5-Day Mid-Range Best of Tanzania Safari
Overview
Five days. Four iconic destinations. An unforgettable mid-range safari experience.
This is crafted safari is designed for travelers seeking the very best of Tanzania’s Northern Circuit in comfortable mid-range accommodations. You will explore Tarangire National Park, famous for its massive elephant herds and ancient baobab trees. You will descend into the Ngorongoro Crater – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the best place in Tanzania to see the Big Five. You will journey into the Serengeti, the stage for the Great Migration and Africa’s highest concentration of big cats. And you will discover Lake Manyara, known for its flamingos, diverse birdlife, and tree-climbing lions.
With comfortable accommodations, expert guides, and a well-paced itinerary, this journey offers the perfect balance of adventure and value.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Arusha
Welcome to Tanzania! Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by a representative from Serengeti Wildlife Safari. You will be transferred to your accommodation in Arusha, where you can relax and prepare for the adventure ahead.
Busy Arusha is an essential part of safari life here in northern Tanzania, and most travellers pass through at some stage.
Meals: At your own expense | Drinking water included
Day 2: Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, your safari guide will collect you from your accommodation. You will then drive to Tarangire National Park (approximately 2.5 hours on good tarmac roads). The park is named after the Tarangire River which runs through it – the only source of water for wildlife in the region during the dry season.
Tarangire is well known for its elephant families, which can often be seen congregating by the river. You may also see giraffe, bushbuck, and hartebeest. These animals are closely followed by a range of predators, including lions and leopards. There are more breeding species of birds found in Tarangire than anywhere else on the planet. The huge and ancient baobab trees can be seen here – some of them are said to have lived for more than a thousand years.
Enjoy a picnic lunch inside the park. After your game drive, you will transit to your accommodation in Karatu.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drinking water included
Day 3: Ngorongoro Crater to Serengeti
After breakfast, you will drive up into the cooler regions of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. When you first see the Ngorongoro Crater, it looks like a forgotten world. Concealed by the steep volcanic walls is a pristine wilderness – including sweeping savannah, pockets of acacia woodland, and glistening lakes and swamps.
The crater was created when a large volcano exploded and collapsed in on itself two to three million years ago, covering an area of 260 square kilometres. The crater is famous for both its geological delights and for being a natural reserve that is home to some of the densest large mammal populations in the whole of the African continent.
After you descend into the crater, you will quickly find yourself amongst large numbers of wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, and more than 500 bird species. The crater provides you with the best chance of seeing the endangered black rhino.
You will then transit through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to the Serengeti, entering at the southern edge of the park.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drinking water included
Day 4: Serengeti to Karatu
The Serengeti is truly spectacular – famous for its vast open grasslands which allow for excellent sightings of wildlife. The Serengeti’s climate and vegetation have remained largely untouched for millions of years.
Whilst it boasts abundant wildlife, it is perhaps best known for the annual Great Migration. Vast numbers of wildebeest, accompanied by large numbers of zebra and antelope, move in an annual pattern, constantly seeking fresh grazing. The migration can be found during any given month – you just need to know where to look. In addition to the iconic landscapes, you have a good chance of encountering predators, and you may see lion, cheetah, and leopard. It is a truly life-changing experience.
In the afternoon, you will start your journey back to Karatu, hopefully enjoying more wonder along the way.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drinking water included
Day 5: Lake Manyara National Park – Return to Arusha
After breakfast, you will drive to Lake Manyara National Park, a small but diverse park 120 kilometres west of Arusha. Everything you will see here is on a different scale – it is both compact (one of the narrowest parks in Africa) and epic (the Great Rift Escarpment towers over Lake Manyara’s western boundary).
The park’s namesake is a shallow salt lake that covers a large area, flooding and drying with the seasons. It is home to thousands of wading birds, including flamingos and over 500 other bird species. You may see baboon and elephant in the park’s thick evergreen forest, and watch for the tree-climbing lions that have become famous throughout Africa.
Enjoy a picnic lunch inside the park. After your game drive, you will be dropped off at a place of your choosing – Arusha, Kilimanjaro International Airport, or Arusha Airport.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch | Drinking water included
End of Safari
Inclusions
Airport transfers (Kilimanjaro International Airport – Arusha – Kilimanjaro International Airport)
All national park entry fees and conservation fees
Ngorongoro Crater service fees
All game drives as described in the itinerary
Private 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof for optimal game viewing
Professional English-speaking driver-guide
All meals as indicated (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Bottled drinking water during game drives
Accommodation as described in the itinerary (mid-range)
Exclusions
International flights
Tanzania visa fees
Travel and medical insurance
Alcoholic and soft drinks
Tips and gratuities for driver-guide and lodge staff (suggested $15 per person per day)
Personal expenses (souvenirs, laundry, phone calls, etc.)
Optional safari activities:
Balloon Safari
Maasai Village Visit
Night Game Drive
Ngorongoro Crater Rim WalkAdd Your Heading Text Here
Olduvai Gorge and Museum Visit
