Private Tanzania safari

5 Days Serengeti & Ngorongoro Private Safari

A classic northern-circuit journey that gives the Serengeti real time before ending with a deliberately planned Ngorongoro Crater day.

Plan this journey Talk to our team

5 daysProper time in the Serengeti

Private vehicleProfessional guide and flexible pace

Arusha · Ngorongoro · Central Serengeti · ArushaRoute refined around your dates

Tailor-madeMid-range to high-end stays

The journey

A Serengeti route that gives each day a reason to be there.

This is the right classic route for guests who want two very different wildlife landscapes without reducing either to a quick stop. You travel through Ngorongoro Conservation Area into central Serengeti, stay long enough to enjoy meaningful private game drives, then position yourself for an early crater descent. The sequence is designed for flow: the long drive is treated as a game-viewing day and the crater is given a proper morning rather than squeezed in around an airport transfer.

Private guiding gives this journey its flexibility. You decide when to pause, when to keep driving, how much time to spend at camp and which wildlife moments deserve another look. We match the camp and lodge level to your preferences, with mid-range, luxury and high-end stay choices discussed in terms of location, privacy, service and comfort.

Day by day

The complete route.

Suggested stays are names only, so the daily plan remains clear. Live availability and the best matching property are confirmed with you before booking.

Day 1

Arusha to Ngorongoro highlands, then into central Serengeti.

Leave Arusha after breakfast and travel through the northern circuit towards Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The drive is planned with sensible breaks, a picnic lunch and time to absorb the change from highland forest to open plains. Continue through the Naabi Hill approach into the Serengeti, keeping the afternoon open for game viewing as you make your way to camp. Arrival is timed realistically: a good first Serengeti day should feel like the start of a safari, not the end of a transfer.

Day 2

Private wildlife day across the central Serengeti.

Wake before sunrise for the part of the day when the plains are cool, the light is soft and predators may still be active. Your guide will build the route around what has been seen recently, from riverine areas used by leopard to lion territory and the open grassland. A private vehicle makes it easy to change the pace—stay longer at a sighting, take breakfast in the bush or return to camp for a quiet middle of the day. Go out again in the afternoon for a different wildlife window.

Day 3

A final Serengeti morning, then a considered transfer to the crater highlands.

Enjoy another early game drive before breakfast, then begin the journey east through the Serengeti towards the Ngorongoro highlands. This is not a day to hurry. The road itself offers wildlife and wide views, and your guide can stop when the landscape or a sighting is worth the time. Reach your lodge in the highlands or crater-rim area with enough daylight to settle in, enjoy the cooler air and prepare for the next morning’s descent.

Day 4

Early Ngorongoro Crater descent and an unhurried wildlife day.

Depart early for the crater floor, when the day is cool and the vehicle can move through the grassland, acacia woodland and wetland areas before the busiest hours. The crater offers an extraordinary density and variety of wildlife, but a good day is about the route and pace: time to watch, a carefully chosen picnic break and a guide who responds to the landscape rather than chasing every report. Ascend in the afternoon and return to your highland lodge for dinner.

Day 5

Ngorongoro highlands to Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport.

After breakfast, travel back towards Arusha with a route planned around your onward flight or hotel. Depending on timing, this can include a relaxed coffee stop, a cultural visit arranged in advance or simply a comfortable transfer with time to reflect on the safari. We do not schedule a last major activity that puts your flight at risk; the final day is designed to land you where you need to be calmly and on time.

What we plan around you

The details that make the journey work well.

Your proposal will cover

Private guide, safari vehicle, transfers and routing arranged for your dates
Accommodation options explained by location, privacy, service and comfort
Park fees and scheduled activities shown clearly before you commit
Current flight, airstrip and luggage planning where a fly-in route is selected
Practical pre-departure support from our East Africa team

We can tailor

Arrival city, route direction and length of stay in each Serengeti region
Family rooms, private group requirements, honeymoon details and celebrations
Mid-range, luxury or high-end accommodation mix
Balloon safari, walking experiences where available and beach extensions
Additional nights in northern Serengeti, Zanzibar or another East African country

Before you decide

Useful answers, stated clearly.

Is this a fixed departure or a private itinerary?

This is a private itinerary and a detailed starting point. We shape it around your dates, group, preferred pace and the accommodation level you want.

Are the listed prices the total cost of the safari?

No. They are planning ranges per person, per day, as requested. The final proposal is based on your exact travel period, party size, camp choice and any internal flights or special experiences.

Can we change the accommodation level during the journey?

Yes. A thoughtful journey can combine levels of stay. We explain the effect of each choice and build a balanced route without pushing one standard across every night.

Will we see the migration?

The Serengeti is rewarding throughout the year, and we position the route around likely seasonal movement where relevant. Wildlife movement is natural and cannot be guaranteed, so we explain the opportunity honestly and give the journey value beyond one sighting.

Make it yours

Ready to plan this Serengeti journey around you?

Tell us your dates, group size and preferred comfort level. We will return with a clear route, appropriate stay options and practical next steps.