3-Day Tanzania Big Five Luxury Safari

Duration

03 Days

Trip season

High Season

Safari Type

Mid-Range

Meal Plan

Full Board

Tour Overview

Experience the magic of Tanzania on this unforgettable 3-day luxury family safari through the country’s famous Northern Circuit. Perfect for travelers with limited time, this carefully designed itinerary combines exciting wildlife encounters, breathtaking landscapes, and comfortable accommodations to create a memorable African adventure for all ages.

Beginning and ending in Arusha, the safari takes you to three of Tanzania’s most celebrated wildlife destinations: Tarangire National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater, and the world-renowned Serengeti National Park. Travel in a private 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof, providing excellent visibility and plenty of space for the whole family to enjoy wildlife viewing and photography.

Along the way, you will have outstanding opportunities to encounter the Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and black rhino—as well as giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, hippos, and numerous bird species. Each destination offers unique scenery, from Tarangire’s ancient baobab trees and elephant herds to the vast plains of the Serengeti and the spectacular wildlife-filled Ngorongoro Crater.

Luxury lodges and tented camps provide exceptional comfort, delicious cuisine, and warm hospitality, ensuring a relaxing stay after each day’s adventure. Combining wildlife, scenery, and family-friendly experiences, this safari offers an unforgettable introduction to Tanzania’s incredible natural wonders.

Itinerary

Your luxury family safari experience kicks off with a delightful reception awaiting you at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) that is about 50 km from Arusha. You will be driven for 2 hours (130 km) to Tarangire National Park in a private 4x4 safari vehicle. This Park is famous for its massive elephant herds and ancient baobab trees. During the safari, you will be driven to game-fed areas where you can view the acacia-eating giraffes, barnacle and zebra grazing herds, lion decapitated, leper resting grande clientele, and even buffalo that aid in your capture-of-five checklist if fate is on your side and you manage to witness some leopards that have taken up residence among the trees. You will also enjoy an afternoon game drive in the 2,850 km squared park that hosts many elephants during the dry season (June-October) due to the Tarangire River, where zebras and wildebeest can also be seen grazing in herds with acacia. The experienced guides will tell you the best places to see the animals because they have concealed vantage points for many leopards. They will also tell you many interesting facts about the safari animals, answer the domestic kittens’ queries with the provided children's lunch off with an al-fresco picnic and majestic views of the savanna that are covered by horal's shade. You will also check in for a tented camp catered to families with luxurious and spacious struts, enabling you to spend your first night in the wild under dreamy stars. Your family will indulge in a delicious multi-course dinner under the stars accompanied by the African bush for a rich intro to your delightful adventure.

Activities: Afternoon game drive
Big Five to See: Elephant, lion, leopard (rare), buffalo
Other Animals: Giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, ostriches, lilac-breasted rollers
Accommodation: Luxury tented camp
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

There are family photos to be taken at the Ngorongoro View Point, a magnificent sight of the crater; breakfast is served at the tented camp before departure at Ngorongoro View Point. After some pictures, there are refreshments and a drive for 150 km, lasting for around 3 hours and enjoying alluring sights en route, to Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The Conservation Area contains a UNESCO World Heritage site known as the 'Garden of Eden'. A safari awaits you, a 4–5-hour excursion in a 260-square kilometer cruise that leads over 600 meters down into the barren beauty; black rhinos (around 30 reside here, a rare Big Five highlight), lions in dense prides patrol the plains, buffalo graze in large herds, elephants occasionally wander out from the forests and if you are lucky enough to have leopards emerge from the wooded edges of the basin during your visit then your Big Five sightings are completed. Alongside these spectacular creatures, the crater contains abundant hyenas, zebras, wildebeests, and (seasonal) flamingos at Lake Magadi where they all offer a colorful showcase for children. Your guide while in the crater will ensure ample photography and exploration opportunities, stopping for a gourmet picnic lunch at a hippo-infested waterhole. After lunch, you will ascend to a lodge. After- along with the lodge’s stunning family suites with a view of the caldera, en-suites and view windows, they provide a sumptuous dinner and a panoramic view of the crater. Later- is cozy evenings of stunning wildlife stories awaiting you.

Activities: Afternoon game drive (Ngorongoro Crater)
Big Five to See: Black rhino, lion, buffalo, elephant, leopard (rare)
Other Animals: Hyenas, zebras, wildebeests, flamingos, hippos
Accommodation: Luxury lodge on the crater rim
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Following breakfast at the Crater-rim lodge, Set off for a 3-hour journey (approximately 145 km) to Serengeti National Park. The national park itself is a 14,763 km² expanse and is celebrated for its endless plains and boundless wildlife. Other Activities include a morning to midday game drive to the central region of Seronera; which is home to the Big Five, including: lions that are often seen lounging on kopjes (rocky outcrops), leopards perched on acacia trees poised for their next meal, calves of elephants foraging alongside their mothers, buffalo grazing in formidable herds and while rhinos are rare, the thrill of spotting the other four is typically accompanied by cheetahs sprinting or hyenas scavenging and during migration season (which is June-July or December-March) by endless hordes of wildebeests and zebras. A seronera guide will further enrich your safari experience by providing a gourmet picnic lunch under an acacia tree while en route to your final destination. The glory of the Serengeti is that it is known for its iconic savanna and after the 4–5-hour drive (approximately 240 km) back to Arusha, the final chance to view it becomes absolutely unforgettable. You and your family are skyborne by the late afternoon (4-5 PM) and if transfers to your hotel to Kilimanjaro International Airport is required, the cherished memories of Tanzania’s luxury safari will stick with you for life. Activities: Morning-to-midday game drive (Serengeti), return drive to Arusha
Big Five to See: Lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo
Other Animals: Cheetahs, hyenas, wildebeests (seasonal), zebras, giraffes
Accommodation: None (Departure Day)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 04 :

Included / Excluded

  • Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof for optimal wildlife viewing
  • Professional English-speaking driver-guide with extensive Big Five expertise
  • All national park and conservation area fees
  • Full-board accommodation (breakfast, lunch, dinner daily) in luxury settings
  • Unlimited bottled water and soft drinks during game drives
  • Gourmet picnic lunches in scenic locations
  • Airport transfers to/from Arusha
  • 24/7 support throughout your safari
  • International flights to/from Tanzania
  • Visa fees and travel insurance
  • Optional activities beyond game drives
  • Alcoholic beverages and personal expenses
  • Tips for guides and lodge staff

Activities to Do with This Safaris Package

a.jpg

Game Drives

On a 4x4 adventure across the Serengeti’s endless plains, spotting the Big Five (lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, rhinos) and witnessing the Great Wildebeest Migration (seasonal).

Birdwatching.jpg

Birdwatching

Grab your binoculars to spot over 400 bird species, including flamingos and pelicans, in this lush park known for its alkaline lake and tree-climbing lions.

hot-balloon-safari.jpg

Hot Air Balloon Safari

Soar above the Serengeti or Tarangire at sunrise, taking in panoramic views of sprawling savannas, grazing herds, and the golden dawn—followed by a champagne breakfast.

culture-Tour-.jpg

Cultural Visit

Meet the Maasai people, learn about their traditions, and witness vibrant dances and craftsmanship—an authentic glimpse into Tanzania’s rich heritage.

walking.jpg

Walking Safari

Stretch your legs with a guided bush walk, tracking animal footprints, learning about native plants, and experiencing the wilderness up close alongside expert rangers.

photography.jpg

Photography Expeditions

Capture Tanzania’s iconic landscapes and wildlife with guided tours designed for shutterbugs, offering prime vantage points and expert tips.

Activities to Do with This Safaris Package

a.jpg

Game Drives

On a 4x4 adventure across the Serengeti’s endless plains, spotting the Big Five (lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, rhinos) and witnessing the Great Wildebeest Migration (seasonal).

Birdwatching.jpg

Birdwatching

Grab your binoculars to spot over 400 bird species, including flamingos and pelicans, in this lush park known for its alkaline lake and tree-climbing lions.

hot-balloon-safari.jpg

Hot Air Balloon Safari

Soar above the Serengeti or Tarangire at sunrise, taking in panoramic views of sprawling savannas, grazing herds, and the golden dawn—followed by a champagne breakfast.

culture-Tour-.jpg

Cultural Visit

Meet the Maasai people, learn about their traditions, and witness vibrant dances and craftsmanship—an authentic glimpse into Tanzania’s rich heritage.

walking.jpg

Walking Safari

Stretch your legs with a guided bush walk, tracking animal footprints, learning about native plants, and experiencing the wilderness up close alongside expert rangers.

photography.jpg

Photography Expeditions

Capture Tanzania’s iconic landscapes and wildlife with guided tours designed for shutterbugs, offering prime vantage points and expert tips.

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