3 DAYS TARANGIRE & NGORONGORO MID-RANGE SAFARI
Safari Spot
Arusha , Tarangire , Karatu Ngorongoro Crater
Duration
3 Days | 2 Nights
Price
From US$ 1,189 per person sharing
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Trip Overview
This 3-day safari is the ultimate “weekend getaway” version of the Northern Circuit, designed for travelers with limited time who still want to witness Tanzania’s most iconic sights. In just three days, you will experience the “Land of Giants” in Tarangire National Park, famous for its massive elephant herds and baobab trees, and descend into the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” the Ngorongoro Crater. This fast-paced itinerary maximizes every hour, taking you from the savannahs of Tarangire to the prehistoric caldera of Ngorongoro before dropping you directly at the airport for your departure.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival Day: Kilimanjaro International Airport – Arusha (1 hour)
Your Tanzanian adventure begins as you touch down at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), the gateway to the safari circuit. On a clear day, you may catch a glimpse of Mount Kilimanjaro’s snow-capped peak from the tarmac. You will be welcomed by a representative and transferred to your hotel in Arusha, a vibrant city nestled at the foot of Mount Meru. Depending on your arrival time, you safari briefing may take place today or early tomorrow morning.
Overnight
Arusha Serena
Main Destination
Arusha city
Meals
Dinner
Day 2: Arusha – Tarangire (2 hours) – Karatu (2 hours)
After an early breakfast, you will depart Arusha and drive southwest towards Tarangire National Park. As you enter the park, the landscape transforms into a dramatic vista of grassy savannah dotted with ancient, bulbous baobab trees and termite mounds. Known as the “Elephant Playground,” this park hosts the largest concentration of elephants in the region, often seen digging for water in the riverbeds. You will spend the day game driving, soaking in the sights of giraffes, zebras, and diverse birdlife.
In the late afternoon, you will exit the park and ascend the Great Rift Valley escarpment to the town of Karatu. Nestled in the cool, green highlands, Karatu offers a relaxing atmosphere for your overnight stay.
Overnight
Kitela Lodge
Main Destination
Tarangire National Park
Meals
Lunch & Dinner
Day 3: Karatu – Ngorongoro Crater (30 mins) – Kilimanjaro International Airport (4 hours)
You will start this final day very early to maximize your time in the crater. It is a short drive from Karatu to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area gate, where you will descend 600 meters to the crater floor. This ancient volcanic caldera is a self-contained ecosystem teeming with wildlife, including the Big Five. You will spend the morning exploring the crater floor, with high chances of spotting lions, hyenas, and the critically endangered Black Rhino. After a picnic lunch near the hippo pool, you will ascend the steep walls and begin the drive to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). The drive takes you past Arusha and on to the airport, arriving in the late afternoon or early evening.
What’s Included:
- All accommodations
- All transportation (Unless labelled as optional)
- Meals (As specified in the day- by-day section)
- Taxes / VAT
- Activities (as specified in the day-by-day section)
- Park fees
- Professional guide
What’s not included:
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- International & Domestic flights
- Option Balloon Safari (On offer for US $ 550 per person)
- Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Tips (Tipping guideline US$20 pp per day)
- Travel Insurance & Health Insurance
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park feessawas