Four Parks Close to Arusha, With No Long Drives
from$1,905Per Person
What Does the 4-Day Arusha, Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Lake Manyara Safari Include?
This is a 4-day, 3-night private safari from Arusha that visits four parks within a few hours of the town: Arusha National Park, Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara. Each day covers one park, and you spend one night inside Tarangire. Prices start from $1,905 per person for two people sharing at mid-range level.
Arusha National Park is often skipped on standard safaris, but it adds something different: forest with black-and-white colobus monkeys, the Momella Lakes and views of Mount Meru. Combined with Tarangire's elephants, the crater's Big Five and Lake Manyara's birdlife, it gives a varied trip without the long drive to the Serengeti. Sightings vary, and no species can be guaranteed.
The sections below cover each day, the wildlife you may see, the best season, prices by group size and what to pack.
Trip at a Glance
| Duration | 4 days, 3 nights |
|---|---|
| Start and finish | Your hotel in Arusha |
| Parks | Arusha National Park, Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara |
| Activities | A game drive in each park; optional walking or canoeing in Arusha National Park |
| Tour type | Private, with a 4x4 safari vehicle and an English-speaking driver-guide |
| Overnights | Arusha (Night 1); inside Tarangire (Night 2); Karatu (Night 3) |
| Physical level | Easy and vehicle-based, with short drives between parks |
| Price | From $1,905 per person (mid-range, 2 sharing); see the table for other levels and group sizes |
Safari Highlights
- Colobus monkeys, giraffes and the Momella Lakes in Arusha National Park
- Views of Mount Meru on a clear day
- A night inside Tarangire National Park
- A game drive on the floor of Ngorongoro Crater
- Lake Manyara's forest and birdlife
What Happens on Each Day of the Safari?
Day 1: Arusha National Park
Day 1 begins with pickup from your hotel and a drive of about one hour to Arusha National Park, on the slopes of Mount Meru.
The game drive passes through montane forest, where black-and-white colobus monkeys live, and open glades with giraffes, zebras and buffaloes. Lunch is a picnic near the Momella Lakes, which often hold flamingos and other water birds. A walking safari with an armed ranger or a canoe trip on the lakes can be arranged at extra cost, depending on availability. You return to Arusha for the night.
- Overnight: A lodge or hotel in Arusha
- Meals: Picnic lunch and dinner
- Driving: About 1 hour each way
Day 2: Arusha to Tarangire National Park
Day 2 starts after breakfast with a drive of roughly two to two and a half hours to Tarangire National Park.
You spend the day game driving, with a picnic lunch in the park, among elephant herds, baobab trees and the Tarangire River. Lions, leopards, giraffes, zebras and wildebeest are also possible. You spend the night at a lodge or camp inside the park, where you may hear animals after dark.
- Overnight: A lodge or camp inside Tarangire
- Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner
- Driving: Roughly 2–2.5 hours to Tarangire
Day 3: Ngorongoro Crater
Day 3 begins with an early breakfast and a drive of about two hours to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. You descend to the crater floor for a game drive, with a picnic lunch in the crater.
The crater gives one of the best chances of the Big Five, including black rhinos, alongside wildebeest, zebras, hippos and hyenas. In the afternoon you climb out of the crater and drive to your lodge in Karatu.
- Overnight: A lodge in Karatu
- Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner
- Driving: About 2 hours to the crater, then about 45 minutes to Karatu
Day 4: Lake Manyara National Park, Then Back to Arusha
Day 4 starts after breakfast with a short drive down the Rift Valley escarpment to Lake Manyara National Park.
You game drive through groundwater forest and along the lakeshore, looking for elephants, giraffes, baboons, hippos and water birds, with a picnic lunch in the park. Lions here sometimes rest in trees, but this cannot be promised. In the afternoon you drive back to Arusha, roughly two hours.
- Overnight: Not included; the safari ends in Arusha
- Meals: Breakfast and picnic lunch
- Driving: Short drive to Lake Manyara, then about 2 hours to Arusha
Route: Arusha → Arusha National Park → Arusha (overnight) → Tarangire National Park (overnight inside the park) → Ngorongoro Crater → Karatu (overnight) → Lake Manyara National Park → Arusha. Drive times are approximate.
Photos from Arusha National Park, Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara
What Wildlife Can You See on This Safari?
Each park adds something different, from colobus monkeys in Arusha National Park to rhinos in the crater. The table is a general guide only; no sighting can be guaranteed.
| Animal | Arusha NP | Tarangire | Ngorongoro Crater | Lake Manyara |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elephant | Occasionally | Often | Often, mostly bulls | Often |
| Lion | Not present | Sometimes | Often | Sometimes |
| Black rhino | Not present | Not present | Rarely | Not present |
| Giraffe | Often | Often | Not present | Often |
| Colobus monkey | Often | Not present | Not present | Not usually |
| Buffalo | Often | Often | Often | Often |
| Flamingos | Often, on the Momella Lakes | Occasionally | Seasonal | Often, when water levels suit |
When Is the Best Time for This Safari?
This safari runs year-round. June to October is generally the easiest time for game viewing and the best time for Tarangire. Mount Meru is most often clear in the dry months.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Main dry season | June–October | The easiest game viewing: short grass and animals near water. Cool mornings, dusty tracks and the busiest period. |
| Short rains | November–December | Brief showers, greener scenery and fewer vehicles. Wildlife begins to disperse. |
| Short dry spell | January–February | Usually warm and fairly dry, with good viewing and calving in the southern Serengeti. |
| Long rains | March–May | The wettest period, especially April and May. Lush and quiet, but some tracks become muddy. |
How Much Does This Safari Cost in 2026–2027?
- ✓ Campsites or basic tented camps
- ✓ Shared or simple facilities
- ✓ Same parks, guide & vehicle
- ✓ Comfortable lodges or en-suite tents
- ✓ Private bathrooms, hot showers
- ✓ Restaurant meals
- ✓ Upmarket lodges or tented camps
- ✓ More space and premium service
- ✓ Same private vehicle and guide
Prices are per person for two people sharing. Every level includes the same private 4×4 vehicle, guide, park fees and meals; only the accommodation changes.
Price per Person by Group Size
| Group size | Budget camping | Mid-range lodge | Luxury lodge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $2,260 | $2,855 | $3,670 |
| 2 people | $1,480 | $1,905 | $2,575 |
| 3 people | $1,200 | $1,545 | $2,285 |
| 4 people | $1,125 | $1,550 | $2,220 |
| 5 people | $1,030 | $1,405 | $2,115 |
| 6 people | $1,010 | $1,430 | $2,100 |
Contact us for a confirmed quote for your dates and group size.
What Affects the Price?
- Group size: the vehicle, guide and any Ngorongoro crater fee are shared, so the per-person price falls noticeably as your group grows.
- Accommodation level: budget camping, mid-range lodges or luxury lodges and camps.
- Parks: Ngorongoro Crater adds a per-vehicle crater fee, and nights inside national parks add concession fees.
- Fee changes: park and conservation fees are set by the authorities and can change, so we confirm your price in writing before you pay.
What Is Included in the Price?
Private 4x4 safari vehicle
A safari vehicle with a pop-up roof, used only by your group.
English-speaking driver-guide
Your guide drives, finds wildlife and explains the parks.
Park entrance fees
Entry fees for every park on the itinerary, including the Ngorongoro crater fee.
Accommodation
Three nights: one in Arusha, one inside Tarangire and one in Karatu at your chosen level, confirmed in your final quotation.
Meals
Meals as listed in the itinerary, including picnic lunches on game-drive days.
Drinking water
Bottled water in the vehicle throughout the safari.
Transfers
Pickup and drop-off at your hotel in Arusha.
Government taxes
All applicable taxes and levies.
What Is Not Included?
International flights and visa
Flights to and from Tanzania and the Tanzania visa.
Travel insurance
We strongly recommend cover for medical treatment and evacuation.
Tips
Tips for your guide and lodge staff.
Alcoholic drinks
Alcoholic and other drinks not listed in the itinerary.
Optional activities
Extras such as a Maasai village visit or balloon flight.
Personal expenses
Souvenirs, laundry and extra snacks.
Where Will You Stay?
You spend Night 1 in Arusha, Night 2 at a lodge or camp inside Tarangire and Night 3 in Karatu, at your chosen level. We confirm the exact properties in your quotation.
Budget Camping
Campsites or basic tented camps with simple facilities. You visit the same parks with the same guide and vehicle; only where you sleep differs.
Mid-Range Lodges & Tented Camps
Comfortable lodge rooms or en-suite tented camps with private bathrooms and restaurant meals. A good balance of comfort and cost.
Luxury Lodges & Camps
Upmarket lodges and tented camps with more space, premium furnishings and full-service dining.
Is This Safari Right for You?
This safari suits travellers who want variety and short drives, and who are happy to skip the Serengeti. It is also a good choice after a Kilimanjaro climb, as no day involves a long drive.
A Good Fit If You…
- Want four different parks
- Prefer short drives
- Would like to see colobus monkeys and Mount Meru
- Are resting after a Kilimanjaro climb
Consider Another Safari If You…
- Want the Serengeti: 4-Day Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro
- Want a Maasai visit: 4-Day Tarangire, Lake Manyara & Ngorongoro
- Have only one day: Arusha National Park day trip
- Want to compare all 4-day routes: 4-day safaris
What Should You Pack?
Pack layers for cool mornings in Arusha National Park and at the crater, and light clothes for Tarangire. Avoid dark blue and black in Tarangire because of tsetse flies.
- Neutral-coloured clothing (khaki, olive, beige); avoid dark blue and black where tsetse flies occur
- A warm fleece or jacket for early mornings, essential on the Ngorongoro rim
- Sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Camera with a zoom lens and binoculars
- Passport, as details are recorded at park gates
- Motion-sickness tablets if you need them
- Small notes for tips and any personal medication
