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4 days - Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire

The Big Five on the Serengeti and in the crater

A four-day northern circuit from the Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire, designed as a short add-on to a Zanzibar beach stay.

1 Country
2 Stops
3 Nights
Medium to Top Luxury Service level
  • The storyThe headline tells the journey in a few lines, one after another.
  • At a glanceThe figures beneath it are the essential facts of the trip.

The journey

When to go

Serengeti game viewing
Ngorongoro Crater
Tarangire day visit
Serengeti game viewing Ngorongoro Crater Tarangire day visit Avoid
June Primary window

Seronera is drying out and resident cats are easy to find, with the herds heading north and west. The floor dries out and the resident game is easy to find. Tarangire dries out and the elephants move back towards the river.

Dry season Cool mornings

The route

Serengeti Ngorongoro
01

Tanzania

Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and a day trip to Tarangire.

Fly from ZNZ airport to Seronera airstrip 08:00 - 11:00 am. (Departure times may vary according to seat availability).

Welcomed to Serengeti (SEU) by an English-speaking guide, each guest receives a bottle champagne and fruit as a gift.

We start safari game drive immediately after leaving the terminal. Serengeti - the pearl of Tanzania, where all the Big Five are gathered, and it is also home to the Big Migration. This park has always, at any time of the year, a super experience!

We will offer lunch for our guests right in the middle of nature, under the acacias in a picnic style. To lodge / camp we must return no later than 18:00.

Wake up early today and get ready for the day full of adventures. We'll begin our day with sunrise safari in Serengeti with following breakfast.

After some rest at your camp we'll hit the road towards Ngorongoro Conservation area. On the way you can optionally visit Masai Village. Once you arrived to the lodge - day is yours for chill out.

After very early breakfast you will drive to Ngorongoro Crater and spend full of the day there. We will have lunch next to the lake where hippos live.

The Eighth Wonder of the World will not leave you indifferent, the Big Five kindly will welcome you within the "walls" of its home.

After the day comes to an end, we will head to the lodge for a good rest.

Another exciting safari day in Tarangire National Park. This park is very famous for its large elephant population. Here Tarangire River is located, next to which the mighty baobabs are spread out. At the end of the safari, we will transfer the tourists to ARK airport for the flight back to ZNZ (16:30 - 18:00).

Choose your route

The Tarangire start: elephants, Serengeti and the Crater · 4 days / 3 nights · lower-cost option · from $2,300 per person sharingThis version starts at Tarangire for elephants and baobabs, then drives about four hours to the Serengeti plains for game drives, with a suggested Maasai village stop on the way. It finishes with a night in the Ngorongoro highlands before the crater. It has one night in each park rather than two nights at Ngorongoro, and a different order. Ask us to build this version around your dates.

The detail

About this trip

A short tour, Safari in Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Tarangire goes well with a holiday in Zanzibar. After enjoying the famous beaches of Spice Island, you can hop on a plane and soon find yourself in the heart of the Serengeti. You will visit the best national parks of Northern Tanzania: Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Tarangire. You will have four days to find the Big Five and experience the real Tanzania. After a spectacular safari in Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Taragire, you will return to the island to continue your holiday at one of the world's best beaches.

What is included

  • Safari in Serengeti  – see the Great Migration and Big Five.
  • Tarangire National Park – vast elephant herds & iconic baobab trees.
  • Ngorongoro Crater – explore the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera.
  • Wildlife Safari – spot lions, giraffes, zebras & diverse wildlife.
  • Big Five – encounter elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos & buffaloes.
  • Scenic Landscapes – stunning views of savannas, woodlands & crater lakes.
  • Maasai Culture – observe the traditional lifestyle of the Maasai people.

What is not included

  • International flights(From/to home)
  • Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
  • Tips(Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
  • Personal items(Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
  • Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What is the cost of Tanzanian visa?
Entry rules depend on your nationality and change, so check the official government source before you travel.
How do we travel between the Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire?
On day 1 you fly from Zanzibar to the Seronera airstrip, 08:00 to 11:00, where an English-speaking guide meets you and you game drive from the terminal. On day 2, after a sunrise safari and breakfast, you drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Day 3 is the crater, and day 4 is Tarangire, then a transfer to the airport for the 16:30 to 18:00 flight back to Zanzibar.
When is the best time for the Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire?
June to October score highest at all three, with dry, clear days, resident cats easy to find around Seronera, the crater floor dry, and elephants gathering along the Tarangire River. August is peak season. The other months are alternatives. March to May are the wettest, with muddy Tarangire tracks and scattered game, and April is the wettest month.
What does a typical day look like on this 4-day trip?
Day 1 combines the flight, a game drive from the airstrip, a picnic lunch under the acacias and a return to your lodge or camp by 18:00. Day 2 starts early with a sunrise safari and breakfast, a rest at camp, then the drive to Ngorongoro. Day 3 is a full day in the crater, with lunch beside the lake where hippos live.
What is optional on the Serengeti and Ngorongoro itinerary?
On day 2 you can add a visit to a Maasai village on the way to Ngorongoro, and once you arrive at the lodge, the rest of the day is yours to relax. Flight departure times may vary according to seat availability, so keep onward plans flexible. Dates and lodges are confirmed in your proposal.
Can you combine more than one country in a single trip?
Yes. Many of our journeys cross borders, for example Botswana with Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, or Cape Town with a safari and the Falls. Tell us the places you have in mind through the enquiry form and we will plan the route and transfers as one itinerary.
What meals are included on safari?
Meals depend on the camp or lodge and are set out in your itinerary. On safari they are usually taken at camp, with a picnic or packed meal on some days. Tell us about any dietary needs when you enquire.
Do I need vaccinations or medication before an African safari?
Health requirements depend on where you are travelling from and where you are going, and they change. Check your country's official travel health advice or TravelHealthPro (travelhealthpro.org.uk), and see a travel clinic well before you depart. Ask about malaria prevention early.
What should I pack for an African safari?
Lightweight, breathable clothing that covers your arms and legs helps against sun and insects, in neutral colours. Bring comfortable closed shoes (boots if you will walk), a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, binoculars and a camera with spare batteries and memory cards. Your itinerary lists any luggage limits for charter flights.
How do I stay safe on safari?
Your guides brief you on how to behave around wildlife. Follow their instructions, stay in the vehicle or camp area as told, and never approach or disturb animals. Conditions differ by country and change over time, so check your government's current travel advice before you book and again before you travel.

On this trip

Photographs from the route, not stock library scenery.

Elephant family feeding in lush green bush on safari in northern Tanzania
Safari in Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Tarangire: A 4-Day Wildlife-Filled Experience
Safari in Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Tarangire: A 4-Day Wildlife-Filled Experience
Safari in Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Tarangire: A 4-Day Wildlife-Filled Experience

Book it in this order

Work down the list. Each step depends on the one above it.

Field notes

The practical detail that decides whether a trip runs smoothly.

Three parks in four days

The trip moves from the Serengeti to the crater and ends in Tarangire. The days are full, so it works best as a short add-on to a Zanzibar beach stay.

Lunch in the wild

On day 1 lunch is served under the acacias in the Serengeti, and on day 3 beside the lake where hippos live in the crater.

An optional Maasai visit

On the way to Ngorongoro on day 2 you can stop at a Maasai village. It is optional, so tell your guide if you would like to go.

The crater in the morning

The Ngorongoro rim is high, so mornings are cold and often misty. A very early breakfast takes you down for a full day on the crater floor. Bring a fleece and a windproof layer.

Elephants on the last day

Tarangire is known for its large elephant herds and baobabs. You finish with a game drive before the transfer to Arusha.

Tipping

Tips are not included. The tipping guideline for this trip is US$10 per person per day for your guide and driver.

Plan this journey

Make this trip your own

Every journey is planned around your dates and your party. Tell us who is travelling and when, and a specialist will come back with a tailored itinerary and a quote. Payment is by invoice.

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