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Wildebeest and zebra scattered beneath a flat-topped acacia in the Serengeti

Tanzania · 4 days · Budget

4 Days Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti & Lake Manyara Budget Safari

A fast-paced budget safari covering the northern circuit's big names in four days: Tarangire's baobabs and elephants, the Serengeti plains and the Ngorongoro Crater, passing through the Lake Manyara area.

Duration
4 days · 3 nights
Countries
Tanzania
Starts
Arusha
Ends
Arusha
Tier
Budget
Format
Group joining

Per personUSD 830 pp

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01 / Overview

The journey in brief.

A fast-paced budget safari covering the northern circuit's big names in four days: Tarangire's baobabs and elephants, the Serengeti plains and the Ngorongoro Crater, passing through the Lake Manyara area.

This 4-day budget itinerary starts in Arusha and ends in Arusha. Accommodation: Overnight at the camp/lodge.

Ideal for
Travellers short on time · Budget travellers
Safari style
Budget · Group Joining

Destination guides: Tarangire · Lake Manyara · Serengeti · Ngorongoro

Route

  1. Arusha

    Start

  2. Tarangire

    Stop 1

  3. Lake Manyara area

    Stop 2

  4. Serengeti

    Stop 3

  5. Ngorongoro Crater

    Stop 4

  6. Arusha

    Finish

02 / Highlights

What stays with you.

  1. 01

    Tarangire's baobabs and elephant herds

  2. 02

    A night in the Serengeti

  3. 03

    Ngorongoro Crater game drive

  4. 04

    Four parks in four days

03 / Day by day

Travel it day by day.

4 days · driving times are approximate

  1. Day 1 · Approx. 2 hours by road

    Arusha to Tarangire

    Depart Arusha after breakfast for Tarangire National Park, with a packed lunch in the park. Afternoon game drive among ancient baobabs and the elephant herds that gather along the Tarangire River in the dry season. Overnight near Mto wa Mbu, below the Lake Manyara escarpment.

    Meals
    Lunch · Dinner
    Overnight
    Lake Manyara — Fanaka Campsite
    Elephant herd crossing the Tarangire River

  2. Day 2 · Approx. 5–6 hours with game viewing

    Lake Manyara area to the Serengeti

    Climb the Rift Valley escarpment with views over Lake Manyara, cross the Ngorongoro highlands and descend to the Serengeti with packed lunches, game viewing en route to camp in the central Seronera area.

    Meals
    Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
    Overnight
    Serengeti — Seronera Camp
    Zebra and wildebeest massing on the riverbank before a crossing

  3. Day 3

    Serengeti to Ngorongoro

    A morning game drive in the Serengeti, known for its lions, leopards and cheetahs, with a packed lunch. In the afternoon, game drive out of the park and continue to the Ngorongoro crater rim.

    Meals
    Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
    Overnight
    Ngorongoro — Simba Campsite
    Giraffes in the Serengeti with a hot-air balloon drifting by
    Wildebeest grazing below a grassy hill on the plains

  4. Day 4 · Approx. 3–4 hours by road after the crater

    Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha

    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. After the crater tour, drive back to Arusha.

    Meals
    Breakfast · Lunch
    Overnight
    End of safari
    Soda lake on the Ngorongoro Crater floor seen from the rim

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

    Pool and garden cottages at Fanaka Campsite near Lake Manyara and TarangireSimple guest room at Fanaka Campsite near Lake Manyara and Tarangire
  • Serengeti1 night

    Seronera Camp

    Dome safari tent with chairs at Seronera Camp in the Serengeti
  • Ngorongoro1 night

    Simba Campsite

    Tents beneath a broad shade tree at Simba Campsite on the Ngorongoro rim

Quick planning facts

Duration
4 days · 3 nights
Countries
Tanzania
Starts
Arusha
Ends
Arusha
Tier
Budget
Format
Group joining
Accommodation
Overnight at the camp/lodge
Best for
Travellers short on time · 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

06 / Pricing

Honest, complete pricing.

Prices are per person, in US dollars, for the complete 4-day package — not per day.

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Package price per person in US dollars
OptionComplete package
Per personUSD 830

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

  • This is a fast itinerary with long driving days. Lake Manyara is seen from the escarpment and the Mto wa Mbu area rather than on a dedicated game drive; add a day for a full Manyara game drive.
  • 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 830 pp for the complete 4-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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4 days · Tanzania

USD 830 pp

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