6-Day Tanzania Camping Safari: Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Cater and Tarangire National Park from Arusha

A six-day circuit from Arusha gives you a strong first look at northern Tanzania’s big wildlife parks. You move from elephant country in Tarangire to the wide-open Serengeti, then on to the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara, with five nights of camping keeping the price below a lodge-only safari.

I like the range of parks and the full day set aside for the Serengeti. I also like that the package includes a 4WD vehicle, park fees, game drives, a cook, meals, tents, mattresses, pillows, tables, and chairs. The main caution is the pace: most days are about 10 hours, and camping mattresses may not suit older visitors or anyone who needs a proper camp bed.

Key points before you book

• Four famous wildlife areas in six days: Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara all fit into one loop from Arusha.
• A full Serengeti day: You get early morning, mid-day, and afternoon game drives rather than only a quick crossing.
• Camping keeps the cost down: The listed price is $2,675 per person, with five nights in tents at campsites.
• Small group format: The maximum group size is eight, a useful limit for game viewing and vehicle space.
• Big Five potential: One day in the Serengeti produced four of the Big Five for one participant, while Ngorongoro and Tarangire each produced three in a day.
• Pack your own sleeping bag: A mattress and pillow are included, but a sleeping bag is not.

The route from Arusha: a lot of Tanzania in six days

The tour begins with pickup from your Arusha hotel at 9:00 a.m. That start gives you a clear morning departure, though the first day is still long. You leave Arusha for Tarangire National Park, have a picnic lunch, and spend the rest of the day on a game drive.

From there, you travel toward the Serengeti on day two, spend day three entirely in the park, visit the Ngorongoro area on days four and five, and finish with Lake Manyara before returning to Arusha on day six. This route makes sense geographically, but it is not a slow safari. You are covering major distances between parks, often on rough roads, and several days run for around 10 hours.

That trade-off is the heart of the trip. You see more of northern Tanzania than you would on a shorter single-park safari, but you spend a fair amount of time in the vehicle. For a first safari, I think the variety is worth it. If you want long, quiet mornings at one camp, choose a slower itinerary.

Day 1: Tarangire’s elephants and baobabs

Tarangire is a good opening park because it gives you wildlife soon after leaving Arusha. The day includes a picnic lunch and a game drive, with about 10 hours allocated from pickup through the park visit and onward arrangements.

Tarangire is especially appealing if you want to see elephants. The park is also known for its large baobab trees, which create a memorable setting even when animals are not close to the vehicle. This first stop gives you a taste of safari rhythm: a long drive, a packed lunch, and time spent scanning the bush for movement.

The drawback is simple. You get only one main game-drive day here, so you cannot count on seeing every animal you hoped for. Still, placing Tarangire first adds a different type of scenery and wildlife from the Serengeti that follows.

Day 2: Crossing into the Serengeti

After breakfast, you depart for Serengeti National Park with a game drive along the way. You have a picnic lunch and a shorter afternoon game drive after reaching the park.

This is a travel-heavy day, but the route itself is part of the experience. The Serengeti is not a quick attraction beside Arusha. Reaching it takes time, and the en-route game drive gives you a chance to begin spotting animals before the afternoon viewing period.

You should keep expectations sensible on this day. Because the schedule includes the transfer into the park, the afternoon drive is shorter than the full day that follows. The real payoff comes on day three, when you have early morning, mid-day, and afternoon drives.

Day 3: Three game-drive windows in the Serengeti

Day three is the strongest wildlife day in the schedule. You have an early morning game drive, another around mid-day, and an afternoon drive, all within Serengeti National Park.

The early drive is valuable because it gives you the first chance of the day to find active wildlife. The mid-day outing breaks up the long pause between morning and afternoon, while the later drive offers another period of searching before camp. The schedule does not promise particular animals, but repeated drives improve your odds simply because you are looking in different areas and at different times.

One safari participant saw four of the Big Five in a single Serengeti day, including a leopard. That is a notable result because leopards can be difficult to find. It is best treated as a reminder of what is possible, not a guarantee.

The Serengeti also gives you the most classic open-country safari feeling on this route. I would give this day your full attention. Bring patience, keep your camera ready, and do not judge the day only by how many animals you see in the first hour.

Day 4: From the Serengeti to the Ngorongoro rim

The fourth day begins with an early Serengeti game drive. After brunch, you depart for the Ngorongoro Crater Rim, with another game drive on the way.

This arrangement gives you one last chance to enjoy the Serengeti before changing settings. By the time you reach the crater rim, the character of the trip changes from broad plains to a dramatic high viewpoint over the crater area.

The schedule is again long, around 10 hours. You should think of this as part wildlife viewing and part transfer day. The advantage is that you do not lose a full day to transport. The cost is less time at any single stop and a tiring afternoon after the early start.

Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater and the road to Lake Manyara

Day five brings the crater-floor game drive. After an early breakfast, you descend into Ngorongoro Crater, have lunch at the hippo pool picnic site, ascend to the rim, and continue toward Lake Manyara.

The crater is one of the most concentrated wildlife settings on the trip. You are not just driving through a large park. You are descending into a contained natural area, then spending time looking for animals from the crater floor. Lunch at the hippo pool picnic site adds a specific stop to the day, though you should follow the guide’s instructions closely around wildlife.

This is one of the most ambitious days. You combine an early breakfast, a crater drive, lunch, the climb back to the rim, and a transfer to Lake Manyara. If you prefer a relaxed schedule, this may feel rushed. If your priority is seeing several major areas in one trip, it is an efficient use of time.

A historical stop at Olduvai Gorge is not included in the listed price. The additional fee is $18, and one participant did not have the chance to visit it. Treat Olduvai as an optional extra, not as a guaranteed part of this six-day plan.

Day 6: Lake Manyara before returning to Arusha

The final morning starts with breakfast and a game drive in Lake Manyara National Park. You then have a picnic lunch and leave in the middle of the afternoon for Arusha, where the tour ends with a hotel drop-off.

Lake Manyara gives you a final chance for wildlife before the return journey. The park also changes the feel of the circuit again, so you are not repeating the same type of open plain seen in the Serengeti.

The timing matters. You do not simply wake up and drive straight back to Arusha. You get a morning drive first, which makes the last day feel like part of the safari rather than an unpaid transfer. The return trip still takes time, so avoid scheduling an important evening flight or a tight onward connection without checking the timing carefully.

Camping, meals, and what $2,675 covers

The listed price is $2,675 per person. That is a substantial amount, but a northern Tanzania safari involves park fees, long-distance 4WD transport, staff, food, campsites, and repeated game drives. The value depends on how you use the six days. For someone who wants four major parks in one trip, the package combines many expensive pieces into one booking.

The camping package includes five nights in tents at campsites. It also includes a cook, table, chairs, mattress, pillow, and tent. Breakfast is provided five times, dinner five times, and lunch six times. Park fees and game drives are included as well.

That sounds close to all-inclusive, but read the exclusions carefully. You must bring or arrange a sleeping bag, and tips are not included. Olduvai Gorge costs an additional $18 if it is added and available. The separate lodge package lists five nights in tented camps and lodges, so you should confirm which accommodation option you are booking rather than assuming the camping and lodge descriptions mean the same thing.

Camping is not just a budget decision. It puts you closer to the natural setting and gives the trip a more basic, outdoors-focused feel. At the same time, you should be comfortable with tent accommodation and a mattress on the ground. One practical complaint was the lack of camp beds for older people, so I would ask about a bed upgrade before booking if that matters to you.

The 4WD vehicle and small-group setup

Transport is by 4WD vehicle, which is essential for a safari route covering Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Lake Manyara. The vehicle is your viewing platform, dining transfer, and main mode of transport for much of the six days.

The group maximum is eight people. That is small enough to make seating and animal sightings more manageable than on a large coach, though the actual group size can be smaller or close to the limit. A small group also matters during long drives, when cramped seating becomes more noticeable.

The tour provider is Gracepatt Ecotours Kenya. The supplied information does not name a specific driver or guide, so you should not book expecting a particular person. Staff are described as friendly and helpful, and pre-tour and post-tour attention received especially strong praise. I would still confirm pickup details, the accommodation package, and sleeping arrangements before departure.

Who will like this safari most

I would recommend this trip to a first-time safari visitor who wants to see the major northern Tanzania parks without arranging each park, transfer, meal, and campsite separately. It suits you if you value range and wildlife chances more than a slow pace or polished hotel comfort.

It is also a good fit if you are comfortable with early starts, picnic lunches, long drives, and basic camping. The chance to see four of the Big Five in one Serengeti day, plus three in both Ngorongoro and Tarangire on separate days, shows why the route appeals to wildlife-focused visitors.

I would be more cautious if you have back problems, need a proper bed, or dislike changing camp areas. You should also consider a slower trip if your main goal is photography from one location, rest between drives, or a more luxurious night-by-night experience.

Small details that matter before departure

Pickup is offered from your hotel in Arusha, with a listed start time of 9:00 a.m. Confirmation is provided at booking, and the activity states that most people can participate. The trip has a maximum of eight participants.

Pack for camping, not just game drives. Since the sleeping bag is excluded, arrange one before you arrive. You should also budget for tips and the possible $18 Olduvai Gorge fee.

The cancellation terms are strict near departure. You receive a full refund if you cancel at least three full days before the local start time. Cancellations or changes within three days are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book the six-day route?

Book it if you want a wide-ranging Tanzania safari with the Serengeti as the centerpiece, and you are willing to trade comfort and spare time for more parks. The full Serengeti day, crater-floor drive, and added Tarangire and Lake Manyara visits make this a strong introduction to the region.

Think twice if camping mattresses, 10-hour days, and frequent transfers sound tiring. Before paying, confirm whether you are choosing the camping or lodge package, ask what sleeping arrangements are available, and leave room in your budget for a sleeping bag, tips, and Olduvai Gorge if desired.

For the right person, this is a practical way to pack four famous wildlife areas into six days. It is not the gentlest safari, but it offers a lot of game-viewing time for a route that begins and ends in Arusha.

FAQ

Where does the safari begin?

The safari begins in Arusha, Tanzania, with pickup from your hotel.

What time is pickup?

The listed start time is 9:00 a.m.

How long is the safari?

The experience lasts approximately six days.

Which national parks are included?

The route includes Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara National Park.

Is there a full day in the Serengeti?

Yes. Day three includes early morning, mid-day, and afternoon game drives in Serengeti National Park.

How many nights are included?

The package includes five nights of accommodation.

Is camping included?

Yes. The camping package includes five nights in tents at campsites.

Are meals included?

Yes. The package includes five breakfasts, five dinners, and six lunches.

Is a sleeping bag provided?

No. A sleeping bag is not included.

Is Olduvai Gorge included?

No. Olduvai Gorge has an additional historical-site fee of $18.

How large is the group?

The maximum group size is eight participants.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least three full days before the experience start time. Cancellations and changes within three days are not accepted for a refund.