A guided Serengeti safari is easier to plan when you know how much time you’ll spend in each park and where you’ll sleep. This five-day itinerary starts and ends in Arusha, includes two nights in Central Serengeti, and visits Tarangire National Park and Ngorongoro Crater. The two Serengeti nights give you a full day to explore the park, with additional game viewing on arrival and departure days.

Five-day guided Serengeti safari itinerary from Arusha

Day 1 — Arusha to Tarangire National Park

Meet your guide in Arusha and drive to Tarangire. The park’s baobabs are a striking backdrop for the first game drive. Your guide can follow the Tarangire River or explore open woodland, depending on where wildlife has been active. Look for elephants, giraffes and zebras along the way. After the drive, continue to the Karatu area for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 2 — Karatu to Central Serengeti

Leave Karatu after breakfast and travel through the Ngorongoro highlands toward the Serengeti. This is a longer driving day, so plan for most of your game viewing after entering the park. Once you reach the open plains, watch for antelope, giraffes and ostriches. Your guide may also scan the rocky outcrops for resting lions before you continue to camp in the Seronera area.

Day 3 — Full day in Central Serengeti

Start early and spend the day exploring around Seronera. Your guide can check riverbanks, woodland and open plains based on recent wildlife activity. You might spend part of the morning watching a lion pride or scanning tree branches for a leopard. A picnic lunch lets you stay out longer, while a midday break at camp works well if you prefer two shorter drives. If you book an optional sunrise balloon safari, confirm the pickup and how you’ll rejoin your guide for the rest of the day.

Day 4 — Morning game drive and drive to Ngorongoro

Use the morning to revisit a promising area or explore a different part of Central Serengeti. After the drive, leave the park and continue toward your accommodation. A crater-rim stay puts you closer to the descent road the next morning, while Karatu offers a wider choice of lodges. Your guide will plan the departure around your route and park entry arrangements.

Day 5 — Ngorongoro Crater and return to Arusha

Descend into Ngorongoro Crater for a guided game drive across the grasslands and around the wetlands. You may see buffalo, zebras, hippos and lions. A black rhino is possible, often at a distance, so bring binoculars if you have them. After the drive, return to Arusha. If you plan to fly out the same day, check the timing with your operator before booking your flight.

When to visit and where to stay

Central Serengeti works year-round for travelers interested in resident wildlife and big cats. If the Great Migration is your main reason for visiting, choose your camp according to where the herds are likely to be. From July to September, Northern Serengeti near Kogatende is a common choice for travelers hoping to see activity around the Mara River. January and February are good months to consider the Ndutu area for calving season. Herd movements vary with rainfall and grazing conditions, and river crossings can be unpredictable. For either seasonal route, allow extra nights or adjust the five-day route to spend more time in the relevant area.

Further reading — Tanzania National Parks’ Serengeti guide and Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority’s seasonal guide.

How many days should you book?

• 3 days suits travelers who want to focus on Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Expect longer road transfers and fewer hours in the Serengeti.
• 5 days gives you a full day in Central Serengeti and time for Tarangire and Ngorongoro Crater.
• 6–7 days gives you room for extra nights in the Serengeti, a slower pace, or a seasonal extension to Northern Serengeti or Ndutu.

Private or shared guided safari?

A private safari gives your party its own guide and vehicle, so you can linger at sightings and adjust the pace. It also makes it easier to build the route around migration areas. A shared safari can lower the per-person cost and works well if you’re comfortable with a fixed schedule. If you’re comparing shared departures, confirm how many nights you’ll spend inside the Serengeti. This sample itinerary includes two nights there.

Can you start your safari from Zanzibar?

Yes. For a road safari from Arusha, you can fly from Zanzibar to Arusha and start the safari according to your arrival time. If the itinerary starts with a drive straight to the Serengeti, plan to arrive in Arusha the day before. A fly-in itinerary to a Serengeti airstrip is another option. Choose the airstrip based on your camp location and confirm the baggage allowance with the airline before packing.

Plan your safari with Kilipath African Safaris

Send Kilipath African Safaris your travel dates, group size and preferred accommodation style. Tell us whether you’d like to focus on big cats, the Great Migration or a mix of parks. We’ll suggest a guided route and provide a quote that explains which park fees, meals, accommodation, transfers and optional activities are included.