6-Day Tanzania Camping Safari: Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Cater and Tarangire National Park from Arusha

This six-day safari packs Tanzania’s headline wildlife parks into one long, rewarding loop from Arusha. You begin among Tarangire’s elephants, spend a full day in the Serengeti, descend into Ngorongoro Crater, and finish with Lake Manyara. The best feature is the small group limit of eight, which should make long drives and wildlife stops easier to manage.

I like the camping value and the number of game drives included. Five nights of tent accommodation, meals, park fees, a cook, and a 4WD are bundled into the $2,675 price, while the route gives you several chances to see wildlife rather than relying on one park. The main caution is the pace: most days are listed at about 10 hours, and the supplied mattress may not suit older campers who would prefer a camp bed.

Key points before you book

• Four major parks in six days: Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara all appear on the route.
• A full Serengeti day: Day three includes early morning, midday, and afternoon game drives.
• Camping keeps the price in check: Tents, mattresses, pillows, a cook, table, and chairs are included.
• Up to eight people: The group cap is useful on long drives and during wildlife stops.
• Meals are covered: You receive five breakfasts, five dinners, and six lunches.
• Plan for long days: Every day is scheduled at about 10 hours, with early starts and substantial road travel.

Why this route works for a first Tanzania safari

I like this route because it gives you a broad sample of northern Tanzania without asking you to choose between its best-known parks. Tarangire offers a strong opening, the Serengeti gets the largest share of safari time, Ngorongoro adds a dramatic crater-floor drive, and Lake Manyara provides a final wildlife stop before Arusha.

You should think of the trip as a moving camping safari rather than a relaxed stay in one base. You change areas several times, and the road days are part of the experience. The payoff is variety: four distinct park settings and several chances to spot major African wildlife.

The $2,675 per-person price needs to be judged against what is included. You receive transport in a 4WD, park fees, game drives, accommodation for five nights, all listed meals, a cook, camping equipment, and a small group. That is a substantial bundle for a six-day safari, especially when compared with trips that charge separately for park entry, meals, transfers, or tent equipment.

The price makes the most sense if you are comfortable with basic camping and busy days. If you want private rooms, short transfers, and long afternoons at camp, this is not the right format. If you want to cover the main northern circuit without paying for a high-end lodge safari, it offers a practical middle ground.

Day one: elephants and baobabs in Tarangire

Pickup from your Arusha hotel is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. You then head toward Tarangire National Park for a picnic lunch and game drive. The day is listed at roughly 10 hours, so you should expect the transfer and safari activity to fill most of the day.

Tarangire is a strong first stop because it gives you an immediate taste of Tanzania’s wildlife before the longer journey to the Serengeti. The park is especially associated with elephants and large, distinctive baobab trees, though the supplied details do not promise a particular sighting. Your guide will direct the game drive toward the best available wildlife areas.

The picnic lunch keeps the schedule moving. You will not spend time returning to a lodge for a midday meal, which matters on a route with so much ground to cover. It also means you should be ready for a full outdoor day, with your essentials easy to reach in the vehicle.

The first night is part of the five-night accommodation package. The camping option includes a tent, mattress, pillow, table, chairs, and a cook. A separate lodge package is also listed, with five nights in tented camps and lodges, so check which package you are selecting before payment.

Day two: the long road into the Serengeti

After breakfast, you leave for Serengeti National Park with a game drive along the way. Lunch is a picnic, followed by a short afternoon game drive in the park. Again, the planned duration is about 10 hours.

This is one of the route’s key transition days. You are moving from the Tarangire area into the Serengeti, so part of the value comes from reaching a park where you will spend more time the following day. The en-route game drive gives you a chance to begin seeing the Serengeti before settling into camp.

You should not judge this day by the length of the afternoon game drive alone. The route is designed to link several parks, and the road time is what makes that possible. Still, this is likely to feel like one of the more demanding days, especially after the previous day’s drive and camping routine.

The included meals help keep costs predictable. You receive breakfast, picnic lunch, and dinner as part of the package, with the cook preparing the camping meals. No separate food budget is listed for the included daily meals.

Day three: three game drives across the Serengeti

Day three is the safari centerpiece. After breakfast, you spend the full day in Serengeti National Park, with early morning, midday, and afternoon game drives. The schedule again runs to about 10 hours, but this time most of that period is devoted to wildlife viewing rather than moving between parks.

The early drive gives you the best chance to catch animals during the cooler part of the day. The midday drive breaks up the day, and the afternoon outing adds another chance to find wildlife before returning to camp. Sightings are never guaranteed, but three outings give you more opportunities than a single morning or afternoon drive.

This is also the day where the small group can matter most. A maximum of eight people means less crowding than a large vehicle, although the exact vehicle arrangement is not described. You should still expect shared decisions about timing and stops.

One especially useful sign from the safari feedback is that a participant saw four of the Big Five in one Serengeti day, including a leopard. That is not a promise for your trip, and leopards are famously hard to find, but it shows why a full day here is valuable. The same person saw three of the Big Five at Ngorongoro Crater and also had a strong day in Tarangire.

Day four: from Serengeti to the Ngorongoro rim

The morning begins with an early Serengeti game drive. After brunch, you leave for the Ngorongoro Crater rim with an en-route game drive. The day is planned for around 10 hours, combining another wildlife outing with a transfer to your next camp.

This arrangement makes good use of the morning. You get one more chance to see the Serengeti at a prime time before changing areas. Brunch replaces the usual breakfast and lunch rhythm, so you should be prepared for a slightly different meal schedule.

Staying near the crater rim positions you for the next day’s early descent. The rim is also one of the more dramatic settings on this route, though the exact accommodation type depends on the package you choose. The camping plan keeps the experience basic, while the tented camp and lodge plan offers a different level of shelter.

Olduvai Gorge is not included in the listed price. A historical site fee of $18 is noted, and one person was unable to visit it. If this site matters to you, ask about the route and payment before departure rather than assuming it is part of the schedule.

Day five: down into Ngorongoro Crater, then toward Manyara

You start with an early breakfast and descend into Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive. Lunch is planned at the hippo pool picnic site. You then climb back to the rim and continue toward Lake Manyara.

Ngorongoro is a major reason to choose this safari. The crater setting concentrates a great deal of wildlife into one enclosed area, giving you a strong chance of seeing several species during one extended drive. A previous safari participant saw three of the Big Five here in a single day, though sightings remain subject to conditions and luck.

The hippo pool picnic stop adds a clear sense of place, but it also calls for ordinary caution. Follow the guide’s instructions and remain in the designated picnic area. You are in a wild setting, not a zoo, and the schedule includes a game drive before and after the meal.

This is another long day with several distinct parts: breakfast, crater descent, game viewing, lunch, ascent, and the drive toward Lake Manyara. You may feel tired by the time you reach camp. That is normal for this itinerary, which favors coverage and variety over slow pacing.

Day six: Lake Manyara before the return to Arusha

After breakfast, you take a game drive in Lake Manyara National Park. Lunch is a picnic, followed by departure in the middle of the afternoon for Arusha and a hotel drop-off.

Lake Manyara gives the route a different final note from the Serengeti and Ngorongoro. It is a compact park known for varied wildlife settings, though the information supplied here does not guarantee a particular animal or feature. The final game drive means your last morning is still part of the safari, rather than just a transfer day.

The afternoon drive back to Arusha closes a demanding circuit. You should avoid scheduling an important flight or tightly timed activity immediately after the planned drop-off, since the return journey and game drive are both built into the final day. The exact hotel drop-off time is not given.

Camping, mattresses, and the lodge alternative

The camping package includes five nights in tents at campsites. Equipment listed includes a mattress, pillow, table, chairs, and tent, as well as a cook. A sleeping bag is not included, so you must bring or arrange one separately.

That missing sleeping bag is a small but important cost and comfort issue. Confirm what type of mattress is supplied and what temperatures to expect before you go. One person specifically wished for the option of camp beds instead of mattresses, so older campers or anyone with back concerns should ask if an upgrade or alternative can be arranged.

The listing also includes a lodge package with five nights in tented camps and lodges. The supplied information does not explain the price difference or the exact properties, so do not assume the two packages offer the same room standard. Select the accommodation type carefully and confirm what it means before booking.

Camping can be the better value choice if you want your money directed toward park access and game drives. It also keeps you close to the outdoor setting. The tradeoff is less privacy, simpler sleeping arrangements, and more dependence on the camp routine.

Meals, transport, and group size

The package includes five breakfasts, five dinners, and six lunches. Lunch is often a picnic during the park days, which suits the schedule and reduces backtracking. Dinner is included each night, which makes the $2,675 price easier to calculate.

Transport is by 4WD, the standard practical choice for a safari route that includes rough park roads and long transfers. The tour also provides park fees and game drives, so you are not building the main costs one by one after booking.

The maximum group size is eight. That is small enough to make the vehicle feel more manageable than a large coach, but it is not a private safari. If you want complete control over departure times, meal stops, or wildlife sightings, ask about a private option before committing.

The listed start time is 9:00 a.m. from your Arusha hotel. Pickup is offered, but the information does not specify a full list of eligible hotels, so confirm your address when booking.

What the $2,675 price really buys

At first glance, $2,675 is a serious sum. The value becomes clearer when you count the included pieces: five nights of accommodation, six lunches, five breakfasts, five dinners, park fees, game drives, a 4WD, a cook, tents, mattresses, pillows, tables, and chairs.

You are also paying for the route itself. Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara are not casual day trips from one base. The tour spends six days linking them, with the Serengeti receiving a full day and additional drives on arrival and departure.

The price does not cover sleeping bags, tips, or the $18 Olduvai Gorge historical site fee. Those are easy to overlook when setting your budget. I would also keep a little room for personal drinks and other expenses, though the supplied details do not list specific extra charges.

This is good value for someone who wants the main northern Tanzania circuit and accepts basic camping. It is less compelling if you prefer a quiet lodge holiday or want several unplanned hours each day.

Who should book this safari

I would recommend this trip to an active first-time safari buyer who wants variety, repeated game drives, and a clear package price. It suits you if camping is part of the appeal, you can handle early starts, and you want the chance to see different parks in one trip.

It also fits people who want a smaller shared group without paying for a fully private vehicle. The reported wildlife days in Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Tarangire show the route can produce excellent sightings, including hard-to-find leopards, but no safari can guarantee the Big Five.

I would hesitate if you need camp beds, dislike long drives, or want precise control over every stop. Ask about the lodge option, sleeping arrangements, Olduvai Gorge, and the vehicle setup before you pay.

The cancellation terms are firm close to departure. You receive a full refund if you cancel at least three full days before the start time. Cancellations or changes inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book it?

Book this safari if your priority is seeing a lot of northern Tanzania within six days and keeping the main costs together. The full Serengeti day, crater drive, four-park route, and maximum group size of eight make it a strong choice for a focused wildlife holiday.

Skip it if comfort and spare time matter more than coverage. Five camping nights, six long days, and a mattress instead of a camp bed call for a practical attitude. For the right camper, though, this is a well-packed route with real value and plenty of chances to see Tanzania’s best-known wildlife areas.

FAQ

Where does the safari start?

The safari starts with pickup from your hotel in Arusha at 9:00 a.m.

How many nights of accommodation are included?

Five nights of accommodation are included. The available packages list either camping at campsites or accommodation in tented camps and lodges.

Which national parks are visited?

The route visits Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara National Park.

Is a sleeping bag included?

No. A sleeping bag is specifically listed as not included.

How many meals are included?

The package includes five breakfasts, five dinners, and six lunches.

What is the maximum group size?

The tour has a maximum of eight travelers.

Is Olduvai Gorge included?

No. Olduvai Gorge has a separate historical site fee of $18, and visiting it is not guaranteed as part of the route.