4 Day Camping Safari
An affordable short camping safari from Arusha to the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, ideal if your time in Tanzania is limited.
- Duration
- 4 days
- Route
- Arusha – Serengeti – Ngorongoro Crater – Arusha
- Start / end
- Starts and ends in Arusha/Moshi, with arrival and departure via Kilimanjaro International Airport.
- Best time
- The Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater offer good game viewing year-round, while the dry season from June to October is generally the easiest time for spotting wildlife.
- Trip style
- A budget camping safari in a 4x4 safari vehicle with a guaranteed window seat, staying at public campsites inside the parks, with lodge nights in Arusha at the start and end.
Tour overview
Serengeti Joy Tours offers great prices on short Tanzania safaris to the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater. If your stay in Tanzania is limited and a Big Five wildlife safari is on your wish list, this affordable 4 Day Camping Safari is an ideal choice.
Like most of our short Tanzania safaris, this tour starts and ends in Arusha. It takes you to explore Serengeti National Park, with two nights camping inside the park, followed by a night on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater and a game drive on the crater floor.
Highlights
- Two nights at the Seronera campsite inside Serengeti National Park
- Game drives across more than 14,000 square kilometers of Serengeti wilderness
- Optional hot air balloon safari over the Serengeti
- Dawn game drive when predators are most active
- Night at a campsite on the Ngorongoro Crater rim at 2,300 meters
- Six hours of game driving in the Ngorongoro Crater among some 30,000 resident animals
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 0Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport
On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you are met by Serengeti Joy Tours and transferred to Arusha. Tonight you stay at L'Oasis Lodge, a mid-range hotel and lodge, where you can relax, enjoy dinner and rest after your journey before the safari begins the next morning. Your guide will brief you on the days ahead.
Day 1Arusha – Serengeti
Serengeti National Park is our destination today. It is the most famous of all wildlife sanctuaries in Africa and home to the largest wildlife migration on the continent. After entering the park, we game drive our way to camp near the Seronera River inside the park, where we spend the night under canvas surrounded by the sounds of the bush.
Day 2Full day in the Serengeti
A full day of sheer pleasure in Serengeti National Park, with over 14,000 square kilometers to explore in search of the best that nature has to offer. Game drives take you across the open plains in search of the park's wildlife. An optional hot air balloon safari is available today at extra cost. We camp again at the Seronera campsite.
Day 3Serengeti – Ngorongoro
In the morning we rise at dawn in Serengeti National Park, taking a tip from the wildlife that use this time to hunt, and set out on an early game drive. In the afternoon we drive on toward the Ngorongoro Crater and continue to our campsite on the rim of the crater at 2,300 meters. It can be chilly, so bring warm layers for the evening.
Day 4Ngorongoro Crater – Arusha
The Ngorongoro Crater is a World Heritage Site. We spend the maximum of six hours allowed game driving in the world's largest caldera (a collapsed volcano), among some 30,000 resident animals. In the late afternoon we return to Arusha for an overnight stay at L'Oasis Lodge, with time to relax after your days in the parks.
Day 5Departure
After a good breakfast, you will have time to explore Arusha town before we take you to the airport for your flight home. This marks the end of your camping safari with Serengeti Joy Tours, with memories of the Serengeti plains and the Ngorongoro Crater to take home with you.
What is included
- All accommodation in public campsites and lodges according to the itinerary
- A safari briefing
- Guaranteed window seat in a 4x4 safari vehicle driven by an experienced driver guide
- Professional, English-speaking guide
- All sightseeing and game viewing as per the itinerary
- Meals according to the itinerary
- All park entrance fees
Not included
- Domestic and international flights
- Tanzania visa entry fees
- Tips and gratuities for the driver guide and cook
- Personal expenses such as souvenirs, laundry, beverages, alcoholic and soft drinks
- Accommodation before and after the safari beyond the nights listed in the itinerary
Good to know
- This tour starts and ends in Arusha/Moshi; fly to and from Kilimanjaro International Airport near Arusha and Moshi.
- We can help you select international flights, but you will need to book them yourself.
- Additional airport transfers and extra hotel nights before or after the tour can be arranged at extra cost.
- The campsite on the Ngorongoro Crater rim is at 2,300 meters and can be chilly at night, so pack warm clothing.
Frequently asked questions
Is this safari suitable if I only have a few days?
Yes. It is designed for travelers with limited time in Tanzania, focusing on the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater. It starts and ends in Arusha.
What is the weather like at the Ngorongoro campsite?
The campsite sits on the crater rim at 2,300 meters, so evenings and nights can be chilly. Bring warm layers for the evening.
Can I add a hot air balloon safari?
Yes. A balloon safari over the Serengeti is available as an option on Day 2 at extra cost. Let us know when booking so we can arrange it.
Similar tours
5 days5 Day Camping SafariCamp in the Serengeti for two nights to witness the wildebeest migration, with Lake Manyara, Olduvai Gorge and a Ngorongoro Crater game drive along the way.From $928 ppView tour →6 days6 Day Private Camping SafariYour own Land Cruiser, guide and private cook on a six-day camping safari through Tarangire, the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara.From $1,320 ppView tour →