6 Days lodge &camping tour Serengeti ,Tarangire ,Ngorongoro Crater and Manyara

The best part of this six-day route is its variety. You move from Tarangire’s baobabs and elephants to the open plains of the Serengeti, then down into the wildlife-filled Ngorongoro Crater before finishing among the forests and birdlife of Lake Manyara.

I like the small group limit of six, which should make the long drives and game-viewing stops easier to manage. I also like the mix of camping and lodge stays, since you get a closer-to-nature safari without spending every night under canvas.

The main drawback is the pace. You cover a lot of ground in six days, and several days include around six hours of driving. The route is rewarding, but you should be ready for bumpy roads, early breakfasts, and full days in the vehicle.

The safari in five useful points

• Four major parks in six days: Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara each offer a different setting and wildlife focus.
• A maximum of six people: A smaller group can make vehicle space and daily decisions more comfortable.
• Two early starts: The Serengeti and Ngorongoro days begin around 6:30 in the morning, when animals are often active.
• Camping with some lodge accommodation: You get a more direct connection to the parks, with a little extra comfort during part of the trip.
• A strong chance of big wildlife sightings: Elephants, lions, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, giraffes, hippos, baboons, and many antelope species are all possible.
• A $1,600 per-person price: The value comes from covering four famous northern Tanzania destinations in one organized trip, though you should confirm the exact accommodation and inclusions before paying.

Why this route works

Northern Tanzania rewards travelers who are willing to trade comfort for access. The parks sit within a practical loop from Arusha, but they are not close together in the way a city sightseeing itinerary might be. This tour uses six days to connect four of the country’s best-known wildlife areas.

That variety matters. Tarangire gives you enormous elephants and striking baobab trees. Serengeti offers the widest sense of open space and the possibility of following wildebeest herds. Ngorongoro brings you into a natural bowl packed with animals, while Lake Manyara changes the mood with forest, cliffs, wetlands, and flamingos.

The route is also useful if you have limited time in Tanzania. You do not need to choose between Serengeti and Ngorongoro. You see both, then add two parks that make the safari feel less repetitive.

The trade-off is that this is not a slow, stay-in-one-place safari. You spend long periods on the road, especially when moving between Tarangire, Serengeti, and the Ngorongoro area. I would choose it for range and variety, not for a relaxed schedule.

Day 1: Tarangire’s elephants and baobabs

The safari begins after breakfast in Arusha. Before leaving town, you stop at a supermarket for last-minute supplies. That is a small but useful touch, especially if you need snacks, drinks, or personal items before several days away from town.

The drive follows the Great Northern Highway through villages and the Masai Steppe before reaching Tarangire National Park. The changing view is part of the day. You pass settlements and open country before entering a park known for its huge baobab trees and large elephant population.

Tarangire is an excellent first stop because its wildlife is easy to appreciate even if this is your first safari. You may see elephant herds, wildebeest, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, hippos, baboons, and several antelope species. The park also has more than 400 recorded bird species, making it a worthwhile stop for anyone who enjoys birds as much as large mammals.

The itinerary allows about six hours for the stop. That sounds generous, but game drives can feel short once you factor in the drive from Arusha and the later transfer to camp. Keep your first day flexible. The best sightings rarely follow a timetable.

Tarangire is also a good place to learn how the vehicle works, how to use your camera from an open window, and how much patience wildlife watching requires. You may spend ten minutes with elephants and then wait much longer for a predator that never appears. That uncertainty is part of the appeal, but it also means nobody can promise a particular animal.

Day 2: Crossing the crater rim into Serengeti

Day two is the major transfer day. After breakfast at camp, you drive through the farmland around Karatu and into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The route then climbs toward the crater rim, where you stop for views down into Ngorongoro Crater.

This is one of the smartest features of the itinerary. You get your first look at the crater before visiting its floor later in the trip, and the rim stop breaks up the long drive to Serengeti. It also gives you a clear sense of how different the next two days will be.

From the crater area, the road crosses the Malanja depression and continues toward Serengeti National Park. At Naabi Hills Gate, you can eat your packed lunch or continue toward the kopjes, the rocky outcrops that rise from the plains.

The central Serengeti area around Seronera is an important base because it offers a good mix of open country and wildlife habitat. The itinerary describes it as one of the park’s strongest areas for sightings. You might see lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, giraffes, elephants, hippos, zebra, wildebeest, and antelope, but animal movements always depend on the season and the day.

This is another day listed at about six hours, though the actual time can feel longer because the route combines sightseeing, park formalities, and a substantial transfer. Bring water, sun protection, and something warm for the morning. The temperature can change sharply between Arusha, the highlands, and the open plains.

Day 3: A full Serengeti game drive

Day three is the safari’s biggest wildlife day. You leave as early as 6:30 with packed breakfast and lunch boxes, heading into the Serengeti while the morning is still cool.

Early starts are useful here. Lions may be finishing a night hunt, other predators may be returning to cover, and cats can be easier to spot before the heat of the day sends them into shade. The plan includes breakfast in the bush, which gives the day a direct, simple rhythm: drive, watch, stop, eat, and continue.

The Great Wildebeest Migration may be present, depending on the time of year and where the herds are moving. That wording is important. You should not book this safari expecting the migration to appear at one exact point, since the animals move across a large area and conditions change.

Even without migration herds, the Serengeti is the place where the scale of the safari becomes clear. The plains seem to continue beyond the road, and the animal encounters can range from a single giraffe to a large group of wildebeest or zebra. You may see predators eating, organizing a hunt, or simply resting.

The planned game drive lasts about ten hours, so this is the most demanding day physically. It is also likely to be the most rewarding for people who want maximum time in the park. If you prefer frequent hotel breaks and late mornings, this schedule may feel tiring. If you want more time to find animals, the long day makes sense.

Day 4: Leaving Serengeti for Simba Campsite

After breakfast, you continue with an early Serengeti game drive. You have time to look for wildlife before returning to camp around midday for lunch and packing.

The route then becomes a final game drive as you leave Serengeti and head toward Simba Campsite near the Ngorongoro Crater rim. The drive to the campsite is listed at about two hours, but the total day is around six hours because it includes the morning viewing and departure.

This day is less about adding another major park and more about repositioning you for the next morning. That can feel like a compromise, but it avoids an exhausting same-day trip from the Serengeti into the crater and back out again.

Staying near the crater rim also sets up an early descent on day five. Confirm the exact accommodation arrangements before departure, since the tour description refers to camping and lodge stays but does not name the properties or specify which two nights use lodges. That detail matters if you are comparing this trip with a fully camping safari or a lodge-only option.

Day 5: Down into Ngorongoro Crater

The fifth day begins around 6:30 after breakfast at camp. You descend more than 600 meters through the crater walls to the floor for game viewing.

Ngorongoro Crater is special because the compact setting can produce a high concentration of animals. The floor has water and grazing areas, supporting buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, eland, topi, warthog, hippo, and elephant. It is also known for predators, so this is one of your better opportunities to look for lions and other carnivores.

The crater is not simply a large enclosure. It is a vast natural formation created by geological forces millions of years ago, with steep walls and a mixture of habitats below. From the vehicle, you see how the rim encloses the floor and helps create a very different safari setting from the wide Serengeti plains.

The scheduled visit lasts about six hours. That gives you meaningful time on the crater floor, but it is not an invitation to linger all day. Roads, park rules, and the day’s onward plan shape the schedule.

I would treat Ngorongoro as a concentrated wildlife day. The crater offers excellent chances, but it can also feel busier than the wide Serengeti because many vehicles are drawn to the same animals. Your guide’s judgment matters here. Guides such as Elias, Hassan, and Sam have been praised for driving, animal spotting, patience, and care on other Simbaland trips, but the guide assigned to this specific departure is not named, so ask before booking if that matters to you.

Day 6: Forest, cliffs, and flamingos at Lake Manyara

The final park is Lake Manyara National Park, reached by a short drive after breakfast. After park formalities, you begin a game drive through a surprisingly varied area.

The park includes groundwater forest, acacia woodland, swamps, baobab-covered cliffs, hot springs, and the lake itself. That mix makes Manyara feel very different from Tarangire and Serengeti, even though it is part of the same northern circuit.

Baboons are a major feature here, and the park is also known for large flocks of flamingos. You may see the famous tree-climbing lions, along with other animals that use the woodland and wetland habitats. The itinerary does not guarantee any particular sighting, but the park gives you a final chance to watch wildlife in a more enclosed setting.

The day is planned for about six hours. That is enough for a useful final game drive without making the last day as long as the Serengeti outing. Lake Manyara works well at the end because it changes the pace and scenery before you return from the safari route.

Is $1,600 a good value?

At $1,600 per person, this is not a budget day trip, but a six-day northern Tanzania safari requires park access, transport, guiding, food arrangements, and overnight stays. The value depends heavily on what the price includes, so ask for a written list before booking.

The strongest value is the range. You visit four major destinations instead of paying separately for several short excursions. You also get a group capped at six, which is more appealing than a crowded vehicle if the vehicle space is shared.

The camping and lodge combination may also keep the cost below an all-lodge safari while giving you some relief from sleeping under canvas every night. Since the lodging details are not fully specified, confirm the number of camping nights, the names or standard of the lodges, and what meals are included.

The route is best value for someone who wants a full northern circuit in a fixed six-day window. It is less attractive if your priority is high-end accommodation, very short driving days, or a private itinerary with a slower pace.

Who should book it?

I would choose this safari if you want a broad introduction to northern Tanzania and are willing to accept early mornings and long road days. Families can consider it too, since previous Simbaland trips have included children around 11 and 13, though the long transfers and early starts may test younger children.

It also suits first-time safari visitors who want the main names in one trip: Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, and Manyara. Birdwatchers should pay special attention to Tarangire and Manyara, while people focused on predators will want to make the most of the early Serengeti and Ngorongoro drives.

I would hesitate if you need guaranteed lodge comfort, dislike camping, or want to spend several days in one park. I would also ask about the assigned guide, vehicle setup, exact sleeping arrangements, and included meals before sending payment.

Pickup is offered, confirmation is provided at booking, and the activity accepts most participants. The group maximum is six. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, but cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded. Poor weather may lead to another date or a full refund.

Should you book this safari?

Book it if your goal is variety, wildlife, and a practical route through Tanzania’s northern parks. The chance to combine Tarangire’s elephants, Serengeti’s open plains, Ngorongoro’s crater floor, and Manyara’s birdlife in six days is the central strength.

Before booking, get the lodging plan and inclusions in writing. If those details suit your comfort level, $1,600 can be a sensible price for a small-group safari with a full itinerary. If you want a slower, more private, or more luxurious trip, look for a longer and more flexible option instead.

FAQ

Where does the safari start?

The tour starts in Arusha, Tanzania, and pickup is offered.

How long does the safari last?

The experience lasts six days.

Which national parks and protected areas are included?

The route includes Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Crater, and Lake Manyara National Park.

How large is the group?

The tour has a maximum of six participants.

Is accommodation camping or lodge based?

The tour includes camping and lodge accommodation, with two nights described as lodge stays. The exact nights and properties are not specified, so confirm those details before booking.

Is the Great Wildebeest Migration guaranteed?

No. The migration is seasonal and depends on the time of year and the location of the herds.

What animals might I see?

Possible sightings include elephants, wildebeest, buffalo, zebra, giraffes, hippos, baboons, antelope, lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, and warthogs. Sightings are not guaranteed.

How early do the game drives begin?

The Serengeti and Ngorongoro days begin at about 6:30 in the morning. Other days begin after breakfast.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded or accepted. If poor weather causes the tour to be canceled, you will be offered another date or a full refund.