Our Destinations

ENQUIRE

Our Destinations

ENQUIRE

Safari Itinerary

Budget Big 5 Safari

4 Day Itinerary · Tanzania

Best Time
April, May, and November

Arusha  •  Tarangire National Park  •  Serengeti National Park  •  Ngorongoro Crater  •  Arusha

Tanzania's most iconic wildlife destinations are accessible without compromise on the experience that matters most – the wildlife itself. This four-day safari covers three of the northern circuit's finest parks: Tarangire, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, with two nights spent inside Serengeti National Park at carefully chosen, good-value properties that get you as close as possible to the action.

This is a Big 5 itinerary in the truest sense. In four days, you will search for elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo and the endangered black rhino across three distinct ecosystems, each with its own landscapes and character. The accommodation is honest and unfussy – guest house and cottage options that prioritise location and access over luxury – making this the ideal choice for travellers who want an authentic Tanzania safari at a realistic price point.

You will travel throughout in a private 4x4 safari vehicle with a professional, English-speaking driver-guide who knows these parks inside out.

Your Journey at a Glance

Day Destination & Highlights Overnight Stay Meals
Day 1 Tarangire National Park TANAPA Tarangire Rest House – (self-catering / meals on request)
Day 2 Serengeti National Park Serengeti Taji House – (self-catering / meals on request)
Day 3 Serengeti National Park Serengeti Taji House – (self-catering / meals on request)
Day 4 Ngorongoro Crater – Departure – (Departure Day) –

Your journey

Day by Day

Day 1

Tarangire National Park – Straight into the Wild

Tarangire National Park

  • Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Your driver-guide will collect you from your Arusha hotel in the morning for the drive south-west to Tarangire National Park – around two hours, passing through rolling farmland before arriving at the park gates. You enter Tarangire directly and begin game viewing immediately, spending the afternoon exploring what many consider Tanzania's most underrated park.

Tarangire is instantly recognisable for its ancient, enormous baobab trees – some estimated to be over a thousand years old – which stand like great sentinels across the golden grass. The park is outstanding for elephants, with large family herds frequently seen along the Tarangire River, and excellent for all of the northern circuit's key species: lion, giraffe, zebra, buffalo and an impressive array of birdlife.

Tonight you stay at the TANAPA Tarangire Rest House – run by Tanzania National Parks and located right inside the park, giving you the unique advantage of waking up within the wilderness itself.

Wildlife to Look For

• Large elephant herds along the Tarangire River
• Iconic ancient baobab trees
• Lion, giraffe, zebra, buffalo and prolific birdlife
• Arrival directly inside the national park for an immediate wildlife experience

Your Stay: TANAPA Tarangire Rest House

The TANAPA Tarangire Rest House is the Tanzania National Parks Authority's own guest house, set right inside Tarangire National Park. Accommodation is honest and straightforward – clean, comfortable rooms with private facilities – but the location is remarkable: you are sleeping within the park itself, with wildlife potentially wandering past the grounds after dark. For travellers looking for genuine bush immersion at a fair price, it is hard to beat.