Who it suits
Travellers who can spare an extra day and want more wildlife time rather than another destination. It is a useful first-safari choice for photographers, couples and families comfortable with the road transfers.
Pinnacle Tanzania · Privately planned
5-Day Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Serengeti Safari
Keep the same three northern highlights and give Serengeti more time. Three nights in the central region mean two full days to explore without moving camp.
- Safari length
- 5 days / 4 nights
- Serengeti stay
- 3 nights · 2 full days
- Route
- Three northern highlights
- Start / finish
- Arusha
Know the route.
Choose with confidence.
- 01Arusha
- 02Tarangire
- 03Karatu
- 04Early Ngorongoro Crater
- 05Central Serengeti · three nights
- 06Arusha
How the pace works
The long crater-to-Serengeti transfer on Day 2 remains. The improvement is two complete days at the Serengeti base, giving you more chances to explore and the freedom to return to promising areas.
A glimpse of Tanzania
A closer look at the journey.
A glimpse of the wildlife and landscapes along the route.
Your journey,
day by day.
This is the proposed itinerary. Your written proposal confirms accommodation, inclusions and any changes for your dates. Conditions and safe operating decisions can change the daily plan.
- Day 01
Arusha → Tarangire → Karatu
Begin with a private game drive in Tarangire, using the day to explore its river landscape and woodland. Continue to Karatu for dinner and preparation for an early start.
Overnight: Karatu · night 1
- Day 02
Early Ngorongoro Crater → central Serengeti
Leave early for the crater descent. After the game drive and planned lunch stop, travel onward through the conservation area to central Serengeti, reaching your selected camp before the end of the operating day.
Overnight: Central Serengeti · night 2
Early crater visit and a substantial onward transfer; no extra detours are assumed. - Day 03
Full day in central Serengeti
Spend the day on game drives shaped around wildlife movement, light and your interests. With the same camp tonight, there is no pressure to pack up and leave the area.
Overnight: Central Serengeti · night 3
- Day 04
A second full Serengeti day
Use another full day to explore a different part of the central region or return to an area that deserves more time. A slower midday break is possible; an optional balloon flight requires a separate booking and suitable weather.
Overnight: Central Serengeti · night 4
This additional full day is the main difference from the four-day safari. - Day 05
Central Serengeti → Arusha
Make an early, practical departure for the return drive, watching for wildlife along the exit route. Travel back to Arusha, or ask us to quote a Seronera fly-out to Arusha or Zanzibar instead.
Overnight: Programme ends in Arusha; onward arrangements as quoted
The road return occupies much of the day.
What’s included
in your journey.
Included in your proposal
- Private safari vehicle and driver-guide for five safari days
- Four safari nights: one Karatu and three central Serengeti
- Tarangire and Serengeti visits, Ngorongoro Crater descent and applicable route fees
- Safari meals from lunch on Day 1 through lunch on the final day, with drinking water during game drives
- Pickup and drop-off at the agreed Arusha hotels
Budget separately
- International flights, visas and personal travel insurance
- Accommodation and airport transfers before and after the stated programme unless added
- Voluntary tips, alcoholic drinks, laundry and personal purchases
- Balloon flights, cultural visits and other activities not listed in the confirmed quote
- Any optional Serengeti fly-out and onward transfers
The final written quote is the agreement on services and costs. Please check room sharing, transfers, meals, fees and any optional upgrades before confirming.
Getting ready
for your trip.
Timing
Plan around the experience you want and the camps available for your dates. Central Serengeti can reward visits beyond migration season; its resident wildlife does not guarantee that the migrating herds will be nearby.
Arrival and departure
Start from Arusha on Day 1 after arriving and resting beforehand. Return on Day 5, with an overnight buffer before a tightly timed onward flight. Pre- and post-safari hotels can be added to the proposal.
Choose your accommodation
Ask for a mid-range or luxury lodge and tented-camp proposal. The exact properties, room arrangements and meal plan are named before you book; a tented camp can have a proper bed and private bathroom.
Plan for the road
Safari tracks can be dusty and uneven. Tell us about mobility needs, back problems and children's ages so we can assess the route, vehicle and accommodation.
Pack for changing temperatures
Bring light layers, a warmer layer for early starts and the highlands, sun protection and your camera or binoculars.
Keep sightings in perspective
Your guide follows wildlife activity and park rules. Animal sightings and encounters cannot be guaranteed.
The details
worth asking.
Why choose five days instead of four?
You gain one central Serengeti night and one full day in the park. It is a meaningful increase in wildlife time, without adding another camp move.
Can this reach the Mara River?
This programme stays in central Serengeti. Northern Serengeti and Northern Serengeti - Mara River need their own time allocation; choose the six- or seven-day migration itinerary.
Can we choose luxury accommodation?
Yes, subject to availability and budget. Your written proposal specifies each camp or lodge and its room category.
Is the balloon flight included?
No. It is optional and separately priced, with departure dependent on weather and operator arrangements.
Safari tipping
with clear expectations.
Tips are customary and appreciated, but voluntary. These are Pinnacle’s suggested planning ranges for good service, not compulsory fees. Tips are additional to your package price unless your written quote expressly includes them, and never replace wages or determine the care you receive.
| Role | Suggested amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Private safari driver-guide | US$20–30 | Per vehicle, per safari day, shared by your party |
| Dedicated camping-safari cook | US$10–15 | Per cook, per safari day, shared by your party |
| Lodge or camp staff | US$5–10 | Per guest, per night, through the shared staff tip box |
Example: a four-person party choosing US$25 per vehicle per day for a seven-day safari would give its driver-guide US$175 in total, or US$43.75 per guest. Lodge tips are budgeted separately for the nights actually stayed.
Give your driver-guide and dedicated cook their tips directly at the end of their service. Use each lodge’s shared staff tip box and check whether a gratuity is already included. Separate walking guides, rangers and activity teams have their own arrangements; ask before budgeting for them.
Cash in Tanzanian shillings or accepted US-dollar notes is practical; agree the currency and conversion beforehand. Prepare smaller denominations. EUR and GBP amounts depend on the exchange rate, so agree any equivalent rather than assuming the website’s package conversion applies to tips.
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