6-Day Tanzania Budget Group Safari – Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro

Destination: Arusha
Accommodation: Budget hotel in Arusha
Meals: Depending on arrival time and hotel arrangement

Welcome to Tanzania! Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK), a representative from Mnava Tours and Safari will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel in Arusha.

After your journey, take time to relax and settle into your accommodation. Depending on your arrival time, you may have the opportunity to explore the surrounding area or enjoy a relaxed evening at the hotel.

Later, your safari team will provide a briefing about the upcoming adventure. Your guide will explain the itinerary, discuss the destinations you will visit, answer your questions, and share useful information about wildlife viewing and safari preparations.

Enjoy your evening and prepare for the exciting wildlife adventure ahead.

Accommodation: Budget hotel in Arusha.

Highlights:

• Airport pickup and transfer to Arusha.
• Meet your Mnava Tours and Safari representative.
• Safari briefing and itinerary review.
• Relax before your wildlife adventure.

Destination: Tarangire National Park
Accommodation: Budget lodge
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, and dinner

After breakfast, meet your professional safari guide and depart Arusha for Tarangire National Park. The drive generally takes around two hours, depending on traffic and your departure point.

Tarangire is one of northern Tanzania’s most rewarding wildlife destinations. Its landscape features ancient baobab trees, open grasslands, seasonal swamps, and the Tarangire River, which attracts wildlife, particularly during the dry season.

Upon entering the park, begin your game drive in search of elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, impalas, buffaloes, and numerous bird species. Tarangire is particularly famous for its elephant population, and you may encounter family groups moving through the woodland or gathering near water.

Your guide will help you search for predators, including lions and leopards, while explaining the park’s wildlife and ecosystems.

Around midday, stop at a designated picnic site for lunch. After your meal, continue exploring different areas of the park, taking opportunities to photograph wildlife and appreciate the scenery.

In the afternoon, leave the park and transfer to your budget lodge. Enjoy dinner and relax after your first full day of safari.

Accommodation: Fanaka Lodge.

Highlights:

• Scenic drive from Arusha.
• Game drives in Tarangire National Park.
• Opportunities to observe large elephant herds.
• Ancient baobab trees and beautiful landscapes.
• Picnic lunch in the park.
• Afternoon wildlife viewing.

Destination: Serengeti National Park
Accommodation: Public campsite in Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, and dinner

Wake up early and enjoy breakfast before beginning your journey towards the legendary Serengeti National Park.

Depending on the final arrangements, you may enjoy a short morning game drive or depart directly after breakfast. Your journey takes you through the beautiful landscapes of northern Tanzania and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Along the way, enjoy views of the countryside, rolling hills, and expansive savannah landscapes. You may stop at a designated viewpoint overlooking Ngorongoro Crater to admire the scenery and take photographs, subject to the day’s schedule and applicable access arrangements.

An optional visit to a Maasai cultural village may also be possible if arranged in advance. This experience can offer insight into traditional Maasai customs and daily life. The visit is optional, and any additional entrance or activity fees should be confirmed before travel.

Continue towards Serengeti National Park, where the scenery opens into vast grasslands that support an extraordinary variety of wildlife.

Upon entering the park, begin a game drive towards the central Serengeti, also known as the Seronera region. This area is famous for its resident wildlife and offers opportunities to search for lions, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, zebras, and wildebeest.

With luck, you may witness predators resting in the grass, stalking prey, or interacting with other animals. Wildlife sightings depend on natural conditions and cannot be guaranteed.

Continue your afternoon game drive as time allows before heading to the designated public campsite.

Enjoy dinner prepared by your safari cook and spend the night beneath the African sky.

Accommodation: Public campsite in Serengeti National Park.

Highlights:

• Scenic journey through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
• Optional Maasai cultural visit.
• Enter Serengeti National Park.
• Afternoon game drive in the central Serengeti.
• Search for lions, cheetahs, elephants, and other wildlife.
• Overnight camping in the Serengeti wilderness.

Destination: Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Accommodation: Ngorongoro Simba Campsite or a comparable campsite
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, and dinner

Wake up early to experience the Serengeti at one of the most exciting times of the day.

After breakfast, set out for a morning game drive through the central Serengeti. Early mornings often provide excellent opportunities to observe wildlife as animals become active after the cooler night.

Your guide will search for lions, hyenas, elephants, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, and other wildlife. Depending on recent sightings and the season, you may also encounter leopards resting in trees or cheetahs scanning the plains.

The central Serengeti supports resident wildlife throughout the year, while the location of the Great Migration changes seasonally. If migrating herds are in the area, your guide will adapt the game drive to maximise opportunities for viewing them.

After several hours of wildlife viewing, enjoy lunch before continuing with your journey towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Depending on the day’s timing and the agreed route, you may enjoy additional game viewing while travelling towards the park exit.

Continue to your campsite near the Ngorongoro Crater rim. As you approach the highlands, the scenery changes from open savannah to cooler, greener landscapes.

Arrive at camp, settle in, and enjoy dinner. Prepare for an early start the following morning as you descend into the famous Ngorongoro Crater.

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Simba Campsite or a comparable campsite, subject to availability.

Highlights:

• Early-morning Serengeti game drive.
• Opportunities to observe predators and grazing wildlife.
• Seasonal opportunities to see the Great Migration.
• Scenic drive towards the Ngorongoro highlands.
• Overnight camping near the crater rim.

Destination: Ngorongoro Crater
Accommodation: Budget hotel in Arusha
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, and dinner

Rise early and enjoy breakfast before travelling towards the Ngorongoro Crater entrance.

After completing the necessary entry procedures, descend into the crater for an unforgettable game drive.

The Ngorongoro Crater is a spectacular volcanic caldera surrounded by steep walls. Its varied habitats include grasslands, woodland, wetlands, and a soda lake, creating an environment that supports a remarkable diversity of wildlife.

During your game drive, search for lions, buffaloes, elephants, zebras, wildebeest, hippos, hyenas, and many bird species. The crater also offers one of Tanzania’s better opportunities to encounter the endangered black rhinoceros, although sightings are never guaranteed.

Your guide will choose the route according to wildlife movements, road conditions, and the time available.

Around midday, stop at a designated picnic site to enjoy lunch surrounded by the crater’s remarkable scenery.

Continue exploring the crater before ascending its steep walls and beginning the drive back towards Arusha.

Arrive at your hotel in the evening, depending on the day’s conditions. Enjoy dinner and a relaxing night after several days of adventure.

Accommodation: Budget hotel in Arusha.

Highlights:

• Early departure for Ngorongoro Crater.
• Descend into the spectacular volcanic caldera.
• Search for the Big Five and other wildlife.
• Picnic lunch in the crater.
• Scenic drive back to Arusha.

Destination: Arusha
Meals: Breakfast; lunch depending on arrangements and departure time

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before checking out.

Depending on your flight schedule, spend part of the morning discovering Arusha, a lively city known as an important gateway to Tanzania’s northern safari circuit.

Your city tour can include selected attractions such as the following:

Arusha Central Market

Experience the atmosphere of a traditional Tanzanian market, where vendors sell fresh produce, spices, household goods, textiles, and other everyday items. It is an opportunity to observe local life and purchase souvenirs.

Cultural Heritage Centre

Explore Tanzanian art, crafts, cultural displays, and gift shops. This stop may appeal to visitors interested in local artistry and souvenirs.

Arusha Clock Tower

Stop at this well-known city landmark for photographs and a brief introduction to Arusha’s history.

The exact stops will depend on your interests, opening hours, and available time.

After the city tour, your driver will transfer you to Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport for your onward journey.

If you have an early flight, the city tour may need to be shortened or omitted. Please share your flight details in advance so Mnava Tours and Safari can arrange an appropriate transfer.

Your six-day Tanzanian safari concludes with wonderful memories of wildlife encounters, dramatic landscapes, and authentic local experiences.

Highlights:

• Explore Arusha’s local markets.
• Discover Tanzanian arts and crafts.
• Visit the famous Clock Tower.
• Airport transfer for your onward flight.