Tanzania Simba Safari – 5 Days

The real prize here is time in the Serengeti. You reach the park after a long seven-hour drive, then have an afternoon game drive, a full wildlife day, and another morning drive before moving to Ngorongoro. That gives you a fair shot at seeing lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and perhaps rhinos without trying to cram northern Tanzania into a blur.

I like the private guide setup, since your driver can shape the day around your interests and spend more time when something exciting appears. I also like that meals, lodging, a 4×4 vehicle, soft drinks, hot drinks, water on game drives, and park fees are bundled into the price.

The main catch is the road time. Arusha to Serengeti is about seven hours and 335 kilometers, so this is not a gentle, slow-moving holiday. You should also clarify the lodging and dinner plan before paying, because the inclusions list and the final-day note do not describe meals in exactly the same way.

Key points to know before booking

• Two nights in Serengeti: You get an afternoon drive on arrival, a long full day, and a final morning drive.
• Private 4×4 Toyota Cruiser: Only your group participates, with a driver-guide assigned to your party.
• Early Ngorongoro visit: The crater drive begins on departure day, followed by a picnic lunch inside the crater.
• Guide quality matters: Past trips specifically praise Adrian, Goodluck, Harry, Dennis, Musa H., Abisai Mbasha, and others for wildlife spotting and personal care.
• Long transfer on Day 2: The seven-hour journey from Arusha is the price of reaching the western Serengeti area on this short schedule.
• Price includes major safari costs: At $2,897.06 per person, park fees, accommodation, meals as listed, and safari transport are included, but flights, drinks at lodges, insurance, visas, and tips are extra.

What this five-day Tanzania safari really offers

This is a compact northern Tanzania safari built around two famous names: Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. You begin in Arusha, spend two nights in the Serengeti, then sleep near Ngorongoro before your final crater drive and airport transfer.

That route gives you variety. Serengeti means wide open plains, changing light, and long stretches of wildlife viewing. Ngorongoro feels different, with animals gathered within the walls of a huge volcanic crater. You are not simply ticking off parks. You are seeing two very different settings in a short time.

The safari is private rather than a shared group outing. That matters more than it may sound. You can ask your guide to explain animal behavior, stop for photos, or adjust the pace when you are tired. A private vehicle also gives families and small groups more room to settle into the long drives.

The price is $2,897.06 per person. That is a serious amount, but safari prices are driven by park fees, long-distance transport, accommodation, food, and the specialized 4×4 vehicle. Here, several major costs are already covered, so the price is easier to judge than a low headline rate with many add-ons.

You still need to budget for international and domestic flights, your visa, travel and medical insurance, tips for your guide and lodge staff, drinks at the lodges, and laundry. The trip is free to cancel up to 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund, but changes or cancellations inside that window are not refunded.

Day 1: Arrive in Arusha and get your bearings

Your safari begins at Arusha Airport. A driver-guide meets you there and takes you to Arusha and your chosen hotel, with an introduction to the city and Tanzania along the way.

This first day is useful even though it contains no park visit. Arusha is the starting point for many northern Tanzania safaris, and a quiet arrival day gives you time to recover from flights before the long drive west. It also lets you meet the person who will be responsible for driving, wildlife spotting, timing, and many small practical details during the trip.

The listed accommodation plan says one night in Arusha on half board. The exact hotel is not provided, so ask what property is being used, what half board covers, and whether airport arrival time affects the included meal.

Day 2: The long road from Arusha to Serengeti

Day 2 is the hardest travel day. The journey to Serengeti is listed at seven hours and 335 kilometers, heading west from Arusha. The changing scenery along the route is part of the experience, but you should expect a full day in the vehicle.

After reaching the park, you have lunch and then begin an afternoon game drive. This timing is important. You do not lose the whole day to transport, though the length of the drive means the exact amount of afternoon viewing depends on road conditions and arrival time.

Serengeti is famous for its open plains and large wildlife populations. The first drive gives you an immediate sense of scale. The scenery can seem to stretch endlessly, and that openness is one reason animal sightings feel so dramatic. A distant shape may become a herd, a pride of lions, or an elephant moving across the grass.

The 4×4 Toyota Cruiser is a practical choice for this route. You spend many hours on rough park roads, so vehicle condition and driving skill matter. Soft drinks, coffee or tea, and water are provided during game drives, which helps on long outings.

Day 3: A full day among Serengeti wildlife

Day 3 is the strongest day of the program. After breakfast, you take a morning game drive, stop for a picnic lunch, and continue searching through the afternoon before returning to the lodge for dinner.

The schedule allows up to 12 hours of park time. That is a long day, but it gives you the best chance to see wildlife at different times. Morning light can reveal animals becoming active, while the afternoon brings changing shadows and a different feel to the plains.

Your guide is central to this day. The strongest praise attached to this operator focuses on driver-guides who can spot animals at great distances, identify good viewing areas, and explain both animals and plants. Adrian is described as calm, helpful, and especially suitable for an older participant. Goodluck is praised for explaining flora, fauna, and animal behavior. Harry and Dennis are singled out for careful driving and strong wildlife knowledge.

You can request a specific guide, though availability is not guaranteed. Names that have received particularly warm praise include Adrian, Goodluck, Harry, Dennis, Musa H., Abisai Mbasha, Louis, Celvin, Everest Mboy, Gerald, Emil, Choda, and Inocent.

Do not measure this day only by the Big Five. Lions, leopards, buffalo, elephants, and rhinos are the headline animals, but the pleasure of a Serengeti drive also comes from the guide explaining what you are seeing and why animals are gathered in one place. The supplied plan promises searching for the Big Five, not guaranteed sightings, so keep your expectations hopeful but sensible.

The drawback is fatigue. A 12-hour drive with a picnic lunch is exciting, but it can be tiring, particularly for young children, older adults, or anyone who dislikes long stretches in a vehicle. The private format helps because your group can discuss the pace with the guide.

Day 4: One last Serengeti drive, then Ngorongoro

Day 4 begins with another morning Serengeti drive, listed at four hours. This is a good final look at the park before you head east toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

After a picnic lunch, the drive to Ngorongoro takes about four hours. You then settle into the lodge while dinner is prepared. This transfer breaks up the long Serengeti stay and gives you a change of scenery before the crater visit.

The timing also makes practical sense. Sleeping near Ngorongoro means you can begin the crater drive early on Day 5 instead of spending the morning crossing a large distance. That early start is one of the better features of this itinerary, since the crater is the main event on your final day.

You should ask how far the accommodation is from the crater entrance and confirm the room type. The tour information says that four nights are included on safari, but the daily plan names two Serengeti nights and one Ngorongoro night. That leaves a small wording gap. It is worth getting the complete accommodation schedule in writing.

Day 5: Into Ngorongoro Crater before your flight home

The final day starts with an early morning game drive in Ngorongoro Crater. Afterward, you have a picnic lunch inside the crater before returning to the airport for your flight home.

Ngorongoro is not just another wildlife park. Its enclosed volcanic setting makes the experience feel concentrated and visually distinct from the open Serengeti. The crater floor can offer excellent wildlife viewing, and the morning visit gives you several hours before the return journey.

The itinerary lists about four hours at the crater. That is enough for a meaningful visit, but not enough to explore every possible corner. You should make sure your departure flight is scheduled with plenty of room for the drive back. The supplied plan does not state the airport, the return transfer time, or a guaranteed flight schedule.

Breakfast and lunch are included on this day. Dinner is not included, since you are expected to leave for your flight. This point conflicts slightly with the general inclusion of four dinners, so confirm the final meal count and exactly where the fourth dinner applies.

The guide can make or break the safari

On a northern Tanzania safari, the driver-guide is not just a person behind the wheel. Your guide reads the road, spots animals, explains what is happening, and keeps the day moving safely.

The strongest pattern in the feedback is the human side of the guiding. Guides are praised for being funny, patient, caring, and attentive as well as skilled at finding wildlife. That is especially useful on a private trip, where you spend nearly every park hour with the same person.

If you have a particular guide in mind, ask for that person when booking. Adrian, Goodluck, Harry, Dennis, Musa H., and Abisai Mbasha are names worth mentioning. Still, the company cannot promise a specific guide unless it confirms one in writing.

Meals, lodging, and what is not covered

The package includes accommodation, park fees, breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the numbers supplied. It also includes soft drinks, coffee or tea, and water during game drives.

The meal plan appears to be full board for the safari portion and half board for the Arusha night. Yet the day-by-day details say dinner is not included on the final departure day, while the inclusion list states four dinners. Treat this as a question to settle, not a minor detail. Ask for a written list of the hotel nights and meals before departure.

Drinks at the lodges and laundry are not included. Neither are flights, visas, insurance, or tips. You will want cash or another accepted payment method for gratuities, but the appropriate amount is not specified here, so ask the operator for current guidance.

Is $2,897.06 a fair price?

I would judge the price by what it removes from your planning burden. You are paying for a private vehicle and guide, four-wheel-drive transport, park fees, accommodation, and meals across a demanding route. Those are the core costs of a safari, and having them in one package makes budgeting easier.

The value is strongest if you want privacy and a direct route to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro. A shared departure or a shorter park stay might cost less, but you would give up flexibility and some time in the field.

The value is weaker if your main goal is a slow, relaxed holiday. Day 2 involves seven hours on the road, Day 3 can last 12 hours, and Day 5 combines a crater drive with airport transport. This is an active schedule built for wildlife access, not idle lodge time.

Who should book this safari?

I would recommend it to a couple, family, or small group that wants a private northern Tanzania safari in only five days. It also suits people who prefer having transport, park fees, lodging, and meals arranged together rather than coordinating each piece themselves.

Families may appreciate the private vehicle and the ability to speak directly with the guide about comfort and timing. Older participants may also find the private setup useful, especially with a patient guide such as Adrian, subject to assignment.

I would hesitate if you need a guaranteed Big Five checklist, dislike long drives, or have a tight flight connection on the last day. Wildlife is wild, and even excellent guides cannot promise a leopard or rhino. The route is also ambitious for five days.

Final verdict: a strong short safari with two important checks

This Tanzania Simba Safari gives you the essential northern circuit in a focused package: Arusha, two nights in Serengeti, a final Serengeti morning, Ngorongoro Crater, and airport transfer.

I like the private format, the large amount of Serengeti time, and the repeated praise for guides who spot animals well and treat people with care. Before booking, I would confirm the lodge names, the precise four-night accommodation schedule, the dinner count, and the airport timing on Day 5.

Book it if you want a serious wildlife trip and accept long road days. Skip it if you want a slower itinerary or need every meal and transfer detail spelled out without any clarification.

FAQ

Where does the safari begin?

The meeting point is Arusha Airport in Arusha, Tanzania.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates, and the tour includes a private guide and driver.

Which parks and wildlife areas does the safari visit?

The itinerary includes Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, including Ngorongoro Crater.

How long is the drive from Arusha to Serengeti?

The journey is listed at about seven hours and 335 kilometers.

What is included in the price?

The package includes a 4×4 Toyota Cruiser, driver-guide, park fees, accommodation, meals as listed, soft drinks, coffee or tea, and water during game drives.

What is not included?

International and domestic flights, visas, travel and medical insurance, tips, drinks at the lodges, and laundry services are not included.