Northern Safari
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Best 3-Day Tanzania Northern Circuit Safari — Serengeti & Ngorongoro
The best 3-day Tanzania safari hits Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater — Big Five territory, a full crater descent, and two nights in the bush …
3 days
Easy difficulty
2–8 people
Departs Tanzania
Overview
About this safari
3
Days
Easy
Difficulty
—
Max Altitude
New
0 Reviews
If you have three days and want the best of Tanzania, this is the itinerary: the Serengeti for the Big Five and migration herds, and Ngorongoro Crater for the densest wildlife concentration in Africa — including one of Tanzania's last black rhino populations.
Two nights in a mid-range camp inside or adjacent to the Serengeti, plus a full Ngorongoro Crater descent on day two. Your private Land Cruiser and English-speaking guide give you the flexibility to follow what the wildlife is doing, not a fixed schedule. This is Tanzania's most iconic safari combination, done right.
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Day by Day
3-Day Itinerary
Arusha → Serengeti via Ngorongoro Highlands
Morning
Arusha → Serengeti via Ngorongoro Highlands
Morning
Early departure from Arusha. Drive through Karatu and ascend to the Ngorongoro crater rim for views. Continue west into the Serengeti. Afternoon game drive on arrival — lion and elephant sightings common in the western corridor. Dinner at camp.
Full-Day Serengeti Game Drive
Morning
Full-Day Serengeti Game Drive
Morning
Full day from sunrise, tracking migration herds and Big Five. Picnic lunch in the field. Follow the wildlife rather than a fixed route — your guide's radio network keeps you ahead of the action. Sundowner in the bush. Overnight Serengeti camp.
Ngorongoro Crater Descent → Arusha
Morning
Ngorongoro Crater Descent → Arusha
Morning
Drive to Ngorongoro (2 hrs). Full crater descent for a half-day game drive: lion prides, black rhino, elephant bulls, hippo pools, and flamingos on Lake Magadi. Ascend and drive back to Arusha, arriving late afternoon.
What's Covered
Included & Excluded
What's Included
2 nights mid-range tented camp (full board)
Arusha/Kilimanjaro Airport transfers
Full-day Ngorongoro Crater descent
Private 4×4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
Professional driver-guide
Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area fees
Not Included
Alcoholic beverages
International flights
Personal expenses
Tanzania visa ($50 USD)
Tips (guide: $15–20/day)
Travel insurance
Photo Gallery
Moments from the trail
Guest Reviews
What travellers say
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Common Questions
Frequently asked
Can you see all Big Five on a 3-day Tanzania safari?
Yes — the Serengeti + Ngorongoro combination gives you the best Big Five odds in Tanzania. The Serengeti holds lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo year-round; Ngorongoro Crater is one of Africa's most reliable rhino sightings. Many guests tick all five in a single day inside the crater.
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