Safari Overview
For travellers short on time, this 2-day safari is an excellent way to experience two of Tanzania’s standout parks. The Ngorongoro Crater is a “must-see” – home to more than 25,000 animals and one of the best places in Africa to encounter the Big Five. Tarangire National Park offers spectacular scenery, ancient baobab trees and large elephant herds that gather along the Tarangire River year-round.
You travel in a private 4×4 safari vehicle with a professional English-speaking driver-guide who knows the best locations for wildlife viewing.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 0 – Arrival
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). A Kilimanjaro Joyful Adventures representative will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in Arusha or Moshi. The hotel provides the essentials for a comfortable overnight stay before the safari begins.
Day 1 – Tarangire National Park
After an early breakfast you drive to Tarangire National Park for a full-day game drive. The landscape is diverse – ancient baobab trees, large termite mounds and the Tarangire River, which is the main water source in the dry season when the surrounding earth turns a dusty red. In the wet season the bush becomes dense and the grasses high.
Tarangire is famous for its large elephant population. You may also see zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, waterbuck, baboons, impala, lion, cheetah and leopard. The swamps attract many birds – green wood hoopoes, lovebirds, herons, white-bellied go-away-birds and giant kingfishers. On drier ground look for the kori bustard and ostrich.
Overnight near the park or in the Karatu / Ngorongoro Highlands area (depending on the package chosen).
Day 2 – Ngorongoro Crater & return
After breakfast you descend into the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater – a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979 and one of the few places where humans and wildlife still co-exist closely. A permanent water supply on the crater floor supports an abundance of animals year-round.
Expect excellent chances of spotting the endangered black rhino, wildebeest, buffalo, zebra, eland, Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelle, elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, jackals and more. Over 500 bird species have been recorded in the wider Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
An optional visit to a Maasai village in the highlands (extra cost) allows you to meet elders, warriors, women and children and learn about the culture and traditions of one of Tanzania’s last nomadic peoples.
After the game drive you return to Arusha for dinner and overnight, or transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
Price Includes & Excludes
Included
- Full-board accommodation (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
- All game drives in a custom-built 4×4 safari Land Cruiser
- All park and entrance fees
- Transportation with viewing roofs
- Professional English-speaking driver/guide
- Bottled water in the safari vehicle
- Ngorongoro Crater vehicle supplement fee
- Airport transfers
- Current government taxes and levies
- 24-hour support from our office in Moshi
Excluded
- Internal or international flights
- Hot-air balloon excursion (approx. US$600 pp)
- Entry visa to Tanzania
- Travel and health insurance
- Gratuities to guide, hotel staff and porters
- Meals, drinks and excursions not described in the itinerary
- Items of a personal nature (laundry, telephone, postage, etc.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 2 days enough for a safari?
Yes for a short introduction. You will see excellent wildlife in Tarangire and one of the densest concentrations of animals in Africa inside the Ngorongoro Crater. Longer itineraries allow more parks and a more relaxed pace.
What wildlife can I expect?
Tarangire is famous for large elephant herds and baobabs. Ngorongoro Crater offers a high chance of seeing the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and black rhino) plus many antelope and birds.
Is a Maasai village visit included?
A Maasai village visit in the Ngorongoro Highlands is optional and available at extra cost.
Can this be combined with a Kilimanjaro climb or Zanzibar?
Yes. Many travellers do this short safari before or after a Kilimanjaro trek, or as a quick wildlife add-on before flying to Zanzibar.