5 Days Big Five Tanzania Safari

Start & End: Arusha, Tanzania
Destinations: Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater
Safari Style: Mid-range to Luxury Safari
Focus: Big Five, scenery, authentic wildlife encounters

Day 1: Arrival in Arusha – Gateway to Adventure

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport or from your hotel, you’ll be met by your professional safari guide and transferred to your lodge in Arusha. Take the day to relax, recover from your journey, and get briefed on the exciting days ahead. You may opt for a short walk around the lodge or a visit to the local markets depending on your arrival time.

Accommodation: Arusha Planet Lodge / Four Points by Sheraton
Highlights: Arrival & relaxation
What to Expect: Warm welcome, vibrant culture, peaceful start

Day 2: Arusha – Tarangire National Park

After breakfast, you’ll head to Tarangire National Park, known for its high concentration of elephants and iconic baobab trees. The park offers a stunning, less-crowded safari experience. Enjoy a game drive along the Tarangire River, a favorite wildlife gathering spot, especially in the dry season. Expect to see elephants, lions, buffaloes, giraffes, and plenty of birdlife.

Accommodation: Tarangire Simba Lodge / Maramboi Tented Lodge
Highlights: Huge elephant herds, baobabs, predators
What to Expect: Great views, close elephant encounters, authentic African wilderness

Day 3: Tarangire – Serengeti National Park

Today, after an early breakfast, depart for the world-renowned Serengeti National Park, driving through the Great Rift Valley and the Ngorongoro highlands. Enjoy an en-route game drive as you enter the endless plains of the Serengeti. After lunch, continue with a game drive in the central Serengeti, a prime area for lion and leopard sightings.

Accommodation: Into Wild Africa Camp / Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
Highlights: Big cats, dramatic landscapes, plains game
What to Expect: Start of thrilling game drives in the Serengeti, iconic African landscapes

Day 4: Serengeti – Ngorongoro Crater

Wake up to the calls of the wild and enjoy a morning game drive in Serengeti to spot more wildlife at its most active time. After brunch, begin your journey to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with optional stops at a Maasai village or Olduvai Gorge museum. Arrive at your lodge on the crater rim or nearby in Karatu in time for dinner.

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge / Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
Highlights: En-route game drive, cultural option, scenic views
What to Expect: Transition to lush highlands, chance for cultural immersion

Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater – Arusha (Departure)

This is the grand finale of your safari. After breakfast, descend 600 meters into the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the best place in Tanzania to see the endangered black rhino. The crater hosts an incredible diversity of wildlife including lions, elephants, buffalo, hippos, and flamingos. After a picnic lunch at the hippo pool, begin your journey back to Arusha, where your guide will drop you at the airport or your preferred location.

Highlights: Big Five sightings, Ngorongoro landscapes
What to Expect: Incredible final safari day, high chance to complete Big Five list