Overview

This 5-day private safari is ideal for travelers with limited time who still want to experience Tanzania’s top wildlife destinations. The itinerary is carefully designed to maximize game viewing while keeping driving times efficient, covering Tarangire National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater, and Serengeti National Park.

Duration: 5 days / 4 nights

‍Start / End: Arusha

‍Style: Private safari

‍Accommodation: Midrange lodges & tented camps

‍Best time to travel: Year-round

‍Price: From 3,280 USD Β per person(based on 2 people sharing) All our safaris are private and customizable. Prices vary depending on travel dates, group size, and accommodation preference.

itinerary

Day 1 – Arusha to Tarangire National Park

After breakfast, your private safari guide will pick you up in Arusha and drive to Tarangire National Park (about 2–3 hours). Enjoy a full game drive in a landscape of baobab trees and open savannah, with excellent chances to see elephant families, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and predators that follow the herds along the river system. You will enjoy a picnic lunch inside the park before continuing game viewing in the afternoon.

After the game drive, you drive to the Karatu area for overnight.

Highlights: Elephants, baobabs, river wildlife
Meals: Lunch & Dinner

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Day 2 – Karatu to Ngorongoro Crater β†’ Serengeti National Park

An early start takes you into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area for a descent into the Ngorongoro Crater. The crater floor offers one of the best wildlife concentrations in Africa, with strong chances of seeing lions, large buffalo herds, hippos, hyenas, zebras, wildebeest, and rich birdlife. With some luck, you may also spot the endangered black rhino. You will enjoy a picnic lunch inside the crater.

In the afternoon, you ascend and continue your journey toward Serengeti National Park. As you enter the Serengeti plains, game viewing begins immediately, and you arrive at your camp in Central Serengeti overnight.

Highlights: Crater safari, scenic highlands, first Serengeti sightings
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3 – Full Day Serengeti National Park (Central Serengeti)

Today is dedicated to game drives in Central Serengeti, one of the most wildlife-rich areas of the park. The open plains and river systems support large populations of predators and herbivores year-round. Your guide will tailor the day based on wildlife movement and your interests. You can choose a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch, or split the day into morning and afternoon drives with time to relax at camp in between.

Highlights: Lions, cheetahs, leopards, big herds
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

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​​Day 4 – Serengeti National Park (Central Serengeti)

Another full safari day in Serengeti gives you time to explore different areas and follow wildlife activity. Early morning game drives are often excellent for predator sightings, while later drives can focus on rivers, kopjes, and open plains where wildlife gathers. Every day in Serengeti is different, and having this extra time increases your chances of special sightings.

Highlights: Flexible game drives, deeper Serengeti exploration
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

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Day 5 – Serengeti to Arusha (End of Safari)

After an early breakfast, you begin the drive back to Arusha. The journey is scenic, passing through the Ngorongoro Highlands and local landscapes along the way. Depending on timing, brief stops can be made for viewpoints or refreshments. On arrival in Arusha, you will be dropped off at your hotel or transferred to Arusha Airport or Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward travel.

Meals: Breakfast
End of safari

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Customization

This safari can be customized to your travel dates, group size, accommodation level, or combined with a Zanzibar beach extension.



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Book Your Tour

What Our Clients Say

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5 Star Rating
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Wonderful Safari!
My husband and I did a nine-day safari for our honeymoon and we are so happy we chose I Dream of Africa. The communication with Warren during the planning phase was excellent. Even though we booked at the last minute, he was able to accommodate us an
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Rrebeccaw
August 9, 2025
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Kampeersafari
Wat een fantastische kampeervakantie hebben we gehad met gids Warren. Hij weet alle goede plekken om de dieren te zien te vinden, zonder de menigte van de overige parkbezoekers. En zijn oom was mee als kok, wat hebben we heerlijk gegeten ook nog! Een
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Grietjem
October 17, 2025
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Custom Private Safari Trip of a Lif
I highly recommend I Dream of Africa for your Tanzanian safari adventure. My wife and I booked a private safari after our friends recommended the company based on their trip with a larger group the previous year. This is a small, family run business
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Traveldog101
January 11, 2025
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Prachtige eerste safari trip!
Ik deelde met 5 Nederlanders een eerste safari in de Noordelijke parken. Onze gids Herry deed prachtig werk! Door zijn uitstekende ervaring zagen we de big five! Hij zorgde steeds voor mooie plaatsen op de eerste rij om de wilde dieren te bewonderen!
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Opaleo481
March 2, 2026
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I Dream of Another Tour with I Drea
We had the great pleasure of spending a few days with Warren of I Dream of Africa. He retrieved us at the airport and took us to our lodge (Mamdunia) and on a tour of Ngorongoro crater the following day. He also took us to Kilimanjaro airport on our
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Taryn L
March 20, 2026
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A magical wildlife experience.
A superb wildlife experience. Christopher & Warren are two amazing people and I Dream of Africa is the perfect company wether its your first or 10th experience in nature. Christopher (the guide) is simply a gem, nothing is too much trouble and he tai
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Natacha S
December 1, 2025
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Best trip of our lives
When deciding to visit Tanzania, I did a lot of research on who to travel with. We choose I Dream of Africa for several reasons: 1) locally owned and operated 2) smaller company with one on one service 3) endorsement of the Watutu foundation 4) ex...
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Bonnie L
January 1, 2020
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A dream fulfilled!
Chris was very attentive and was a good spotter of animals. As a result I managed to see the Big 5. My wife had an incident with her luggage and Chris assisted after hours. Highly recommended!!
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Terrence
June 11, 2024
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Incredible Family Safari with Chris
My husband and 3 daughters just completed a fabulous 7 day Christmas safari with Christopher. My daughter has a recent diagnosis of Celiac and Chris worked with each location to be sure she had gluten free celiac safe options. We can not say enoug..
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Heather E
January 3, 2024

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