3 Day Tarangire, Manyara and Ngorongoro Camping Safari
An affordable camping safari covering Tarangire, Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater, with fresh meals cooked at camp and nights under canvas.
- Duration
- 3 days
- Route
- Arusha – Tarangire – Mto wa Mbu – Lake Manyara – Karatu – Ngorongoro Crater – Arusha
- Start / end
- Starts and ends in Arusha (pick-up from your hotel or Kilimanjaro Airport)
- Best time
- June to October brings dry weather that suits camping, though the parks can be visited year-round with rain gear in the wet months.
- Trip style
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with driver-guide and cook, camping at established campsites in Mto wa Mbu and Karatu with tents provided.
Tour overview
This camping safari is built for travelers who want the full northern Tanzania experience without lodge prices: backpackers, students, adventurous couples and friends traveling together. You see three excellent parks in three days and sleep in tents at well-run campsites with hot showers and dining shelters.
Game viewing begins in Tarangire National Park with its elephants and baobabs, continues in the forests and floodplains of Lake Manyara National Park, and ends with a morning on the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater. A safari cook travels with you and prepares hearty meals at camp, while your guide handles the driving and spotting.
Camping keeps you close to the sounds of the African night and gives the trip a relaxed, sociable feel.
Highlights
- Three parks in three days at a budget-friendly level
- Elephants and baobab trees in Tarangire National Park
- Forest, hippos and lakeshore birds in Lake Manyara
- Morning game drive inside the Ngorongoro Crater
- Fresh meals prepared by your own safari cook
- Campsite nights with tents and equipment provided
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1Arusha to Tarangire National Park, Camp in Mto wa Mbu
Your guide and cook collect you in Arusha in the morning for the drive of about 2 to 2.5 hours to Tarangire National Park. Spend the day on game drives along the Tarangire River, where elephant herds gather among the baobabs and zebra, wildebeest, giraffe and buffalo graze the floodplains. Lions often rest in the shade and the birdlife is superb. Lunch is a packed picnic inside the park. In the late afternoon, drive about 1 hour to Mto wa Mbu, a lively village at the foot of the Rift Valley escarpment. Your crew sets up camp and prepares dinner while you freshen up.
Day 2Lake Manyara National Park, Camp in Karatu
After breakfast at camp, it is a short drive to the gate of Lake Manyara National Park. Explore the groundwater forest, home to large baboon troops and blue monkeys, before moving onto the floodplains to look for buffalo, elephant, giraffe and the park's occasional tree-climbing lions. Stop at the hippo pool and scan the lake for pelicans, storks and seasonal flamingos. After a picnic lunch, leave the park in the afternoon and drive about 45 minutes up the escarpment to Karatu. Settle into camp in the cooler highland air, enjoy a hot shower and a freshly cooked dinner.
Day 3Ngorongoro Crater and Return to Arusha
Pack up early and drive about 45 minutes to the Ngorongoro Crater rim, then descend to the crater floor for a morning game drive. The caldera's grasslands, swamps and lake support lion, spotted hyena, buffalo, elephant, wildebeest, zebra, hippo and a small population of black rhino. Golden jackals and crowned cranes are common sights too. Enjoy a picnic lunch at a designated site, then climb back up the crater wall in the early afternoon. The drive back to Arusha takes about 3 hours, and you will be dropped at your hotel in the late afternoon.
What is included
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Safari cook preparing fresh meals at camp
- All park entry and conservation fees as per the itinerary
- Ngorongoro Crater descent (crater service) fee
- Campsite fees
- Camping equipment: dome tents, foam mattresses and camp chairs
- Meals as listed in the itinerary
- Bottled drinking water in the vehicle throughout
- Pick-up and drop-off at your Arusha hotel
Not included
- International flights and Tanzania visa
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Tips for your guide and crew
- Sleeping bag (can be hired locally)
- Drinks other than drinking water
- Personal items, laundry and souvenirs
Good to know
- Campsites have shared toilets and showers; facilities are basic but generally clean.
- Bring a warm sleeping bag, as nights in Karatu can be chilly.
- A headlamp is very useful around camp after dark.
- Please tell us about any dietary requirements so your cook can plan meals.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need my own tent?
No. We provide dome tents, foam mattresses and camp chairs, and the crew sets up and takes down camp. You only need to bring or hire a sleeping bag.
Is camping in Tanzania safe?
These campsites are established, staffed sites outside the park boundaries and are widely used by safari groups. Your guide will brief you on camp routines, and you should simply keep the tent zipped and follow their advice.
Can this camping safari be shared with other travelers?
This itinerary is quoted as a private safari, but we can sometimes help match solo travelers or small groups on similar dates. Contact us and we will let you know what is possible.
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