Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater

Six days

The Brief

A classic six-day arc through the three great northern parks. We compose this safari for travellers descending from Kilimanjaro who want the icons, taken slowly. Two journeys per group, never more than five vehicles in a sighting circle.

— The Ascend Tanzania

— 01

The route

The shortest honest version of the northern circuit — two full days in each of the parks that earn them, and no repeated ground.

ArushaTarangireSerengetiNgorongoroArusha

Day 01Arusha to Tarangire National Park
Day 02Full day in Tarangire
Day 03Transfer to the Serengeti
Day 04Full day in the Serengeti
Day 05Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater
Day 06Ngorongoro Crater floor & departure

— 02

Day by day

Typical pacing and overnight stops on this safari. Your final dates and camps shift slightly with rainfall, wildlife movements, and your own pace.

DAY 01

Arusha to Tarangire National Park

A morning transfer from Arusha or Moshi to Tarangire — the elephant park. Afternoon game drive among the baobabs and the Tarangire river.

—Collected from Kilimanjaro International, gate by 13:00
—Afternoon on the river circuit among the elephant herds
—Sundowner on the escarpment above the floodplain

Tarangire

Park · Tarangire National Park

Tonight · Tarangire Sopa Lodge

DAY 02

Full day in Tarangire

A full day of game viewing in Tarangire — large elephant herds, lions in the acacia, kudu, gerenuk, and the famous baobabs.

—South into the Silale swamps, where almost nobody drives
—Tree-climbing lion and large buffalo herds
—Packed lunch out — no returning to camp at midday

Tarangire

Park · Tarangire National Park

Tonight · Tarangire Sopa Lodge

DAY 03

Transfer to the Serengeti

A long but scenic drive through the Ngorongoro highlands and across the Crater rim, descending into the Serengeti plains. Afternoon game drive in the Seronera Valley — the heart of the central Serengeti.

—Early start, crater rim viewpoint, then Olduvai Gorge
—Naabi Hill gate and onto the short-grass plains
—Afternoon game drive in the Seronera valley

Serengeti (Central / Seronera)

Park · Serengeti National Park

Tonight · Sayari Camp, Asilia Africa

DAY 04

Full day in the Serengeti

A full day of game drives. We follow the wildlife rather than the schedule — lions, leopards, cheetahs, and the rolling Migration if the season is right.

—First light in Seronera for the resident cats
—Kopjes at midday for leopard and lion
—Optional balloon at 05:15, booked ahead

Serengeti

Park · Serengeti National Park

Tonight · Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge

DAY 05

Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater

A morning game drive in the Serengeti, then the long drive back across the highlands to the Ngorongoro Crater rim. Sunset from the rim is unforgettable.

—Morning drive on the plains before leaving the park
—Out via Naabi and up onto the rim
—Rim viewpoint at golden hour

Ngorongoro Crater

Park · Ngorongoro Crater

Tonight · Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge

DAY 06

Ngorongoro Crater floor & departure

A pre-dawn descent into the Crater for the morning game drive — black rhino, lion prides, and the densest concentration of wildlife on earth. Lunch on the rim, then transfer to Arusha or JRO.

—Six o’clock descent, ahead of the Karatu day vehicles
—Lerai forest, Lake Magadi and the central grassland
—Out by midday for the drive back to the airport

Ngorongoro Crater

Park · Ngorongoro Crater

Tonight · Departure

Included

→Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof, charging, and cool box
→Named guide-driver, English-speaking, with a deep knowledge of the parks
→All park, conservation, and crater fees
→Five nights’ accommodation, full board
→All transfers from Arusha / Moshi / JRO
→Filtered drinking water throughout
→A pair of binoculars per guest

Yours to bring

·International flights
·Tanzania visa
·Travel and medical insurance
·Tips for the guide-driver and lodge staff
·Optional balloon flight in the Serengeti
·Personal expenses

Gallery

A few questions

In the central and southern Serengeti, January–March (calving). In the north (Mara River crossings), July–October. We compose the safari around the season you choose.
Yes — most of our guests do. We typically run the climb first (eight or nine days), then a rest day in Moshi, then the safari. It is the best way to descend.

Tell us when, where, and for how long. We will compose the rest.

Safaris/A safari

Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater

Six days

The Brief

— The Ascend Tanzania

— 01

The route

The shortest honest version of the northern circuit — two full days in each of the parks that earn them, and no repeated ground.

ArushaTarangireSerengetiNgorongoroArusha

Day 01Arusha to Tarangire National Park
Day 02Full day in Tarangire
Day 03Transfer to the Serengeti
Day 04Full day in the Serengeti
Day 05Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater
Day 06Ngorongoro Crater floor & departure

— 02

Day by day

Typical pacing and overnight stops on this safari. Your final dates and camps shift slightly with rainfall, wildlife movements, and your own pace.

DAY 01

Arusha to Tarangire National Park

A morning transfer from Arusha or Moshi to Tarangire — the elephant park. Afternoon game drive among the baobabs and the Tarangire river.

—Collected from Kilimanjaro International, gate by 13:00
—Afternoon on the river circuit among the elephant herds
—Sundowner on the escarpment above the floodplain

Tarangire

Park · Tarangire National Park

Tonight · Tarangire Sopa Lodge

DAY 02

Full day in Tarangire

A full day of game viewing in Tarangire — large elephant herds, lions in the acacia, kudu, gerenuk, and the famous baobabs.

—South into the Silale swamps, where almost nobody drives
—Tree-climbing lion and large buffalo herds
—Packed lunch out — no returning to camp at midday

Tarangire

Park · Tarangire National Park

Tonight · Tarangire Sopa Lodge

DAY 03

Transfer to the Serengeti

—Early start, crater rim viewpoint, then Olduvai Gorge
—Naabi Hill gate and onto the short-grass plains
—Afternoon game drive in the Seronera valley

Serengeti (Central / Seronera)

Park · Serengeti National Park

Tonight · Sayari Camp, Asilia Africa

DAY 04

Full day in the Serengeti

A full day of game drives. We follow the wildlife rather than the schedule — lions, leopards, cheetahs, and the rolling Migration if the season is right.

—First light in Seronera for the resident cats
—Kopjes at midday for leopard and lion
—Optional balloon at 05:15, booked ahead

Serengeti

Park · Serengeti National Park

Tonight · Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge

DAY 05

Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater

A morning game drive in the Serengeti, then the long drive back across the highlands to the Ngorongoro Crater rim. Sunset from the rim is unforgettable.

—Morning drive on the plains before leaving the park
—Out via Naabi and up onto the rim
—Rim viewpoint at golden hour

Ngorongoro Crater

Park · Ngorongoro Crater

Tonight · Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge

DAY 06

Ngorongoro Crater floor & departure

A pre-dawn descent into the Crater for the morning game drive — black rhino, lion prides, and the densest concentration of wildlife on earth. Lunch on the rim, then transfer to Arusha or JRO.

—Six o’clock descent, ahead of the Karatu day vehicles
—Lerai forest, Lake Magadi and the central grassland
—Out by midday for the drive back to the airport

Ngorongoro Crater

Park · Ngorongoro Crater

Tonight · Departure

Included

→Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof, charging, and cool box
→Named guide-driver, English-speaking, with a deep knowledge of the parks
→All park, conservation, and crater fees
→Five nights’ accommodation, full board
→All transfers from Arusha / Moshi / JRO
→Filtered drinking water throughout
→A pair of binoculars per guest

Yours to bring

·International flights
·Tanzania visa
·Travel and medical insurance
·Tips for the guide-driver and lodge staff
·Optional balloon flight in the Serengeti
·Personal expenses

Gallery

A few questions

In the central and southern Serengeti, January–March (calving). In the north (Mara River crossings), July–October. We compose the safari around the season you choose.
Yes — most of our guests do. We typically run the climb first (eight or nine days), then a rest day in Moshi, then the safari. It is the best way to descend.