.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
5 Days – Tanzania National Parks Safari
5 Days / 4 Nights Days
Arusha, Tanzania → Arusha, Tanzania
Wildlife
Easy
From
USD $ 2,586
per person
Why Choose This Safari?
Spending exactly one night in each of four northern Tanzania parks is a simple way to see how different they are, and this five-day itinerary is built around that idea. You start in Tarangire National Park, known for its elephants and baobab trees, then move to Lake Manyara National Park and its rift valley lake, cross to the Serengeti plains and finish with a night on the Ngorongoro Crater rim and a full day on the crater floor. All of the parks are home to small and large animals, birds and reptiles, so every day brings a different habitat to explore. Each day follows the same easy rhythm, with a morning game drive, a picnic lunch in the park and an afternoon drive, and the safari ends back in Arusha for your onward arrangements. It’s a good fit for first-time visitors who want variety in a single trip.
Safari Highlights
- We may have to re-route the itinerary or accommodation in similar Lodges/TentedCamps in case of non – availability
- Upgrades are available eg To Luxury Accommodation Safari
- Tour above can be customized based on your needs or requirements
Destinations to Travel
Arusha · Tarangire National Park · Lake Manyara National Park · Serengeti National Park · Olduvai Gorge (optional) · Ngorongoro Crater
Itinerary
Day 1 — Arusha to Tarangire National Park
At 08:30, after breakfast, you leave Arusha for Tarangire National Park and a game drive. At 13:00 you stop at a picnic site for lunch, and at 14:00 you continue with an evening game drive before returning in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay. Tarangire is known for its large elephant herds and ancient baobab trees, and the Tarangire River is the main source of fresh water for wildlife in the dry season, when animals gather along its banks.
Day 2 — Lake Manyara National Park
At 08:30, after breakfast, you leave your camp or lodge for Lake Manyara National Park and a game drive. The park combines a lake, groundwater forest, marshes and a rift escarpment, with hippos, baboons and more than 390 bird species recorded, and flamingos feeding along the lake edge in the wet season. At 13:00 you stop at a picnic site for lunch, and at 14:00 you continue with an afternoon game drive before returning in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 3 — Lake Manyara to Serengeti National Park
At 08:00 you transfer from Manyara to Serengeti National Park for a game drive. At 13:00 you break for lunch at a picnic area, and at 14:00 you enjoy an afternoon game drive in the park, returning in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay. The Serengeti covers about 14,763 sq km of plains, savannah and woodland, and is best known for the annual wildebeest migration.
Day 4 — Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater Rim
You wake at 06:00 for an early morning game drive in the Serengeti and return to your camp or lodge at 08:45. After you check out, you drive to the Ngorongoro Crater rim, with lunch and game viewing en route. It’s your option whether to pass via Olduvai Gorge, the archaeological site. Dinner and overnight on the crater rim.
Day 5 — Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha
At 07:30, after breakfast, you drive and descend onto the crater floor with your lunch box for game viewing. The Ngorongoro Crater is rich in wildlife, with animals tending to keep to their own parts of the crater. At 13:00 you stop for a picnic lunch on the crater floor at the picnic site near the Lerai forest or the hippo pool. At 14:00 you climb out of the crater and drive back to Arusha for your onward arrangements. Accommodation and airport transfers after the safari are at your own expense, but we can arrange them on request.
What's Included
Rate Includes
- Transport on 4WD vehicle with the pop-up roof, which enable you to spot wildlife easier
- Three meals a day on Safari
- Park entrance fees
- Driver’s allowances
- Service of an English speaking professional guide/Driver
- Camping fees, Mattresses (If Camping)
- Lodge fee
- Crater fees
- Food, cook and all kitchen utensils (If Camping)
- Mineral water 1.5lt per person per day
- Activities as per itinerary above
Rate Excludes
- International flights to/from your home
- Tips & gratitude’s
- The first night on your arrival and last night after safari (book with us)
- Airport transfers (book with us)
- Personal insurance
- Sleeping bag (if Camping)
- Olduvai Gorge fees
- Alcoholic drinks
- Serengeti Balloon (can book with us)
- Flying doctor’s insurance, we can arrange for requests.
- Tips to the driver/guide and all items of personal nature/use
- Easter, Christmas & New Year’s supplements may apply
Best Time to Go
No travel window was given for this itinerary, so the advice below comes from the route and general seasonality. The dry months, roughly June to October, are usually the easiest for game viewing, and from June to November large herds of zebra, wildebeest and buffalo gather in Tarangire National Park. The wildebeest in the Serengeti follow the rains, so ask our team where the herds are likely to be on your dates, and flamingos at Lake Manyara are most plentiful in the wet season. The green months bring lush landscapes, young animals and fewer visitors, though roads can be muddier, and nights on the Ngorongoro Crater rim are cold in every season. For the best overall balance, aim for June to October. You can find more on the Tanzania National Parks Authority and Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority sites.
Pricing
From USD $ 2,586 per person
| Option | Price | Pax |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-Range Accommodation Safari | US$ 2,586 per person sharing | Minimum 2 Pax |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this safari start and end, and how long does it take?
It starts in Arusha with an 08:30 departure to Tarangire and ends back in Arusha on Day 5. It runs for 5 days and 4 nights, with one night in each of four northern parks.
Which parks do we visit?
You visit Tarangire on Day 1, Lake Manyara on Day 2, the Serengeti on Days 3 and 4 and the Ngorongoro Crater on Day 5. Each offers different scenery and wildlife, from baobab-dotted plains to a rift valley lake and a volcanic crater.
What does a typical day look like?
Most days follow a pattern, with a morning departure after breakfast, a game drive, a picnic lunch at 13:00 and an afternoon game drive at 14:00 before you return for dinner and the night. On Day 4 you start earlier, at 06:00, for an early morning game drive in the Serengeti.
Is the Olduvai Gorge stop included?
It’s optional. On Day 4 you can choose whether to pass via Olduvai Gorge, one of the world’s most important prehistoric sites, on the way to the Ngorongoro Crater rim. Tell our team if you’d like it, and we can advise on any entry costs.
What will we see in the Ngorongoro Crater?
On Day 5 you descend to the crater floor for a full game drive and picnic lunch near the Lerai forest or the hippo pool. The crater is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with cliffs about 600 m high, and its wildlife includes lions, elephants, zebras, wildebeest and hippos. Sightings can’t be guaranteed on any given day.
What happens after the safari ends in Arusha?
You’re driven back to Arusha on the afternoon of Day 5. Accommodation and airport transfers afterwards are at your own expense, but we can arrange them on request, so tell our team what you need.