3 Days Serengeti and Ngorongoro Safari – Starting from Arusha or Moshi

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3 years ago

3 Days Serengeti Safari and Ngorongoro Crater Tour takes you to the great Serengeti National Park in Tanzania for an amazing wildlife experience. The government of Tanzania has gone to great length to make the country a leading tourist destination in Africa. 28% of the country’s land is protected and have been declared national reserves. The greatest of these reserves are the Serengeti National Park and the Mount Kilimanjaro area. The Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater are the focus today.

The Serengeti is one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world with the greatest concentration of plain game on earth. The Serengeti gets its name from the Masai word meant “endless plains” – In reference to the endless rolling grasslands which support countless zebra and wildebeest in the park. The plains are also home to giraffe, buffaloes, gazelles and elephants.

The Serengeti National Park was established in 1952 and covers an area of about 5,700 square miles that stretches from North Kenya up to Lake Victoria in the western part of the country. The park is divided into three main sections – The Seronera Valley with mostly savanna grassland, the western corridor (dominated by dense forest, bush and the Grumeti River) and finally the Lobo area that joins with Kenya’s Masai Mara. The Serengeti National Park is larger than the Masai Mara. Because of its vast size and climate, it allows excellent game viewing throughout the year. However, it is the wildebeest migration that attracts most tourists to the park. During the months from May to June millions of wildebeest, zebras and other herbivores begin their journey northwards to the Masai Mara. They are followed by vultures in the sky, lions, cheetahs and wild dogs. Battles between predator and prey provide tourists with some of the most spectacular wildlife experiences on earth.

It is important to note that the Serengeti National Park is just one of the several wildlife conservation areas that make up what is known as the Northern Safari Circuit. This circuit also includes Arusha National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Mkomazi National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Serengeti National Park and Tarangire National Park. These parks and wildlife conservation areas are adjacent to each other. It is a beautiful experience to go for a safari that includes visiting all of them.

Our 3 days Serengeti Wildlife safari includes a visit to the amazing Ngorongoro crater. The Ngorongoro crater has been declared a UNESCO World heritage site and the 8^th wonder of the world. It lies within the Ngorongoro Conservation area and is about 304 square kilometers large. It is the largest caldera in the world and hosts over 30,000 large mammals. A game drive in both the Serengeti plains and Ngorongoro crater allows travelers to experience the great biodiversity in the area. The 3 days Serengeti safari starts from either the town of Moshi or the city of Arusha. Both of these towns are very close to Kilimanjaro International Airport hence offering tourists an opportunity to fly in a for a safari if they don’t have enough time to drive on the road for too long. The drive from Arusha or Moshi to the Park takes about 8 hours through amazing scenery and great countryside. Whichever method you prefer to reach the reserve; we will help you with all the necessary arrangements from arrival to departure. You can read more about the things to do in the Ngorongoro Crater.

Note: In case you arrive by plane from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar, our Driver/Guide will be waiting for you at the Seronera Airstrip and drive you straight for the game drive before finally checking in at your hotel. You might be interested in our 6 days Rwanda Gorilla tour and Serengeti Safari or the 3 Days Masai Mara wildlife safari package in Kenya. If you are planning to combine this tour with hiking Mount Kilimanjaro or visiting one of the beaches in Tanzania, then read our article about the tourist attractions in Zanzibar. We also have interesting article about the things to do in Arusha and what to do in Moshi. Those who don’t have 3 days to spare for a tour of the Serengeti can check out the shorter 2 days Serengeti safari starting from Arusha.

Highlights of the Safari

Visiting the Serengeti Visitor Center: The Visitors Centre is an important place to stop at for new arrivals in the park. From the center, one can get a lot of information about the park, its history, the wildlife and entire Eco-system.

Witnessing the Great Migration: Throughout the year, millions of Zebra and wildebeest move clockwise looking for fresh grass in the vast plains of the Serengeti. Witnessing this great wildebeest migration is one of the highlights of an African safari.

Game drives: The Serengeti national park is home to all of the big five mammals of Africa – lions, elephants, leopards, buffaloes and rhinos. Over 500 species of birds call the park home including the imposing ostrich. Game drives are without doubt the most popular attraction in the Serengeti National Park.

Balloon Safaris: Floating over the vast Serengeti National Park in a balloon is one of the best wildlife experiences one can ever have. An aerial view of the park will offer opportunities to marvel at the amazing scenery, landscape, wildlife and sheer scale of the park. It is also one of the best ways to follow or witness the great wildebeest migration. The Balloon flight takes about one hour and includes breakfast in the air.

Full Itinerary

Day 1: Pickup from Arusha/ Moshi – Transfer to the Serengeti National Park

Wake up early and wait for the driver to start the journey to the Serengeti National Park. The distance from Arusha to Tanzania’s top tourism destination is about 325 km. The journey takes about 8 hours through amazing countryside. You will stop at Olduvai Gorge – also known as the cradle of mankind. This is where Dr Leakey and his family discovered fossils of the earliest humans known as Homo habilis who lived about 2 million years ago. You will enter the Serengeti through the Naabi Hill Gate. Lunch will be taken en-route or on arrival at your hotel. As you head towards you lodge, you will have a mini game drive along the road leading to the lodge. Look out for wildebeest, Thomson’s gazelle, zebras, lions, giraffes, hippos, elephants and baboons. If you are a birder, then you might want to look out for the ostrich. You could even be lucky to spot a mother with chicks.

Dinner and overnight while at the Serengeti is Mbalageti Tented Camp (Budget), Shuhudia Adventure Tented Camp (mid-range) and Kirawira Serena Luxury Tented Camp (Luxury).

Day 2: Full Day Game drives at the Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro crater.

Wake up early as usual and take your breakfast as you wait for the Guide/Driver. You will be taken for a morning game drive at the Seronera valley for a chance to see zebras, wildebeests, lions, topi, waterbucks, genet, hyrax, hippos, serval cats, foxes, elephants, buffaloes, eland, monitor lizards, the aardwolf, mongoose, jackals, masai giraffes, porcupines, aardvark, Thompson gazelle, Grants gazelle, caracal, hartebeest, cheetahs, leopards, lions and hyenas. The park is home to about 4,000 lions, colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys and the common baboon.

Picnic lunch will be in the middle of all the wildlife and amazing savanna. After lunch, you will continue to drive through the Serengeti plains towards the Ngorongoro crater. The Ngorongoro crater is part of the wider Ngorongoro Conservation area which is 8000 square kilometers large. It is one of the three most impressive game viewing locations in the world. It is the best place in the world for viewing the big cats in action. You will descend into the crater and have one of the best wildlife experiences in Africa. It is important to discuss with your Guide about the exact time and place to do the game drives on this day the night before. Our Guides/Drivers are flexible and can start the game drives earlier than usual or to particular sections of the park or reserve. You will spend the evening and night in one of the lodges at the edge of the Ngorongoro caldera.

Dinner and Overnight while at the Ngorongoro Crater is Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge (Budget), Rhino Lodge (Mid-range) and Ngorongoro Neptune Luxury Lodge (Luxury)

Day 3: Game drive at the Ngorongoro Crater – Transfer from to Arusha/ Moshi or departure by flight

Wake up early and take your breakfast as you prepare for a final game drive inside the Ngorongoro crater. The game drive starts at 7:00 am to see all the big five mammals of Africa including leopards, buffaloes, rhino, elephant and other creatures.

The driver will begin the journey back to Arusha or Moshi and ensure that there are stops for lunch to allow you enjoy the beautiful scenery or go shopping in one of the artisan shops. Once you arrive in Arusha, you will be transferred to your hotel.

Tour Includes and Excludes

The tour includes:

4 game drives
Park entrance fees
Transport in a 4WD Land Cruiser with an open roof. All our cars are comfortable, well-maintained and with good air-conditioning
An English speaking Guide with several years’ experience in the Serengeti area
Accommodation for 2 nights
Mineral water and meals throughout the safari
Government taxes
Pickup and drop off at the airport.

The Tour Excludes:

Items of a personal nature including gratuities and tips to the Guide/Driver and lodge staff

Medical and Travel insurance
Accommodation before the first day of the safari and after the last day.
Alcoholic drinks, beverages and Laundry services
Air tickets and flights

Important Information

Do not forget to park sun glasses, sunscreen, a hat, an insect repellent, comfortable shoes and light clothes. You might also consider packing a torch/head lamp, a camera, memory cards, chargers for your electronics, any special medications, dietary supplements and cash for items that do not require a credit card. All these items will ensure that you have a comfortable safari during your trip.

The nearest city to the park is Arusha. It takes about 8 hours of driving to get to the park from Arusha. Many tourists prefer to take a flight directly to the park from Nairobi, Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam of Zanzibar but if you want to experience the beautiful African landscape, small towns and people, then traveling by road will be more memorable.

Hotels and Lodges

Kirawira Serena Camp: Built in the Serengeti, this exclusive luxury tented camp offers high quality services and an amazing experience in the Serengeti. The camp consists of 25 luxury tents with amazing views of the Serengeti plains. Each tent has dedicated staff, beautifully styled furniture, double/twin beds, Wi-Fi and private bathrooms. There is a separate meeting tent where all residents gather in the evening for relaxation, entertainment and sharing stories of their adventures in Africa. The camp also organizes the Kirawira bush dinner in selected locations within the plains where a campfire is set and guests are entertained with Masai songs and dances. Other facilities and amenities include a safari bar, a central fire-pit, wedding venues, a gift shop and a business center. Kirawira Serena Camp is an excellent accommodation facility for witnessing the great migration or spotting crocodiles at the Grumeti Reserve. While at the lodge, you can go for massage, cooking classes or take part in Swahili lessons.

Neptune Ngorongoro Luxury Lodge: Neptune Lodge is built close to the Ngorongoro crater in a 50-acre piece of land. It has 20 private and spacious luxury cabins which are all self-contained. Each cabin contains a king size bed, a dedicated staff member, water heating facilities, bathrooms, a shower, wash basins, a safe and a living room with comfortable chairs. Other facilities and amenities include a fire place, a bar, a restaurant, conference facilities, a swimming pool and spa.

Rhino Lodge: Rhino lodge is built at the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater. It has 24 self-contained rooms with balconies overlooking a beautiful montane forest. The design of the rooms was inspired by the Masai people. All rooms have hot water bottles, a hand basin, a toilet and a shower. The lodge has very friendly staff who are evenly distributed to take care of guests while in their rooms, the dining area, bar and swimming pool. Evening entertainment is arranged in the evening in which Masai tribesmen present songs, stories and traditional dances for guests. Rhino lodge is an excellent choice for exploring the amazing Ngorongoro crater.

Mbalageti Serengeti: This beautiful lodge is built with natural materials on the Simiti Hills. It was designed to blend with the nature and surrounding areas. All the tented chalets offer privacy, comfort and breathtaking views of the surrounding areas. Apart from the tented chalets, the lodge has exclusive family suites with 2 bedrooms, a Tv, balcony, bathrobes, slippers, mineral water, umbrellas, flashlights, whistles, a safe, binoculars, mosquito nets, a fan, hairdryers and a walking stick. The hotel also has a large parking space and room service.