4-Day Ngorongoro, Serengeti & Tarangire

Itinerary

Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire National Park

Morning:

• Pickup from your hotel in Arusha after breakfast
• Drive to Tarangire National Park (approx. 2.5–3 hours)
• Game drive en route to the park gate
• Enter the park for a full-day game drive
• Afternoon:
• Enjoy a packed picnic lunch at a designated site with views over the Tarangire River
• Continue the game drive focusing on the park’s highlights:
• Giant baobab trees
• Large herds of elephants
• Tree-climbing pythons (rare but possible)
• Birdwatching (Tarangire is home to 550+ bird species)

Evening:

• Drive to your lodge/campsite near Lake Manyara or Karatu
• Freshen up, enjoy dinner, and overnight stay

Day 2: Karatu to Serengeti National Park (via Ngorongoro Conservation Area)

Morning:

• Early breakfast and checkout
• Scenic drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area with en route game viewing
• Short stop at Ngorongoro Crater rim viewpoint for photos and orientation
• Descend toward the vast Serengeti Plains
• Optional visit to a Maasai boma (cultural village experience)

Afternoon:

• Game drive in central Serengeti (Seronera region)
• Excellent chance to spot the Big Five: lions, elephants, leopards, buffaloes, and rhinos
• Likely to see zebras, wildebeests, giraffes, and cheetahs
• Picnic lunch in the bush or at a designated site

Evening:

• Drive to your selected camp or lodge in the central Serengeti
• Dinner and overnight under the stars

Day 3: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Morning:

• Sunrise game drive in the Serengeti (great for predator activity)
• Return to the camp/lodge for breakfast
• Begin the journey back east toward Ngorongoro

Afternoon:

• Picnic lunch en route
• Optional stop at Olduvai Gorge (prehistoric archaeological site – entry extra)
• Arrive in Ngorongoro highlands
• Lodge/camp check-in near the crater rim

Evening:

• Enjoy views of the crater at sunset (weather permitting)
• Dinner and overnight stay in a lodge or campsite on the crater rim or Karatu

Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater Tour – Return to Arusha

Morning:

• Early breakfast and descend 600m into Ngorongoro Crater for a half-day crater floor game drive
• Expect to see:
• Black rhinos
• Hippos in freshwater pools
• Lions, hyenas, jackals
• Flamingos and other water birds on Lake Magadi
• Rich interactions between predators and herbivores in this World Heritage Site

Afternoon:

• Enjoy a picnic lunch in the crater floor picnic area
• Ascend from the crater and begin drive back to Arusha
• Drop-off at your hotel or Arusha Airport (late afternoon/evening)

What to Expect: Wildlife-rich Serengeti, Tarangire elephants, Ngorongoro crater diversity.

Best Time: June–Oct, Dec–Mar

Price

Budget

• 2 pax: High season from $1,100, Mid-season from $1,050, Low season from $1,000
• 3 pax: High season from $1,070, Mid-season from $1,020, Low season from $970
• 4 pax: High season from $1,040, Mid-season from $990, Low season from $940
• 5+ pax: High season from $1,010, Mid-season from $960, Low season from $910

Midrange

• 2 pax: High season from $1,300, Mid-season from $1,250, Low season from $1,200
• 3 pax: High season from $1,260, Mid-season from $1,210, Low season from $1,160
• 4 pax: High season from $1,220, Mid-season from $1,170, Low season from $1,120
• 5+ pax: High season from $1,180, Mid-season from $1,130, Low season from $1,080

Luxury

• 2 pax: High season from $1,600, Mid-season from $1,550, Low season from $1,450
• 3 pax: High season from $1,560, Mid-season from $1,510, Low season from $1,410
• 4 pax: High season from $1,520, Mid-season from $1,470, Low season from $1,370
• 5+ pax: High season from $1,480, Mid-season from $1,430, Low season from $1,330

Included

• Park fees
• Accommodation
• Meals
• Transport
• Guide
• Water

Excluded

• Flights
• Visas
• Tips