5 day safari Tarangire Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater

Wildlife begins before the road ends. This five-day private safari links Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater, giving you three very different settings in one well-packed trip. I like the chance to see Tarangire’s large elephant herds and the Serengeti’s open plains, and I like that hot showers, meals, drinking water, and safari transport are included.

The main tradeoff is time on the road. You cover long distances between Arusha, Serengeti, and the crater, so this is an efficient introduction to northern Tanzania rather than a slow, leisurely stay in one park. The strong 99 percent recommendation rate and five-star score from 83 published ratings suggest that the guides and organization are major strengths, but you should still expect early starts, dusty roads, and full days in the vehicle.

Key points to know before booking

• Tarangire starts the wildlife week strongly: Expect acacia woodland, giant baobabs, swamps, and some of Tanzania’s largest elephant herds.
• Serengeti gets the longest stay: Two nights and a full game-drive day give you useful time around the Seronera area.
• Ngorongoro Crater packs wildlife into one day: The crater floor is known for dense animal sightings, including a chance of black rhino.
• Your group has the vehicle to itself: This is a private safari, so only your party participates.
• Comfort is built into the price: Lodging, four breakfasts, four dinners, five lunches, and 1.5 liters of water per person each day are included.
• The schedule is full and road-heavy: The route works well for a first safari, but less well if you want long afternoons at camp.

Why this five-day route works

This safari is designed around variety. Tarangire gives you dry-country scenery and elephants, Serengeti supplies the great open spaces and predator country, and Ngorongoro Crater offers one concentrated final game drive.

That mix makes sense if you have only five days. You are not simply repeating the same type of park each day. Instead, the route moves from baobab country to endless grasslands, then down into a volcanic crater where animals gather around permanent water and grazing areas.

The private format matters. You are not sharing the experience with a busload of strangers, and the guide can focus on your group’s interests. If you want more time watching lions, better bird identification, or a slower look at elephants, it is worth discussing that with the guide early in the trip.

The price is $2,211.29 per person. That is a serious expense, but the package covers the major costs once the safari begins: park fees and taxes, a 4×4 safari vehicle, driver-guide, accommodation, meals, and drinking water. You still need to budget for Arusha lodging, flights, airport transfers, drinks, laundry, phone use, optional activities, and tips.

Because the exact lodging names are not supplied, ask for the full accommodation plan before paying. The experience promises lodges and tents with self-contained rooms and hot showers, but the comfort level can vary between properties. Past bookings have praised clean lodges, polite service, good food, and comfortable safari vehicles, which is encouraging, but written confirmation is still sensible.

Day 1: Tarangire’s elephants and baobab country

The first morning begins at 8:30 a.m. at Msumbi Coffees in the TFA Shopping Complex on Sokoine Road in Arusha. After breakfast, you drive to Tarangire National Park for a full game-drive day with a picnic lunch.

Tarangire has a character all its own. Acacia woodland gives way to giant African baobabs, while broad swamp areas and the Tarangire River draw animals during the dry season. That water supply is the reason this park can produce such rewarding sightings when other areas are drier.

The park is especially noted for large elephant herds. You may also look for greater kudu, fringe-eared oryx, and Ashy Starlings, three less common species specifically associated with this area. That gives the first day more depth than a simple search for the Big Five.

The planned stop lasts about seven hours, but the actual day includes the drive from Arusha and the return to your overnight accommodation. A picnic lunch keeps you in the park rather than sending you back to a lodge at midday.

I like Tarangire as an opening park because it offers animals and scenery at the same time. The possible drawback is that the first day may feel long after an early start, especially if you have just arrived in Tanzania. Take the morning at a steady pace and save some energy for the remaining four days.

Day 2: Crossing into the Serengeti

After breakfast, you head toward Serengeti National Park through the high farmland around Karatu and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The route then leaves the higher country and reaches the broad Serengeti plains.

This is one of the longer transfer days, listed at about six hours. The road time is not wasted, since the changing scenery helps you understand how quickly northern Tanzania shifts from cultivated highland areas to open wildlife country. Still, you should not expect a full day of game viewing.

The plan takes you toward Seronera in the central Serengeti. This area is important because the Seronera River provides water, drawing a wide range of animals. The central location also makes it a useful base for reaching different parts of the park.

Serengeti is where the safari’s scale becomes clear. The plains seem to run toward the horizon, and the sense of space is very different from Tarangire’s woodland. Lions, leopards, elephants, cheetahs, buffalo, wildebeest, eland, gazelles, crocodiles, and wild dogs are among the animals you may seek.

The timing of the wildebeest migration is not stated, so do not book this trip expecting a specific migration scene unless the operator confirms the dates and area. Wildlife is free to move, and no guide can guarantee a particular sighting. The value of a good guide is in reading the conditions, listening for reports from other vehicles, and knowing where to search without turning the day into a frantic chase.

Day 3: A full Serengeti game-drive day

Day three is the safari’s main wildlife day. After breakfast, you spend about ten hours on a full-day game drive, with lunch at the lodge or campsite.

This long day gives you a better chance to see animal behavior rather than only collecting quick sightings. The open country is home to large herbivore herds and major predators, and the Seronera area’s water source helps bring animals together.

You might spend part of the day looking for lions, then shift your attention to smaller details such as gazelles, birds, or a crocodile near water. The supplied trip description also highlights the park’s bird life, so bring your attention down from the horizon now and then. A safari is not only a search for large mammals.

The 10-hour schedule is a plus for wildlife enthusiasts, but it is also the day most likely to test your patience. Roads can be dusty, the vehicle may be your seat for most of the day, and sightings can require waiting. I would choose this trip for the chance to spend real time in the park, not for a polished resort-style holiday.

Several past bookings praise guides called John, Joseph, Jackson, Muro, and Sixie. Their strengths include spotting animals, explaining animal behavior and park history, and working hard to find good sightings. You cannot assume you will receive one of those specific guides, but you can ask Bestday Safaris who is assigned to your group and whether a particular interest can be noted.

Day 4: Leaving Serengeti for the crater highlands

Day four begins with an early breakfast and a morning game drive. You then leave Serengeti for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with wildlife viewing along the way.

The listed game-drive portion is about four hours. This is another day when the route itself takes up much of the schedule, but a morning drive gives you one more chance to see Serengeti animals before moving on.

The change in setting is part of the appeal. Serengeti is defined by open plains, while the Ngorongoro area brings you toward higher ground and the crater rim. The exact overnight property is not named, so confirm where you sleep and how far it is from the crater descent point.

This is also a good evening to prepare for the final morning. Keep your camera and small essentials ready, and ask the guide about the next day’s timing. The crater visit is not just a short stop beside a viewpoint. You descend to the crater floor for a game drive and picnic lunch.

Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater’s concentrated wildlife

After breakfast, you descend into Ngorongoro Crater for the final game drive. The crater is described as one of Africa’s most densely populated wildlife areas, with an estimated 30,000 animals and a year-round supply of water and food.

That concentration is what makes Ngorongoro such a powerful final stop. You may see wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo, and elephants in a compact setting. Predators include lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs, and the elusive leopard.

The crater is also one of the best places on this route to hope for black rhino. The wording matters: it is a possibility, not a promise. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, and a responsible guide will not pretend otherwise.

The game drive lasts about six hours, including a picnic lunch on the crater floor, before the late-afternoon drive back to Arusha. That makes the final day both rewarding and tiring. You finish the safari at the original meeting point, but the operator does not include a night in Arusha, so plan your onward stay separately.

Lodging, meals, and everyday comfort

This is not a bare-bones camping trip. The package includes accommodation during the safari, with self-contained rooms and hot showers, plus lodges and tents equipped for a comfortable overnight stay.

The available details do not specify how many nights are in lodges and how many are in tents. Ask this before booking if your sleeping arrangements matter. Also ask whether the tented rooms are permanent structures or mobile safari tents, since those can feel quite different.

Meals included are four breakfasts, four dinners, and five lunches. Lunch is supplied each day, including picnic lunch on days in Tarangire and Ngorongoro. Dinner and breakfast are covered on the overnight portions of the route.

Drinking water is limited to 1.5 liters per person per day. That is useful, but you may want to confirm how water is supplied and bring a refillable bottle. Beverages beyond the included water are personal expenses.

The strongest practical praise from past bookings concerns clean accommodation, tasty food, and comfortable vehicles. Those details matter more than a fancy room name after a ten-hour game drive. Still, comfort depends on the property used, so request the names and room descriptions in advance.

The guide and vehicle make the difference

Your driver-guide is central to the experience. The guide drives the 4×4, watches for animals, explains what you are seeing, manages the daily pace, and helps the route run smoothly.

A skilled spotter can change the day. Past safari parties singled out guides for sharp eyes, animal knowledge, patience, and effort. Some also appreciated help with extra activities such as local market and tribal visits, although optional tours are not included in the price.

The private setup gives you more say in the day than a shared vehicle. That does not remove the fixed park rules or long distances, but it can make the experience more personal. Talk openly about how much time you want at sightings, your interest in birds, and how early you are comfortable starting.

Tips for the driver-guide, cook, and other staff are not included. Set aside money for gratuities and ask the company for current guidance if you are unsure about customary amounts.

Who should book this safari?

I would choose this trip if you want Tanzania’s most famous northern parks in a short, organized package. It suits first-time safari visitors, couples, small private groups, and anyone who values a dedicated vehicle over a cheaper shared departure.

It also fits people who want a strong chance of seeing varied wildlife without arranging park fees, meals, accommodation, and transport separately. The mix of Tarangire elephants, Serengeti predators and plains, and Ngorongoro’s dense animal population gives you a broad first look at the region.

I would hesitate if you dislike long drives or need lots of unscheduled free time. Five days is enough to cover the route, but it leaves little room for delays or a slower pace. Someone seeking a relaxed lodge holiday should consider adding nights or choosing a longer itinerary.

The tour operates daily throughout the year, which is useful when you need to fit it around flights or a larger Tanzania trip. The best wildlife conditions can vary by season, so ask the operator what to expect on your dates, especially if the migration is a priority.

Should you book the $2,211.29 safari?

This is a good-value package if you want the logistics handled and prefer a private safari with meals, accommodation, park access, water, and a 4×4 included. The price becomes easier to justify when you consider how many major costs are bundled into five days.

Before booking, confirm the exact lodges or tented camps, the guide assignment, pickup details, and the daily driving plan. Also make room in your budget for flights, Arusha nights, transfers, drinks, personal costs, optional village or balloon activities, and tips.

I would book it for a compact first safari, especially if your priority is seeing several major parks with a private group. I would look for a longer route if you want fewer transfer days and more quiet time in the Serengeti.

FAQ

Where does the safari start?

The safari starts at 8:30 a.m. at Msumbi Coffees in the TFA Shopping Complex, JMFH+RR3, Sokoine Road, Arusha, Tanzania.

Where does the safari end?

The activity ends back at the starting meeting point in Arusha after the late-afternoon drive from Ngorongoro Crater.

Is this a private safari?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

Which national parks and areas are included?

The route includes Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and Ngorongoro Crater.

Is accommodation included?

Yes. Accommodation during the safari is included. The experience provides lodges and tents with self-contained rooms and hot showers, but the specific properties are not named.

Are meals included?

Yes. The package includes four breakfasts, four dinners, and five lunches.

Is drinking water included?

Yes. Each person receives 1.5 liters of drinking water per day.

Are flights and airport transfers included?

No. Domestic and international flights, airport transfers, and nights in Arusha are not included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded, and poor weather may result in a different date or a full refund.