5 Days Tanzania Budget Camping Safari to Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara National Park

Your Tanzanian safari adventure begins in the morning at approximately 8:30 AM, when you depart from Arusha with your professional driver-guide and travel towards Tarangire National Park. A packed lunch will be provided for you to enjoy during the day.

Tarangire, covering approximately 2,600 km², is a spectacular landscape of open savannah, seasonal swamps and enormous ancient baobab trees. The park is home to an impressive variety of wildlife, including Masai giraffes, buffaloes, hartebeest, eland, fringe-eared oryx and the unusual long-necked gerenuk. Bird lovers will also have plenty to look forward to, with more than 550 bird species recorded in the park.

However, Tarangire is particularly famous for its large elephant herds. During the right season, herds of up to 300 elephants can be seen moving across the landscape, making this one of the best places in East Africa to observe these magnificent animals at close range.

After an extensive game drive filled with wildlife and beautiful scenery, you will continue to Fig Campsite, where you will enjoy dinner and spend the night.

Overnight: Fig Campsite
Accommodation upgrade: You may upgrade to lodge accommodation at an additional cost, with the lodge located at or near the campsite.

After breakfast, you will depart with a packed lunch and begin your journey towards the legendary Serengeti National Park.

The journey takes you through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where you may have the opportunity to stop and enjoy a breathtaking view over the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater before continuing towards the Serengeti.

The name Serengeti means “endless plains” in the language of the Maasai, and as you enter the park, the meaning becomes clear. Vast grassland savannah stretches towards the horizon, interrupted by distinctive rock formations known as kopjes. These rocky outcrops provide excellent resting and lookout points for predators and are often rewarding locations for wildlife viewing.

Depending on the season, you may also witness the spectacular movement of thousands of animals associated with the Great Migration, one of Africa’s most remarkable wildlife experiences.

After a game drive through the central Serengeti, you will arrive at your campsite in the Seronera Valley in the late afternoon. Here, you will have dinner and settle in for an authentic night surrounded by the sounds and atmosphere of the Serengeti.

Overnight: Campsite in the Seronera Valley, Central Serengeti
Accommodation upgrade: You may upgrade to lodge accommodation at an additional cost, with the lodge located at or near the campsite.

Wake up to another exciting day in the Serengeti. After breakfast, you will head out for another game drive in Serengeti National Park, giving you another opportunity to discover wildlife that you may not have encountered on the previous day.

The Serengeti is home to Africa’s famous Big Five, lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard and depending on wildlife movements and conditions, today may offer the chance to see several or even all members of this iconic group.

After your morning game drive, you will stop for lunch at a picnic site before continuing towards the Ngorongoro Crater.

As you approach the crater rim, the landscape dramatically changes. Once you reach the edge of the crater, the magnificent caldera opens before you, offering an unforgettable panoramic view. Approximately 20 km wide, the crater is home to more than 25,000 animals, creating one of the most concentrated wildlife areas in Tanzania.

Tonight, you will stay at Simba Campsite, situated directly on the crater’s edge. The campsite offers fantastic views over the caldera, making this a memorable place to spend the night.

Overnight: Simba Campsite, Ngorongoro Crater Rim
Accommodation upgrade: You may upgrade to lodge accommodation at an additional cost, with the lodge located at or near the campsite.

Rise and shine! After breakfast at daybreak, you will descend into the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater with a packed lunch for an unforgettable wildlife experience.

Often described as one of Africa’s most extraordinary wildlife destinations, the crater provides a remarkable natural setting where a wide variety of animals live within the caldera. During your game drive, you may encounter black rhinos, Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelles, lions, leopards, elephants and mountain reedbucks, particularly around the forests on the crater slopes.

The crater is also home to buffaloes, spotted hyenas and rare wild dogs, while bird enthusiasts can look forward to the possibility of seeing some of the more than 500 bird species recorded in the area.

After an extensive game drive and a picnic lunch, you will leave the crater in the afternoon and continue towards the Lake Manyara area.

You will arrive at Fig Campsite near Manyara Park, where dinner will be served and you will spend the night.

Overnight: Fig Campsite, near Manyara Park
Accommodation upgrade: You may upgrade to lodge accommodation at an additional cost, with the lodge located at or near the campsite.

After breakfast, your final safari day takes you to the beautiful Lake Manyara National Park, a smaller but remarkably diverse wildlife destination.

With more than 400 recorded bird species, the park is particularly rewarding for bird lovers. Its landscape includes lush forests filled with primates, open grassy plains and the alkaline waters of Lake Manyara itself.

The lake attracts colonies of flamingos and other water birds, creating beautiful wildlife and photographic opportunities. During your game drive, you may also encounter elephants, giraffes, hippos, wildebeests and impalas.

As you explore the forested areas near the lake, keep an eye out for lively groups of monkeys and baboons, whose activity adds to the character of this fascinating park.

After an extensive game drive and your final safari wildlife experience, you will begin your journey back to Arusha in the afternoon, bringing your memorable 5-day Tanzania camping safari to an end.

Safari ends: Arusha