Short safaris
Two to four days in northern Tanzania for travellers with limited time: Tarangire, Lake Manyara, the Ngorongoro Crater or Arusha National Park, planned to keep driving short and game viewing long.
A lot in a little time
Not everyone has a week or more. A short safari of two to four days can still show you a great deal of northern Tanzania, because several excellent parks sit within a few hours of Arusha. The trick is choosing the right ones and not trying to cover too much.
Who it suits
- Climbers with a few days spare after Kilimanjaro.
- Beach travellers adding wildlife to a Zanzibar holiday.
- Business travellers with a gap in their schedule.
- Families with young children, who are happier with fewer days in the vehicle.
What you can do in the time
- One day: Arusha National Park for colobus monkeys, giraffe and a walk with a ranger where arranged, or a long day in Tarangire.
- Two days: Tarangire or Lake Manyara, then the Ngorongoro Crater.
- Three days: Tarangire, the crater and a night on the Ngorongoro highlands, as on the 3-day Tarangire and Ngorongoro safari.
- Four days: add Lake Manyara or a second night in Tarangire, as on the 4-day northern circuit safari.
Adding the Serengeti
By road, the Serengeti is a long way for a short trip. The drive in from the highlands takes most of a day, so anything less than two nights there leaves very little time on the plains. If the Serengeti matters to you, flying in and out of an airstrip makes a short Serengeti stay possible, at a higher cost.
What to expect day to day
Short safaris start early and make the most of each day. A typical day is a morning drive, a picnic lunch in the park and an afternoon drive, with travel between parks kept to a few hours.
Comfort levels
At comfort level, you stay in lodges near the park gates or around Karatu. At luxury level, a night on the crater rim or in a camp inside Tarangire cuts down the driving.
Practical considerations
- Season: Tarangire is best from June to October; the crater and Lake Manyara work all year.
- Pace: with only a few days, resist adding one more park. Two parks done well beat four done in a rush.
- Arrival: if your flight lands late, plan a night in Arusha before the safari starts.
Tell us how many days you have on the plan your safari page and we'll suggest the best use of them.
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Where it happens
Questions travellers ask
Is a three-day safari worth it?
Yes, if you pick the right parks. Three days is enough for Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater, two of the best parks in northern Tanzania, with a night on the highlands in between. You won't reach the Serengeti by road in that time, but you'll see elephant, lion, buffalo and very likely rhino, with time to enjoy them.
Can we see the Serengeti on a short safari?
By road it's difficult, since the drive in from the Ngorongoro highlands takes most of a day each way. Two nights in the Serengeti is the realistic minimum. Flying in and out of a Serengeti airstrip makes a short stay possible, but it costs more. On a trip of three days or fewer, Tarangire and the crater are the better choice.
Can we do a one-day safari from Arusha?
Yes. Arusha National Park is about an hour from town and works well for a day, with forest, colobus monkeys, giraffe and lakes, plus a ranger-led walk where arranged. Tarangire is also possible as a long day trip. The Ngorongoro Crater is further, and a day trip there means a very early start and a long day on the road.
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