Private or Group Tanzania safari
3 Days Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater & Tarangire Safari
Three northern parks in three days, without the long run out to the Serengeti.
- 3 days / 2 nights
- Tanzania
- Budget
- Private or Group
Choose your level
One route, three ways to travel it.
The road, the parks and the day-by-day itinerary are the same at every level. What changes is where you sleep, what you travel in and what it costs.
Trip facts
- Duration
- 3 days / 2 nights
- Country
- Tanzania
- Destinations
- Lake Manyara · Ngorongoro · Tarangire
- Safari level
- Budget
- Travel type
- Private or Group safari
- Starts
- Arusha
- Ends
- Arusha
- Price
- On request
Overview
The journey at a glance.
The Serengeti is a long drive from Arusha. This route leaves it out and picks up the three parks that sit within easy reach instead — Manyara, Ngorongoro and Tarangire — which means far less time in the vehicle.
Each has a different character. Manyara is a narrow strip of groundwater forest, woodland and lake shore. Ngorongoro is the crater. Tarangire is baobab country with a permanent river that draws the circuit's heaviest dry-season elephant concentrations.
It is a good choice for a short trip, for travellers arriving on a tight schedule, or as a second northern-circuit visit.
RouteArusha · Lake Manyara · Ngorongoro · Tarangire · Arusha
Your route
4 points.
One unfolding story.
Where you stay, and for how long. The full route is listed in text below the line, so it reads the same however you are viewing this page.
- 01ArushaIn transit
- 02Lake Manyara1 night
- 03Tarangire1 night
- 04ArushaIn transit
Day by day
3 days, read as a journey.
Timings are indicative and depend on road and park conditions on the day. Meals shown are those included in the safari price.
Day 1Arusha → Lake Manyara
Under the Rift wall.
A short drive west from Arusha to Mto wa Mbu and the park gate. Manyara begins in dense groundwater forest fed by springs at the foot of the escarpment, with large baboon troops and blue monkeys, then opens onto woodland and the lake shore where hippo, flamingo and pelican gather.
- Activities
- Road transfer from Arusha · Afternoon game drive
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight
- Lake Manyara · Fanaka Campsite
Day 2Lake Manyara → Ngorongoro → Tarangire
The crater, then onward to Tarangire.
Travel from Lake Manyara into Ngorongoro for a crater visit, then continue east to Tarangire for the night. This is a combined activity and transfer day, with the crater visit paced to allow the onward journey. Tarangire game viewing is scheduled for the following morning.
- Activities
- Ngorongoro Crater game drive · Road transfer to Tarangire
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight
- Tarangire · Fanaka Campsite
Day 3Tarangire → Arusha
Elephants and baobabs.
A morning game drive along the Tarangire river, which is the reason the park holds so much game in the dry months. Elephant herds come down to water in numbers, and the baobabs give the landscape a shape nothing else on the circuit has. You return to Arusha in the afternoon.
- Activities
- Morning game drive at Tarangire · Road transfer to Arusha
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Overnight
- The journey ends today
Accommodation · Budget
A place to pause between chapters.
These are properties Ndurumo may recommend or use at this level on this route. Final accommodation is confirmed with your quotation and remains subject to availability.
Lake Manyara · Budget1 night
Fanaka Campsite
A good gateway night into the northern circuit at value level.
Accommodation confirmed with your quotation and subject to availability.
Plan this safari
Tarangire · Budget1 night
Fanaka Campsite
Fanaka Campsite is the approved budget option for a Tarangire overnight.
Accommodation confirmed with your quotation and subject to availability.
Plan this safari
Compare accommodation at all three levels
Budget
- Lake Manyara
- Fanaka Campsite
- Tarangire
- Fanaka Campsite
Midrange
- Lake Manyara
- Manyara Serena Safari Lodge, or similar
- Tarangire
- Tarangire Sopa Lodge
Luxury
- Lake Manyara
- andBeyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge
- Tarangire
- Lemala Mpingo Ridge
What you’ll experience
The character of this route.
- 01
Groundwater forest and lake shore at Lake Manyara
- 02
A descent onto the Ngorongoro Crater floor
- 03
Dry-season elephant concentrations in Tarangire
- 04
Baobab country in low light
- 05
Three parks with very little driving between them
Package detail
What the price covers.
These lists apply to the budget version of this route. Optional extras are listed against the day they fall on.
What’s included
- Transport in a 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser
- Airport pick-up on arrival
- Accommodation as set out in the itinerary
- All meals while on safari (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Services of a professional Ndurumo driver-guide
- All park and reserve entrance fees
- All game drives listed in the itinerary
- Statutory taxes
Not included
- International flights
- Kenya or Tanzania visas and entry fees
- Travel and personal insurance
- Single-occupancy supplement
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Optional activities, including balloon safaris and village visits
- Items of a personal nature
- Tips for your guide and lodge staff
Pricing
Clear before you commit.
Price depends on travel dates, group size, accommodation level, park fees at the time of travel and vehicle arrangements.
We are reconfirming the rate for this package, so we are not publishing a figure we cannot stand behind. Send us your dates and we will price it properly against current park fees and camp availability.
- Travel dates
- Required for a quotation
- Group size
- Required for a quotation
- Occupancy
- Per person sharing; single supplement quoted separately
- Child rates
- Quoted where the property applies them
This route, shaped around you
Begin with the journey already chosen.
Your enquiry carries this route and level automatically, so you only add the details we genuinely need to price it.
Why does this route skip the Serengeti?
Distance. The Serengeti is a full day's drive each way from Arusha, which does not fit into three days without losing most of your game-viewing time. This route trades it for three closer parks.
Why are some Tanzania prices shown as On Request?
Several of our current Tanzania pages repeat the same base figure across different durations, which we do not think is a safe basis for a quotation. We are reconfirming those rates, and in the meantime we price each Tanzania enquiry against the actual dates, park fees and camps.
Is the price per person?
Yes. Published rates are per person sharing a twin or double room. Solo travellers pay a single-occupancy supplement, which we quote with the rest of the trip.
What does the final price depend on?
Travel dates, the number of people travelling, your accommodation tier, park fees at the time of travel and vehicle arrangements. We reprice every enquiry for the exact dates rather than working from a fixed sheet.
Can the itinerary be changed?
Yes. The route below is the standard shape of the trip. Nights can be added or moved, and destinations can be swapped, as long as the driving distances still work.
Are park fees included?
Yes. All park and reserve entrance fees for the parks in the itinerary are included in the quoted price.
What vehicle will we use?
Road safaris use a 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser. Private departures have their own vehicle; group departures share the vehicle with fellow travellers.
Can children join this safari?
Yes. Tell us your children's ages when you enquire and we will confirm which properties on the route suit them and whether child rates apply.
Continue exploring
Other routes worth following.
4 Days Lake Manyara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater Safari
Arusha · Lake Manyara · Serengeti · Ngorongoro · Arusha
- 4 days / 3 nights
- Tanzania
- On request
5 Days Lake Manyara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater Safari
Arusha · Lake Manyara · Serengeti · Ngorongoro · Arusha
- 5 days / 4 nights
- Tanzania
- On request
3 Days Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater Safari
Arusha · Serengeti · Ngorongoro · Arusha
- 3 days / 2 nights
- Tanzania
- On request
3 Days Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater & Tarangire Safari
Let’s mark this route.
Share your dates and party, and we will come back with a quotation for this itinerary at the level you have chosen — or tell you honestly if a different route fits better.
A guided enquiry, not an instant booking. No obligation.
