4 Day Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater Safari

Four unforgettable days exploring Tanzania’s most iconic wildlife destinations

Overview

This 4-day safari is designed for travelers who want maximum wildlife variety, authentic safari pacing, and iconic landscapes without rushing the experience.

You’ll begin in Tarangire National Park, home to vast elephant herds and ancient baobab trees. From there, the journey continues into the legendary Serengeti National Park, where open savannahs stretch endlessly and predators rule the plains. The safari concludes with a descent into the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater, a natural amphitheater packed with wildlife year-round.

This itinerary balances game drives, scenic transitions, and comfortable lodges — perfect for first-time safari travelers, couples, photographers, and wildlife lovers seeking a classic Northern Circuit experience.

Highlights

  • Explore three of Tanzania’s top safari destinations in one seamless journey
  • Witness large elephant herds and iconic baobab landscapes in Tarangire
  • Enjoy extensive game drives in the heart of the Serengeti
  • High chance of spotting the Big Five, including lions, elephants, and buffalo
  • Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, one of the densest wildlife areas on Earth
  • Travel with a professional safari guide and private 4×4 vehicle
  • Carefully selected lodges or tented camps close to wildlife areas

Itinerary

Day 1: Arusha / Moshi → Tarangire National Park

After an early morning pickup, you’ll drive toward Tarangire National Park for your first safari experience. The park is renowned for its towering baobab trees, seasonal swamps, and some of the largest elephant populations in Tanzania.

Enjoy a full game drive, spotting giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, lions, and a rich variety of birdlife.
In the late afternoon, you’ll exit the park and head to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Lodge or tented camp near Tarangire
Meals: Lunch & Dinner

Day 2: Tarangire → Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, you’ll journey toward the Serengeti, passing through the scenic highlands and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. As the landscape opens into endless plains, you’ll know you’ve arrived in one of the world’s most famous wildlife ecosystems.

An afternoon game drive introduces you to the Serengeti’s rich wildlife — from large herbivore herds to powerful predators resting under acacia trees.

Overnight: Safari lodge or tented camp inside Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3: Full Day Serengeti Game Drives

This day is dedicated entirely to exploring the Serengeti. Depending on the season, you may encounter vast migrating herds or focus on resident wildlife such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, and hippos.

Your guide will tailor game drives to wildlife movement, ensuring optimal sightings while enjoying the sheer scale and silence of the African savannah.

Overnight: Safari lodge or tented camp inside Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Serengeti → Ngorongoro Crater → Arusha

After an early breakfast, you’ll drive toward Ngorongoro Crater. Descend 600 meters into this UNESCO-listed caldera for a spectacular game drive.

The crater floor hosts an incredible concentration of wildlife, including black rhinos, lions, buffalo, hippos, flamingos, and more — all within a compact and scenic setting.

After lunch, you’ll ascend the crater and return to Arusha, marking the end of your safari.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Includes

  • Private 4×4 Safari Vehicle with pop-up roof for game viewing
  • Professional English-speaking driver/guide (French or German on request)
  • All park entry fees 
  • Accommodations
  • Meals
  • Bottled drinking water during game drives
  • Hotel pick-up & drop-off from Arusha or Moshi
  • Government taxes and levies

Excludes

  • International flights to/from Tanzania
  • Domestic flights (e.g., Dar es Salaam ↔ Arusha) unless added to your package
  • Travel insurance & medical coverage
  • Visa fees and personal travel documents
  • Alcoholic and premium beverages
  • Tips & gratuities for driver/guide (customary but discretionary)
  • Optional activities 
  • Personal expenses (laundry, phone calls, souvenirs)

FAQ

Yes. This itinerary is one of the best introductions to Tanzania safaris. It covers three top parks, offers excellent wildlife sightings, and is well-paced for travelers new to safari experiences.

Accommodation is flexible. You can choose between mid-range lodges, luxury lodges, or tented camps, all carefully selected for comfort, safety, and proximity to the parks.

This safari is not physically demanding. Game drives are done in a vehicle, with minimal walking. It’s suitable for families, seniors, and travelers of varying fitness levels.

You can expect to see elephants, lions, buffalo, zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, hippos, and many antelope species. In Ngorongoro Crater, there is also a strong chance of spotting the rare black rhino.

This safari runs year-round. The dry season (June–October) offers excellent wildlife visibility, while the green season (November–May) features lush landscapes, fewer crowds, and great birdlife.

By default, this safari is private, meaning the vehicle and guide are exclusively for your group. Shared options can be arranged upon request.

Absolutely. The itinerary can be customized by adjusting accommodation level, adding extra days, or combining the safari with Zanzibar beach holidays after completion.

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