2-Day Tarangire & Ngorongoro Safari
A private 2-day safari from Arusha: a full day of game drives in Tarangire, a night in a mid-range lodge in Karatu, and a morning on the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater.
Two days are enough for two very different parks. Tarangire, about two hours from Arusha, is known for its elephant herds and old baobab trees. The Ngorongoro Crater is a collapsed volcano whose floor holds buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, lions and hippos all year.
You sleep in between in Karatu, a farming town in the green highlands just below the crater gate, so the second morning starts close to the crater.
Highlights
- A full day of game drives in Tarangire
- Elephants and baobab trees, best from June to October
- A game drive on the Ngorongoro Crater floor
- One night in a mid-range lodge in Karatu
- Your own private vehicle and driver-guide
Route Map
- By road
- Day of the trip
- Arusha
Lines show the order of travel, not the exact roads.
Your driver-guide collects you from your hotel in Arusha in the morning, and you drive about two hours to Tarangire National Park. You spend the day on game drives with a picnic lunch in the park, looking for elephant families, giraffes, zebras and the predators that follow them. Tarangire is busiest with animals in the dry season, when they gather along the river.
In the late afternoon you drive on through Mto wa Mbu and up the escarpment to your lodge in Karatu.
Overnight: Mid-range lodge in Karatu
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
After an early breakfast you drive up to the crater rim and down the steep road to the crater floor. Your game drive crosses grassland, swamp and the shore of a soda lake; lions, buffalo, hippos and herds of zebra and wildebeest are seen on most days, and black rhino sometimes at a distance.
After a picnic lunch on the crater floor you drive back up and on to Arusha, about 3 hours, arriving in the late afternoon or early evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Price Per Person — Private Safari
| Group Size | Price Per Person |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $1,290 |
| 2 People | $790 |
| 3 People | $650 |
| 4 People | $580 |
| 5 People | $540 |
| 6 People | $510 |
Price per person in US dollars for a private safari, by the number of people travelling together in one vehicle. Groups of 7 or more receive a personal quote on request.
Includes
- Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel in Arusha
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- All park fees, the Ngorongoro Crater service fee and government taxes
- 1 night in a mid-range lodge in Karatu
- Meals as listed in the itinerary
- Drinking water on game drives
Excludes
- International and domestic flights
- Tanzania visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance
- Tips for the guide
- Drinks and personal expenses
- Tanzania's compulsory inbound travel insurance for foreign visitors (44 US dollars per person, from 1 October 2026)
- Any government increase in park fees or taxes after booking
Questions Travellers Ask
Is 2 days enough for Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater?
Yes, for a short safari. You get a full day in Tarangire and a game drive on the crater floor. If you have a third day, our 3-day safari adds Lake Manyara and gives you more time in each park.
Why do we sleep in Karatu?
Karatu lies between the two parks, just below the gate of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, so the second morning starts close to the crater. Lodges there are also more affordable than on the crater rim.
How much driving is there?
About 2 hours from Arusha to Tarangire, about 1½ to 2 hours from Tarangire to Karatu, and about 3 hours from the crater back to Arusha, plus the game drives.
When is the best time to go?
June to October is the best time for Tarangire, when animals gather at the river. The crater is good all year. In April and May it rains more, but the parks are green and quiet.
What is included in the price?
Your private vehicle and driver-guide, all park and crater fees, one night in a mid-range lodge in Karatu, the meals listed and drinking water. Flights, visas, insurance, tips and drinks are not included.
