A six-day Tanzania safari through Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara is a good choice for travellers who want to visit the country’s well-known wildlife destinations without spending too many days on the road. This journey takes you through four different protected areas in northern Tanzania, each offering its own landscape, wildlife, and opportunities for photography. From the large elephant herds of Tarangire to the open grasslands of Serengeti, the wildlife-rich Ngorongoro Crater, and the green forests surrounding Lake Manyara, the route brings together many of the experiences that make northern Tanzania such a popular safari destination.
At Eddy Tours & Safaris, we arrange six-day Tanzania safaris for couples, families, friends, and small groups who prefer travelling with an experienced local guide. The itinerary begins and ends in Arusha and includes game drives in all four destinations, comfortable overnight accommodation, and transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle. Travellers can choose between budget camping, mid-range lodges, and luxury accommodation depending on their travel plans and budget. The journey can also be adjusted to allow more time in Serengeti or to include additional activities along the way.
6-Day Tanzania Safari Package Overview
| Safari Details | Description |
|---|---|
| Safari duration | 6 days / 5 nights |
| Starting point | Arusha, Tanzania |
| Ending point | Arusha, Tanzania |
| Destinations | Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater & Lake Manyara |
| Safari type | Private wildlife safari |
| Transport | 4×4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof |
| Accommodation | Budget, mid-range or luxury |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch and dinner during safari |
| Activities | Game drives, wildlife photography and sightseeing |
| Best time to visit | Available throughout the year |
| Price | Based on group size, dates and accommodation choice |
Why Choose This 6-Day Tanzania Safari?
One of the main advantages of this itinerary is the variety of wildlife habitats you will visit within six days. Tarangire is particularly well known for elephants and its large baobab trees, while Serengeti offers extensive grasslands where lions, cheetahs, hyenas, wildebeest, and many other animals live. Ngorongoro Crater provides an opportunity to see wildlife within a relatively compact area, and Lake Manyara introduces a different environment with groundwater forests, lakeshore scenery, and several species of birds and mammals. These differences make the journey interesting even for travellers who have previously visited other African wildlife destinations.
The route also provides a practical introduction to the Tanzania safari experience. Instead of concentrating on a single national park, you travel through several landscapes and have the opportunity to observe how wildlife changes from one environment to another. Your safari guide will explain animal behaviour, local geography, conservation efforts, and the daily activities of the wildlife you encounter. Although no safari operator can guarantee sightings of particular animals, travelling through these four destinations gives visitors a broad range of wildlife-viewing opportunities.
Detailed 6-Day Tanzania Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire National Park
Your six-day safari begins in Arusha, where your professional safari guide will meet you at your hotel in the morning. After a short briefing about the journey, you will travel towards Tarangire National Park, passing through towns, villages, and farming areas along the way. The drive normally takes around two to three hours, depending on your starting location and road conditions. Once you arrive at the park entrance, your guide will complete the necessary registration before beginning your first game drive. Tarangire is known for its large baobab trees, seasonal wildlife movements, and the Tarangire River, which provides an important source of water for animals during the dry months.
During the game drive, you may encounter elephants feeding near the river, giraffes moving between acacia trees, zebras grazing in open areas, and groups of impalas and wildebeest. Lions, leopards, and other predators also inhabit the park, although sightings depend on their movements and the conditions on the day. Your guide will select suitable routes based on recent wildlife activity and the time available. Lunch will be served at a designated picnic area, after which you will continue exploring the park before travelling to your accommodation in or around the Tarangire and Karatu areas. Dinner and overnight accommodation will be arranged according to your selected safari category.
Meals: Lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Lodge, tented camp or campsite
Main activity: Tarangire wildlife game drive
Day 2: Tarangire Area to Serengeti National Park
After breakfast, you will leave your accommodation and begin the journey towards Serengeti National Park, travelling through the beautiful highlands of northern Tanzania and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The road offers views of rural settlements, agricultural land, and the changing landscape as you move towards the Serengeti plains. Depending on the route and weather conditions, the journey can take much of the morning and early afternoon. Your guide will make appropriate stops for photographs, refreshments, and lunch while explaining the areas you pass through.
As you enter Serengeti National Park, the landscape gradually opens into wide grasslands, scattered acacia trees, and rocky outcrops known as kopjes. These areas provide habitats for several wildlife species, including lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, and antelopes. Your afternoon game drive will introduce you to the park’s wildlife before you proceed to your accommodation. Serengeti is also part of the ecosystem associated with the Great Wildebeest Migration, although the location of the migrating herds changes throughout the year depending on rainfall and grazing conditions. Dinner and overnight will be at a lodge or tented camp in Serengeti.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Serengeti lodge or tented camp
Main activity: Scenic transfer and afternoon game drive
Day 3: Full-Day Game Drive in Serengeti National Park
Today is dedicated to exploring Serengeti National Park, allowing you more time to search for wildlife without the pressure of travelling to another destination. After an early breakfast, you will depart with your guide for a morning game drive, when temperatures are generally cooler and many animals are active. Depending on the location of your accommodation and recent wildlife movements, your guide may explore the central Serengeti, river valleys, open plains, and areas surrounding the rocky kopjes. These different habitats support predators, grazing animals, and numerous bird species.
The full-day game drive provides opportunities to observe wildlife behaviour rather than simply moving quickly between sightings. You may see lions resting near rocky outcrops, elephants moving through woodland, hyenas searching for food, or cheetahs watching the surrounding plains. During the appropriate seasons, large groups of wildebeest and zebras may also be present, although their location cannot be predicted with certainty. Lunch can be enjoyed at a designated picnic site before continuing the afternoon game drive. Travellers interested in photography can discuss their preferred subjects with the guide, who will help plan the day’s route within park regulations. You will return to your accommodation in the evening for dinner and overnight.
For travellers who would like to spend additional time in this ecosystem, Eddy Tours & Safaris also offers longer Northern Circuit Tanzania safari itineraries that can be adjusted around different travel interests.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Serengeti lodge or tented camp
Main activity: Full-day Serengeti wildlife game drive
Day 4: Serengeti National Park to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
After breakfast, you will enjoy another game drive in Serengeti before beginning the journey towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The morning provides another opportunity to look for animals that may not have been seen during the previous day. Your guide will plan the departure according to the distance to your next accommodation, road conditions, and the time required for the journey. As you leave Serengeti, you will travel through open plains and gradually approach the highlands surrounding Ngorongoro.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is different from a conventional national park because it is managed for both wildlife conservation and the presence of local communities, including Maasai pastoralists. Along the route, you may see Maasai settlements and livestock grazing in permitted areas. The landscape becomes greener and more mountainous as you approach the crater highlands. Depending on visibility and your accommodation location, there may be an opportunity to stop at a designated viewpoint overlooking Ngorongoro Crater. You will then proceed to your lodge or campsite for dinner and overnight, preparing for the following morning’s crater game drive.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Ngorongoro highlands or Karatu lodge/campsite
Main activity: Morning game drive and transfer to Ngorongoro
Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive and Transfer to Karatu
Following an early breakfast, you will travel to the Ngorongoro Crater entrance and descend into the crater for a game drive. Ngorongoro is one of Tanzania’s most recognised wildlife destinations, with grasslands, wetlands, woodland, and a soda lake contained within a large volcanic caldera. The crater floor supports a wide range of animals, including buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, hippos, lions, hyenas, and several antelope species. It is also one of the places in northern Tanzania where visitors may have an opportunity to see the endangered black rhinoceros, although sightings are never guaranteed.
Your guide will explore different parts of the crater floor while following the designated game-drive routes and conservation regulations. The relatively open landscape can make wildlife easier to observe in some areas, particularly around the grasslands and water sources. You will stop for lunch at an authorised picnic area before continuing the game drive for the permitted duration. After ascending from the crater, you will travel towards Karatu for your final overnight stay. Karatu is a convenient location for visiting Lake Manyara the following day and offers accommodation options ranging from simple guesthouses to comfortable lodges.
Travellers planning a shorter holiday can also consider our 5-day Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara safari, which follows a similar route with less time in Serengeti.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Karatu lodge or campsite
Main activity: Ngorongoro Crater game drive
Day 6: Lake Manyara National Park to Arusha
On the final day of your safari, you will have breakfast at your accommodation before driving to Lake Manyara National Park. Situated below the Great Rift Valley escarpment, the park is known for its groundwater forest, lakeshore habitats, and varied birdlife. Its landscape is noticeably different from the open grasslands of Serengeti and the crater floor of Ngorongoro. During the game drive, you may see elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, baboons, blue monkeys, and several species of waterbirds. Lake Manyara is also associated with tree-climbing lions, although these animals are not commonly seen on every visit.
Your guide will take you through the accessible game-drive routes, allowing time for photographs and wildlife observation before stopping for lunch. Depending on seasonal conditions, parts of the lakeshore may attract flamingos and other waterbirds, while the forest provides shelter for monkeys and elephants. After completing your visit, you will begin the return journey to Arusha, normally arriving in the late afternoon or early evening. Your guide will drop you at your hotel or another agreed location, bringing your six-day Tanzania safari to an end.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Accommodation: Not included after safari unless arranged separately
Main activity: Lake Manyara game drive and return to Arusha
6-Day Tanzania Safari Package Inclusions
The following services are included in the standard safari package, subject to the final quotation and accommodation category selected:
- Transport in a 4×4 safari Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof.
- Professional English-speaking safari driver-guide.
- National park entrance fees for the scheduled itinerary.
- Ngorongoro Conservation Area and crater service fees.
- Five nights of accommodation in selected lodges, tented camps or campsites.
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner during the safari as indicated in the itinerary.
- Drinking water during game drives.
- Scheduled wildlife game drives in all four destinations.
- Government taxes applicable to the quoted safari services.
- Safari vehicle fuel and driver-guide expenses.
- Pickup and drop-off within Arusha at agreed locations.
- Camping equipment and safari cook where applicable to the camping package.
6-Day Tanzania Safari Package Exclusions
The following items are not included unless specifically mentioned in your confirmed quotation:
- International and domestic flights.
- Tanzania tourist visa fees.
- Travel and medical insurance.
- Accommodation before the safari or after the final day.
- Alcoholic beverages and additional drinks.
- Personal expenses, including laundry, souvenirs and telephone calls.
- Tips for the safari guide, cook and accommodation staff.
- Optional Serengeti hot-air balloon safari.
- Optional cultural visits and activities not included in the itinerary.
- Additional park visits or activities requested outside the agreed programme.
- Any other services not specifically listed under package inclusions.
Best Time to Visit Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara
This six-day Tanzania safari can be arranged throughout the year, although wildlife viewing conditions change between seasons. From June to October, much of northern Tanzania experiences drier weather, making it easier to observe animals gathering near permanent water sources. Tarangire is particularly interesting during this period because elephants and other animals move towards the Tarangire River as water becomes less available in surrounding areas. The dry months are also popular for visiting Serengeti and Ngorongoro, although accommodation availability can become limited during busy travel periods.
From November to May, rainfall brings greener landscapes and different wildlife-viewing conditions. The southern Serengeti and nearby Ndutu area are particularly important during the wildebeest calving season, generally around January to March, although the timing varies with rainfall. April and May often experience heavier rains, which can affect road conditions and travel times. For travellers who prefer green scenery and are comfortable with occasional rain, these months can still offer worthwhile wildlife experiences. Your safari dates should be selected according to the animals you most want to see, your preferred weather, and the type of accommodation you intend to book.
Accommodation Options for the 6-Day Tanzania Safari
Eddy Tours & Safaris offers different accommodation categories so that travellers can select a package that suits their budget and expectations. Budget camping is suitable for visitors who enjoy spending time outdoors and prefer a more economical safari. These arrangements generally involve designated public campsites, camping equipment, and meals prepared by a safari cook. Mid-range accommodation provides private rooms or permanent tented accommodation with beds, bathrooms, and dining facilities, making it a practical choice for couples, families, and travellers who want more comfort after a day of game driving.
Luxury accommodation is available for travellers who prefer higher-end lodges and tented camps with additional services, carefully selected locations, and more spacious facilities. The exact properties used will depend on availability, travel dates, and the confirmed quotation. We recommend booking accommodation early when travelling during the busy safari months, particularly in Serengeti and around Ngorongoro. Guests can discuss their preferences directly with Eddy Tours & Safaris before confirming the trip.
Can You Combine This Safari with Mount Kilimanjaro?
Many travellers visiting northern Tanzania choose to combine a wildlife safari with a Mount Kilimanjaro climb. Arusha and Moshi are convenient starting points for both activities, making it possible to arrange a longer holiday that includes several days on safari followed by a mountain trekking expedition. The most suitable climbing route will depend on your available time, physical preparation, and experience with hiking at altitude.
For those interested in trekking, Kilimanjaro Climbing Specialist provides information about mountain climbing routes, including the 6-day Machame Route and other trekking options. Visitors should allow sufficient time for acclimatisation and recovery when planning a mountain climb alongside their safari. Our team can help arrange the wildlife safari portion of your holiday around your preferred mountain climbing dates.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 6-Day Tanzania Safari
Is six days enough for a Tanzania safari?
Six days is enough to visit several major wildlife destinations in northern Tanzania, particularly when following a well-planned route from Arusha. This itinerary includes Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara, with one full day dedicated to exploring Serengeti. Travellers should understand that some days involve several hours of driving between parks. If you prefer a slower pace with more time in Serengeti, a seven- or eight-day safari may be more suitable.
Can I see the Big Five during this safari?
The four destinations included in this itinerary provide opportunities to see lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, and black rhinoceroses, collectively known as the Big Five. However, wildlife sightings depend on animal movements, weather conditions, and the areas visited. Leopards and black rhinoceroses can be particularly difficult to locate, and no responsible safari company can guarantee that all five species will be seen.
Is this safari suitable for families with children?
Yes, this safari can be arranged for families with children, provided the daily travel schedule is suitable for their ages and interests. A private safari offers flexibility with meal breaks, rest stops, and game-drive arrangements. Families travelling with younger children may prefer mid-range or luxury lodges with family rooms and suitable facilities. We can also discuss adjustments to the itinerary to reduce long driving periods where practical.
How much does a 6-day Tanzania safari cost?
The price depends on the number of travellers, travel dates, accommodation standard, and whether the safari is private or shared. Budget camping generally costs less than lodge-based accommodation, while luxury safaris require a higher budget. Park fees and conservation charges also contribute to the overall cost. For an accurate quotation, travellers should provide their preferred dates, group size, and accommodation category so that the package can be priced according to current availability and applicable fees.
Can the itinerary be customised?
Yes. This itinerary is a suggested route and can be adjusted depending on your interests and available time. Travellers who want more opportunities to photograph wildlife may prefer additional time in Serengeti, while those interested in local culture may wish to include an appropriate community visit. Accommodation standards and pickup arrangements can also be discussed before booking.
Book Your 6-Day Tanzania Safari with Eddy Tours & Safaris
If you are planning to visit Tanzania and would like to explore Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara in one trip, our team can help you arrange a safari based on your travel dates and budget. We work with local safari guides and accommodation providers to organise practical itineraries that give travellers time to enjoy the wildlife and landscapes of northern Tanzania.
Whether you are travelling as a couple, with friends, or as a family, we can prepare a personalised quotation covering transport, accommodation, park fees, meals, and the activities included in your itinerary. You can also explore our all-inclusive Tanzania safari packages to compare different travel durations and destinations.
Contact Eddy Tours & Safaris: Request Your 6-Day Tanzania Safari Quote
Let us know your preferred travel dates, the number of people travelling, and whether you would like budget, mid-range, or luxury accommodation. We will help you plan a six-day safari that fits your interests and travel arrangements.