Safari

2-Day Tarangire & Ngorongoro Crater Safari

Arusha, Tarangire, Karatu, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha

Duration
2 days · 1 night
Group
Private guided
Pace
Moderate
Best season
Year-round; June to October is driest

your journey

Overview

Two days is enough for a proper taste of northern Tanzania if you choose the right parks. This trip pairs Tarangire, with its baobabs and elephant herds, with the Ngorongoro Crater, where a single morning can bring lion, buffalo, black rhino and flamingos.

It works well as a reward after a Kilimanjaro climb, as a break while you wait for an onward flight, or as a first safari when you are short of time. You travel in a private 4×4 with a pop-up roof, sleep one night in Karatu between the two parks, and are back in Arusha by the evening of the second day.

Who it suits

Climbers coming off Kilimanjaro, visitors with a free weekend in Arusha, and anyone who wants to see the crater and elephant country without committing to a long safari.

Parks visited

Tarangire National Park · Ngorongoro Crater

what makes it special

Highlights

  • A full day in Tarangire among baobabs and elephant herds
  • Descent to the Ngorongoro Crater floor for a Big Five game drive
  • Picnic lunch inside the crater
  • A night in the green highlands at Karatu
  • Private 4x4 and driver-guide, ideal after a Kilimanjaro climb

day by day

The itinerary

Your guide meets you at Arusha Airport or your hotel and drives you to Tarangire National Park, about two and a half hours away, for a full day of game driving. Tarangire is baobab country, and its river draws big elephant herds as well as giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and the lions and leopards that follow them. Lunch is a picnic in the park. In the late afternoon you drive up to Karatu, a highland town close to the Ngorongoro Crater, for dinner and the night at your lodge.

Overnight: Lodge in KaratuMeals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

After an early breakfast you drive to the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and descend about 600 metres to its floor. The crater holds one of Africa's densest concentrations of large animals, and on a good day you can see all of the Big Five, including black rhino. You stop for a picnic lunch inside the crater, then climb out in the afternoon and drive back to Arusha or to the airport for your onward journey.

Overnight: Safari ends in ArushaMeals: Breakfast & lunch

the price

What is included

Included

  • Pick-up at Kilimanjaro International Airport
  • Hotel room with breakfast in Arusha before and after the safari
  • Private professional driver-guide
  • Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof for game viewing
  • All national park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area entrance fees, including 18% VAT
  • All meals on safari: breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • A visit to a Maasai village, if you would like one

Not included

  • International flights
  • Tanzania visa fee
  • Travel insurance
  • Lunch and dinner at the Arusha hotel before and after the safari
  • Tips for your driver-guide

Prices

Price on request

before you ask

Common questions

You can go on safari here all year. The dry season from June to October is the easiest time for game viewing, because animals gather near rivers and the grass is short, but it is also the busiest. From November to May the parks are green, quieter and excellent for birds, with short rains around November and the long rains in April and May. Where the wildebeest migration is depends on the month, so tell us your dates and we will plan the route around them.

Our safaris use 4x4 safari vehicles with a pop-up roof, so you can stand up for game viewing and photography. On a private safari the vehicle and driver-guide are yours alone for the whole trip.

Each tour page lists exactly what is included and excluded. On our northern circuit safaris, such as the 7-day Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire trip, national park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area entrance fees are included. If you are not sure, ask your specialist before you book.

Yes. Every itinerary on this site is a starting point. We can add or remove days, swap parks, or change the accommodation to suit your budget, and your specialist will send you a revised plan and quote.

Bring light, neutral-coloured clothes, a warm layer for early mornings and for the Ngorongoro Crater rim, which is cold at night, comfortable shoes, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and insect repellent. Binoculars and a camera with spare batteries and memory cards make a big difference. Soft bags pack into safari vehicles more easily than hard suitcases.

Most visitors need a visa. Apply online in good time through the official Tanzania Immigration website at eservices.immigration.go.tz, and do not use unofficial agents. Your passport should be valid for at least six months after arrival. Requirements differ by nationality, so check the official site for your country.

Enquire

Ask about this itinerary

Every AAA Express Adventure trip can be changed to suit you: the pace, the lodges, the number of days. Tell us your dates and who is travelling, and our team in Arusha will come back to you with a plan and a price.

Your journey

Price on request

2 days · 1 night

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karibu

Ready to plan your trip?

Call us on +255 784 281316, email sales@aaaexpressadventure.com or send an enquiry. Our team in Arusha will get back to you.

Price on request