4 Days Tanzania Private Lodge Safari – Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro

Your safari begins with a short briefing at your hotel in Arusha before you set off towards Tarangire National Park. As you leave the city behind, the landscape gradually opens into the beautiful savannah country of Northern Tanzania.

Tarangire is a wonderful place to begin a safari. Ancient baobabs rise above the plains, seasonal swamps provide water for wildlife, and the Tarangire River attracts impressive numbers of animals. One of the park’s great highlights is its elephant herds, which can often be seen gathering around the water.

During your game drive, keep your eyes open for giraffes, bushbucks, hartebeests, gerenuk, fringe-eared oryx, buffaloes, zebras, and wildebeest. Lions are among the predators you may encounter, while leopard sightings are possible and cheetahs are rarely seen.

From the open roof of your safari vehicle, you will have a wonderful view of both the wildlife and the surrounding landscape. Later in the afternoon, you will arrive at your lodge, giving you time to relax after your first day in the bush.

After breakfast, your journey continues towards the Serengeti. The drive from Karatu takes approximately six hours, including stops, as you travel through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Along the way, you will have a short stop at the gate and viewpoint to take in the breathtaking view of the Ngorongoro Crater. The supplied itinerary allows approximately 20 minutes for this stop.

There is also an optional opportunity to visit a Maasai community and learn more about their culture and way of life. The supplied itinerary states that the visit takes approximately 20–45 minutes, costs USD 20–40, and is not included in the safari price.

Later in the afternoon, you will arrive in Central Serengeti and head out for a game drive around Seronera. As the light softens towards evening, the Serengeti takes on a magical atmosphere. You may see wildlife moving across the plains and, with luck, witness a predator hunting or feeding on a kill before enjoying the sunset in the wilderness.

Rise early and enjoy breakfast before heading out for a morning game drive in Central Serengeti. The early hours are a special time in the park, when wildlife is active and the cooler conditions make game viewing particularly enjoyable.

You will spend the morning exploring the Serengeti and taking in the wildlife and scenery before returning to the lodge for lunch and time to pack.

After lunch, you will continue out of the Serengeti towards the Ngorongoro Highlands. The journey to the lodge near the Ngorongoro gate is described in the supplied itinerary as approximately three hours. As the open Serengeti plains give way to the highlands, you will experience another striking change in Tanzania’s landscape.

After an early breakfast, you will descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for the final wildlife experience of your safari. The dramatic crater walls surround a remarkable wildlife habitat, making the descent an exciting moment in itself.

Your guide will focus on finding the black rhino, one of the most difficult animals to spot in the crater. At the same time, the crater floor offers opportunities to see many other species in a relatively concentrated area.

After lunch, you will continue with your game drive before ascending the crater. Once back on the rim, you will collect your belongings and begin the journey towards Arusha or the airport, depending on your onward travel plans.

Your 4-day private safari comes to an end with memories of Tarangire’s elephants, the vast Serengeti, and the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater.