5Days Big Five Game Drive Tanzania Trip

Overview of the Day
Your safari begins with a morning departure from Arusha, heading southwest into Tarangire National Park for your first authentic African game drive.

Safari Experience
Tarangire is one of the most underrated parks in Tanzania, yet from experience, it consistently delivers exceptional wildlife encounters. The park is famous for its vast elephant herds, ancient baobab trees, and seasonal river that attracts wildlife year-round. Lions, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and a surprising variety of birdlife are commonly seen on afternoon drives.

Distance & Travel Time
Approx. 120 km | 2.5–3 hours (including scenic stops)

What to Expect

• Afternoon game drive of 3–4 hours
• Open savannah and riverine habitats
• Good road conditions with some dusty tracks
• Comfortable lodge or tented camp setting

Overview of the Day
After breakfast, you travel north through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area toward the vast Serengeti ecosystem.

Safari Experience
The transition from Tarangire’s baobab-dotted landscapes to the Serengeti’s open plains is dramatic. From years of guiding here, we know this is where travelers truly feel the scale of Africa. Game viewing begins almost immediately upon entering the park, with chances to see lions, cheetahs, and large herbivore herds.

Distance & Travel Time
Approx. 240 km | 5–6 hours (with game viewing en route)

What to Expect

• Picnic lunch during the drive
• En-route game viewing
• Long but scenic drive with wildlife sightings
• Classic tented camp atmosphere

Overview of the Day
A full day dedicated to game drives in the Serengeti, maximizing wildlife encounters.

Safari Experience
This is the heart of your big 5 safari. Early morning and afternoon game drives focus on predator activity. Based on seasonal movement, we adjust routes to track lion prides, cheetahs on open plains, and leopards near riverine areas. During certain months, the Great Migration adds dramatic herd movement and predator action.

Distance & Travel Time
Variable | Game drives total 6–7 hours

What to Expect

• Early start for optimal wildlife viewing
• Extensive off-road-style tracking on established routes
• Picnic or lodge lunch
• Excellent photography conditions

Overview of the Day
Morning game drive in Serengeti followed by travel to the Ngorongoro Highlands.

Safari Experience
After a final Serengeti drive, you ascend into cooler highland terrain. The Ngorongoro Crater is a collapsed volcano forming a natural enclosure for wildlife. From professional experience, it’s one of the most reliable locations to spot black rhino alongside lion, buffalo, elephant, and plains game.

Distance & Travel Time
Approx. 150 km | 4–5 hours

What to Expect

• Morning game drive
• Scenic ascent into the highlands
• Cooler temperatures in the evening
• Lodge located on or near the crater rim

Overview of the Day
Early descent into the Ngorongoro Crater for a half-day game drive, then return to Arusha.

Safari Experience
The crater floor supports an astonishing density of wildlife year-round. From our guiding experience, sightings are often immediate—lion prides, massive buffalo herds, hippos, flamingos, and occasionally elusive rhinos. This final big five game drive often completes the full Big Five list.

Distance & Travel Time
Approx. 190 km | 4–5 hours

What to Expect

• 4–5 hour crater game drive
• Short but steep descent roads
• Picnic lunch inside the crater
• Return to Arusha by late afternoon