3 daysLake Manyara · Ngorongoro Crater · Tarangire
3-Day Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro & Tarangire Safari
The best-value way to see three completely different landscapes and stand a real chance of the Big Five in three days.
From
$750 USD pp
2-day private safari
2-Day Tarangire & Ngorongoro Safari
The shortest itinerary that still includes the Ngorongoro Crater — ideal for a tight schedule.
From
$500
USD per person
Duration
2 days / 1 nights
Parks
Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater
Group
Private departure — usually 2 to 6 guests
Prices are per person based on a group of 6 sharing a private 4x4. Smaller groups are priced higher — ask us for a quote for your party size.
Two days, two of the strongest parks in the north. This is the trip for travellers with a spare weekend, volunteers between placements, or anyone stopping in Arusha before or after Kilimanjaro. It is compact but not rushed: a full day in each park with an overnight in Karatu between them.
- Best for
- Tight schedules, Kilimanjaro add-on, weekend safari
- Best months
- June–October is strongest; good all year
- Accommodation options
- Camping from $500 pp · Lodge from $600 pp (USD)
Day-by-day itinerary
- 1
Arusha → Tarangire National Park
Early pick-up and the two-hour drive to Tarangire for a full day game drive. Elephant herds along the river, baobabs, lion and superb birding. Evening transfer to Karatu on the crater highlands.
Meals: Lunch, dinner · Overnight: Karatu — campsite or lodge
- 2
Ngorongoro Crater → Arusha
Descend to the crater floor at first light for around six hours of game viewing — lion, elephant, buffalo, hyena, flamingo and possibly black rhino — with a picnic lunch inside the caldera before the drive back to Arusha.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
What's included
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof and window seat guaranteed
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- All national park and conservation area fees
- Accommodation as listed
- All meals on safari as listed
- Drinking water throughout the safari
- Pick-up and drop-off in Arusha or at Kilimanjaro Airport
- Government taxes and VAT
- 10% of your payment donated to the Fruitful Orphanage
Not included
- International flights and Tanzania visa
- Travel and medical insurance (required)
- Tips for your guide and camp staff
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Personal items, laundry and souvenirs
- Optional activities: Serengeti balloon safari (approx. $600 pp), Maasai village visit (from $30 pp), canoeing
How payment works
No payment is taken online. We confirm availability and send a written quote in US dollars. A 30% deposit by bank transfer secures your dates, and the balance is payable on arrival in Arusha in cash USD or by transfer. Once your safari is paid, 10% of the total is transferred to the Fruitful Orphanage & Day Care Center and we send you confirmation.
Read the full payment & booking terms →Parks on this safari
Planning a 3-day trip?
Compare routes, prices and the best months for 3-day safaris from Arusha before you decide on this itinerary.
3-day Tanzania safari guide →Other safaris
View itinerary
5 daysTarangire · Serengeti · Ngorongoro Crater
5-Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro Safari
Two full nights inside the Serengeti plus a crater day — the shortest itinerary that does the migration justice.
From
$1,450 USD pp
7 daysTarangire · Lake Manyara · Serengeti · Ngorongoro Crater
7-Day Northern Circuit Safari
Every park in the northern circuit, unhurried, with three nights inside the Serengeti.
From
$2,450 USD pp
Read before you book
Parks
Ngorongoro Crater Tour: Fees, Timing and Wildlife
The densest wildlife in Africa, on a caldera floor 600 metres below you. Here is how a crater day really works.
Parks
Tarangire Safari Guide: Elephants, Baobabs, Day Trips
Two hours from Arusha, the most underrated park in northern Tanzania — and in the dry season the best elephant viewing in the country.
Planning
How Much Does a Tanzania Safari Cost? Real 2026 Prices
Quotes for the same itinerary can vary by a factor of ten. Here are our actual prices, the official park fees behind them, and where the rest of the money goes.
2-Day Tarangire & Ngorongoro safari FAQ
- How much does the 2-Day Tarangire & Ngorongoro safari cost?
- The 2-Day Tarangire & Ngorongoro Safari starts at $500 per person on our camping option and $600 per person staying in lodges. Prices are in US dollars and include park and conservation fees, a private 4x4 with a driver-guide, accommodation, meals and transfers from Arusha.
- What is included in the 2-Day Tarangire & Ngorongoro price?
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof and window seat guaranteed; Professional English-speaking driver-guide; All national park and conservation area fees; Accommodation as listed; All meals on safari as listed; Drinking water throughout the safari. International flights, your Tanzania visa, travel insurance, drinks and tips are not included.
- Which parks does the 2-Day Tarangire & Ngorongoro safari visit?
- Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater — over 2 days and 1 night starting and ending in Arusha.
- When is the best time to do the 2-Day Tarangire & Ngorongoro safari?
- June–October is strongest; good all year
- How many people share the safari vehicle?
- Private departure — usually 2 to 6 guests You always have a window seat in a private 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof.
- Is two days enough for Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater?
- It is, as long as you accept a full second day. Day one is a long game drive in Tarangire, day two starts before dawn so you descend into the crater as the gates open, when predators are still active.
- How do I book and how does the 10% donation work?
- Send an enquiry — no payment is taken online. We confirm availability and send a written quote in USD, a 30% deposit by bank transfer secures your dates and the balance is paid on arrival in Arusha. Once the safari is paid, 10% of the total goes to the Fruitful Orphanage & Day Care Center and we send you confirmation of the transfer.
Questions about dates, group size or combining this with volunteering? We answer within 24 hours from Arusha.
Enquire about this safari