4 Day Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Safari
Four days on northern Tanzania's highlights: Tarangire's elephants, two nights in the Serengeti and a final morning in the Ngorongoro Crater.
- Duration
- 4 days
- Route
- Arusha – Tarangire – Karatu – Serengeti – Ngorongoro Crater – Arusha
- Start / end
- Starts and ends in Arusha (pick-up from your hotel or Kilimanjaro Airport)
- Best time
- June to October is excellent for dry-season game viewing, and the central Serengeti offers strong wildlife year-round.
- Trip style
- Private safari in a 4x4 Land Cruiser with your own driver-guide, staying in comfortable mid-range lodges and tented camps.
Tour overview
This four-day safari is the shortest itinerary that comfortably includes two nights in the Serengeti, which makes it a favorite for first-time visitors who want the classic northern circuit in a tight time frame.
You start among the elephants and baobabs of Tarangire National Park, then cross the Ngorongoro highlands to the Serengeti for two nights and a full day of game drives, giving you time to follow big cats and, depending on the season, the migrating herds. On the final morning you drive out to the Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive before heading back to Arusha.
With a private vehicle, your own guide and comfortable lodges, it balances adventure and comfort well for couples, families and small groups.
Highlights
- Elephant herds and baobabs in Tarangire National Park
- Two nights in the Serengeti with a full day of game drives
- Chance to see lion, leopard and cheetah on the Serengeti plains
- Seasonal encounters with the wildebeest migration
- Game drive on the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater
- Private vehicle and guide throughout
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1Arusha to Tarangire National Park
After pick-up from your Arusha hotel or Kilimanjaro Airport, drive about 2 to 2.5 hours to Tarangire National Park. Spend the day on game drives through the river valley, where large elephant herds move between the baobabs and zebra, wildebeest, buffalo and giraffe gather near the water. Lions are regularly seen and the birdlife is rich and colorful. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the park and continue exploring through the afternoon. Leave the park in the late afternoon and drive about 1.5 hours to Karatu in the Ngorongoro highlands, where you check in to your lodge for dinner and the night.
Day 2Karatu to the Serengeti
After breakfast, drive into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and stop at the rim viewpoint for your first look down into the crater. Continue across the highlands and down through Maasai grazing country to Naabi Hill Gate, the southern entrance of the Serengeti. From here, the game drive begins across open plains toward the central Serengeti, with stops for gazelle, hartebeest, hyena and perhaps cheetah. The drive takes about 4 to 5 hours including game viewing and a picnic lunch. Arrive at your camp in the late afternoon with time for a short sunset drive before dinner.
Day 3Full Day in the Serengeti
Spend a full day exploring the Serengeti with your guide. Set out early to catch predators at their most active, following the Seronera River and its kopjes, where lion prides rest on the granite rocks and leopards lounge in the trees. Depending on the season, your guide may head toward areas where the wildebeest and zebra herds are grazing. Return to camp for lunch or take a picnic so you can stay out in the bush for longer. Continue game viewing in the afternoon, looking for elephants, giraffe, hippos and the many antelope species, before returning to camp for dinner.
Day 4Ngorongoro Crater and Return to Arusha
Leave camp very early with a packed breakfast and game drive out of the Serengeti toward the Ngorongoro highlands, a journey of about 3 hours. Descend onto the crater floor for a game drive among lion, buffalo, elephant, hyena, wildebeest and zebra, scanning the grasslands for black rhino and the shores of Lake Magadi for flamingos. Enjoy a picnic lunch near the hippo pool before ascending the crater wall in the early afternoon. The drive back to Arusha takes about 3 hours, and you will be dropped at your hotel or the airport in the evening. This is a long but rewarding final day.
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 4 is a long day with an early start; it is well worth it, but plan for a late arrival in Arusha.
- If you prefer shorter days, we can add a night near the crater rim to make this a 5-day safari.
- A hot-air balloon safari over the Serengeti can be booked for Day 3 at extra cost.
- Pack layers for cool highland mornings and warm afternoons on the plains.
Frequently asked questions
Where will the wildebeest migration be during my safari?
The herds usually spend December to March in the southern Serengeti, move through the central and western areas around April to June, and are typically in the north from July to October. Your guide will advise on how close you can get during your dates.
Is the Serengeti worth it on a 4-day safari?
Yes. Two nights in the park gives you a full day there, which is enough for excellent big-cat sightings and a real sense of the Serengeti's scale. It is a big step up from a single overnight.
Can we fly back to Arusha instead of driving?
It is possible to fly from a Serengeti airstrip back to Arusha, but you would then miss the Ngorongoro Crater. We can tailor the route if you prefer fewer hours in the vehicle.
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