3 Day Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater Safari
The essential northern Tanzania safari in three days: big cats on the open plains of central Serengeti and a dawn game drive inside the Ngorongoro Crater.
- Duration
- 3 days
- Route
- Arusha – Ngorongoro Highlands – Central Serengeti – Karatu – Ngorongoro Crater – Arusha
- Start / end
- Starts and ends in Arusha (pick-up from your hotel or Kilimanjaro Airport)
- Best time
- Central Serengeti is rewarding year-round thanks to resident wildlife, with the driest and easiest conditions usually from June to October.
- Trip style
- Private safari in a 4x4 Land Cruiser with your own driver-guide, staying in comfortable mid-range lodges or tented camps.
Tour overview
If you want to see the Serengeti but only have three days, this itinerary gets you there. It is designed for travelers who are happy with full days on the road in exchange for two of Africa's most famous wildlife areas.
You drive across the Ngorongoro highlands and down onto the endless plains of the central Serengeti, where the Seronera River valley is one of the best areas in Africa for lion, leopard and cheetah throughout the year. After a night in the park and a morning game drive, you head back to the highlands to overnight near the Ngorongoro Crater, ready for an early descent on the final day.
Your guide and private Land Cruiser stay with you throughout, and the itinerary is paced to make the most of the best game-viewing hours.
Highlights
- Game drives in the central Serengeti's Seronera Valley, famous for big cats
- Scenic drive across the Ngorongoro highlands and Maasai grazing lands
- A night inside the Serengeti with sunset and sunrise in the bush
- Early morning descent into the Ngorongoro Crater
- Good chances for the Big Five across the trip
- Private vehicle and guide with flexible pacing
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1Arusha to Central Serengeti
Set off early from Arusha after pick-up from your hotel. The drive west passes Mto wa Mbu and climbs to Karatu before entering the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where you stop at a viewpoint over the crater. The road then descends through Maasai grazing lands to Naabi Hill Gate, the southern entrance to the Serengeti. From here, game drive across the short-grass plains toward Seronera in the heart of the park, watching for gazelle, topi, hyena and cheetah along the way. The full journey takes roughly 7 to 8 hours including stops and a picnic lunch. Arrive at your camp in time for a sunset drink and dinner.
Day 2Serengeti Morning Game Drive to Karatu
Wake early for a morning game drive along the Seronera River, a reliable area for lion prides, leopards resting in sausage trees, elephants, giraffe and hippos. Your guide will use local knowledge to follow the best sightings of the day. Return to camp for a late breakfast or enjoy a bush breakfast, then begin game viewing your way out of the park toward Naabi Hill Gate. Continue back through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, enjoying views of the highlands, and arrive at your lodge near the crater rim or in Karatu in the late afternoon, about 5 hours of driving with game viewing. Relax, enjoy dinner and rest.
Day 3Ngorongoro Crater and Return to Arusha
After an early breakfast, drive to the crater rim and descend onto the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater as the sun rises over the walls. Spend the morning exploring grassland, swamp, the Lerai forest and the shores of Lake Magadi, looking for lion, buffalo, elephant, hyena, wildebeest, zebra and the endangered black rhino. Stop for a picnic lunch near the hippo pool, then climb out of the crater in the early afternoon. The drive back to Arusha takes about 3 hours, and you will be dropped at your hotel or Kilimanjaro Airport in the late afternoon or early evening.
What is included
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof for game viewing
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- All park entry and conservation fees as per the itinerary
- Ngorongoro Crater descent (crater service) fee
- Accommodation as listed, or similar
- Meals as listed in the itinerary
- Bottled drinking water in the vehicle throughout
- Pick-up and drop-off at your Arusha hotel or Kilimanjaro International Airport
- Government taxes and VAT
Not included
- International flights and Tanzania visa
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Tips for your guide and crew
- Alcoholic and soft drinks at lodges
- Personal items, laundry and souvenirs
- Optional activities such as a hot-air balloon safari
- Accommodation in Arusha before or after the safari
Good to know
- Day 1 is a long drive; the route is scenic and broken up by stops, but please plan on a full day.
- Roads inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Serengeti are unpaved and can be bumpy.
- A hot-air balloon flight over the Serengeti can be added on Day 2 for an additional cost.
- Bring layers: Serengeti afternoons are warm, while Ngorongoro mornings are cool.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see the Great Migration on a 3-day safari?
The migration moves across a huge area, and in three days you are mainly in the central Serengeti. You may see large herds when they pass through the central region, but for the calving or river crossings a longer safari is usually better.
Is it possible to fly to the Serengeti instead of driving?
Yes. On request we can arrange a scheduled light-aircraft flight from Arusha to Seronera on Day 1 to cut out the long drive, and your guide will meet you at the airstrip. Ask us for a quote.
What animals live in the central Serengeti year-round?
The Seronera area has resident lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, giraffe, buffalo, hippo and many antelope species. This makes it a reliable choice whatever the month.
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