5-Day Private Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Tarangire Safari
Overview
Experience Tanzania’s famous Northern Safari Circuit on this exciting 5-day private camping safari through Tarangire National Park, the Serengeti, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Travel in a private safari vehicle accompanied by a professional guide/driver and safari chef. This budget-friendly camping adventure gives you plenty of time to explore the parks, enjoy authentic wilderness experiences, and discover Tanzania’s incredible wildlife without the cost of luxury accommodation.
The journey begins in Tarangire National Park, famous for its enormous elephant populations and ancient baobab trees. Continue through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area into the legendary Serengeti, where vast plains provide unforgettable wildlife encounters. The safari concludes with an early-morning descent into the Ngorongoro Crater, one of Africa’s most spectacular wildlife destinations.
This safari is ideal for adventurous travelers who want an authentic, social, and affordable African safari experience while still enjoying the convenience of a private safari vehicle, experienced guide, and dedicated chef.
Watch the experience
Gallery
Full itinerary
Arrival
You'll be collected from the airport. Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost. We will pick you up from your hotel at 8:30 am, we will drive to Tarangire National Park (2 hours drive) famous for its diverse landscape. The park is particularly known for the abundance of ancient baobab trees and having the largest concentration of elephants in the whole country. It provides unique chances to observe the interactions between elephant families. We will do a game drive through the park depending on where they are reported sightings of animals (mostly predators, lions, cheetah and leopards as they are harder to spot) Later on, we will go to the Tarangire River picnic site and enjoy the beautiful view of the river and animals while having lunch. Small monkeys and baboons will try to scare you off your lunch but there is nothing to worry about. After lunch, proceed with the game drive to the evening before camping in Tarangire in a few crowds camp unlike central Serengeti camps its a pure wild camping experience. Accomodation : Budget camping (Inside Tarangire NP) Meals & Drinks : Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included) Drinking water & beer and wine (Other drinks not included)
Tarangire
We will start the day early with a game drive in Tarangire to the late morning, doing a game drive in Tarangire finest hours the early morning, will then head to mto wa mbu where will have lunch & relax a little before we embark on a cultural trip with our bikes will cycle through small towns to see banana farms, rice plantations, local tribes will also go through some forests & waterfalls in the area setting back to the lodge in the evening. Main destination : Tarangire National Park Accommodation : Fig Tree Lodge Budget hotel located 1-2hr drive from Tarangire NP
Central Serengeti National Park
After breakfast at 8:30 am, you will drive from Mto wa Mbu to Serengeti which takes 6 hours (includes all stops) as it transits through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Stop at: Ngorongoro Crater Duration: 20 minutes Visit a Maasai village. Its optional to visit (not included in the price) and explore the culture of the great Maasai tribe known for chasing lions of their kill, hunting lions to be considered a warrior and drinking raw animal blood. Though these traditions are a thing of the past with exception of drinking blood, you can surely learn something. Duration: 20-45 minutes Many clients opt against it. Entrance is 10 – 20usd Serengeti National Park Arrive in the late afternoon and do a game drive in Seronera (centre of Serengeti) until late evening. Experience the sunset in Serengeti while having a close view of wild animals. If you're lucky enough, you'll see a predator hunting or on a kill.
Ngorongoro Highlands
After an early breakfast at 6:30 am, you will go on an early game drive seeing a lot of animals till the afternoon. We will then head to camp for lunch and packing. Then we'll do a game drive while we exit the Serengeti heading to Simba Campsite (2 hours drive) near rim of Ngorongoro Crater. Note; animals can be spotted on campsites.
Ngorongoro Crater, Depature
After an early breakfast, you will descend the crater at 6:15 am on a journey to find the black rhino. Rhinos are the hardest to spot in the beautiful crater as most animals will be easier to spot from this park due to it being a floor crater. After lunch, you will do a game drive and ascend from the crater floor at around 12:45 pm. Head to the camp and pack for the trip back to Arusha town.
What's included
- Park fees
- All activities
- All accommodation
- Camping equipment
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Meals (As specified)
- Drinksb(As specified)
- Sleeping bag
Not included
- International flights
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Bath towels
- Personal items
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
Practical information
- What to bring
- Comfortable, lightweight clothing Warm jacket or fleece for cold mornings and evenings Comfortable closed shoes or hiking shoes Hat or cap and sunglasses Sunscreen and insect repellent Personal toiletries and medication Camera and extra batteries or power bank Binoculars for wildlife viewing Reusable water bottle Small backpack for daily game drives Sleeping bag suitable for camping Headlamp or flashlight Light rain jacket, especially during rainy seasons Valid passport and required travel documents
- Meeting point
- Pickup is available from your hotel or accommodation in Arusha. For guests arriving by air, airport pickup is included according to the safari arrangements. On the first day, the safari team will collect you from your hotel at approximately 8:30 AM before departing for Tarangire National Park. Accommodation in Arusha before the safari can also be arranged at an additional cost. At the end of the safari, you will be transferred back to Arusha, with airport transfer included according to your travel arrangements.
- Accessibility
- This safari involves several hours of road travel, uneven terrain, camping, walking around campsites, and game drives on rough and unpaved safari roads. The safari may therefore be challenging for guests with significant mobility limitations. Guests with accessibility requirements should contact us before booking so that we can discuss suitable arrangements, vehicle access, camping requirements, and additional assistance.
- Cancellation policy
- Cancellation terms may vary depending on the booking date, accommodation, park fees, camping arrangements, and other prepaid services. We recommend cancelling as early as possible if your travel plans change. Refund eligibility will depend on the applicable supplier and park policies. Certain park fees, permits, camping fees, accommodation, and prepaid services may be non-refundable. Please contact us as soon as possible if you need to cancel or modify your safari.
Destination guide
About this destination
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire is famous for its large elephant herds, ancient baobab trees, and beautiful landscapes. The Tarangire River attracts wildlife throughout the year, creating excellent opportunities to see elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and many other species.
Mto wa Mbu
Mto wa Mbu offers an opportunity to experience local Tanzanian culture beyond traditional game drives. The area is surrounded by farms, villages, plantations, forests, and waterfalls, making it an ideal place for a cultural and cycling experience.
Serengeti National Park
The Serengeti is one of Africa’s most famous wildlife destinations and is renowned for its vast plains and spectacular wildlife. The park is home to lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, hyenas, and many other species.
Camping inside the Serengeti provides a more immersive wilderness experience, allowing you to experience the sounds and atmosphere of the African bush after sunset.
Ngorongoro Crater
The Ngorongoro Crater is one of Tanzania’s most extraordinary wildlife destinations. Its enclosed crater floor supports a remarkable concentration of animals, making wildlife viewing particularly rewarding.
An early-morning crater descent offers excellent opportunities to see lions, elephants, buffalo, hippos, zebras, wildebeest, flamingos, and, with some luck, the endangered black rhino.
Best time to visit
Tanzania is a year-round safari destination, although different seasons offer different experiences.
June to October is generally one of the most popular periods for safari because of the dry weather, good wildlife visibility, and easier access to many areas. Wildlife often gathers around remaining water sources.
November to February brings greener landscapes and excellent wildlife viewing. This period can also provide opportunities to experience the wildebeest calving season in the Serengeti.
March to May is the main rainy season. The landscapes are lush and green, and visitor numbers are generally lower, although some roads and camping conditions can be more challenging.
For the best experience, your travel dates can be selected according to your preferred combination of wildlife, weather, migration experiences, and budget.
Getting there
The safari begins in Arusha, one of Tanzania’s main gateways to the Northern Safari Circuit.
Guests can reach Arusha through Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK). Airport pickup is included according to the safari arrangements.
From Arusha, the journey continues by private safari vehicle to Tarangire National Park. The route then continues through Mto wa Mbu and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area before reaching the Serengeti.
After exploring the Serengeti, the safari continues toward the Ngorongoro Highlands before the final game drive inside Ngorongoro Crater. After the crater experience, you will return to Arusha, with airport transfer included.
The long road journeys are an important part of the adventure, offering opportunities to experience Tanzania’s changing landscapes, villages, farms, and wildlife areas along the way.
Traveller reviews
Verified reviews from guests who booked with Zan Travels.
Google reviews
