest Migration may be moving through. You're back at Elwai Camp by evening to relax under a genuinely dark sky.
Day 3 — Ngorongoro Crater, then Return to Arusha
After an early breakfast, you leave the Serengeti and head back toward Ngorongoro Crater, often called Africa's most spectacular wildlife sanctuary in its own right. You descend onto the crater floor for a half-day game drive, with a real chance at black rhino alongside lion, elephant, hippo, and the crater's resident plains game. After lunch, it's the drive back to Arusha, closing out the trip.
What's Included
Rate Includes
- All park & conservation fees (Serengeti & Ngorongoro)
- Ngorongoro Crater descent fees
- Safari accommodation as per itinerary (Elwai Camp)
- Full-board meals during safari (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
- Professional English-speaking safari driver–guide
- Private 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- All scheduled game drives
- Bottled drinking water during game drives
- Government taxes and conservation levies
Rate Excludes
- International & domestic flights
- Pre/post-safari accommodation in Arusha
- Travel & medical insurance
- Tips for driver-guide and lodge staff
- Alcoholic & soft drinks
- Personal expenses (laundry, souvenirs, etc.)
- Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
Best Time to Go
This route works year-round, but if the Great Wildebeest Migration is part of the draw, timing matters — the herds are typically in the western and northern Serengeti from around June through October, and further south from December through March. Either way, the dry season (June–October) gives the clearest game viewing across both the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater floor.
Pricing
From USD 1230 per person
| 1 Pax | 2 Pax | 3 Pax | 4 Pax | 5 Pax | 6 Pax+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,495 | 1,307 | 1,203 | 1,151 | 1,119 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I do a 3-day safari from Arusha covering just the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater?
Yes — this itinerary is built around exactly those two parks, starting and ending in Arusha, with two nights at Elwai Camp inside the Serengeti and a half-day crater tour on the final day.
Does this trip include the Ngorongoro Crater floor, or just the rim?
The crater floor itself — Day 3 is a half-day descent into the caldera for game viewing, not just a view from the rim.
Is this safari suitable as a short weekend trip?
Yes, it's designed for exactly that — three days is enough to cover two of Tanzania's headline parks without the time commitment of a full Northern Circuit safari.
Will I see the Great Wildebeest Migration on this trip?
It's possible during your two days in the Serengeti, but it depends on where the herds are when you travel — a seasonal bonus rather than a guarantee.
Where do I stay during this safari?
Elwai Camp, located inside Serengeti National Park, for both nights of the trip.
Is this a good first safari for someone who's never been to Tanzania?
Yes — it's focused on two of the country's best-known parks, which makes it a solid, uncomplicated introduction without a long itinerary to plan around.