5-Day Tanzania Safari Tarangire , Serengeti and Ngorongoro

Day 1: Arrival in Arusha – Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer to Kalama Lodge

Airport meet & greet Safari briefing Mount Meru views

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK), you will be met by your professional safari guide outside the arrivals hall. After a warm welcome, you will be transferred to Kalama Lodge in Arusha, a comfortable lodge located at the base of Mount Meru. The drive takes approximately 45 minutes from JRO or 15 minutes from Arusha Airport. After checking in, you can relax and recover from your journey. In the evening, your guide will provide a short safari briefing covering the itinerary, wildlife expectations, and safety guidelines. Arusha is a relaxed safari town that serves as the main gateway to Tanzania's northern national parks. Enjoy dinner and overnight at Kalama Lodge.

Accommodation: Kalama Lodge, Arusha – Request rates

Day 2: Arusha to Tarangire National Park – Full Day Game Drive

Elephant herds Baobab trees Tarangire River

After an early breakfast, you will depart Arusha and drive to Tarangire National Park, a journey of approximately 2 to 3 hours. The park is named after the Tarangire River that flows through it, providing a permanent water source that attracts vast numbers of wildlife, especially during the dry season (June to October). Tarangire is famous for its large elephant herds, often numbering over 300 individuals, as well as its iconic ancient baobab trees that dot the landscape. Upon arrival, you will begin a full-day game drive with a packed lunch inside the park.

As you explore different areas of the park, you can expect to see elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, wildebeest, impalas, waterbucks, and if lucky, leopards and cheetahs. Tarangire is also a birdwatcher's paradise with over 550 bird species recorded, including the colorful yellow-collared lovebird, the ground hornbill, and the fish eagle. The park's swamps and riverbanks are particularly rich in wildlife. After a full day of game viewing, you will head to Lake Manyara Seran Lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Lake Manyara Seran Lodge – Request rates

Day 3: Tarangire to Serengeti National Park – Afternoon Game Drive

Endless plains Predator action Great Migration

After breakfast, you will depart Tarangire and travel towards Serengeti National Park via the scenic Ngorongoro Highlands and Maasai villages. The drive offers breathtaking landscapes of rolling hills, volcanic craters, and traditional bomas (manyattas) of the Maasai people. You will pass through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with opportunities to see Maasai herders and their cattle. Upon entering the Serengeti via the Naabi Hill Gate, you will enjoy an afternoon game drive across the endless plains of the park. Serengeti is one of the most famous wildlife destinations in the world, known for its rich predator population and the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebras.

Depending on the time of year, you may witness large herds of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles, as well as predators such as lions, cheetahs, leopards, and hyenas. The Serengeti ecosystem spans over 30,000 square kilometers and is home to an estimated 3,000 lions, 1,000 leopards, and 7,000 hyenas. Other common sightings include elephants, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, and over 500 bird species. Later in the evening, you will proceed to Serengeti Serena Lodge for dinner and overnight stay. The lodge is perched on a hilltop with stunning views of the western Serengeti plains.

Accommodation: Serengeti Serena Lodge – Request rates

Day 4: Serengeti Morning Game Drive – Transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Sunrise safari Predator activity Crater rim lodge

You will start the day with an early morning game drive in Serengeti National Park, departing at 06:00. This is the best time to see predators such as lions, cheetahs, and hyenas before they retreat from hunting activity as the sun rises. You may witness a lion pride finishing a kill, a solitary leopard returning to its lair, or hyenas playing at their den. The morning light also offers exceptional photography conditions. After the drive, you will return to the lodge for a full breakfast. Then, you will check out and begin your journey towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, passing through scenic highlands and wildlife corridors.

Along the way, you may stop at the Olduvai Gorge – known as the "Cradle of Mankind" – where the Leakey family discovered hominid fossils dating back 1.8 million years. An optional visit to the small museum can be arranged (extra fee). Upon arrival in the Ngorongoro area, you will check in at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge, located directly on the crater rim. The lodge offers spectacular views into the crater below, as well as a cooler highland atmosphere. Enjoy dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Serena Lodge – Request rates

Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive – Return to Arusha

UNESCO World Heritage Black rhino Big Five

After an early breakfast, you will descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a full-day game drive with a packed lunch. The crater is the world's largest intact volcanic caldera, formed approximately 2.5 million years ago. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best wildlife viewing destinations in Africa due to its dense concentration of animals in a natural enclosed ecosystem. The crater floor covers 260 square kilometers and is home to around 25,000 large animals, including the rare black rhino, large prides of lions, elephants, buffalo, spotted hyenas, and hippos in the Gorigor Swamp.

Your guide will take you to different zones of the crater: the Lake Magadi area (alkaline lake attracting flamingos), the Lerai Forest (leopard territory), the Gorigor Swamp (hippos), and the open grasslands (zebras, wildebeests, and gazelles). You may also see cheetahs, jackals, golden cats, and the elusive serval. Enjoy a picnic lunch at a designated hippo pool or a scenic viewpoint. In the afternoon, you will ascend the crater and begin your return journey to Arusha. Upon arrival, you will be dropped off at your hotel or transferred to the airport for your onward flight. End of safari.