4 Days Safari
Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti
- Day 1 – Drive to Tarangire for game drive with picnic lunch. Dinner and overnight.
- Day 2 – Breakfast, Proceed to Serengeti with picnic lunch. Dinner and overnight.
- Day 3 – Breakfast, game drive in Serengeti with picnic lunch. Return to Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Dinner and overnight.
- Day 4 – Breakfast, Drive to Ngorongoro Crater for game drive with picnic lunch. Return to Arusha.
Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire National Park
- Morning: Depart from Arusha and drive to Tarangire National Park, which is about a 2–3-hour drive (approximately 120 km/75 miles). This park is known for its large elephant herds, ancient baobab trees, and the seasonal Tarangire River, which attracts a wide variety of wildlife.
- Midday: Enjoy a game drive through the park, which offers excellent opportunities to see elephants, lions, leopards, zebras, giraffes, and various bird species. Tarangire is especially popular during the dry season when animals congregate around the river.
- Lunch: Have a picnic lunch within the park, surrounded by the stunning landscapes and wildlife.
- Afternoon: Continue exploring the park, watching for its unique birdlife and predators like lions and leopards.
- Evening: Dinner and overnight stay at a lodge or camp in or near Tarangire.
Day 2: Tarangire to Serengeti National Park
- Morning: After breakfast, drive towards Serengeti National Park. This is a longer drive, approximately 5-6 hours (around 260 km/162 miles), but it offers scenic views and cultural insights along the way.
- Midday: Enjoy a picnic lunch en route, either within the park or along the journey, taking in the changing landscapes as you transition from the woodlands of Tarangire to the vast plains of the Serengeti.
- Afternoon: Arrive in Serengeti National Park and begin your exploration of this iconic safari destination. The Serengeti is renowned for its endless plains and the Great Migration, where millions of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles move in search of fresh grazing grounds.
- Evening: Dinner and overnight stay at a lodge or camp in the Serengeti. Enjoy the sounds of the African wilderness as you relax after your day’s journey.
Day 3: Serengeti National Park to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
- Morning: After breakfast, set out for a full day game drive in the Serengeti. Depending on the time of year, you may witness different parts of the Great Migration, see predators like lions, cheetahs, and hyenas, or spot elephants, giraffes, and various antelope species.
- Lunch: Have a picnic lunch in the park, maximizing your time in the field for wildlife viewing.
- Afternoon: Continue your game drive, taking in the diverse ecosystems of the Serengeti, including riverine forests, kopjes (rocky outcrops), and vast grasslands.
- Late Afternoon: Depart the Serengeti and drive towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The drive takes approximately 2-3 hours, depending on the lodge location within the conservation area.
- Evening: Dinner and overnight stay at a lodge on the rim of Ngorongoro Crater. The views from the crater rim are spectacular, offering a preview of the wildlife-rich area you’ll explore the next day.
Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha
- Morning: After breakfast, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive. The crater is a natural enclosure for a variety of wildlife, and it’s one of the best places in Tanzania to see the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino). The 600-meter-deep crater spans over 20 km (12 miles) in diameter, creating a unique and diverse ecosystem.
- Highlights: Spot black rhinos, one of the rarest animals in Africa, along with lions, hippos, flamingos, and large herds of zebras and wildebeests. The crater floor features forests, a lake, and open savannah, providing habitats for a wide range of animals.
- Lunch: Enjoy a picnic lunch within the crater, surrounded by breathtaking views and abundant wildlife.
- Afternoon: After lunch, begin your drive back to Arusha, which takes approximately 3-4 hours (around 180 km/112 miles). The route offers beautiful views of the Great Rift Valley and rural Tanzanian life.
- Evening: Arrive in Arusha, where your safari concludes. Depending on your travel plans, you can be dropped off at your hotel or the airport.
Key Highlights of the Safari:
- Diverse Ecosystems: Experience the different landscapes and wildlife of Tarangire’s woodlands and river valleys, the Serengeti’s vast plains, and Ngorongoro’s unique crater ecosystem.
- Wildlife Encounters: See a wide variety of animals, including elephants, lions, rhinos, giraffes, and countless bird species. The Serengeti offers a chance to witness the Great Migration, depending on the time of year.
- Scenic Beauty: Enjoy stunning views from the Ngorongoro Crater rim, the expansive Serengeti plains, and the iconic baobab trees of Tarangire.
- Cultural Insights: Optional visits to Maasai villages along the route provide a glimpse into the traditional lifestyle of one of Tanzania’s most famous tribes.
This 4-day safari offers a compact yet immersive experience of Northern Tanzania’s top wildlife destinations, making it ideal for travellers looking to explore diverse ecosystems and iconic landscapes in a short amount of time.