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
$1,290 USD pp
5-day safaris
5-Day Tanzania Safari from Arusha
Five days is the sweet spot: two nights inside the Serengeti, a full crater day and Tarangire on the way, without a single wasted morning.
From
$1,290
USD per person, camping
Duration
5 days / 4 nights
Parks
Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater
Best for: First Serengeti trip, migration season travellers, couples and small groups
Why five days is the most popular length
Five days is the shortest itinerary that puts you inside the Serengeti for two nights, and two nights is the difference between passing through and actually game driving there. You wake up on the plains, drive at first light when the cats are moving, and are back at camp before the midday heat.
It also covers the Ngorongoro Crater properly, with a descent at gate opening rather than a rushed afternoon, and picks up Tarangire's elephant herds on the drive out from Arusha.
What a 5-day safari costs
Our 5-day Serengeti and Ngorongoro safari starts at $1,290 per person camping and $1,790 per person in lodges, based on two sharing. Park fees, the Ngorongoro crater vehicle fee, a private 4x4 with a guide, accommodation, meals and Arusha transfers are all included.
Serengeti park fees are charged per person per 24 hours, which is why a fifth day costs more than an extra night at the same lodge would suggest. We show the full breakdown in your written quote.
Timing it around the Great Migration
From January to March the herds calve on the southern short-grass plains near Ndutu, an easy reach from central Serengeti camps. From July to October they mass in the far north on the Mara River, which is better covered on a longer trip or with a short flight. A five-day safari works in every month; where we sleep inside the park changes with the season.
A typical 5-day route
Day 1
Arusha to Tarangire — baobabs, elephant herds and the Tarangire river circuit.
Day 2
Ngorongoro highlands into the Serengeti, arriving through Naabi Hill Gate in time for an afternoon drive.
Day 3
Full day in the Serengeti — Seronera Valley cats, kopjes and, in season, the migration columns.
Day 4
Morning drive out of the Serengeti, Olduvai Gorge and overnight on the Ngorongoro rim.
Day 5
Crater floor at gate opening, then back to Arusha in the evening.
Parks on a 5-day safari
5-day safaris you can book
View itinerary
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
$690 USD pp
Read before you book
Wildlife
The Great Migration: Where the Herds Are Each Month
The migration is not an event with a date. It is a continuous 800-kilometre loop, and knowing where it is decides where you should sleep.
Planning
Best Time to Go on Safari in Tanzania: A Month-by-Month Guide
There is no bad month for a Tanzania safari — only months that suit different travellers. Here is what each one actually looks like on the ground.
Travel Tips
Budget Camping vs Lodge Safari in Tanzania
The game drives are identical. Everything that differs happens after dark.
5-day Tanzania safari FAQ
The questions we get most about 5-day trips from Arusha.
- Is 5 days enough for a Tanzania safari?
- Yes — five days is what we recommend to most first-time visitors. It gives two nights inside the Serengeti, a full morning on the Ngorongoro Crater floor and a day in Tarangire, with no day spent purely on transfers.
- How much does a 5-day Tanzania safari cost?
- From $1,290 per person camping and $1,790 per person in lodges, in US dollars, based on two people sharing a private 4x4 with a driver-guide. All park, crater and conservation fees are included.
- How many nights do I spend in the Serengeti on a 5-day safari?
- Two. That gives you an afternoon drive on arrival, a full day of game driving in the Seronera Valley and an early morning drive before you head back towards the crater.
- Will I see the Great Migration on a 5-day safari?
- Between December and April the herds are on the southern and central plains, well within reach of a five-day itinerary. From July to October they are in the far north near the Mara River, which suits a longer trip or an internal flight.
- Can a 5-day safari be done as a lodge trip?
- Yes. The same route runs with tented lodges and permanent camps instead of our mobile camping setup, from $1,790 per person. Meals, park fees and the private vehicle are included either way.
Tell us your dates and we will send a written 5-day quote in USD within 24 hours — with 10% going to the Fruitful Orphanage.
Plan my 5-day safari