Tarangire – Serengeti – Ngorongoro Crater
Duration: 3 nights / 4 days
Destinations: Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater
Start/End: Arusha
Perfect for: Time-conscious travellers, couples, families, and those combining with Zanzibar
This expertly curated 4-day Northern Tanzania safari is ideal for travellers short on time who still want to experience three of East Africa’s most iconic wildlife destinations. In just four days, you’ll visit the elephant-filled landscapes of Tarangire, the vast game-rich plains of the Serengeti, and the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best places in Africa to spot the Big Five.
Designed for efficiency and impact, this itinerary is perfect as a standalone adventure or as a prelude to a Zanzibar beach holiday. You’ll enjoy handpicked accommodation, expert guiding, and immersive wildlife encounters throughout — all with minimal internal travel time and maximum safari magic.
Drive time: Approx. 2.5 hours
Accommodation: Tarangire (lodge or tented camp)
Your adventure begins with a morning pick-up in Arusha and a scenic drive to Tarangire National Park. Famed for its large elephant herds, ancient baobab trees, and rich concentration of wildlife during the dry season, Tarangire offers an excellent introduction to northern Tanzania’s ecosystems. Enjoy a game drive and picnic lunch in the park, followed by more wildlife viewing as you make your way to your lodge or tented camp.
Highlights:
– Exceptional elephant sightings
– Giant baobab trees and riverine landscapes
– Lions, giraffes, buffalo, and diverse birdlife
Drive time: Approx. 6–7 hours (via Ngorongoro Conservation Area)
Accommodation: Serengeti (central or seasonal camp)
After breakfast, depart Tarangire and travel north through the Ngorongoro highlands, passing Maasai villages and dramatic escarpments. Enter Serengeti National Park — Tanzania’s crown jewel — by early afternoon. Enjoy a picnic lunch en route, followed by a game drive across the vast plains as you make your way to your Serengeti camp.
Highlights:
– Scenic journey through diverse highland terrain
– First sightings of Serengeti’s iconic wildlife
– Optional stop at Olduvai Gorge
Drive time: Approx. 3–4 hours
Accommodation: Near Ngorongoro Crater (Karatu or crater rim)
Begin your day with a sunrise game drive in the Serengeti, when predators are most active and the light is ideal for photography. After breakfast, continue eastward through the park and into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Arrive at your lodge in the afternoon, located either on the crater rim or nearby in Karatu, ready for the next day’s early descent into the crater.
Highlights:
– Early-morning game drive in the Serengeti
– Beautiful transition from savannah to crater highlands
– Optional cultural visits (time-permitting)
Crater tour: Early morning
Drive back to Arusha: Approx. 4.5 hours
Optional: Drop-off at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
Rise early for a full morning game drive in the Ngorongoro Crater — an ancient volcanic caldera teeming with wildlife. This natural enclosure offers a rare chance to see the endangered black rhino alongside large prides of lions, herds of buffalo, and resident elephants. After a picnic lunch within the crater, return to Arusha in the late afternoon.
Highlights:
– Unmatched game viewing in a stunning setting
– Big Five possibilities in a single morning
– End-of-trip drop-off in Arusha or at JRO airport
This 4-day itinerary is a powerful safari experience in a short timeframe — perfect for combining with a Kilimanjaro trek or a Zanzibar beach holiday.
