8 Days Private Camping to Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater

Overview

About this itinerary

Highlights

• Two full days in the Serengeti: one for big cats, one following the Great Migration
• Migration areas chosen for your season: Ndutu calving plains, Grumeti, central Serengeti or the Mara River crossings
• Tarangire's elephants and a descent into Ngorongoro Crater
• Search for the Big Five, including the endangered black rhino
• Private Land Cruiser, professional guide and safari cook
• All camping equipment provided

Gallery

Moments on this route

Itinerary

8 Days / 7 Nights · day to day

Each day shows where you are, what you may see and do, where you sleep and the meals. Exact sightings depend on the season and on the animals.

1. Day 1

   Arrival in Arusha

   

   Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport, you will be welcomed by our company representative and transferred to your accommodation in Arusha. Depending on your arrival time, you will have an opportunity to relax and recover from your international journey.

   In the evening, meet your safari consultant for a detailed safari briefing. You will review your itinerary, discuss the wildlife experiences ahead, and meet your professional safari guide, who will accompany you throughout the journey.

   After the briefing, enjoy your evening, relax and prepare for the wildlife adventure beginning the following morning.

   Main destination

   ArushaBest time: Year-round

   Activities

   Safari briefing

   Overnight

   Budget accommodation in Arusha

2. Day 2

   Arusha to Tarangire National Park and Mto wa Mbu

   

   After breakfast, depart Arusha and drive towards Tarangire National Park for your first wildlife experience. Famous for its elephant populations, ancient baobab trees and savannah landscapes, Tarangire offers an excellent introduction to Tanzania's wildlife.

   Enjoy an extensive game drive through different wildlife areas in search of elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes and numerous bird species. Your guide will help you understand the park's ecosystem while identifying wildlife and explaining animal behaviour. Enjoy a picnic lunch inside the park before continuing your afternoon game drive.

   In the late afternoon, exit Tarangire and drive towards Mto wa Mbu, a vibrant town near the Great Rift Valley. Arrive at your campsite, where your safari cook will prepare dinner. Relax and enjoy your first night of camping.

   Main destination

   Tarangire National ParkBest time: June to October, when wildlife gathers at the river

   Wildlife you may see

   ElephantGiraffeZebraWildebeestBuffaloLionBaobab treesBirdlife

   Activities

   Game drivePicnic lunch in the parkScenic drive

   Overnight

   Public or designated campsite in Mto wa Mbu

   Meals

   BreakfastLunchDinner

3. Day 3

   Mto wa Mbu to Serengeti National Park: explore the endless plains

   

   After an early breakfast, depart Mto wa Mbu and begin your scenic journey towards Serengeti National Park. Travel through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, enjoying highland landscapes, volcanic scenery and opportunities to observe traditional Maasai communities along the way.

   As you approach Serengeti, the scenery gradually transforms into endless golden savannah plains dotted with acacia trees and rocky kopjes. Upon entering the park, begin your game drive in search of lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and other wildlife.

   Enjoy a picnic lunch during your journey before continuing with your afternoon game drive. Depending on the season, your guide will select suitable wildlife-viewing areas, with particular attention to the Great Wildebeest Migration and its predators. In the evening, proceed to your campsite for dinner and overnight.

   Main destination

   Serengeti National ParkBest time: Year-round; the herds move with the seasons

   Wildlife you may see

   LionLeopardCheetahElephantGiraffeZebraWildebeestSpotted hyenaBuffalo

   Activities

   Game drivePicnic lunch in the parkMaasai community and sceneryScenic drive

   Overnight

   Public campsite in Serengeti National Park

   Meals

   BreakfastLunchDinner

4. Day 4

   Full-day game drive in Serengeti: discover the big cats

   

   Wake up early and enjoy breakfast before heading out for a full-day wildlife adventure in Serengeti. This day is dedicated to exploring the plains and searching for some of Africa's most fascinating predators, especially lions, leopards and cheetahs. Serengeti is internationally recognised for its big-cat populations.

   Explore different areas of the park, including open grasslands, rocky kopjes and riverine habitats where wildlife gathers. Keep your eyes open for lions resting beneath trees, leopards in acacia branches and cheetahs scanning the open plains for prey. Your guide will use their knowledge and experience to help you find these animals.

   Enjoy a picnic lunch in the wilderness before continuing your afternoon game drive. Take time to appreciate the landscapes, capture photographs and observe wildlife in its natural environment. In the evening, return to your campsite for dinner and another night in the wilderness.

   Main destination

   Serengeti National ParkBest time: Year-round; the herds move with the seasons

   Wildlife you may see

   LionLeopardCheetahElephantGiraffeZebraWildebeestSpotted hyenaBuffalo

   Activities

   Game drivePicnic lunch in the parkScenic drive

   Overnight

   Public campsite in Serengeti National Park

   Meals

   BreakfastLunchDinner

5. Day 5

   Full-day Serengeti: follow the Great Wildebeest Migration

   

   Today offers another opportunity to explore Serengeti and experience one of the world's greatest wildlife spectacles: the Great Wildebeest Migration. After breakfast, depart with your picnic lunch for a full-day game drive, following the seasonal movements of wildebeest and zebras as they travel across the Serengeti ecosystem in search of fresh grazing and water.

   Depending on your travel season, your guide will select the most suitable migration areas. These may include the southern plains of Ndutu during the calving season, the western corridor around the Grumeti River, the central Serengeti, or the northern Serengeti near the Mara River crossings. You may also encounter predators such as lions, leopards, cheetahs and hyenas following the herds.

   Enjoy a picnic lunch in the wilderness before continuing your wildlife exploration throughout the afternoon. Later, return to your campsite for dinner and overnight.

   Main destination

   Serengeti National ParkBest time: Year-round; the herds move with the seasons

   Wildlife you may see

   LionLeopardCheetahElephantGiraffeZebraWildebeestSpotted hyenaBuffalo

   Activities

   Game drivePicnic lunch in the park

   Overnight

   Public campsite in Serengeti National Park

   Meals

   BreakfastLunchDinner

6. Day 6

   Serengeti National Park to the Ngorongoro Highlands

   

   Enjoy breakfast at the campsite before beginning your journey from Serengeti towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Depending on wildlife activity and your departure time, enjoy a morning game drive as you make your way out of Serengeti, with another opportunity to encounter wildlife.

   Continue towards the Ngorongoro Highlands, passing through scenery where open grasslands give way to rolling hills, volcanic landscapes and lush highland vegetation. Along the way, learn about the relationship between wildlife, local communities and the surrounding conservation areas.

   Arrive at your campsite in the Ngorongoro Highlands during the afternoon. Settle in, enjoy a freshly prepared dinner from your safari cook, and relax in preparation for the following day's crater experience. An early night is recommended.

   Main destination

   Serengeti National ParkBest time: Year-round; the herds move with the seasons

   Wildlife you may see

   LionLeopardCheetahElephantGiraffeZebraWildebeestSpotted hyenaBuffalo

   Activities

   Game driveScenic drive

   Overnight

   Public or designated campsite in the Ngorongoro Highlands

   Meals

   BreakfastDinner

7. Day 7

   Ngorongoro Crater game drive and return to Arusha

   

   After an early breakfast, depart for the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater. Descend approximately 600 metres into the crater for a game drive across its landscape. The crater's ecosystem supports an impressive concentration of wildlife throughout the year.

   Explore the crater floor in search of the African Big Five, including elephants, lions, buffaloes, leopards and the endangered black rhino. You may also encounter zebras, wildebeest, hippos, hyenas and numerous bird species. Enjoy a picnic lunch at a designated picnic site before continuing your exploration of the crater's grasslands, woodlands, swamps and lakes.

   In the afternoon, ascend the crater walls and begin your journey back to Arusha. Check in at your accommodation, enjoy dinner and relax after an exciting day.

   Main destination

   Ngorongoro Conservation AreaBest time: Year-round; driest from June to October

   Wildlife you may see

   LionElephantBuffaloHippoZebraWildebeestSpotted hyenaBlack rhino (rare)

   Activities

   Ngorongoro Crater game driveGame drivePicnic lunch in the parkTrekkingScenic drive

   Overnight

   Budget accommodation in Arusha

   Meals

   BreakfastLunchDinner

8. Day 8

   Departure from Arusha Airport or Kilimanjaro International Airport

   

   After breakfast, enjoy a relaxed morning at your accommodation, depending on your flight schedule. This is your final day in Tanzania, giving you time to reflect on the wildlife encounters and landscapes of your private camping safari.

   Our driver will arrange your transfer to Arusha Airport or Kilimanjaro International Airport according to your departure arrangements. We recommend sharing your flight details in advance so that we can organise a convenient airport drop-off and ensure you arrive comfortably and on time.

   Take home memories of Tarangire's elephants, Serengeti's big cats and Great Migration, and the wildlife of Ngorongoro Crater. Thank you for choosing Glad of Africa Safari & Tours.

   Main destination

   Mount Kilimanjaro National ParkBest time: January to March and June to October

   Wildlife you may see

   Colobus monkeyBlue monkeyAlpine birds

   Activities

   Bush flightScenic drive

   Meals

   Breakfast

Included / excluded

What's included

FAQ

Questions about this safari