5 Days Luxury Serengeti & Ngorongoro Safari
Tanzania's two great wildlife arenas in one unhurried journey: three nights in the Serengeti, home of the Great Migration, and a night on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with some of the densest wildlife on earth. Private game drives, sundowners on the plains and a sunrise hot-air balloon flight — with refined camps and lodges at every stop.
You stay at Sametu Camp in the Serengeti and at Lions Paw on the crater rim, travel in a custom 4x4 with a pop-up roof, and are collected from — and returned to — Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport. It is the very best of Tanzania without compromise, in five days.
Highlights
- 01Three full nights in the Serengeti, home of the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra
- 02A night at the Ngorongoro Crater — dense wildlife inside a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- 03The Big Five — lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino — across two iconic ecosystems
- 04Sunrise hot-air balloon safari over the Serengeti, with a champagne bush breakfast
- 05Classic sundowner overlooking the Serengeti plains
- 06Luxury stays at Sametu Camp and Lions Paw
- 07Custom 4x4 safari vehicles with pop-up roofs and experienced English-speaking guides
- 08Optional Maasai village visit with traditional storytelling
- 09Round-trip transfers from Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport
Day-by-Day Itinerary
- 01Day 1
Arusha / Kilimanjaro Airport → Serengeti National Park
Collected from Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport for a scenic drive through the Ngorongoro Highlands and past Maasai villages to the Serengeti. Check in at Sametu Camp, then head out on an afternoon game drive for lions, giraffes and wildebeest on the open plains. A sundowner as the sky turns gold, and a private dinner under the stars.
- 02Day 2
Hot-Air Balloon Safari & Serengeti Game Drives
Rise early for a sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the Serengeti plains, followed by a champagne bush breakfast. The rest of the day is for the Serengeti’s many habitats with your private guide: predators and prey, large elephant herds and the elusive leopard.
- 03Day 3
Serengeti Wildlife Exploration
A second full day of game drives, into different regions of the park to make the most of the sightings. Timing stays flexible for photography stops and bush breakfasts, and the day ends with a relaxed sundowner back at Sametu Camp.
- 04Day 4
Serengeti → Ngorongoro Crater
After breakfast, leave the Serengeti for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and descend into the crater for an exhilarating game drive — black rhino, flamingo and buffalo in dense numbers — with a picnic lunch near the hippo pools. The night is at Lions Paw on the crater rim, with sweeping views.
- 05Day 5
Ngorongoro Crater → Departure
A final breakfast overlooking the crater, then an optional cultural visit or nature walk before your Mirrors Beyond Africa guide drives you back to Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport for your onward journey.
Rates per person
Indicative rates per person in USD — 3 nights at Sametu Camp (Serengeti) and 1 night at Lions Paw (Ngorongoro).
Low season
1 Nov – 22 Dec · 1 Jan – 30 Jun
| Group size | Per person |
|---|---|
| 2 travellers | $4,595 |
| 4 travellers | $4,095 |
| 6 travellers | $3,865 |
Peak season
1 Jul – 31 Oct
| Group size | Per person |
|---|---|
| 2 travellers | $5,475 |
| 4 travellers | $4,940 |
| 6 travellers | $4,770 |
What’s Included
- ✓3 nights at Sametu Camp and 1 night at Lions Paw (luxury)
- ✓All meals — breakfast, lunch and dinner — throughout the safari
- ✓Park entry and Ngorongoro Crater conservation fees
- ✓Experienced English-speaking safari guide
- ✓Daily game drives in a 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- ✓Sundowner experience in the Serengeti
- ✓Hot-air balloon safari over the Serengeti, with champagne bush breakfast
- ✓Round-trip transfers to and from Arusha / Kilimanjaro Airport
Not Included
- –International flights
- –Visa fees (approx. $50 USD)
- –Travel insurance
- –Accommodation in Arusha before or after the safari
- –Tips and personal expenses
- –Maasai village cultural visit — optional, $50 per person
- –Other optional activities not listed in the itinerary
Tanzania — Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Zanzibar
Tanzania is home to the legendary Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, Mount Kilimanjaro, and the pristine beaches of Zanzibar. The Serengeti's endless plains host the world's largest animal migration; the Ngorongoro Crater is a UNESCO World Heritage Site sheltering the densest Big Five population on the continent.
Explore Tanzania in full →Frequently Asked Questions
Is the hot-air balloon safari included in the price?
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Yes. A sunrise balloon flight over the Serengeti is included on Day 2, followed by a champagne bush breakfast — it is not an add-on.
How much does this safari cost?
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Rates are per person and fall as the group grows. In low season (1 November – 22 December and 1 January – 30 June) they are $4,595 for two travellers, $4,095 for four and $3,865 for six; in peak season (1 July – 31 October), $5,475, $4,940 and $4,770. They cover the camps, meals, park and crater fees, game drives, the balloon safari and airport transfers.
Where does the safari start and finish?
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At Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport — your guide collects you on Day 1 and drives you back on Day 5. A night in Arusha before or after the safari is not included, but we are happy to arrange one.
Will we see the Great Migration?
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The Serengeti holds the migration all year, but the herds move with the rains: they gather on the southern plains for calving from about December to March, pass through the western corridor around May and June, and cross the Mara River in the north from July to October. Tell us your dates and your guide will plan the game drives around where the herds are.