The Classic Northern Circuit in Four Days
from$1,995Per Person
What Does the 4-Day Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Safari Include?
This is a 4-day, 3-night private safari from Arusha that covers the three best-known parks of Tanzania's northern circuit: Tarangire, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. You spend Day 1 in Tarangire, Day 2 driving through the Ngorongoro highlands to the Serengeti, Day 3 on a sunrise game drive in the Serengeti, and Day 4 on the floor of Ngorongoro Crater before returning to Arusha. Prices start from $1,995 per person for two people sharing at mid-range level.
Four days is the shortest length we recommend for a trip that includes the Serengeti without rushing it. You get a night inside the Serengeti area, an early-morning game drive when predators are most active, and a full morning in the crater, where the chance of the Big Five is best. Wildlife moves with the seasons, and no sighting 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 | Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater |
| Activities | Game drives in all three parks, including a sunrise drive in the Serengeti and a crater game drive |
| Tour type | Private, with a 4x4 safari vehicle and an English-speaking driver-guide |
| Overnights | Karatu (Night 1); central Serengeti (Night 2); Karatu (Night 3) |
| Physical level | Easy and vehicle-based, with one long driving day to the Serengeti |
| Price | From $1,995 per person (mid-range, 2 sharing); see the table for other levels and group sizes |
Safari Highlights
- Tarangire's elephant herds and baobab trees
- A night in central Serengeti, with a sunrise game drive
- A view over Ngorongoro Crater from the rim on the way to the Serengeti
- A game drive on the crater floor, with the best chance of black rhinos
- A private vehicle and guide for your group only
What Happens on Each Day of the Safari?
Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire National Park
Day 1 begins with breakfast and pickup from your hotel in Arusha, followed by a drive of roughly two to two and a half hours to Tarangire National Park.
Tarangire is known for its elephant families, baobab trees, seasonal swamps and the Tarangire River, where animals gather to drink. You may also see giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes and, with luck, lions or leopards. You have a picnic lunch in the park, and after the game drive you continue to your lodge in Karatu for dinner and the night.
- Overnight: A lodge in Karatu
- Meals: Lunch and dinner
- Driving: Roughly 2–2.5 hours to Tarangire, then about 1.5 hours to Karatu
Day 2: Ngorongoro Highlands to the Serengeti
Day 2 starts after breakfast with the drive up through the Ngorongoro highlands. If the weather is clear, you stop at the crater rim viewpoint before continuing down to the Serengeti plains.
The Serengeti's open grasslands hold large herds of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles for much of the year, along with lions, cheetahs and hyenas. You game drive on the way to your camp in central Serengeti, arriving in time for dinner and the night.
- Overnight: A lodge or camp in central Serengeti
- Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner
- Driving: Most of the day, with game viewing once you enter the Serengeti
Day 3: Sunrise in the Serengeti, Then Back to Karatu
Day 3 starts very early with a sunrise game drive, when predators are most active and the light is best for photographs. You return to camp for breakfast, then continue game viewing as you leave the Serengeti.
In the afternoon you drive back through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to your lodge in Karatu, ready for an early start at the crater.
- Overnight: A lodge in Karatu
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Driving: Game drives, then several hours back to Karatu
Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater, Then Back to Arusha
Day 4 begins with an early breakfast and the drive to the crater rim. You descend into the crater for a game drive across grassland, swamps and the soda lake, with a picnic lunch on the crater floor.
The crater's permanent water supports lions, buffaloes, elephants, wildebeest, zebras, hyenas and a small population of black rhinos. In the afternoon you climb out of the crater and drive back to Arusha, arriving in the late afternoon or early evening.
- Overnight: Not included; the safari ends in Arusha
- Meals: Breakfast and picnic lunch
- Driving: About 45 minutes to the crater, then roughly 3–3.5 hours to Arusha
Route: Arusha → Tarangire National Park → Karatu (overnight) → Ngorongoro highlands → central Serengeti (overnight) → Karatu (overnight) → Ngorongoro Crater → Arusha. Drive times are approximate.
Photos from Tarangire, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro
What Wildlife Can You See on This Safari?
Tarangire is best for elephants, the Serengeti for big cats and large herds, and Ngorongoro Crater for the Big Five. The table is a general guide only; no sighting can be guaranteed.
| Animal | Tarangire | Central Serengeti | Ngorongoro Crater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elephant | Often, especially June–October | Often | Often, mostly bulls |
| Lion | Sometimes | Often | Often |
| Cheetah | Occasionally | Sometimes | Occasionally |
| Leopard | Sometimes, with luck | Sometimes, with luck | Rarely |
| Black rhino | Not present | Very rarely | Rarely; a small population |
| Wildebeest and zebra | Often in the dry season | Depends on the migration | Often, resident herds |
| Giraffe | Often | Often | Not present in the crater |
When Is the Best Time for This Safari?
This safari runs year-round. June to October is best for Tarangire's elephants and generally the easiest time for game viewing, while the migration herds move around the Serengeti through the year.
| 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 | $2,385 | $2,965 | $4,140 |
| 2 people | $1,565 | $1,995 | $3,010 |
| 3 people | $1,260 | $1,700 | $2,685 |
| 4 people | $1,210 | $1,640 | $2,655 |
| 5 people | $1,095 | $1,535 | $2,530 |
| 6 people | $1,090 | $1,520 | $2,535 |
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 Karatu, one in central Serengeti 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 Nights 1 and 3 at a lodge in Karatu, in the green highlands close to the crater, and Night 2 at a lodge or camp in central Serengeti, 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 first-time visitors who want the Serengeti, Tarangire and the crater in four days. If you want more time in the Serengeti, or a slower pace, a longer safari will suit you better.
A Good Fit If You…
- Want the three best-known northern parks
- Are on your first safari
- Have four days in Arusha
- Do not mind one long driving day
Consider Another Safari If You…
- Want Lake Manyara too: 4-Day Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti & Lake Manyara
- Want two nights in the Serengeti: 5-Day Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro
- Have only three days: 3-Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro
- Want to compare all 4-day routes: 4-day safaris
What Should You Pack?
Pack for hot afternoons on the plains and cold early mornings in Karatu and on the crater rim. 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
