Tanzania Simba Safari – 5 Days

The big draw here is simple: in five days, you reach the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania’s two great wildlife stages. You spend two nights in the Serengeti, then make an early crater game drive before flying or driving on toward home.

I like the private 4×4 and guide, since your group can set its own rhythm and ask questions without sharing the vehicle with strangers. I also like the practical package: lodging, park fees, meals, soft drinks, tea, coffee, and water on game drives are included. The tradeoff is the long seven-hour road from Arusha to the Serengeti, followed by several full days in a vehicle.

Key points to know

• Two nights in Serengeti National Park: This gives you an afternoon drive on arrival and a full wildlife day after it.
• Ngorongoro Crater at dawn: The final morning puts you among dense wildlife before you return to the airport.
• Private, not shared: Only your own group takes part, with a driver-guide in a Toyota 4×4 Cruiser.
• Long driving days: The route covers about 335 kilometers from Arusha to Serengeti, plus the transfer toward Ngorongoro.
• Meals and park fees included: You still pay for flights, visas, insurance, tips, lodge drinks, and laundry.
• Strong guide focus: Guides such as Adrian, Goodluck, Harry, Dennis, Musa H., Louis, and Abisai Mbasha have been praised for animal spotting, safe driving, humor, and patience.

What this five-day safari is really like

This is a compact northern Tanzania safari built around two famous parks. It does not try to squeeze in every possible stop. Instead, it gives you substantial time in the Serengeti and a focused visit to Ngorongoro.

You begin and end around Arusha, but the heart of the trip is several hours west. That means this is not a leisurely road tour with short transfers. You will spend real time in the vehicle, often on rough roads, in exchange for reaching some of Africa’s best-known wildlife country.

The private format matters. You travel with your own party, your own guide, and your own vehicle. That makes it easier to stop for photos, ask about animal behavior, or adjust the pace when you are tired. It also gives you more personal attention than a large coach tour.

The published price is $2,897.06 per person. That is a serious outlay, but it covers the costly parts of a safari: a private 4×4, driver-guide, accommodation, park fees, and most meals. To judge the value fairly, add the cost of flights, visas, insurance, tips, lodge drinks, laundry, and any domestic connections that your plans require.

Day 1: A soft landing in Arusha

Your safari begins at Arusha Airport, where a driver-guide meets you and takes you to your chosen hotel. The arrival transfer is more than a simple ride. You have a chance to get your bearings, meet the person responsible for your time in the bush, and hear an introduction to Arusha and Tanzania.

The first night is in Arusha on a half-board basis. The package lists one night in Arusha and four nights on safari, with breakfast and dinner included here. Confirm the exact hotel and room arrangement before paying, since the tour information does not name the property.

This opening night is useful after an international flight. You are not asked to land and immediately spend seven hours on the road. If your flight arrives late, allow plenty of time before the safari schedule begins, since the next day is the longest transfer.

Day 2: The long road from Arusha to Serengeti

Day 2 is the hardest day physically, but it also gives you your first real sense of Tanzania beyond the towns. The drive west takes about seven hours and covers roughly 335 kilometers. The route is part of the experience, but you should not underestimate the distance.

You will see the country change as the road heads toward the Serengeti. After lunch, the vehicle enters the park area and you begin an afternoon game drive. This timing is valuable because you do not lose the entire day to transport. Once you reach the open plains, the mood shifts quickly from road trip to safari.

The Serengeti is famous for its huge open spaces, and the first view can feel almost too large to take in at once. You may find animals spread far apart, or you may come upon a busy scene near water or a pride of lions. The guide’s eyes matter here. A good guide is often the person who notices a shape in the grass, a distant leopard, or movement that you would have missed.

After the afternoon outing, you return to your lodge for dinner and the night. The accommodation is listed as full board during the safari portion, with park fees included.

Day 3: A full day searching the Serengeti

This is the most important day of the trip. You wake in or near the Serengeti, eat breakfast, and set out for a morning game drive. The early hours often bring the best light and cooler conditions, and they give you a full day to search rather than relying on one short outing.

The itinerary allows about 12 hours for the day. That is a long stretch, but it makes sense in a park where sightings can be separated by many kilometers. You may spend time watching one animal, then drive on through changing scenery in search of another.

The target list includes the Big Five: lion, leopard, Cape buffalo, elephant, and rhino. No responsible safari can promise all five. You should think of the list as a goal, not a guarantee. Lions and elephants may be easier to find than a leopard or rhino, while the quality of the sighting can matter more than the number of species checked off.

Your guide is the key figure on this day. The people connected with this safari have included Adrian, Goodluck, Harry, Dennis, Musa H., Louis, and Abisai Mbasha. Their praised strengths have included spotting animals at a distance, explaining plants and animal behavior, driving with care, and keeping the mood friendly during long hours on the road.

You eat a picnic lunch during the drive, then continue into the afternoon. This keeps you in the park instead of returning to the lodge in the middle of the day. The downside is comfort: a picnic and twelve hours in a vehicle are tiring, especially if you prefer a slower holiday.

By late afternoon, you return to the lodge for dinner and rest. I would treat this as the trip’s main wildlife day and save your energy for it. The Serengeti rewards patience more than rushing.

Day 4: One last Serengeti drive, then Ngorongoro

Day 4 begins with another morning game drive of about four hours. This shorter outing gives you one more chance to see wildlife in the Serengeti before leaving the park. It also breaks up the schedule, since the previous day is so long.

After a picnic lunch, you drive east toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The transfer takes about four hours according to the schedule. This is not a second full safari day, but the route connects two very different settings.

Ngorongoro is known for its large volcanic crater, where wildlife gathers within a contained area. The crater is not the same experience as the wide Serengeti plains. The Serengeti gives you distance, open horizons, and the possibility of following changing animal movements. Ngorongoro offers a more compact setting, with a strong chance of seeing many animals during a shorter drive.

On arrival, you settle into the lodge while dinner is prepared. The night before the crater drive is important because the next morning starts early. Confirm your lodge location and departure time, since the practical value of this day depends on how much rest you get before the crater outing.

Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater before the airport

The final morning is the trip’s dramatic finish. You set out early for a game drive in Ngorongoro Crater, often described as one of Tanzania’s great natural sights. The itinerary allows about four hours for the crater visit, followed by a picnic lunch inside the crater.

This is a smart use of departure day. You are not spending the entire final morning packing and waiting. Instead, you get one more serious wildlife outing before heading to the airport.

The crater setting can give you a different kind of safari day. Animals are easier to search for in a more contained area, though sightings remain wild and unpredictable. You might see lions, buffalo, elephants, or other species, but the tour does not promise a fixed list.

After lunch, you return to the airport for your flight home. The exact airport and transfer timing should be confirmed before booking flights. The listed schedule allows about four hours for the crater visit and return, but road conditions and park traffic can affect the day.

Breakfast and lunch are included on Day 5. Dinner is not included, which makes sense if you leave for your flight, but you should plan around your departure time.

The 4×4 and the value of a private guide

The vehicle is a Toyota 4×4 Cruiser, with a driver-guide assigned to your private group. This is the right setup for a safari route that includes long distances and game drives on park roads.

Your guide does several jobs at once. He drives, watches for animals, explains what you see, manages the timing, and helps the days run smoothly. The strongest guide feedback has focused on sharp eyesight, animal knowledge, safe driving, good humor, and patience with older family members.

That last point matters if you are traveling with parents or grandparents. One guide, Adrian, was specifically praised for being helpful and accommodating to a person in their seventies. Other guides named in connection with this experience include Goodluck, Harry, Dennis, Musa H., Louis, Celvin, Everest Mboy, Gerald, and Abisai Mbasha.

You can request a preferred guide, but the information provided does not promise that a particular person will be available. Ask before booking if a named guide is important to you.

The private setup also means the price may make more sense for a family or small group. A solo visitor pays the full private-tour rate unless the operator offers a different arrangement. For several people sharing one vehicle, the cost per person can feel more reasonable.

Meals, lodging, and what you still pay for

The package includes one night in Arusha and four safari nights, with full board listed for the safari portion. It also includes four breakfasts, four lunches, and four dinners, though Day 5 dinner is specifically excluded because you are returning to the airport.

On game drives, you receive soft drinks, tea, coffee, and water. All other drinks at lodges or camps are excluded, as is laundry. Small extra costs can add up during a safari, so bring a payment method accepted by your accommodation and keep some money available for tips.

Tips for the guide and hotel staff are not included. You should treat them as part of the real trip budget, not as a surprise at the end.

International and domestic flights, visas, and travel and medical insurance are also excluded. The pickup point is Arusha Airport, so you need to arrange your arrival around the start date and make sure your homebound flight leaves late enough for the crater drive and airport transfer.

Who will enjoy this safari most

I would recommend this trip to you if you want the classic northern Tanzania combination without adding several extra parks. It suits people who care most about the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, and who prefer a private guide over a large group.

It is also a good fit for families. The private vehicle gives you more control, and the guide can explain wildlife to children or adjust the rhythm when someone needs a break. The guide feedback connected with this route also points to strong support for older family members.

You should think twice if you dislike long drives. Day 2 is about seven hours before the afternoon game drive, and the itinerary includes more substantial transfers on Day 4 and Day 5. This is an active safari, not a lodge holiday with brief outings.

Five days is enough for a first look, but it is still short for Tanzania. You get two nights in the Serengeti and one crater visit, not a slow tour of every northern park. If you want Tarangire or a longer Serengeti stay, you will need to extend the trip or choose another itinerary.

Booking details worth checking

Confirmation is normally issued at booking. If you book within seven days of departure, confirmation may take up to 48 hours and depends on availability.

Most people can take part, and the activity is private. Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Before you pay, ask for the exact hotels, the airport used on Day 5, the planned flight timing, and the amount of luggage allowed in the vehicle. The supplied details do not specify those points, and they can affect your comfort and onward plans.

Should you book Tanzania Simba Safari?

Book this safari if you want two major wildlife areas, a private vehicle, and a strong guide-led experience in only five days. The best reasons are the full Serengeti day, the early Ngorongoro drive, and the fact that park fees, lodging, meals, and the 4×4 are already built into the price.

Do not book it expecting a relaxed schedule or guaranteed sightings of every Big Five animal. The road days are long, and the final morning depends on careful flight planning.

For a first Tanzanian safari, this is a focused and sensible route. I would choose it for a family or small group that values personal attention and wants the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater without adding extra stops.

FAQ

Where does the safari begin?

The safari begins at Arusha Airport in Arusha, Tanzania, where a driver-guide meets you and takes you to your hotel.

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts approximately five days.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your own group participates, and the tour uses a private guide and Toyota 4×4 Cruiser.

Which parks and areas does the safari visit?

The route visits Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, including Ngorongoro Crater.

How long is the drive from Arusha to Serengeti?

The journey is described as about seven hours and approximately 335 kilometers.

Are meals included?

Yes. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included during most of the tour. Day 5 includes breakfast and lunch, but dinner is not included.

Are park fees included?

Yes. Park fees are included in the tour price.

What is not included?

International and domestic flights, visas, travel and medical insurance, guide and hotel staff tips, lodge drinks, and laundry are not included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted.