5-Day Affordable Safari in Tanzania

Join us on the best 5-day Tanzania safari package exploring famous Northern Tanzania Safari circuit. This is 5-Day Classic Tanzania Safari, a thrilling journey through Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, and Ngorongoro Crater. These are the 3 most famous wildlife areas in Northern Tanzania, no wonder this is the best 5 day safari in Tanzania you can take.

This mid-range Tanzania safari package offers you private game drives in a 4×4 vehicle with a pop-up roof, guided by experts to boost your chances of spotting the Big Five, though sightings depend on luck and nature’s unpredictability. You stand a chance to spot all the Big five with alittle bit of luck, as well as lots of other animals large and small alike.

In these memorable 5 days, You will track elephants in Tarangire’s baobab plains, explore Serengeti’s vast savannahs, and marvel at Ngorongoro’s dense wildlife, with optional visits to a Maasai village or Olduvai Gorge (additional cost) to enrich your adventure.

This 5-Day Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro tour delivers an unforgettable East African experience, perfect for a compact yet vibrant safari. The tour is offered as a private tour, and that is good news! We can tweak it in anyway that suits your needs and or budget. As published, it is a midrange package, but we can easily upgrade the package to include more luxurious lodges and camps if you wich. Ask our experts for free advise and customization.

5-Day Classic Tanzania Safari Highlights

Overview of the Tanzania Safari (5 Days)

Check out more insights on these 3 amazing wildlife parks in the following overviews, to get a picture of what to expect on this 5-day Tanzania wildlife safari adventure.

Tarangire National Park, Tanzania

Tarangire National Park, spanning 2,850 km² in northern Tanzania, is known for its large elephant herds (sometimes 300 strong), ancient baobab trees, and diverse landscapes. The Tarangire River sustains swamps, grasslands, and acacia woodlands, attracting wildlife year-round. In May’s rainy season, lush vegetation and watter-logged black cotton soils may spread animals out, making sightings less predictable. Other months are okay for Tarangire while drier months being the best.

You may spot elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, lions, leopards, or cheetahs, depending on luck, with over 550 bird species, like the ashy starling, delighting birdwatchers.

Your game drives will reveal rolling hills and baobab-dotted plains, starting this 5-Day safari tour with an exciting introduction to Tanzania’s wildlife.

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Serengeti National Park, covering 14,763 km², is Tanzania’s safari centerpiece, famed for its endless plains and Great Migration (May-September), when millions of wildebeests and zebras cross the Mara and Grumeti Rivers.

Serengeti grasslands, rocky kopjes, and riverine forests host the Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rare black rhino—with over 4,000 lions, 1,000 leopards, and 500 bird species, like ostriches, lilac breasted rollers, secretary birds and many others.

In Central Serengeti, your focus for this itinerary, you’ll have strong chances for wildlife viewing, especially during the drier months, though the green season is also still okay. You could encounter cheetahs, hyenas, or elephants, and many other mamals but sightings depend on chance. Your game drives will immerse you in the Serengeti’s vast beauty, a highlight of this 5-Day Classic Tanzania Safari.

Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, spanning 260 km².

This natural enclosure hosts over 30,000 animals, offering you high chances for sightings, at amazingly close range, though luck is key. Its springs and grasslands support dense populations year-round, even in May’s rainy season.You might see lions, black rhinos, elephants, leopards, or buffalo, plus flamingos, hippos, and birds like storks.

The crater’s compact ecosystem ensures dynamic game drives, making it a spectacular finale for your 5-day Tanzania safari package.

Where to Stay in the 5-Day Classic Tanzania Safari

On this midrange 5 day safari in Tanzania, you’ll stay in carefully selected lodges and camps in Karatu and Central Serengeti, blending comfort with the allure of the wilderness.

Our handpicked accommodations are usually picked for their prime locations, warm hospitality, and authentic wilderness feel. Farm of Dreams Lodge in Karatu and Tukaone Serengeti Camp in Central Serengeti provide cozy rooms, modern amenities, and stunning views, ensuring you’re rested for each day’s adventure.

You can upgrade to luxury lodges like Serena Hotels or choose budget camps to suit your budget, customizing this 5-Day Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro tour to your preferences.

Farm of Dreams Lodge, Karatu

At Farm of Dreams Lodge in Karatu, near Tarangire and Ngorongoro, you’ll enjoy a welcoming retreat with spacious rooms, private verandas, and lush gardens. The restaurant serves fresh, hearty meals, and you can relax by the pool after game drives. The lodge’s friendly staff ensures a comfortable stay, enhancing your safari experience.

See how Farm of Dreams Lodge here to get a glimpse of how the place looks like. Upgrades are also posisble to stay inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, at lodges like the Lions Paw Ngorongoro.

Tukaone Serengeti Camp, Central Serengeti

Tukaone Serengeti Camp in Central Serengeti offers you a rustic yet comfortable tented experience with en-suite bathrooms, cozy beds, and verandas overlooking the savannah. You’ll enjoy meals in the open-air dining area, with a campfire adding warmth under the starry sky. Its central location puts you close to prime wildlife areas, ideal for your game drives.

Check out the Tukuone Serengeti Weavers Camp here to get a glimpse of how the place looks like.

Best Time to Take the 5-Day Classic Tanzania Safari

The best time to visit for this 5-Day Classic Tanzania Safari is during the The dry seasons—January-March and June-October. From June to October, you’ll enjoy prime wildlife viewing, with Serengeti’s Great Migration (June-September) and Tarangire’s animals gathering at water sources. Ngorongoro Crater offers consistent sightings year-round, with daytime temperatures of 20-28°C perfect for game drives.

In May 2025, during the long rainy season (March-May), you’ll see lush green landscapes and fewer crowds, but animals may be harder to spot due to abundant water and vegetation. Brief showers are possible, though roads remain accessible, but prices at the midrange and luxury accommodations are at the lowest.

Logistics of the 5-Day Classic Tanzania Safari

You’ll travel in a private 4×4 vehicle with a pop-up roof, ensuring comfort and great views during game drives on this 5-Day Tarangire Serengeti Ngorongoro tour.

Your journey begins in Arusha, with a 2-3 hour drive to Tarangire and further to Karatu for overnight.

Expect 3-4 hours for driving from Karatu to Serengeti on Day two of your adventure tour.

Same 3-4 hours to Ngorongoro on the day 4, but with stops on the way to watch animals, you may arrive late afternoon at Karatu.

On the last day (Day 5) you expect to drive at least 4 hours combined for descending to the crater and driving back to Arusha.

Your expert guide will lead all activities, and will be incharge of balancing the park entry permits which are normally issued on 24 hour basis but some are single entry. He will be handling that for you.

An optional transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) costs $50 per car is also available on the last day.

Check the Prices tab for more about what is included and what is not included in your package.

Why Choose This 5-day Safari in Tanzania?

This 5-Day Classic Tanzania Safari is your chance to experience Tanzania’s top wildlife destinations in a compact, unforgettable adventure, but still at a good pace. This is a Big five tour and with a little luck, you will be able to spot all of them.

Being a private tour, your private game drives conducted by a private guide offer a personalized experience and a lot of flexibility. This Tanzania safari package delivers adventure and value, ideal for a short East African escape. Book now or customize with luxury upgrades to make it your own.

5-Day Tanzania Safari Itinerary

Day 1

Transfer from Arusha to Tarangire National Park.

Your 5-Day Classic Tanzania Safari starts in Arusha, where you’ll meet your guide who will help you in loading your luggage into your private 4×4 safari vehicle. You will then set off on a 2 hour drive to Tarangire National Park. This park os a 2,850 km² haven of baobab trees and elephant herds.

On arrival, you will start on your safari right away from the park’s gate with a picnic lunch in the park. You will set out on an afternoon game drive, exploring the park’s grassy plains and Tarangire River banks, where you may spot elephants, giraffes, zebras, or lions, though sightings depend on luck.

You’ll have opportunities to see many bird species. Tarangire has recorded over 550 bird species including different hornbills, the rare ashy starling, adding vibrant colors to your drive.

Later in the afternoon, you will be transferred to your lodge in Karatu, where you’ll enjoy a hearty dinner and relax in a comfortable room with garden views, preparing for the next day. Overnight at Farm of Dreams Lodge. Lunch and Dinner included.

If you are staying in or around Tarangire National Park, you have a unique chance, to choose an optional activity like night game drives or guided walking safari with an armed, allowing you to observe tracks, plants, and smaller wildlife up close. You may also do the hot air balloon early in the morning at Tarangire. .

Day 2

Transfer to Serengeti National Park (Central Serengeti)

After an early breakfast at your lodge in Karatu, you’ll embark on a 3-4 hour drive to Serengeti National Park, passing through scenic highlands with views of Maasai herders and their cattle, as well as brief stops on the way if you get an interesting sighting.

You will be having picnic lunch In the afternoon, you’ll head out on a game drive across the park’s 14,763 km² expanse, where you might encounter lions, cheetahs, or elephant families, depending on luck. The Great Migration (May-September) could bring dramatic wildebeest and zebra herds, but sightings aren’t guarantee.

Later in the afternoon you will drive to your camp for dinner by the campfire, followed by a restful night in your en-suite tent, surrounded by the sounds of the Serengeti. Overnight at Tukaone Serengeti Camp. All meals included.

Day 3

Explore the Serengeti National Park

You’ll spend a full day in Central Serengeti, with flexible game drives designed to maximize your wildlife experience, though luck plays a key role in what you’ll see. After an early breakfast at your camp, you can opt for morning and afternoon game drives, starting at sunrise to seek active predators like leopards, hyenas, or lions, or choose a full-day drive with a packed lunch under a shady acacia tree, venturing into remote corners of the savannah. Alternatively, you’ll enjoy early morning and sunset drives, returning to your camp in Central Serengeti for a buffet lunch and relaxation on your tent’s veranda, overlooking the plains.

You may spot buffalo, giraffes, or migrating herds (May-September), with birds like lilac-breasted rollers adding bursts of color.

You’ll end the day with a communal dinner at the camp, sharing stories under the stars, and overnight in your comfortable tent. Overnight at Tukaone Serengeti Weavers Camp. All meals included.

For an unforgettable experience, you can book an optional hot air balloon safari at sunrise ($550-$600 per person), soaring above the plains for a stunning view of herds and predators, followed by a champagne breakfast in the bush.

Day 4

After an early breakfast at your camp in Central Serengeti, you’ll set off on a 3-4 hour drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, enjoying game drives en route where you might see elephants, zebras, or giraffes, depending on luck and the rainy season’s impact.

You’ll stop for a picnic lunch at a scenic viewpoint, taking in the transitional landscapes between Serengeti and Ngorongoro. To enhance your experience, you can choose an optional Maasai village visit to meet locals, watch traditional dances, and browse handmade crafts, or an Olduvai Gorge tour (at extra cost) to explore a world-famous archaeological site, both at additional cost.

You’ll arrive in Karatu and check into your lodge, where you’ll have the afternoon to relax by the pool, stroll through lush gardens, or unwind in your spacious room. In the evening, you’ll enjoy a fresh, hearty dinner in the lodge’s welcoming dining area, reflecting on your Serengeti adventures and gearing up for the crater. You’ll spend the night in comfort, recharging for the final day. Overnight at Farm of Dreams Lodge. All meals included.

Day 5

Ngorongoro Crater – back to Arusha – End of safari

After an early breakfast at your lodge in Karatu, you’ll drive 30 minutes to Ngorongoro Crater and descend into Crater’s floor. You will spend the day exploring its 260 km² floor; home to over 30,000 animals with game drives for the most time of the this daya game drive.

In your 4×4 vehicle with a pop-up roof, you may see lions, black rhinos, elephants, or leopards, plus flamingos, hippos, or birds like storks, but sightings depend on luck.

Your guide will navigate the crater to seek wildlife, with its dense ecosystem offering strong chances for exciting encounters.

You’ll take a break for a picnic lunch in the crater, surrounded by the dramatic landscape, providing a moment to rest and eat, at the Ngoitokitok picnic site near a small pool. In the early afternoon, you’ll ascend and drive 3-4 hours back to Arusha, concluding your 5-Day Classic Tanzania Safari.

If you’re departing, an optional transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) is available ($50 per car), or you can arrange a day-use room in Arusha ($50-$100 per person) for late flights, ensuring a smooth end to your adventure.

5-Day Tanzania Safari Prices

The prices for the 5-day Tanzania safari ranges from USD 1520 Per person for 6 people travelling together to USD 2130 per person for 2 people only travelling together in a private 4×4 safari jeep.

The price covers the following items:

Services of an expert English-speaking safari guide/driver
4 nights at mid range lodges and camps
All meals as detailed in the itinerary (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner)
Guided game drives in Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater
All airport transfers and travel in a luxury 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for optimal game viewing

Entry fees for all National Parks and Conservation Areas
Picnic lunches provided during full-day game drives
Bottled water supplied during game drives
Ngorongoro Crater service fees
All relevant government taxes and levies

The price excludes the following items:

Tips for your safari guide/driver and lodge staff
Comprehensive travel insurance including trip cancellation coverage
Round-trip international flights to and from Tanzania
extra beverages and premium wines, spirits, and liquors
Hot air balloon safaris in the Serengeti
Laundry services
Tanzanian Visa fees
Souvenirs and personal expenses
Cultural tours not specified in the itinerary
Any activities not mentioned in the itinerary
Flying Doctor service for emergency medical evacuation

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5-Day Affordable Safari in Tanzania