6 Days Tarangire, Serengeti, Kogatende & Ngorongoro Crater Safari

Destinations: Tarangire, Central Serengeti, Kogatende (Northern Serengeti) & Ngorongoro Crater
Conservation status: UNESCO World Heritage Sites & world-class wildlife reserves
Activities: Mara River crossing viewing, predator tracking, game drives, bird watching
Starting / ending point: Arusha or Kilimanjaro
Safari vehicle: 4x4 custom safari Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
Suited for: Private travel, photography enthusiasts, families & wildlife lovers
Meals: Full board — breakfast, picnic lunch box, hot dinner

Route itinerary

01Day One

Arusha to Tarangire National Park

Depart from Arusha after breakfast and drive south across the scenic Maasai steppe to Tarangire National Park, celebrated for its iconic giant baobab trees and huge elephant families.

Enjoy an afternoon game drive along the Tarangire River, where zebras, wildebeests, giraffes, and impalas congregate, while predators like lions and pythons wait in the shade.

Savor a picnic lunch in the wild, continue exploring the park, and head to your lodge or tented camp for dinner and overnight.

02Day Two

Tarangire/Karatu to Central Serengeti National Park

Journey northwest through the lush agricultural highlands of Karatu and ascend over the mist-shrouded rim of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Descend into the vast, open savannah plains of the legendary Serengeti National Park. Enjoy an afternoon game drive through the wildlife-rich Seronera Valley.

Keep watch for roaming prides of lions, cheetahs scanning the horizon, and leopards resting in acacia branches before checking into your Central Serengeti camp or lodge for dinner and overnight.

03Day Three

Central Serengeti to Northern Serengeti (Kogatende)

After breakfast, embark on a scenic game-viewing drive heading north through the diverse landscapes of the Serengeti toward the remote and dramatic Kogatende region near the Kenyan border.

Arrive in Northern Serengeti, home to the famous Mara River. Enjoy afternoon game drives across kopjes, wooded hills, and open plains where massive herds congregate.

Check into your northern safari camp or lodge for dinner and a peaceful night immersed in the sounds of the wilderness.

04Day Four

Full-Day Mara River Crossings in Kogatende

Dedicate a full day to tracking the Great Migration along the banks of the Mara River in Kogatende. Witness thrilling, heart-pounding river crossings as thousands of wildebeests and zebras brave rushing waters and lurking crocodiles.

Your expert driver-guide will position the vehicle at prime river-crossing viewing points while scanning the surrounding acacia woodlands for hunting predators.

Return to your camp in the evening to share stories around the campfire under the vast African sky.

05Day Five

Northern Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Enjoy a final morning game drive in the northern Serengeti, capturing any final wildlife highlights before beginning your journey south toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Travel across changing landscapes with strategic stops at scenic vantage points along the Great Rift Valley escarpment.

Arrive at your crater-rim lodge or nearby Karatu accommodation in the late afternoon for dinner and overnight relaxation.

06Day Six

Ngorongoro Crater Floor & Return to Arusha

Descend 600 meters down into the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater floor after an early breakfast for an unforgettable final morning of game viewing.

Experience unsurpassed wildlife density in this natural volcanic caldera—home to the Big Five, including rare black rhinos, elephants, lions, and pink flamingos at Lake Magadi. Enjoy a picnic lunch by the hippo pool.

Ascend the crater walls in the afternoon and drive comfortably back to Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport for your evening departure.