Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro
Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro
5 Days — Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro
overview
The three great names of the northern circuit in five days — Tarangire, a night under canvas in the Serengeti reached via Olduvai Gorge, and a final morning on the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater.
Highlights
- A night in a tented camp in the Serengeti
- The drive in via the Ngorongoro rim and Olduvai Gorge
- Serengeti predators and plains game
- Full day in Tarangire among the elephant herds
- Crater floor game drive with picnic lunch
- Two nights in the cool Karatu highlands
Day-by-day
Day 1
Arrival & Arusha
JRO → Arusha
Airport pick-up, transfer to Arusha and your safari briefing. An easy evening before the circuit begins.
Overnight: Gold Crest Hotel
Day 2
Tarangire National Park → Karatu
Arusha → Tarangire → Karatu
A full day's game drive in Tarangire — elephants, lions and the baobab country along the river — then up into the Karatu highlands for the night.
Overnight: Marera Valley
Day 3
Karatu → Serengeti
Via the Ngorongoro rim & Olduvai Gorge
We climb to the Ngorongoro crater rim for the view across the caldera, then drop onto the Serengeti plains past Olduvai Gorge, where the Leakeys uncovered some of the earliest human remains. Game viewing continues all the way in, and the last hour of the drive is often the best of it.
Overnight: Kon Tiki Serengeti Camp
Day 4
Serengeti → Karatu
Morning game drive, then east to Karatu
Out early for the cool part of the morning, when the cats are still active. After the game drive we make the long, scenic drive back east across the plains and up into the highlands.
Overnight: Marera Valley
Day 5
Ngorongoro Crater & departure
Crater floor → Arusha / JRO
A final descent into the Ngorongoro Crater for a full game drive and a picnic lunch on the floor, then back to Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport.
Travel times are approximate and lodges are subject to availability. Where a listed lodge is full we substitute a property of the same standard and tell you before you confirm.
Where you'll stay
Night 1 — Arusha
Gold Crest Hotel
Comfortable city hotel in central Arusha for your arrival night.
Nights 2 & 4 — Karatu
Marera Valley
Highland lodge in the farmland below the Ngorongoro crater rim.
Night 3 — Serengeti
Kon Tiki Serengeti Camp
Tented camp on the plains — canvas rooms, proper beds, dinner under the stars.
Photographs show the style and standard of each property. The exact lodge depends on availability on your dates.
Glimpses
What's included
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- English-speaking driver-guide
- All park and conservation fees
- Accommodation as listed in the itinerary
- Packed lunches on game-drive days
- Bottled water throughout the safari
Not included
- International flights
- Visas
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Personal items
- Optional activities (balloon safari, walking safari, cultural visits)