A focused three-day safari for travellers who would rather do two great parks properly than four in a hurry. You sleep one night close to Tarangire and one night on the Ngorongoro Crater rim — the most dramatic bed in Tanzania, with the caldera falling away below your window and a pre-dawn descent that puts you on the crater floor before the day-trippers arrive. Long game drives, unhurried picnics in the bush, a private vehicle and a guide who explains what you are watching rather than simply driving to it.
- Highlights
What makes this journey unforgettable
- One night on the Ngorongoro Crater rim with views into the caldera
- Full day among Tarangire's elephants, baobabs and river life
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser and professional driver-guide
- First-light descent onto the crater floor, ahead of the crowds
- Only two lodges in three days — less packing, more wildlife
- Day-by-Day Itinerary
Your journey, day by day
- Day 1
Arusha to Tarangire National Park
We leave Arusha mid-morning and reach Tarangire’s Boundary Hill gate before lunch. The afternoon is a single long, slow game drive along the Tarangire River, where elephants dig for water in the sand, giraffe browse the acacias and lion often rest on the termite mounds. You stay inside until the light goes amber, then check in your lodge for dinner under the stars.
- Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Click to see the lodge description and photos in An’gata Tarangire Lodge.
- Day 2
Tarangire National Park – Karatu and Ngorongoro Crater Rim
Start the morning with an early game drive in Tarangire, when the park is cool and quiet and wildlife is often most active. After the drive, return to the lodge for breakfast before continuing towards the Ngorongoro Highlands.
The journey takes you through the green landscapes and coffee farms around Karatu as you climb towards the crater rim. Once you arrive, the afternoon is yours to enjoy at a relaxed pace. Take in the beautiful views across the crater, join a short guided walk along the forest edge, or simply settle into your lodge and enjoy a hot bath.
Have an early dinner and rest well, ready for an early start and your Ngorongoro Crater experience the following morning.
- Meals: All meals
Click to see the lodge description and photos in Ngorongoro Serena Lodge (rim).
- Day 3
Ngorongoro Crater & Return to Arusha
We descend into the Ngorongoro Crater at first light, when the air is cool, the morning light is soft, and wildlife is most active. Spend around six hours exploring the crater floor, looking for black and white rhinos, lion prides, elephants, buffalo, and other wildlife across the open grasslands.
At Lake Magadi, you may see flamingos gathered along the shallow waters, while hippos rest in the pools near our picnic area. After lunch and more game viewing, we slowly make our way back up the crater wall in the mid-afternoon and continue to Arusha, arriving in good time for your evening flight.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
- What's Included
- All park, conservation and concession entry fees
- All government taxes and VAT
- Private 4x4 safari Land Cruiser with pop-up roof for unobstructed game viewing
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide with deep regional knowledge
- All accommodation as per the selected comfort tier (Mid-Range)
- All meals as indicated in the day-by-day itinerary
- Drinking water in the vehicle on every game drive
- Airport meet-and-greet, transfers and complimentary pre-trip briefing
- Personalised welcome pack and 24/7 on-trip support
- What's Excluded
- International flights and visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance (strongly recommended)
- Personal expenses — laundry, phone calls, alcoholic and soft drinks
- Tips and gratuities for your guide, porters and lodge staff
- Optional activities not listed in the itinerary (e.g. hot-air balloon, spa, scenic flights)
- Items of a personal nature and any pre/post-tour accommodation
- Tour Price