Tanzania safari
4-Day Tanzania Safari: Two Nights in the Serengeti
Overview
One extra night makes a real difference in the Serengeti. On a three-day trip, most of your time in the park is spent arriving or leaving; here you get two nights at a mid-range tented camp and a whole middle day with nothing to do but look for wildlife. That is what this four-day road safari offers, at a mid-range price.
You drive from Arusha to the central Serengeti on the first day and spend the afternoon on a game drive that runs until sundown, finishing with a picnic in a scenic spot. Day two is a full day on the plains. On day three you leave after a morning drive for the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, and on the last day you explore the crater floor, eat lunch down among the animals and stop at a Maasai village on the way back to Arusha.
Tanzania Tourism Safaris runs the trip privately with your own guide and 4×4 Land Cruiser. It is a sensible choice if you want more than a quick taste of the Serengeti but have only four days to give it.
Tour highlights
- Two nights at a mid-range tented camp in the Serengeti
- Sundowner picnic at the end of the first game drive
- A full day on the central Serengeti plains
- Night on the Ngorongoro Crater rim
- Picnic lunch on the crater floor
- Maasai village visit on the way home
Day by day
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Day 1 Into the Serengeti for a Sundowner Drive Stay Mid-range tented camp in central SerengetiMeals Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, leave Arusha for the drive west over the crater highlands and down to the Serengeti. Check in at your tented camp, then head straight back out for an afternoon game drive. Stay out until the sun drops, when your guide finds a good viewpoint and unpacks a picnic of snacks and drinks. Return to camp after dark for dinner in the dining tent.
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Day 2 A Day With No Clock on the Plains Stay Mid-range tented camp in central SerengetiMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
If you have booked a hot-air balloon flight, today is the morning for it; otherwise set out early on a game drive. With no driving to fit in, you can spend as long as you like with a pride of lions or watch hippos and crocodiles in the river pools. The resident wildlife includes cheetah, leopard, elephant, buffalo, giraffe and several kinds of antelope, and migrating herds may be in the area in some months.
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Day 3 Last Serengeti Morning and the Drive East Stay Lodge or tented camp on the Ngorongoro Crater rimMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast early, then take a half-day game drive to catch anything you missed. After lunch, leave the park and drive east into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, game viewing along the way. Your lodge or camp sits on the crater rim, high enough that the air is noticeably cooler. Arrive in time for a look over the caldera before dinner, and keep a warm layer handy for the evening.
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Day 4 Crater Picnic and a Maasai Welcome Meals Breakfast, Lunch
Your rim location means an early start down the crater wall. The floor holds a remarkable density of animals, including wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo and elephant, with lion, hyena, jackal and cheetah hunting among them. Black rhino live here too. Lunch is a picnic on the crater floor. Late in the afternoon, visit a Maasai village, then drive back to Arusha or the airport.
Prices by season
Per person in US dollars. The price depends on when you travel and how many travelers share the trip.
| Season | 1 traveler | 2 travelers | 4 travelers | 6 travelers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low season 1 Mar – 31 May | $2,514 | $1,676 | $1,420 | $1,334 |
| High season 1 Nov – 20 Dec and 6 Jan – 29 Feb | $2,646 | $1,764 | $1,494 | $1,404 |
| Peak season Now 1 Jun – 31 Oct and 21 Dec – 5 Jan | $2,941 | $1,961 | $1,661 | $1,561 |
Tour price includes
- Airport meet-and-greet and private transfers
- Private 4×4 Land Cruiser (up to 7 travelers) with an English-speaking local guide
- National park and conservation area fees and taxes
- Three nights of accommodation as listed
- Meals as listed, including the sundowner picnic and crater picnic lunch
- All activities in the itinerary, including the Maasai village visit
Tour price excludes
- International flights
- Tanzania visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Optional hot-air balloon flight over the Serengeti
- Souvenirs and other personal spending
Questions about this safari
Is it worth taking four days instead of three?
For most travelers, yes. The drive from Arusha uses up much of the first day, so on a three-day trip you get only one morning of serious Serengeti game viewing. The extra night here gives you a full day in the park, which noticeably improves your chances of seeing big cats.
Can I add a hot-air balloon flight?
Yes, and we recommend it if your budget allows. Balloon flights over the Serengeti leave at dawn and are booked as an optional extra at an additional cost. The second morning works best, since you are already staying in the park. Let us know when you book so we can reserve a place.
What does mid-range mean on this trip?
You stay at comfortable tented camps and lodges with en-suite bathrooms, good food and friendly service, but without the extra space, design touches and prime locations of luxury properties. If you would prefer higher-end lodging on the same route, ask about our four-day luxury version.
Before you go
- Best Time To Visit Tanzania
- How Much Does a Tanzania Safari Cost?
- Top Safari Packing List in Tanzania
- The Best Guides on Tanzania Visa Requirement
- Tanzania Travel Insurance
- Tanzania Travel Safety
- Tipping In Tanzania Safari
- Tanzania Safari Faqs
Listed in Cultural safaris
Where you will go
Parks on this safari
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