5 Day Private Lodge & Camping Tour of Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater

The best feature here is the route: in five days, you visit Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater, three of northern Tanzania’s major wildlife areas. You get elephants among baobabs, wide Serengeti plains, and a full game drive inside the crater, with a private vehicle for your group of up to two.

I like the early Serengeti game drive, when cooler air and low light can bring lions, leopards, and cheetahs into view. I also like the practical inclusions: drinking water, binoculars, all five lunches, and four dinners and breakfasts. Guides such as Frank, Elias, Elijah, and Stephano have been praised for animal knowledge, route planning, and clear evening briefings.

The main drawback is the pace. You spend long hours driving between parks, and the accommodation details depend on the option you choose. The listed start time is 7:00 p.m., while the daily plan begins after breakfast, so confirm the pickup time before paying.

Key Points At a Glance

• Three famous wildlife areas in five days: Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater form a strong northern Tanzania route.
• Private group of up to two: You are not sharing the activity with a larger group, which can make game-drive timing and daily plans easier to discuss.
• Sunrise in the Serengeti: Day three begins with a dawn drive, with an optional hot-air balloon safari available at extra cost.
• Elephants and baobabs in Tarangire: The year-round Tarangire River draws animals during the dry season.
• Four nights of included dinners and breakfasts: Five lunches are also included, along with drinking water, binoculars, beer, and wine.
• Experienced guides matter here: Frank, Elias, Elijah, and Stephano are named in past descriptions, but your assigned guide should be confirmed before departure.

Why This Five-Day Route Works

Northern Tanzania rewards a route that changes character as you go. Tarangire gives you a gentle first day among elephants and baobabs. The Serengeti then supplies the broad open plains and predator sightings many people picture when they think of an African safari. Ngorongoro finishes the trip with a concentrated wildlife day inside an old volcanic crater.

I like that the plan does not try to squeeze in too many unrelated stops. You spend two nights in the Serengeti, which gives you more than a quick drive-through and creates room for an early game drive on day three.

The tradeoff is distance. This is not a relaxed lodge holiday with short transfers. You will be on rough park roads and long connecting roads, especially when moving from Tarangire toward the Serengeti and later from the Serengeti to the Ngorongoro area. For a five-day safari, though, the route covers a lot without adding a fourth major park.

The price is $3,600 per group of up to two people. That works out to $1,800 per person if two people share the booking. Its value depends heavily on the accommodation level you select, since the plan refers to lodge or camping options rather than one fixed property. The private format, meals, guide, cook, park route, and included drinks make the price easier to assess, but you should ask exactly what type of room or tent is included before comparing it with other safaris.

Day One: Tarangire’s River and Baobab Country

You leave Arusha after breakfast for the roughly two-hour drive to Tarangire National Park. The road passes Maasai villages and open country before you reach the park, so the day starts with scenery and local life rather than an immediate rush toward wildlife.

Tarangire’s identity comes from its river. It runs throughout the year and becomes especially important in the dry season, when animals gather near dependable water. Acacia and baobab trees frame the route, giving the park a look that differs from the open grasslands of the Serengeti.

Elephants are a major reason to visit. You might see them near the river, along with zebra, antelope, and other herbivores. The plan allows time for a game drive across the golden savannah, followed by a picnic lunch.

I see Tarangire as a smart opening day. It gives you a strong chance of seeing large mammals without requiring the longest transfer of the trip. The drawback is that your first day combines the drive from Arusha, park entry, a game drive, and a picnic stop, so you should expect a full day rather than a leisurely arrival.

The inclusion of binoculars is useful here. You can use them to scan the trees and distant open areas instead of relying only on what appears close to the vehicle. Drinking water is also included, which matters on a hot day in an open-sided safari vehicle.

Day Two: The Long Road Into the Serengeti

Day two begins with an early breakfast because the Serengeti is not a short hop from Tarangire. The route passes through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, including misty rain forests where you might spot Cape buffalo, baboons, elephants, or, with luck, a leopard in the thicker cover.

This transfer is part of the experience, but you should set the right expectation. You are not simply driving between hotels. You are crossing changing terrain, from cultivated and settled areas toward highland forest and then the open Serengeti. The journey takes time, and the roads can make the day tiring.

After lunch at a Serengeti picnic area, you begin exploring the park. The Serengeti is known for its huge open plains and large numbers of grazing animals. You might see wildebeest and zebra moving across the grass, while predators use the same spaces to hunt.

The first Serengeti game drive is valuable because it gives your guide a chance to read current animal activity and decide where to focus. Sightings are never guaranteed, but the park’s scale and animal numbers create a strong setting for a first look at lions, cheetahs, hyenas, or other species.

You spend the night in the heart of the Serengeti, with accommodation based on the standard and type you request. That wording deserves attention when you book. Ask if your choice is a lodge, permanent tent, or camping setup, and confirm what bedding, washing facilities, and meals are supplied. The tour title includes both lodge and camping, but the exact comfort level is not fixed in the information provided.

Day Three: Sunrise Predators and a Second Serengeti Look

Day three is the wildlife centerpiece. You wake before dawn for a sunrise game drive, when the air is cooler and the light is soft. Lions, leopards, and cheetahs may be active during this period, while wildebeest, zebra, and other grazing animals begin their morning movements.

Early starts can be hard, particularly after a long transfer the previous day, but this is one of the best uses of your time. You have a chance to see behavior rather than only stationary animals. A predator moving through low light or a herd beginning to spread over the plains can make the early alarm worthwhile.

The alternative is a sunrise hot-air balloon safari followed by a champagne breakfast. This is an optional addition, not part of the stated price. You should discuss the cost and timing with the safari company before departure, since it changes the shape of the morning and may affect the regular game-drive plan.

After the morning outing, you return to your lodge for a late breakfast and continue exploring the Serengeti. This second look is important. A single drive can produce a memorable sighting, but another period in the park gives you more time to cover different areas and watch how animal activity changes through the day.

The Serengeti is also where guide skill has the greatest practical effect. Past safari descriptions have singled out Frank for strong animal and bird knowledge, Elias and Elijah for finding wildlife and giving useful information, and Stephano for careful route planning. Those names do not guarantee who will lead your trip, so ask for the assigned guide if a particular guide is important to you.

The safari company’s evening briefings have also been praised as part of the experience. That is a useful habit on a multi-day safari. A good briefing helps you understand the next day’s start time, driving distance, meal plan, and what kind of wildlife conditions to expect.

Day Four: Leaving the Plains for Ngorongoro

Day four begins with an early game drive in the Serengeti. You continue looking for wildlife until the afternoon, then return to camp for lunch and packing before leaving the park.

The drive toward Simba campsite near the rim of Ngorongoro Crater takes about two hours from the Serengeti exit area, according to the plan. This is another transition day, so it has less time for a long, unbroken game drive. Still, it places you close to the crater for an early start the next morning.

This overnight location is practical. Getting near the rim means you are not making the full journey from the Serengeti on the same morning that you descend into the crater. It also sets up one of the trip’s biggest wildlife days.

The camping element matters most here. If you enjoy a simpler safari with a closer feel to the outdoors, camping may suit you. If you want more privacy or fixed facilities, choose a lodge option if available and confirm its standard in writing. The information does not give a precise property name or room description, so this is one of the most important questions to ask before booking.

Packing on day four also means keeping your luggage organized. You will be moving between accommodation areas, and a small day bag for the crater drive can make the morning easier. This is practical advice rather than a formal tour rule, but it fits the route’s quick changes.

Day Five: A Full Game Drive Inside Ngorongoro Crater

After breakfast, you descend into Ngorongoro Crater for a full-day game drive. This is not a brief viewpoint stop. You spend the day on the crater floor, with a picnic lunch included.

Ngorongoro is a striking final chapter because the crater’s enclosed shape concentrates wildlife in one area. The crater has year-round water and grazing, supporting an estimated 30,000 animals. You might see wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo, and African elephants.

Predators are another major draw. Lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs, and the elusive leopard are all listed among the animals found here. The crater is also home to some of Tanzania’s last remaining black rhinos, though any rhino sighting depends on the day, the area you visit, and luck.

The crater offers a different kind of safari from the Serengeti. In the Serengeti, the eye travels across wide plains and animal movement can feel spread out. In Ngorongoro, the crater walls and dependable water sources create a more contained setting. That can make it easier to see a range of species during one full-day drive, though the area can also feel busy because it is such a major attraction.

Late in the afternoon, you drive back to Arusha. This makes day five a long finish. You should not plan a tight onward connection unless the tour company confirms your arrival time, since the final drive follows a full day in the crater.

Meals, Drinks, and What the Price Really Covers

The $3,600 group price includes five lunches, four dinners, and four breakfasts. Drinking water, binoculars, beer, and wine are also listed as included.

That meal structure matches the five-day schedule. Breakfasts cover the first four mornings, dinners cover the first four nights, and lunch is provided each day, including the final picnic on the crater floor. The plan does not spell out every breakfast location or menu, so ask how picnic meals and dietary needs are handled if that affects your booking.

Beer and wine are a notable inclusion, but they should not be the main reason to choose a safari. The stronger value comes from having meals arranged during long park days, when stopping for outside restaurants would be difficult.

Tips for the guide and cook are not included. Budget for those separately, and ask the company for its preferred tipping guidance. Travel insurance is also excluded and is worth considering because the booking has a strict late-cancellation rule.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded, and changes inside that period are not accepted. Poor weather may lead to a different date or a full refund.

Who Will Get the Most From This Safari

This trip suits a couple, honeymooners, or a parent and child who want a private route through northern Tanzania. The private format means only your group participates, and the price is set for up to two people rather than per seat in a shared vehicle.

It also suits you if wildlife variety matters more than having a slow schedule. You get elephants in Tarangire, broad Serengeti game viewing, and a dense mix of animals in Ngorongoro. The route has a clear beginning, middle, and end.

I would be more cautious if you dislike early starts, rough roads, or changing accommodation. The plan includes a dawn drive, several long transfers, camping or lodge options rather than one fixed comfort level, and a late drive back to Arusha.

Families can benefit from the private setup, since the guide can discuss the day with your group instead of balancing several unrelated parties. Still, the information says most people can participate, not that the itinerary is designed around young children. Ask about child ages, vehicle comfort, and sleeping arrangements before booking a family safari.

Questions To Ask Before You Pay

The listed start time is 7:00 p.m., yet day one begins after breakfast and the route normally reads like a morning departure. Confirm the exact pickup time, location, and date with Simbaland Magic Tours.

Also confirm the accommodation category. The experience is described as private lodge and camping, but no specific lodge names, tent standards, or room facilities are provided. This detail can change the value of the $3,600 price more than the included beer or wine.

Ask which guide will lead the trip. Frank, Elias, Elijah, and Stephano are names associated with previous safari experiences, but guide assignment can vary. If guide communication, wildlife expertise, or a particular language matters to you, settle that point before departure.

Finally, ask about the optional balloon safari. It is presented as an add-on, so it is not covered by the advertised package price.

Should You Book This Safari?

Book it if you want a private two-person safari that covers the three headline wildlife areas around Arusha in only five days. I especially like the two Serengeti nights, the sunrise game drive, and the full crater day. Those choices give you more than a quick park checklist.

Take a closer look before booking if accommodation comfort is central to your decision. Confirm the exact lodge or camping standard, pickup time, guide, and any extra costs. If you accept the long drives and early mornings, this is a strong route for seeing varied wildlife without joining a large group.

FAQ

Where does the safari begin?

The safari is based in Arusha, Tanzania, and pickup is offered.

How long is the experience?

The tour lasts approximately five days.

Which parks and conservation areas are included?

The route includes Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and Ngorongoro Crater.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. It is a private activity for your group, with a maximum of two people.

What time does the tour start?

The stated start time is 7:00 p.m., but the daily plan begins after breakfast. Confirm the exact pickup time with Simbaland Magic Tours before departure.

Is accommodation included?

The plan provides lodge and camping options, with the standard depending on the accommodation type requested. Confirm the exact accommodation before booking.

Are meals included?

Yes. Five lunches, four dinners, and four breakfasts are included.

Are drinks included?

Drinking water, beer, and wine are listed as included.

Is the hot-air balloon safari included?

No. The sunrise balloon safari and champagne breakfast are optional additions that you must discuss with the safari company.

What is not included?

Travel insurance and tips for the guide and cook are not included.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded or accepted. If poor weather cancels the experience, you will be offered another date or a full refund.