5-Day Tanzania Lodge Safari
A private 5-day safari from Arusha in your own 4x4 with a pop-up roof, staying in mid-range lodges: Tarangire, two nights in the central Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and a last morning at Lake Manyara.
The Northern Circuit Without the Rush
Five days lets you see the four best-known parks of northern Tanzania without long days back to back. You start with Tarangire's elephants, cross the Ngorongoro highlands to spend two nights in the central Serengeti, drive down to the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater on day four, and finish with a relaxed morning in Lake Manyara's forest before the short drive back to Arusha.
It sits between our 4-day safari, which skips Lake Manyara, and our 6-day safari, which adds more time in each park. Nights are in comfortable mid-range lodges and tented camps with private bathrooms; we name them when we confirm availability for your dates.
Want one more day? See the 6-Day Tanzania Safari →
Highlights
- A game drive in Tarangire among elephants and baobabs
- Two nights and a full day in the central Serengeti
- A game drive on the Ngorongoro Crater floor
- A last morning in Lake Manyara's groundwater forest
- Private vehicle and driver-guide, mid-range lodges, all meals
What to bring
- Neutral-coloured clothes and a warm layer for early mornings
- Binoculars and a camera with a zoom
- Sun hat, sunglasses and sun cream
- Your passport
Read our park guides: Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara
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. About two hours later you enter Tarangire for a game drive with a picnic lunch, among elephant families, baobab trees and the river that draws animals in the dry season. In the evening you drive to your lodge near Mto wa Mbu.
Overnight: Mid-range lodge near Mto wa Mbu or Karatu
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
You climb past Karatu's farms into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, stop at a viewpoint over the crater, then drive down through Maasai grazing land onto the open Serengeti plains, with a game drive on the way to your camp.
Overnight: Mid-range tented camp in the central Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A whole day to explore the Seronera River valley and the kopjes, where lions, leopards and cheetahs are often found, with a picnic lunch in the bush. Elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, impalas, wildebeest and hippos are common. Lions are seen often and leopards more rarely. Wild animals move freely, so no sighting can be guaranteed.
Overnight: Mid-range tented camp in the central Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A morning game drive on your way out of the Serengeti, then back up to the crater rim and down to the crater floor for an afternoon game drive among buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, hippos and lions. In the evening you drive up to your lodge in the cool highlands around Karatu.
Overnight: Mid-range lodge in Karatu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A short drive down the escarpment to Lake Manyara for a morning game drive through tall groundwater forest, home to baboons and blue monkeys, and out to the lake shore. After lunch you drive back to Arusha, arriving in the afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Price Per Person — Private Safari
| Group Size | Price Per Person |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $3,470 |
| 2 People | $2,540 |
| 3 People | $2,230 |
| 4 People | $2,075 |
| 5 People | $1,985 |
| 6 People | $1,925 |
Price per person in US dollars, by the number of people sharing the vehicle, with mid-range lodges and tented camps. Groups of more than 6: price on request.
Optional extra: a sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the central Serengeti, about an hour in the air, followed by a bush breakfast. About 599 US dollars per person for flights in 2026 and about 660 US dollars from 1 January 2027. Children from 7 years. Ask us to add it when you book.
Trip Notes
- Start & end: your hotel in Arusha
- Private safari: your group only, on the dates you choose
- Mid-range lodges and tented camps with private bathrooms
- Lodges named when we confirm availability
- Prices may change if park fees change
Includes
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof and a professional driver-guide
- All park entry fees and the Ngorongoro Crater vehicle fee
- 4 nights in mid-range lodges and tented camps
- All meals on safari and drinking water in the vehicle
- Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel in Arusha
Excludes
- International flights and visa fees
- Accommodation in Arusha before and after the safari
- Travel insurance
- Tanzania's compulsory inbound travel insurance for foreign visitors (44 US dollars per person, from 1 October 2026)
- Tips for your guide
- Drinks other than drinking water
- Hot-air balloon flight (optional)
- Any government increase in park fees or taxes after booking
Questions Travellers Ask
Is five days enough for the northern parks?
Five days covers Tarangire, the central Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara at a comfortable pace, with two nights in the Serengeti. With 6 or 7 days you can add more time in each park or a visit to Lake Eyasi.
What kind of lodges do you use?
Comfortable mid-range lodges and tented camps with private bathrooms and full board. We confirm the names once we know your dates and availability.
Will we see the Great Migration?
The herds move through different parts of the Serengeti during the year. This route stays in the central Serengeti, which has wildlife all year; if the migration is your goal, ask us about our migration safaris for your month.
Can children join?
Yes. A private vehicle lets you set the pace. Tell us their ages so we can choose family-friendly lodges and send child prices.
How long are the drives?
The longest is day 2, about 6 to 7 hours with stops and a game drive. The other days have shorter transfers between game drives.
