Tanzania · 3 days · Budget
3 Days Tanzania Budget Safari
A short budget safari from Arusha to two highlights of northern Tanzania: Lake Manyara National Park and a full day on the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater.
- Duration
- 3 days · 2 nights
- Countries
- Tanzania
- Starts
- Arusha
- Ends
- Arusha
- Tier
- Budget
- Format
- Group joining
01 / Overview
The journey in brief.
A short budget safari from Arusha to two highlights of northern Tanzania: Lake Manyara National Park and a full day on the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater.
This 3-day budget itinerary starts in Arusha and ends in Arusha. Accommodation: Overnight at the camp/lodge.
- Ideal for
- Short stays · Budget travellers · Kilimanjaro climbers adding a safari
- Safari style
- Budget · Group Joining
Destination guides: Lake Manyara · Ngorongoro
Route
Arusha
Start
Lake Manyara
Stop 1
Ngorongoro Crater
Stop 2
Arusha
Finish
02 / Highlights
What stays with you.
- 01
Lake Manyara's forest, lake shore and birdlife
- 02
Full day in the Ngorongoro Crater
- 03
Picnic lunch at Ngoitoktok Springs
- 04
Budget camping on the crater rim
03 / Day by day
Travel it day by day.
3 days · driving times are approximate
Day 1 · Approx. 2 hours by road
Arusha to Lake Manyara
After breakfast, depart Arusha for Lake Manyara National Park with lunch en route. Afternoon game drive through the park's groundwater forest and along the lake shore, known for tree-climbing lions (seen only occasionally), elephants, baboons and large flocks of water birds.
- Meals
- Lunch · Dinner
- Overnight
- Lake Manyara — Fanaka Campsite
Day 2
Ngorongoro Crater
Descend about 600 metres to the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater, an enclosed caldera with its own resident wildlife: lions, buffalo, elephants, hyenas, large herds of zebra and wildebeest and one of Tanzania's few populations of black rhino. Lunch is taken at a picnic site on the crater floor. The afternoon ends with the climb back to the rim.
- Crater tour
- Picnic lunch at Ngoitoktok Springs
- Meals
- Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
- Overnight
- Ngorongoro — Simba Campsite
Day 3 · Approx. 3–4 hours by road
Ngorongoro to Arusha
An early breakfast, then a final game drive around the crater area before the drive back to Arusha. Drop-off at your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast · Lunch
- Overnight
- End of safari
04 / Where you stay
Budget camps and hotels.
Named properties are the budget stays we use on this route. Where the itinerary says “overnight at the camp/lodge”, your quotation confirms the exact stay.
- Lake Manyara1 night
Fanaka Campsite
- Ngorongoro1 night
Simba Campsite
Quick planning facts
- Duration
- 3 days · 2 nights
- Countries
- Tanzania
- Starts
- Arusha
- Ends
- Arusha
- Tier
- Budget
- Format
- Group joining
- Accommodation
- Overnight at the camp/lodge
- Best for
- Short stays · Budget travellers
05 / What’s included
Clear from the start.
Included
- Pick-up and drop-off in Arusha (hotel, bus stop or airport)
- Transport in a 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof
- Services of a professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Accommodation as described in the itinerary
- All meals while on safari
- Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area fees
- Game drives as listed in the itinerary
- Drinking water in the vehicle (1 litre per person per day)
Not included
- International flights and visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance (strongly recommended)
- Tips and gratuities for guides and camp staff
- Alcoholic and soft drinks unless stated
- Items of a personal nature such as laundry and phone calls
- Optional activities not listed as included
- Accommodation in Arusha before and after the safari
- Zanzibar flights and accommodation
06 / Pricing
Honest, complete pricing.
Prices are per person, in US dollars, for the complete 3-day package — not per day.
| Option | Complete package |
|---|---|
| Per person | USD 675 |
Optional extras (not included)
- Olduvai Gorge museum visitEntrance paid on the day; price confirmed when you book.
- Maasai village visitQuoted on request
- Serengeti hot-air balloon safariQuoted on request, subject to availability.
07 / Good to know
Questions, answered.
Important notes
- Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed. Your guide will adapt the day to recent sightings, weather and road conditions.
- Driving times are approximate and depend on road conditions, stops and wildlife encountered along the way.
- Park and conservancy fees are set by the authorities and may change; any change is passed on at cost.
How much does this safari cost?
USD 675 pp for the complete 3-day package (per person, complete package). Prices are per person in US dollars. The pricing section lists exactly what is included.
Where does the safari start and finish?
It starts in Arusha and finishes in Arusha.
Is this a private or group-joining safari?
This itinerary usually runs as a group-joining safari, sharing the vehicle with other travellers to keep costs down. It can also be quoted as a private trip.
What accommodation is used?
The accommodation pattern is: Overnight at the camp/lodge. Each night is listed in the day-by-day itinerary.
Can this itinerary be changed?
Yes. Dates, pace, accommodation level and the order of stops can usually be adjusted. Tell us what you have in mind when you enquire.
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Ready to make this journey yours?
Tell us your dates, group size and travel style and our Nairobi team will tailor the safari.