Reviewed · SERENGETI & NGORONGORO SAFARIS

6 Days best adventure kilimanjaro ,Tarangire ,Serengeti &Ngorongoro crater

5.0 · 24 reviews From $1,325 Operated by Dancing Simba Safaris · Bookable on Viator
Book on Viator →

The clever part of this six-day Tanzania circuit is the mix: big-game drives in Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Tarangire, followed by a village walk near Kilimanjaro. I like the chance to see both wildlife and everyday Chagga life, and I like that the trip uses a safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for better animal viewing. The low group limit of 12 also helps keep the vehicle from feeling too crowded.

The main caution is the schedule. It is ambitious, and the written plan has an overlap between the Ngorongoro and Tarangire days. It also calls the experience a Kilimanjaro adventure, but this is a day hike near the mountain, not a summit climb. Confirm the exact order, accommodation, and hiking length with Dancing Simba Safaris before paying.

Key points to know before booking

6 Days best adventure kilimanjaro ,Tarangire ,Serengeti &Ngorongoro crater - Key points to know before booking

  • Four major wildlife areas: Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire each offer a different setting and animal-watching experience.
  • The Serengeti is the centerpiece: You get a scenic drive, a full afternoon game drive, an early start, and a sunrise opportunity in central Serengeti.
  • Ngorongoro includes a crater-floor drive: Picnic lunch is provided while you look for black rhino, lions, hyenas, hippos, buffalo, wildebeest, and zebra.
  • Kilimanjaro means a day near the mountain: Materuni Waterfalls, a coffee tour, village food, and Chemka Hot Spring replace a full mountain ascent.
  • Simple accommodation keeps the price down: Expect a blend of budget lodges and camping, including Ngorongoro Simba Campsite.
  • The group can reach 12 people: Group discounts are available, and a mobile ticket is offered.

Four parks and one mountain day in six days

6 Days best adventure kilimanjaro ,Tarangire ,Serengeti &Ngorongoro crater - Four parks and one mountain day in six days

At $1,325 per person, this is an active northern Tanzania trip rather than a single-park safari. You cover a lot of ground, with wildlife drives taking up most of the first five days and a walking day near Kilimanjaro at the end.

I see the value in the design. A dedicated safari vehicle, park visits, camping equipment, meals, drinking water, accommodation, airport transfers, and the Materuni and Chemka activities are included. That can be a useful package if you want one booking to handle the main moving parts.

The tradeoff is time on the road. Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, and Arusha sit far apart, so this is not a slow safari with long afternoons at one camp. You will see more regions, but you will also spend substantial time driving between them.

The trip is usually booked well ahead, with an average lead time of about 73 days. That is worth noting if your dates are fixed. The operator offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time, but changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

More Serengeti and Ngorongoro itineraries:

Day 1: Lake Manyara beneath the Rift Wall

6 Days best adventure kilimanjaro ,Tarangire ,Serengeti &Ngorongoro crater - Day 1: Lake Manyara beneath the Rift Wall

The first safari day heads to Lake Manyara National Park for a full-day game drive. The park is known here for buffalo, giraffe, zebra, tree-climbing lions, and a wide range of birds around the lake.

The setting gives you an immediate change from Arusha. The Great Rift Wall forms a dramatic backdrop, while the lake attracts flamingos, pelicans, ibises, African jacanas, and other water birds. If birdlife matters to you, this day adds variety that a big-cat-only safari would miss.

The mention of tree-climbing lions is an appealing possibility, but it should be treated as a possibility rather than a promise. Wildlife sightings depend on the day, the season, and where animals happen to be.

A full-day drive can be tiring, particularly after arrival in Tanzania. Still, Lake Manyara is a sensible opening park because it gives you large mammals, birdlife, and a compact introduction to northern Tanzania before the longer drive toward Serengeti.

Day 2: The long road to central Serengeti

Day 2 takes you toward the open plains of Serengeti. The drive is described as about four hours before the full game drive begins, though road time can vary.

Serengeti is the trip’s grand wildlife stage. The open plains and wide skies suit sightings of lions, buffalo, leopard, rhino, and elephant, along with hyenas and jackals. The plan includes a late-evening game drive, giving you another chance to see animals active after the heat of the day.

You should keep expectations sensible around the Big Five. The itinerary names all five, but no safari can guarantee every sighting. Leopard and rhino are especially dependent on luck and location. The value here is the chance to search across a famous, far-reaching ecosystem rather than a promise of a checklist.

The drive into Serengeti is part of the experience, but this is also one of the more demanding days. Bring water, keep a layer handy, and expect the vehicle to be your main base for much of the day.

Day 3: An early Serengeti start and crater-rim camping

6 Days best adventure kilimanjaro ,Tarangire ,Serengeti &Ngorongoro crater - Day 3: An early Serengeti start and crater-rim camping

The third day begins with a morning game drive, including the chance to see animals near the road after a night of hunting and feeding. An early departure can be worthwhile because predators and other animals may still be active before the day grows hot.

The plan also calls out sunrise in central Serengeti. That is one of the strongest moments in the schedule. You are not simply driving from one park to another; you have a chance to see the plains change in the first light, when the sky and animal activity can make the morning feel very different from the previous afternoon.

Later, you drive toward Ngorongoro and spend the night on the crater rim at Ngorongoro Simba Campsite. Camping at the rim gives the day a strong sense of place, but it is also the point where you should set your comfort expectations. This is budget camping, not a private lodge stay.

The company supplies camping equipment, but practical packing still matters. Carry a towel and toilet paper, two small items specifically worth remembering for a camping-based trip. The supplied information does not spell out every campsite facility, so ask what bedding, washing facilities, and restroom arrangements are provided.

More six day trips in Arusha:

Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater’s crowded wildlife bowl

6 Days best adventure kilimanjaro ,Tarangire ,Serengeti &Ngorongoro crater - Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater’s crowded wildlife bowl

After breakfast, the vehicle goes down to the crater floor for game viewing with a picnic lunch. Ngorongoro is a concentrated wildlife area, and the itinerary lists black rhino, lions, hyenas, hippos, buffalo, wildebeest, and zebra among the animals you may seek.

The crater is valuable because the enclosed setting can make animal searching feel more focused than in the open Serengeti. You can spend less time scanning endless plains and more time watching how different species share the same grassland and water areas.

The black rhino possibility is a major draw, though again, it is not guaranteed. The same applies to lions and other predators. Your guide’s skill in reading tracks, animal behavior, and the movement of other vehicles can make a real difference.

The plan then says you proceed back to Tarangire. This is the most important scheduling point to clarify. Day 5 also begins with a pickup and a Tarangire visit, so the supplied timing appears to repeat or overlap part of the route. Ask Dancing Simba Safaris exactly where you sleep on Night 4, when you leave the crater, and whether Tarangire is visited on Day 4, Day 5, or both.

Day 5: Tarangire’s elephants and baobab country

6 Days best adventure kilimanjaro ,Tarangire ,Serengeti &Ngorongoro crater - Day 5: Tarangire’s elephants and baobab country

Tarangire National Park is described as a place of tree savanna and seasonal marshes, with one of northern Tanzania’s largest elephant populations. The itinerary gives a figure of more than 4,000 elephants at the last count, making elephants the clear reason to include this park.

You may also look for giraffe, buffalo, lions, zebra, wildebeest, antelope, and gazelle. Tarangire offers a different visual character from Serengeti’s open grasslands, with trees and seasonal water shaping where animals gather.

The day starts with pickup from your hotel, followed by an open-roof safari vehicle and a drive through the park. Lunch is taken at a picnic site, and the afternoon continues with more game viewing before the return to Arusha.

I like this as a final safari park because it gives you a strong elephant focus after the big plains and the crater. The drawback is the amount of driving if you have already left Ngorongoro and must reach Tarangire before returning to Arusha. Confirm the route and the actual overnight stop so you know how much of the day will be spent inside the park.

Day 6: Materuni Waterfalls, Chagga food, and Chemka Hot Spring

6 Days best adventure kilimanjaro ,Tarangire ,Serengeti &Ngorongoro crater - Day 6: Materuni Waterfalls, Chagga food, and Chemka Hot Spring

The final day shifts from vehicle-based wildlife viewing to a walking experience near the slopes of Kilimanjaro. At Materuni village, you walk toward Materuni Waterfalls through forest, with possible sightings of chameleons, birds, insects, trees, and local fruits.

The waterfall is described as fed by fresh water from the Kilimanjaro forest. Swimming is allowed, so bring swimwear if you want to get in. You then walk back to the village for a hot lunch featuring local Chagga food.

This is the most culturally focused section of the trip. You are not just looking at scenery through a vehicle window. The walk, village meal, and coffee activity offer a closer look at life around Mount Kilimanjaro. The walking distance and duration are not specified, so ask before booking if you have concerns about fitness or pace.

The day continues to Chemka Hot Spring, where swimming is included. The supplied schedule ends mid-word when describing the hot spring, so confirm the expected time of departure, return to Arusha, and whether the coffee tour is part of the same day. The included services specifically mention a Kilimanjaro day hike with coffee tour and Chemka Hot Spring, while the detailed Day 6 description names Materuni Waterfalls and Chemka. Those pieces fit together, but the exact order is worth checking.

What the guides add to the experience

6 Days best adventure kilimanjaro ,Tarangire ,Serengeti &Ngorongoro crater - What the guides add to the experience

A safari guide can shape the trip more than the park list does. The company has used guides named Bulldozer and Maliaki. Bulldozer is associated with strong animal and environmental explanations, while Maliaki is described as a calm driver who kept searching the area and explained what was happening.

Those details matter. On a long safari, you want more than a driver who points at an animal. You want someone who can explain why animals gather in one place, help you scan for movement, and keep the day organized across rough roads and changing plans.

You should confirm your guide’s name and role before departure, since the information does not assign either guide to every booking. The maximum group size is 12, which is manageable, but the feel of the vehicle will still depend on how many people are actually booked and how seating is arranged.

Budget camping, meals, and what to pack

The package combines budget lodge accommodation with camping. Ngorongoro Simba Campsite is named for the crater-rim night, while the other lodging locations are not specified.

That setup helps keep the price at a moderate level for a six-day northern Tanzania trip. It also means you should not compare the cost directly with a lodge-only safari. The right comparison is the total package: park transport, safari vehicle, camping equipment, meals, water, airport transfers, walking activities, and hot spring access.

Included meals are listed as four breakfasts, five lunches, and five dinners. Drinking water and beers are also included. The itinerary refers to picnic lunches on safari days and a local Chagga lunch on the Materuni day.

Pack light but bring useful basics:

  • A towel and toilet paper for the camping portion
  • Swim clothes for Materuni Waterfalls and Chemka Hot Spring
  • Sun protection and comfortable walking clothes
  • A small bag for long vehicle days
  • Travel insurance, which is not included

Tips for the guide and cook are also not included. Plan for those separately if you want to reward good service.

Who will get the most from this trip

I would recommend this trip to you if you want a broad first look at northern Tanzania and do not mind a fast pace. It suits people who want major safari parks, a crater visit, a simple camping night, and a final day with village walking and swimming.

It also works well if you value range over luxury. In six days, you move from lake birds and Rift scenery to Serengeti predators, crater wildlife, Tarangire elephants, and Kilimanjaro-area culture.

I would be more cautious if you want a relaxed safari with several nights in one camp. The program covers a lot of ground, and the supplied schedule needs clarification around Day 4 and Day 5. It is also not suitable as a Kilimanjaro summit package. You get a mountain-area day with Materuni, coffee, and Chemka, not a multi-day climb.

The low group limit and group discounts may improve the value for friends or families booking together. Most travelers can participate according to the supplied information, but the walking portion still deserves a direct question if you have mobility or fitness concerns.

Should you book Dancing Simba Safaris?

Book it if your ideal Tanzania trip combines classic safari highlights and local outdoor activities, and you are comfortable with budget accommodation and long drives. The $1,325 price can be good value because so many core services are bundled together.

Before booking, ask for a corrected day-by-day schedule. Confirm the Tarangire timing, the exact accommodation, the length of the Materuni walk, the coffee-tour details, and the return time from Chemka. If those answers are clear, this is a lively, full itinerary with plenty of variety.

Skip it if your priority is a Kilimanjaro summit, upscale lodging, or an unhurried safari. For the right kind of explorer, though, the mix of Serengeti skies, Ngorongoro’s crater floor, Tarangire elephants, and a Chagga village walk makes six days count.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and finish?

The tour starts in Arusha, Tanzania, and ends back at the meeting point. Airport pickup and drop-off are included.

How long is the experience?

The experience lasts approximately six days.

What parks are included?

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

Is this a full Kilimanjaro climb?

No. The Kilimanjaro portion is a day hike near the mountain, including Materuni Waterfalls and a coffee tour. The experience also includes Chemka Hot Spring.

Is accommodation included?

Yes. Budget lodge accommodation and camping equipment are included. Ngorongoro Simba Campsite is named as one overnight location.

How large is the group?

The maximum group size is 12 people.

Are meals included?

Yes. The package includes four breakfasts, five lunches, and five dinners. Drinking water and beers are also included.

What is not included in the price?

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

More like this

Serengeti & Ngorongoro Safaris, compared.

The full Serengeti & Ngorongoro Safaris list →
Scroll to Top

Explore Tanzania

Pick a park, a summit or a stretch of reef.