Best 3 Days - Arusha National Park, Tarangire and Ngorongoro Crater Safari in Tanzania
This 3 Days Arusha National Park, Tarangire and Ngorongoro Crater Safari covers 1 night near Tarangire National Park and 1 night in the Ngorongoro Highlands, with an additional 1 night stay in Arusha City before the safari begins. The safari starts with airport pick-up from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK) and ends with airport drop-off after the tour. Accompanied by our professional, certified, experienced and passionate safari guides from Macpace Tours and Safaris, this journey offers a beautiful short Tanzania safari experience and memories that will last a lifetime.
Starting from Arusha City or Moshi Town, this safari is a good choice for travelers who want to enjoy three different safari destinations in a short time. It is simple, well planned, and perfect for visitors who want to see wildlife, beautiful nature, and different landscapes without very long driving distances.
Your safari journey begins with your arrival in Arusha. You will spend the first night in Arusha City before going into the parks. This night gives you time to rest after your flight, prepare your safari luggage, and get ready for the next day’s adventure.
On the first day of Safari, your guide will pick you up after breakfast and drive to Arusha National Park. This park is located close to Arusha City and is a peaceful place to begin your Tanzania safari. The park is known for Mount Meru views, green forest, open grassland, Momella Lakes, and beautiful wildlife.
During your game drive in Arusha National Park, you may see giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, warthogs, blue monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, flamingos, and many bird species. The park also gives you a calm and scenic safari experience before continuing to bigger wildlife areas.
On the second day of Safari, your journey continues to Tarangire National Park. This park is famous for large elephant herds, giant baobab trees, open savannah, and the Tarangire River. The river attracts many animals, especially during the dry season.
During your Tarangire game drive, you may see elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, impalas, warthogs, baboons, ostriches, and many birds. If lucky, you may also see leopards or cheetahs in different areas of the park.
Later in the day, you will drive towards the Ngorongoro Highlands for dinner and overnight stay. The road gives you beautiful views of local villages, farms, open countryside, and green highland landscapes near the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
On the third day of Safari, you will descend into the famous Ngorongoro Crater for a half-day game drive. The crater is one of the best wildlife areas in Tanzania because many animals live inside the crater throughout the year.
During the game drive, you may see lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, hippos, hyenas, gazelles, and if lucky, the rare black rhino. The crater also has beautiful scenery, including open grassland, forest, swamp areas, and a lake, making it one of the most special places on this safari.
After the Ngorongoro Crater game drive, you will begin your journey back to Arusha. Depending on your travel plan, you can be dropped at your hotel, Arusha Airport, or Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Throughout this safari, you will travel in a comfortable 4x4 safari Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof. This gives you a clear view for wildlife watching, photography, and enjoying the landscapes of northern Tanzania.
This 3 Days Arusha National Park, Tarangire and Ngorongoro Crater Safari is perfect for first-time visitors, couples, families, solo travelers, and wildlife lovers. It combines forest, lakes, elephants, baobab trees, highlands, and the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater in one short and well-planned Tanzania safari.
Safari at a Glance
- Safari Name: 3 Days Arusha National Park, Tarangire and Ngorongoro Crater Safari
- Starting Point: Arusha City or Moshi Town
- Airport Arrival: Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK)
- Ending Point: Arusha, Moshi, JRO Airport, or Arusha Airport
- Accommodation Before Safari: Optional overnight stay in Arusha
- Night 1: Lodge / Tented Camp near Tarangire or similar accommodation
- Night 2: Lodge / Tented Camp in Ngorongoro Highlands or similar accommodation
- Main Attractions: Arusha National Park, Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater
- Wildlife: Giraffes, elephants, lions, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, hippos, monkeys, flamingos, hyenas, rhinos if lucky, and more
- Best For: First-time visitors, families, couples, photographers, wildlife lovers, and short Tanzania safari holidays
Important Travel Information
| Location | Distance & Travel Time |
|---|---|
| Arusha to Arusha National Park | Approximately 35 km | About 45 minutes to 1 hour drive |
| Moshi to Arusha National Park | Approximately 85 km | About 2 hours drive |
| Arusha to Tarangire National Park | Approximately 120 km | About 2 to 3 hours drive |
| Tarangire to Ngorongoro Highlands | Approximately 160 km | About 3 to 4 hours drive |
| Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha | Approximately 190 km | About 4 to 5 hours drive |
| Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha | Approximately 50 km | About 1 hour drive |
| Arusha Airport to Arusha City | Approximately 8 km | About 15 minutes drive |
Places You Will Visit
Arusha City – Tanzania’s Safari Capital
Most northern Tanzania safaris begin in Arusha. The city is located near Mount Meru and is known as the main gateway to famous safari destinations such as Arusha National Park, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, and Serengeti National Park.
Travelers arriving before the safari can spend the night in Arusha to relax, prepare their luggage, and meet the safari team before starting the adventure.
Arusha National Park – Scenic Wildlife Park Near Arusha
Arusha National Park is a beautiful and peaceful park located close to Arusha City. It is known for Mount Meru, green forest, open grassland, Momella Lakes, and a wide variety of wildlife and birds.
During your game drive, you may see giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, warthogs, bushbucks, blue monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, flamingos, and many other bird species. The park is a perfect starting point for this short Tanzania safari.
Tarangire National Park – Elephants and Baobab Trees
Tarangire National Park is one of the best parks in Tanzania for seeing elephants. The park is famous for its large elephant families, ancient baobab trees, and the Tarangire River, which attracts many animals during the dry season.
During your game drive in Tarangire, you may see elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, impalas, warthogs, waterbucks, and many birds. The park offers a real African safari feeling with beautiful landscapes and good wildlife viewing.
Ngorongoro Crater – A Natural Wildlife Sanctuary
Ngorongoro Crater is one of the most famous wildlife destinations in Tanzania. It was formed millions of years ago after a large volcano collapsed, creating a huge natural caldera filled with wildlife.
The crater floor has grassland, forest, swamp, and lake areas, making it home to many animals throughout the year. During your game drive, you may see lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, hippos, hyenas, gazelles, and the rare black rhino if lucky.
Because many animals live inside the crater, Ngorongoro offers one of the best chances to see a lot of wildlife in a short time.
Why Choose This 3 Days Safari?
- Visit three beautiful safari destinations in only three days.
- Start your safari with Arusha National Park, close to Arusha City.
- See large elephant herds and baobab trees in Tarangire National Park.
- Explore the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater.
- Good chance to see many animals in a short time.
- Shorter driving distances compared to Serengeti safari packages.
- Professional English-speaking safari guide.
- Comfortable 4x4 safari Land Cruiser with pop-up roof.
- Airport pick-up and drop-off available from JRO or Arusha Airport.
- Suitable for couples, families, solo travelers, groups, and first-time visitors.
3 DAYS DETAILED TRIP ITINERARY
Day
0
Arrival in Arusha – Airport Pickup & Hotel Stay
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK), our safari representative will meet and welcome you to Tanzania. After a short introduction, you will be transferred to your hotel in Arusha for relaxation and overnight stay before your safari begins.
This arrival day gives you time to rest after your journey, prepare your safari luggage, and get ready for your Arusha National Park safari experience. Depending on your arrival time, you may also meet your safari guide for a short briefing about the next day’s program, pickup time, park activities, and important travel details.
You will spend the night at your selected hotel in Arusha, ready to start your safari adventure the following morning.
Day
1
Arusha to Arusha National Park and Back to Arusha
After breakfast at your hotel in Arusha, your safari guide will pick you up and drive to Arusha National Park. This beautiful park is located close to Arusha City and offers a peaceful safari experience with amazing views of Mount Meru, green forest, open grassland, lakes, and wildlife.
After entering Arusha National Park, you will begin your game drive through different areas of the park, including the Momella Lakes and the scenic Ngurdoto Crater. The park is well known for giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, warthogs, bushbucks, blue monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, flamingos, and many bird species.
During the game drive, you will also visit the famous Fig Tree, also known as Ficus thonningii. This large tree is wide enough for a safari vehicle to pass underneath, making it a special photo stop and one of the interesting landmarks inside Arusha National Park.
Around lunch time, your guide will take you to a picnic site where you will enjoy your packed lunch surrounded by nature. After lunch, you will continue with a relaxed game drive while enjoying more views of the park, wildlife, lakes, and Mount Meru scenery.
In the late afternoon, around 4:00 PM, you will leave Arusha National Park and drive back to Arusha Town. You will be dropped off at your hotel for dinner, relaxation, and overnight stay after a beautiful day of wildlife, nature, and scenery.
Day
2
Arusha to Tarangire National Park and overnight at Lake Manyara
We will start a journey by our jeep car for Tarangire National Park early in the morning after suspicious breakfast. When arriving in Tarangire we will begin experiencing the different mounds and the ancient baobab trees. Tarangire National Park is experienced for its diverse bird species and extended population of giant elephants. There are animal sightings of lions, giraffe, warthogs, ostriches, impalas, cheetah, mongoose, buffaloes, and mischievous baboons. After discovering and observing the wildlife in Tarangire National Park we will continue our drive to our next package step to Ngorongoro Crater. Take a rest, shower, overnight and dinner at your accommodation.
Day
3
Ngorongoro Crater tour and go back Arusha/Moshi.
We will have an early drive from your accommodation after taking your morning breakfast to Ngorongoro Crater through Ngorongoro Conservation Area. In Ngorongoro Crater animals cannot frequently come in and out of the Ngorongoro Crater due to its elevated landscape. This led to the disability of spotting every member of the BIG FIVE in a single day/time comprising buffalo, elephants, rhinos, lions and leopards. Other wildlife animals that you may see are like zebras, hippo, wildebeest and hyenas. The Ngorongoro Crater also is featured by an extensive bird population including geese, storks and vultures, and flamingos on the Soda Lake in the crater rim. Your safari trip will end in the late afternoon at which we need to drive to Moshi/Arusha.
Pre & Post Tour Hotels
Arusha is the base for safari tours in North Tanzania. If you need accommodation in Arusha before/after your safari tour you can check some popular hotel prices on bed and breakfast basis below.
Single Room
- Crest Safari Lodge - USD 47
- Kutoka Lodge - USD 64
- Karama Lodge - USD 113
- The African Tulip - USD 149
- Four Points by Sheraton - USD 205
- Arusha Coffee Lodge - USD 375
Double Sharing
- Crest Safari Lodge - USD 29
- Kutoka Lodge - USD 49
- Karama Lodge - USD 76
- The African Tulip - USD 112
- Four Points by Sheraton - USD 120
- Arusha Coffee Lodge - USD 240
Triple Sharing Room
- Crest Safari Lodge - USD 29
- Kutoka Lodge - USD 40
- Karama Lodge - USD 73
- The African Tulip - USD 93
- Arusha Coffee Lodge - USD 180
Add-on tours in Tarangire
- Hot Air Balloon Ride: USD 540 per person
- Short Walking Tour (upto 4 hours): USD 45 per person
- Long Walking Tour (upto 6 hours): USD 60 per person
- Night Game Drives (for clients staying inside): USD 100-200 per person depending on lodge
Add-on tours in Ngorongoro
- Masai Village Tour: USD 25 per person
- Olduvai Gorge museum visit: USD 35 per person
- Ngorongoro Crater Rim Hike: USD 35 per person
Add-on tours in Karatu
- Coffee Plantation Tour: USD 20 per person
- Iraq Village Tour: USD 25 per person
- Endoro Falls & Elephant Caves visit: USD 35 per person
Transfers Details
This tour starts from Arusha. Kilimanjaro Airport is the nearest international airport and Arusha Airport is the nearest domestic airport.
Airport Pickup / Drop
Arusha Airport: No extra charge
Kilimanjaro Airport: USD 30 per vehicle
Airport to Hotel Transfers
Arusha Airport ↔ Hotel: USD 25 per vehicle
Kilimanjaro Airport ↔ Arusha: USD 50 per vehicle
Intercity Transfers
Moshi ↔ Arusha: USD 100 per vehicle
Nairobi ↔ Arusha: USD 275 per vehicle
Flights Details
Important Note
We do not book international flights. We assist with local flights based on availability.
Intercity Flights
Zanzibar ↔ Arusha: From USD 100 (Morning flight)
Dar es Salaam ↔ Arusha: From USD 90 (Morning flight)
Arusha ↔ Zanzibar: From USD 170 (Afternoon flight)
Arusha ↔ Dar es Salaam: From USD 110 (Afternoon flight)
Meals
- Day 1 - Lunch & Dinner
- Day 2 - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Day 3 - Breakfast & Lunch
Safari Tour Inclusions & Exclusions
Below is a clear breakdown of what is included and excluded in your Tanzania safari package. This helps you understand exactly what to expect before your journey to Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and other parks.