5 Day Mid-Range Safari: Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti
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Embark on a thrilling 5-day Tanzania safari adventure with Tanzania Beauty Safaris. This mid-range safari package takes you deep into three of Tanzania’s most iconic wildlife destinations: Tarangire National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater, and the world-famous Serengeti National Park. Enjoy daily game drives across breathtaking savannahs, spot the legendary Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino), and witness scenes from the Great Wildebeest Migration (seasonal).
Designed for travellers seeking comfort, value, and authentic safari experiences, this itinerary features cozy mid-range lodges and tented camps that blend perfectly with nature. From Tarangire’s baobab-studded plains to the wildlife-rich crater floor of Ngorongoro, and the endless Serengeti, each day promises new wonders.
Book your 5-day Tanzania mid-range safari today and experience the heart of East Africa’s wilderness like never before.
Why Choose Tanzania Beauty Safaris?
- Expert Local Guides: Our passionate, English-speaking guides provide deep insights into Tanzania’s wildlife, ensuring a personalized and enriching experience.
- Tailored Itineraries: We customize your safari to suit your preferences, offering mid-range lodges and tented camps for comfort and value.
- Sustainable Tourism: We partner with local communities and prioritize eco-friendly practices to preserve Tanzania’s natural heritage.
- Guaranteed Departures: Your safari is guaranteed to depart, even for solo travellers, ensuring flexibility and reliability.
- 24/7 Support: Our dedicated team offers round-the-clock assistance, from planning to the end of your adventure.
Best Time to Visit
The best time for this safari is the dry season (late June to October), ideal for wildlife viewing as animals gather around water sources, with the Great Migration’s River crossings in the Serengeti (July-August). The short dry season (January-February) offers clear skies and fewer crowds, perfect for photography and spotting newborn wildebeests in the Serengeti. The green season (March-May) brings lush landscapes and lower rates, with light rains rarely disrupting activities. The Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire offer excellent sightings year-round. As of today, July 3, 2025, the dry season ensures optimal game viewing conditions.
Why Choose Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, and Serengeti?
- Tarangire National Park: Famous for its large elephant herds, iconic baobab trees, and diverse ecosystems, Tarangire offers a quieter safari experience with lions, giraffes, and over 550 bird species. The Tarangire River attracts wildlife year-round, ensuring vibrant game drives.
- Ngorongoro Crater: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this natural caldera hosts nearly 30,000 animals in a compact area. It’s one of the best places to spot the rare black rhino and the Big Five in a single day, making it a safari highlight.
- Serengeti National Park: Renowned for the Great Migration, where millions of wildebeests and zebras traverse the plains, Serengeti is a bucket-list destination. Its vast savannahs teem with predators like lions, cheetahs, and leopards, offering unmatched game drives.
5-Day Mid-Range Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire National Park
- Morning: Depart from Arusha (hotel or Kilimanjaro International Airport) for a 2-3 hour drive to Tarangire National Park, known for its elephant herds and baobab-dotted landscapes.
- Afternoon: Enjoy a full-day game drive in Tarangire, spotting lions, zebras, giraffes, and vibrant birdlife. Relish a picnic lunch amidst the park’s scenic beauty.
- Meals: Lunch, dinner included.
Day 2: Tarangire to Serengeti National Park
- Morning: After breakfast, drive to Serengeti National Park (4-5 hours), with en-route game viewing through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
- Afternoon: Embark on an afternoon game drive in the Seronera region, spotting lions, elephants, and the seasonal Great Migration.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner included.
Day-3: Full Day in Serengeti National Park
- Activities: Spend a full day on game drives in Serengeti, exploring its predator-rich plains. Optional hot air balloon safari ($550 per person) offers stunning sunrise views of the savannah and migration herds.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner included.
Day 4: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
- Morning: Morning game drive in Serengeti, followed by a 3-hour transfer to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
- Afternoon/Evening: Relax at your lodge, with an optional Maasai village visit ($30 per person) to explore traditional dances and crafts.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner included.
Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha
- Morning: Descend into the ** Cardinals**: Ngorongoro Crater for a 5-hour game drive, exploring this UNESCO site packed with black rhinos, lions, flamingos, and more. Enjoy a picnic lunch by the hippo pool.
- Afternoon: Drive back to Arusha (3-4 hours) for drop-off at your hotel or airport.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch included.
What’s Included
- All park fees and permits for Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater.
- Comfortable 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof for optimal game viewing.
- Professional driver-guide and full-board meals (as specified).
- Mid-range accommodations with private en-suite facilities.
- Drinking water during game drives and transfers.
What to Pack
- Lightweight, neutral-coloured clothing for layering (5,000-9,000 ft altitude).
- Binoculars, camera, sunscreen, and insect repellent (for tsetse flies in Tarangire).
- Comfortable walking shoes and a hat for sun protection.
- Small cash for souvenirs at the optional Maasai village visit.
Book Your Tanzania Safari Today
Embark on a life-changing 4-day Tanzania safari with Tanzania Beauty Safaris. Our expertly crafted itineraries, sustainable practices, and dedication to customer satisfaction make us the top choice for your African safari adventure.
Contact us at info@tanzaniabeautysafaris.com
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Tour Plan
You will be picked up from the airport by a Lion King representative and driven to your accommodation in Arusha. Depending on your arrival time, you will hopefully have time to relax and prepare for the adventure of a lifetime.
Busy Arusha is an essential part of safari life here in northern Tanzania and most travellers pass through at some stage.
Guide will collect you from your accommodation after breakfast. You will then drive to Tarangire National Park. This transit drive is approximately two and a half hours on good tarmac roads. The Park is named after the Tarangire River which runs through it. This ‘river of warthogs’ is the only source of water for wildlife in the region during the dry season. The Park is well known for its elephant families, which can often be seen congregating by the river. You may also see giraffe, bushbuck, and hartebeest. These animals are closely followed by a range of predators, including lions and leopards. There are more breeding species of birds found in Tarangire than anywhere else on the planet! The huge and ancient Baobab trees can be seen here. Some of them are said to have lived for more than a thousand years.
Lunch will be at a picnic site inside the Park. After your game drive, you will transit to your accommodation in Karatu.
After breakfast, you will drive up into the cooler regions of Ngorongoro Conservation Area. When you first see Ngorongoro Crater, it looks like a forgotten world. Concealed by the steep volcanic walls is a pristine wilderness including sweeping savannah, pockets of acacia woodland, and glistening lakes and swamps. The Crater was created when a large volcano exploded and collapsed in on itself two to three million years ago and it covers an area of 260 km². The Crater is famous for both its geological delights and for being a natural reserve that is home to some of the densest large mammal populations in the whole of the African continent. After you descend into the Crater, you quickly find yourself amongst large numbers of wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, and more than 500 bird species. The Crater provides you with the best chance of seeing the endangered black rhino.
You will then transit through Ngorongoro Conservation Area, to the Serengeti, entering at the South of the Park.
The Serengeti is truly spectacular. It is famous for its vast open grasslands which allow for excellent sightings of wildlife. The Serengeti's climate and vegetation have remained largely untouched for millions of years. Whilst it boasts abundant wildlife, it is perhaps best known for the annual Great Migration. Vast numbers of wildebeest; accompanied by large numbers of zebra and antelope move in an annual pattern, constantly seeking fresh grazing. The migration can be found during any given month; you just need to know where to look! The question should really be about the 'best places' to see the animals during a certain time of year. In addition to the iconic landscapes, you have a good chance of encountering predators and you may see lion, cheetah and leopard. It is a truly life-changing experience.
In the afternoon, you will start your journey back to Karatu, hopefully enjoying more wonder on the way!
After a leisurely breakfast at your lodge in Karatu, begin your journey back to Arusha, taking in the scenic landscapes of the Great Rift Valley one last time. Along the way, you may stop for photos, souvenir shopping at local curio shops, or a quick visit to a local market (optional, time permitting).
Upon arrival in Arusha, you’ll be dropped off at your hotel or transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your onward flight. This marks the end of your incredible 5-day Tanzania mid-range safari with memories of Tarangire’s elephants, Serengeti’s endless plains, and the awe-inspiring Ngorongoro Crater.
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