5 Day Tanzania Safari- Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Manyara Tour

The ideal time to visit these Tanzanian safari destinations depends on what you’re hoping to see. Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Park are excellent during the dry season from June to October, when animals gather around water sources and are easier to spot. Tarangire is particularly known for its elephant herds during this time. Serengeti National Park is most famous for the Great Migration, which occurs at different times and locations across the park; generally, June to July is best for the migration crossings in the Western Corridor, and September to October for northern Serengeti. Ngorongoro Crater is a year-round destination due to its enclosed ecosystem, but the dry season also offers the best wildlife visibility.

Each park offers a distinct wildlife experience. Lake Manyara is famous for its tree-climbing lions, large troops of baboons, and flocks of flamingos. Tarangire National Park boasts large elephant populations, baobab-studded landscapes, and seasonal migration of wildebeest and zebra. Serengeti National Park offers one of the most dramatic wildlife spectacles on Earth—the Great Migration of over a million wildebeest and zebra—along with regular sightings of big cats like lions, leopards, and cheetahs. Ngorongoro Crater is home to an unusually dense population of animals, including all of the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo), and it’s one of the best places in Tanzania to spot the endangered black rhino.

Lake Manyara is known for its lush groundwater forest, soda lake, and steep Rift Valley escarpment. Tarangire offers a classic savannah landscape with open grasslands, ancient baobab trees, and seasonal swamps. Serengeti National Park features vast open plains that stretch endlessly, dotted with kopjes (rocky outcrops), and varying ecosystems depending on the region—woodlands in the west, riverine areas in the north, and arid grasslands in the south. Ngorongoro Crater is a unique caldera—formed by a collapsed volcano—creating a self-contained haven for wildlife with grasslands, a central lake, and surrounding highlands.

Yes, all four destinations are part of Tanzania’s Northern Safari Circuit, making them easy to combine in one itinerary. Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Park are relatively close together, about a 2-hour drive apart. Ngorongoro Crater is situated between Lake Manyara and the Serengeti, making it a natural stop en route. From Ngorongoro, it typically takes about 3 to 4 hours to drive to the Serengeti’s southern plains. Travel is usually done via guided safari vehicles on road, though small aircraft flights are also available between key airstrips in each park for a faster and more comfortable journey.

Ngorongoro Crater offers the best chance to see all members of the Big Five in a single day, including the rare black rhino. Serengeti National Park also provides excellent opportunities, especially for lions, leopards, elephants, and buffalo, but rhino sightings are rare and typically limited to specific areas. Tarangire has four of the Big Five, missing only the rhino, but it’s particularly renowned for elephants and tree-climbing pythons. Lake Manyara has elephants and lions, but its small size and ecosystem make it less ideal for a full Big Five experience. However, each park contributes uniquely to a complete safari adventure.

Yes, each of these parks has its own entrance fees and regulations, usually arranged in advance by a tour operator. Lake Manyara and Tarangire require standard park entry permits. Serengeti National Park, being a vast and high-demand destination, may also require advance booking for certain camps and internal flights. Ngorongoro Crater is unique in that it not only has a park entry fee but also a separate crater descent fee, and vehicle restrictions limit how many cars can enter the crater daily, making early reservation essential. For all four areas, traveling with a licensed safari company helps streamline logistics and ensures compliance with conservation policies.