6-Day Tanzania Camping Safari: Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Cater and Tarangire National Park from Arusha

The strongest feature here is the sheer variety packed into six days: you move from baobab country in Tarangire to the open plains of Serengeti, then into Ngorongoro Crater and on to Lake Manyara. I like the small maximum group of eight and the practical camping setup, which keeps the price at $2,675 while putting you close to the parks.

I also like the amount included: a 4WD vehicle, park fees, cook, meals, tent, mattress, pillow, table, and chairs. The tradeoff is a busy schedule, with most days running about ten hours and several long drives between parks. This is a safari for people who want range and value, not a slow, polished lodge holiday.

Key points before you book

• Four major wildlife areas in six days: Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara each offer a different setting and style of game drive.
• Two full Serengeti game-drive periods: Day two includes an afternoon drive, while day three gives you morning, midday, and afternoon time in the park.
• Small group size: The vehicle can carry a maximum of eight people, a useful limit when you are watching wildlife or trying to photograph from the vehicle.
• Camping keeps the cost down: Five nights in tents are included, along with a cook, camping furniture, mattresses, pillows, breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• The sleeping bag is your responsibility: It is not included, so sort this out before leaving Arusha.
• Olduvai Gorge is optional at extra cost: The historical site fee is listed as $18 per person, and the stop is not guaranteed within the schedule.

What $2,675 buys you on this Tanzania safari

At $2,675 per person, this is not the cheapest possible safari, but the value becomes clearer when you look at what is bundled into the price. You receive five nights of accommodation, park fees, game drives, transport in a 4WD vehicle, a cook, and all listed meals.

The camping package uses tents at campsites. A separate package is described as tented camps and lodges, so you should confirm which accommodation option you are booking before payment. The basic setup includes a mattress and pillow, but not a sleeping bag.

I see the price as reasonable for a six-day route through four high-profile parks, especially since park fees alone can make a northern Tanzania safari costly. You are not paying only for a bed and a vehicle. You are paying for access, transport, food, camping equipment, and repeated chances to see wildlife.

Still, budget does not mean effortless. You will spend many hours in the vehicle, sleep in camping conditions, and follow a tight route. If you want private rooms, long midday breaks, or several nights in one place, this is not the right format. If you want to see as much of northern Tanzania as possible in a short period, the price makes more sense.

The maximum group size of eight is important. A crowded safari vehicle can make every stop feel cramped, while eight people gives you a better chance of having a clear view from your seat. The exact seating arrangement is not provided, so I would ask how seats are assigned if photography matters to you.

Day 1: Tarangire and the first taste of safari

Pickup from your Arusha hotel is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. You then travel to Tarangire National Park for a picnic lunch and a game drive, with the day planned for about ten hours.

Tarangire is a smart first stop because it gives you an immediate change from Arusha and introduces the rhythm of a camping safari. You have a long drive, a picnic, and time in the park rather than a rushed photo stop. The park is often associated with large trees and wildlife around the Tarangire River, but the supplied schedule does not promise particular species or sightings, so keep expectations flexible.

The practical point is that this is already a full day. You are picked up in the morning and will likely reach camp tired, especially after the drive and game viewing. That is normal on a northern Tanzania route, but it is worth knowing before you book.

Your included picnic lunch is prepared as part of the camping service. A cook, table, and chairs are provided, which means meals are more organized than simply carrying snacks in the vehicle. Dinner and breakfast are also included during the trip.

Day 2: The long road toward Serengeti

After breakfast, you leave for Serengeti National Park with a game drive along the way. The plan includes a picnic lunch and a short afternoon game drive in Serengeti, again taking about ten hours.

This is one of the route’s big transition days. You are not simply driving from one park to another. You get a first look at Serengeti during the approach, then continue with wildlife viewing after arrival. That gives you a useful first impression before the longer full day that follows.

The drawback is clear: the Serengeti is large, and reaching it takes time. The schedule leaves only a short afternoon game drive on this day, so you should not expect the same amount of viewing time as on day three.

I like the way this plan saves the best amount of Serengeti time for the next day. Instead of treating the park as a quick pass-through, the schedule gives you one arrival game drive and then a full day to search for wildlife.

Day 3: A full day in Serengeti National Park

Day three is the centerpiece. You have an early morning game drive, a midday drive, and an afternoon drive in Serengeti, with the full day planned at about ten hours.

That spread matters. Wildlife activity and visibility can change during the day, and three separate drives give you more than one chance to find animals. You also get time to see different parts of the park rather than judging Serengeti from a single short outing.

One published account from this trip described seeing four of the Big Five in Serengeti in one day, including a leopard. That is a strong result, but it should be treated as good fortune rather than a promise. Leopards are hard to find, and no safari can guarantee a particular animal.

The day may feel long, especially after the previous day’s transfer. You should be ready for an early start, repeated time in the vehicle, and a late return to camp. The payoff is the most sustained wildlife time of the whole trip.

For photography, patience helps. Bring spare battery power if you have it, protect cameras from dust, and keep your expectations open. The schedule is designed to give you repeated opportunities, not a fixed list of sightings.

Day 4: Serengeti to the Ngorongoro rim

The fourth day begins with an early morning Serengeti game drive. After brunch, you leave toward the Ngorongoro Crater rim, with another game drive along the way. The day is planned for about ten hours.

This is a good use of the morning. Instead of leaving Serengeti immediately after breakfast, you get one more chance to see the park when the day is beginning. The later transfer then changes the setting from open Serengeti plains to the high rim around Ngorongoro.

The schedule mentions an en-route game drive, so the journey is still part of the safari rather than dead travel time. Even so, this is another demanding day with early movement and a long road section.

You should also make a note about Olduvai Gorge. The historical site fee is listed separately at $18, and the stop is not guaranteed. One person on the trip did not get to visit it, so do not book this safari mainly for that site. If Olduvai is essential to you, ask the operator before departure if the timing and fee can be arranged.

Day 5: Into Ngorongoro Crater, then on to Lake Manyara

Day five starts with an early breakfast and a descent to the Ngorongoro Crater floor for a game drive. Lunch is scheduled at the hippo pool picnic site, followed by an ascent to the rim and departure for Lake Manyara.

This is one of the most distinctive days of the route. Ngorongoro gives you a compact wildlife setting inside a huge volcanic crater, and the descent and ascent add a strong sense of place to the day. The crater floor game drive is the main event, while lunch at the hippo pool picnic site adds a memorable stop.

The timing is tight. You are doing a morning crater drive, eating lunch, climbing back to the rim, and then continuing toward Lake Manyara. You may reach camp ready for an early night. That is the price of combining these parks in one short safari.

One account of the trip described seeing three of the Big Five at Ngorongoro in a single day. Again, that is possible but not guaranteed. What you can count on is a concentrated wildlife outing and a very different setting from Serengeti.

Day 6: Lake Manyara before returning to Arusha

The final morning begins with breakfast and a game drive in Lake Manyara National Park. You stop for a picnic lunch, then leave in the middle of the afternoon for Arusha and hotel drop-off.

Lake Manyara works well as the final park because it gives you one last wildlife outing before the return drive. The schedule is shorter in spirit than the Serengeti day, but it still lists about ten hours because the game drive, lunch, and journey back to Arusha all take time.

The final transfer means you should avoid booking a late, fixed connection from Arusha unless you have a generous buffer. The exact arrival time is not supplied, and road and park schedules can vary. For a relaxed finish, plan flexibility after drop-off.

The return to Arusha also makes this route convenient if you are beginning and ending your Tanzania plans in the city. Pickup and drop-off at your hotel keep the start and finish simple.

Camping, meals, and comfort in the bush

Camping is not just a way to save money here. It changes the feel of the trip. You sleep in tents at campsites, eat meals prepared by a cook, and use the included table and chairs for camp life. You are closer to the setting than you would be in a standard hotel, but you also give up some privacy and comfort.

The included camping equipment covers a tent, mattress, and pillow. It does not cover a sleeping bag. This is the most important packing detail in the entire offer. Bring one suitable for the conditions, or confirm rental options before you arrive.

One practical complaint raised about the setup was the use of mattresses rather than camp beds. If you are older, have back trouble, or simply sleep poorly on low bedding, ask if a camp bed can be requested. The information does not confirm that this option is available, so treat it as a question to raise rather than an expected feature.

Food coverage is strong. You receive five breakfasts, six lunches, and five dinners. Lunch is provided every day, including picnic lunches during park days. Tips are not included, so keep that separate from your trip budget.

The pace, vehicle, and group size

The schedule lists about ten hours for every day. That does not mean ten straight hours of driving, since game drives and meals are included, but you should still expect long days and a fair amount of time seated in the 4WD.

The route covers a lot of ground. Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Lake Manyara are not next door to one another, so the transfer days are unavoidable on a six-day plan. The reward is variety. The cost is a fast pace.

A group limit of eight is one of the better features. It keeps the experience more manageable than a large coach-style outing and gives you a better chance of seeing through the vehicle when wildlife appears. The operator, Gracepatt Ecotours Kenya, is listed as the provider.

The supplied comments give particular credit to the friendly, helpful staff and to the attention provided before and after the safari. No guide names are supplied, so I would not choose this trip based on a named guide. Instead, ask who will lead your departure and who handles the cooking and driving.

Who should book this safari

I would choose this trip if you want the classic northern Tanzania parks but have only six days. It suits people who value wildlife time, accept long road days, and see camping as part of the experience rather than an inconvenience.

It also works for budget-minded couples, friends, and small groups who want park fees, meals, transport, and accommodation combined in one booking. The maximum of eight makes it more appealing than a large-group option.

I would think twice if you need a private bathroom every night, dislike early starts, or want long periods at one lodge. The schedule has little spare time, and the camping setup is basic enough that your sleeping bag and personal comfort gear matter.

Families and older visitors should consider the ten-hour days and mattress sleeping carefully. Most people can participate, but the supplied information does not describe specific accessibility arrangements. Ask direct questions before booking if mobility or medical needs affect your plans.

Booking details and cancellation timing

Pickup is offered from your Arusha hotel at 9:00 a.m. The tour accepts mobile tickets, confirmation is provided at booking, and group discounts are available.

The cancellation rule is strict near departure. You receive a full refund only if you cancel at least three full days before the start time. Cancellations or changes made within three days are not refunded or accepted, and the cutoff follows local time.

Because the schedule is full, I would confirm the accommodation package, sleeping bag plan, Olduvai Gorge option, and pickup details before the cancellation window closes.

Should you book this six-day safari?

Book it if your priority is maximum park variety in limited time. You receive a full Serengeti day, a crater-floor drive, Tarangire and Lake Manyara, plus meals, camping gear, park fees, and transport for one stated price.

Skip it if you want a slow safari, guaranteed Olduvai Gorge access, or lodge-level comfort. The route is busy, the days are long, and the sleeping bag is not included.

For the right person, this is a sensible way to see Tanzania’s headline parks without paying for a luxury package. Pack for camping, allow time for long drives, and ask the operator the key questions before the three-day cancellation deadline.

FAQ

How long is the safari?

The experience lasts approximately six days, beginning with pickup in Arusha and ending with hotel drop-off in Arusha on day six.

What time does pickup begin?

Pickup is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. from your hotel in Arusha.

What is included in the camping package?

The camping package includes five nights in tents at campsites, a 4WD vehicle, park fees, game drives, a cook, mattress, pillow, table, chairs, and tent. Meals include five breakfasts, six lunches, and five dinners.

Do I need to bring a sleeping bag?

Yes. A sleeping bag is not included in the tour price.

Is Olduvai Gorge included?

The Olduvai Gorge historical site fee is not included. The listed fee is $18, and access to the site is not guaranteed within the schedule.

How large is the group?

The maximum group size is eight people.