3-Day Serengeti Explorer
One region, no wasted mileage. The fastest honest way into the central Serengeti.
US$1,290From, per person View itinerary →
Classic 4 days, 3 nights Private vehicle Customisable
4-Day Tarangire & Ngorongoro
If you have four days and want variety rather than distance, this is the trip. Tarangire has the densest elephant population in northern Tanzania and almost none of the Serengeti's traffic, and the crater finishes it.
At a glance
| Length | 4 days, 3 nights |
|---|---|
| Region | Tarangire, Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater |
| Group | Private vehicle, maximum 6 guests |
| Pace | Easy to moderate. Short drives, two bases. |
| Best season | June to October is strongest for Tarangire. |
| From | US$1,740 per person, sharing |
Why this one
- The best elephant viewing in northern Tanzania, by some distance.
- Baobab country — landscape you will not see in the Serengeti.
- A full crater morning to finish.
- Short driving days throughout: good with children or a tight schedule.
Change anything on this page
The itinerary below is how we would run it if you left it to us. Add a night, drop a park, fly a leg, slow the pace, move the dates — tell us and we will re-cost it, free.
Day by day
The itinerary, honestly described
Driving times are real, not optimistic.
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Day01
Arusha to Tarangire
A two-hour drive and you are at the gate before lunch. The afternoon is spent along the river bed, where the herds come down to dig for water. Tarangire's elephants are habituated, unbothered and everywhere.
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Day02
Tarangire, full day
A full day working the swamps in the south, which is where the big bulls and the tree-climbing lion are. Picnic lunch out. Back to camp for the evening.
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Day03
Lake Manyara, then the rim
A morning in the Manyara groundwater forest — a completely different habitat, and the best birding of the trip. Up the escarpment after lunch to the crater rim for the night.
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Day04
Crater floor, then home
Down at first light for a full morning on the floor, up before the midday crowds, and back to Arusha or the airport in the afternoon.
What is included
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof and your guide
- Three nights full board
- All park, crater and conservation fees
- Airport transfers, drinking water, flying-doctor cover
What is not
- International flights and Tanzanian visa
- Travel insurance (a condition of booking)
- Drinks and tips
When to come
Month by month
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Peak Good Green season — fewer vehicles, some rain
Also consider
Closest in length
5-Day Great Migration Safari
We move to wherever the herds actually are. Four nights inside the migration, not near it.
US$2,480From, per person View itinerary →
2-Day Ngorongoro Crater
One night on the rim, one morning on the crater floor. The shortest trip that is still worth taking.
US$890From, per person View itinerary →