Drive in, fly out: Serengeti short safari
The most safari you can fit into four days. Drive the northern circuit in one direction, Tarangire, the crater and two nights in the Serengeti, then fly back to Arusha from Seronera instead of repeating the road. Add it to a beach stay or a Kilimanjaro climb.
Where you'll go
Numbered in the order you travel. Tap any stop for what happens there.
- 1Arusha
- 2Tarangire by road
- 3Lake Manyara by road
- 4Ngorongoro Crater by road
- 5Serengeti by road
- 6Arusha by air
What makes this one
- Tarangire river game drive with a packed lunch
- The Ngorongoro Crater, the world's largest intact caldera
- A full day in the Serengeti's acacia savannah
- Fly back over the plains instead of a seven-hour drive
The itinerary
Lodges are the ones we usually use for this trip at this price. Every one can be traded up or down.
- Day 1
Arusha to Tarangire
Your driver-guide collects you in Arusha. Tarangire's river keeps the wildlife close in the dry season; game drive with a packed lunch, then on to Lake Manyara for the night.
Overnight Africa Safari Lake Manyara, full board - Day 2
The crater, then the Serengeti
Down onto the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater for black rhino, lion and elephant, then over the rim and into the Serengeti, Tanzania's oldest park.
Overnight Africa Safari Serengeti Ikoma, full board - Day 3
A full day in the Serengeti
Wake to the sounds of the Serengeti and spend the whole day in it.
Overnight Africa Safari Serengeti Ikoma, full board - Day 4
Fly back
A last game drive on the way to Seronera airstrip and the flight back to Arusha, with the plains beneath you.
Want a day swapped, a lodge changed or a night added? Just ask.
We reply within 4 working hours. No deposit to ask.What $1,293 does and doesn't cover
Price is per person sharing, in US dollars. Season, lodge choice and group size change it. Tell us yours and we'll quote it exactly.
Included
- Private 4×4 with pop-up roof, English-speaking driver-guide, bottled water
- Full-board accommodation as listed
- All park fees and crater fees
- Domestic flight Seronera to Arusha
Not included
- International flights
- Tourist visa
- Tourism Development Levy and village fees
- Mandatory inbound travel insurance, $44 per adult, bought in your own name before you fly
- Your own travel insurance, drinks, souvenirs and personal items
- Tips, never mandatory and always appreciated
Tell us your dates and group size and we'll turn $1,293 into an exact figure.
We reply within 4 working hours. No deposit to ask.Questions people ask
Do I need a visa for Tanzania?
Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival or an e-visa in advance; a single-entry tourist visa covers both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. We'll confirm what applies to your passport when we send your proposal.
Do I need the mandatory travel insurance?
Yes, unless you are a Tanzanian resident or a citizen of an East African Community or SADC state. Zanzibar arrivals have bought it from ZIC since 1 October 2024; from 1 October 2026 mainland arrivals buy it from NIC. It is $44 per adult for 92 days, one policy for the whole country, bought online before you fly. It is a basic emergency cover, so keep your own travel insurance too. Everything about it, and which portal is yours.
Which vaccinations are required?
Yellow fever proof is required if you arrive from a country where it is endemic. Malaria prevention is strongly advised for the parks and the coast. Ask your travel clinic 6 to 8 weeks before you fly; we'll tell you which areas your trip covers.
How does the deposit and payment work?
You pay nothing to enquire. Once you approve the proposal we confirm the lodges and flights, and we agree the deposit and balance dates with you in writing before anything is charged.
What if I need to cancel or change dates?
Tell us as early as you can. Lodge and flight terms vary by season, so the cancellation terms for your specific trip are written into your proposal, so there are no surprises later.
Are park fees and tips included?
Park and crater fees are included wherever the itinerary says so. Tips are never included and never mandatory; guides and camp staff appreciate them, and we'll suggest what is customary.
What should I pack?
Neutral colours for the bush, a warm layer for early game drives (the crater rim is cold at dawn), reef-safe sunscreen and a modest cover-up for Stone Town. We send a version of the list for your exact trip with your final documents. The packing guide for bush, beach and town.
A question that isn't here? A human answers.
We reply within 4 working hours. No deposit to ask.Guests on trips like this
Quoted from public reviews you can read in full on Tripadvisor, SafariBookings.
“Transparent pricing and no pressure.”
“Felt like saying goodbye to family.”
“Responsive, kind and caring, with exceptional communication.”
Or one of these
Compact five days: Tarangire, Manyara & Ngorongoro
Explorer safari: Tarangire, Manyara, Ngorongoro & Serengeti
