2-Day Tanzania Safari: Tarangire and Ngorongoro Crater From Moshi

Is a 2-day Tanzania safari worth it?

Yes, if two days is all you have. Plenty of people finish a Kilimanjaro climb, or have a gap in a business trip, and want to see Africa's wildlife before they fly home. This safari gives you two of Tanzania's most rewarding parks: Tarangire for its elephants and baobabs, and Ngorongoro Crater for its lions and buffalo. Prices start from $1,295 per person.

It is also a fast trip, with a lot of driving on the second day. If you can spare one more day, the 3-day safari gives you far more time watching animals, and much less time looking at the clock.

2-day Tanzania safari at a glance

2 days or 3 days on safari?

On this safari, you get one afternoon and an overnight in Tarangire, then a long second day. A third day adds a full day in Tarangire, including the quieter south of the park, for about $625 more per person. If you can stretch your budget and time, do it.

Who the 2-day safari suits

It suits travelers with a very short window, especially after a Kilimanjaro climb. It is not the right choice if the Serengeti is your dream, because you need at least four days to go there. For that, see the 4-day safari.

2-day Tanzania safari itinerary, day by day

Here is how this safari usually runs. Drive times are approximate, and your guide will adjust each day around the wildlife, the roads and the season.

1. 01

   Day 1: Moshi to Tarangire National Park

   • Overnight: Tarangire

   We collect you from your hotel in Moshi after breakfast and drive about three to four hours to Tarangire, with the plains opening up as you go. You enter the park around lunchtime and spend the afternoon on your first game drive along the Tarangire River. In the dry season, this river pulls in elephants by the hundred, and ancient baobabs give the park a look found nowhere else on the circuit. You sleep at a mid-range camp or lodge in the Tarangire area.

2. 02

   Day 2: Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, then back to Moshi

   • No overnight on this day

   You leave Tarangire very early for the Ngorongoro highlands, about two to three hours away. You descend to the crater floor for a game drive among lion, buffalo, zebra, hyena and, with luck, black rhino, and you stop for a picnic by a hippo pool. In the afternoon, you climb out and drive back to Moshi, arriving in the evening.

What you can see on the 2-day Tanzania safari

Wild animals keep their own schedule, so no one can promise a sighting. What we can promise is enough time in the right places, with a guide who knows them.

Tarangire National Park

Tarangire is known for its big elephant herds and its giant baobabs. In the dry season, the river is the only reliable water for miles around, which draws in huge numbers of animals. It is also excellent for birds, with over 500 species recorded.

Ngorongoro Crater

The crater floor is home to a resident population of lion, elephant, buffalo, hyena and black rhino, within steep walls that make for some of the most striking scenery on safari. It gets busy, and leaving early helps.

How much does the 2-day Tanzania safari cost?

The 2-day Tanzania safari starts from $1,295 per person at mid-range level with two people sharing. The per-person price usually falls as your group grows, because the vehicle cost is shared, although room sharing can change that for odd numbers. Your final price is confirmed in your written quotation.

What the 2-day Tanzania safari price includes

Our Tanzania safari cost guide explains how prices work, and what to budget on top.

Your guide and vehicle on this safari

Your driver-guide is with you from the first morning to the last drive, and much of what you see depends on them. Our guides have worked on Tanzania tours for 7 years. They are graduates of the College of African Wildlife Management, Mweka, and the National College of Tourism, and they hold certification from those institutions.

You travel in a private 4WD Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof, clear windows for wildlife viewing and comfortable seats. The pop-up roof lets you stand up and watch wildlife in the open air. We run private safaris, so you choose your dates and share the vehicle only with your own group. If you are traveling alone and would like company to share the cost, ask us and we will check whether a suitable shared departure is available with a trusted partner company.

Tipping on safari

Tips are not included in the price, and they are appreciated. Common guidance is about $15 to $25 per traveler per day for your guide, or about $40 to $50 per vehicle per day on a private safari, plus about $10 to $15 per guest per night for camp and lodge staff.

How to make the most of a 2-day Tanzania safari

A short trip rewards a little planning. Leave Moshi as early as you can, so that you have the whole afternoon in Tarangire. Eat breakfast early on day 2, because the crater is at its quietest in the first hours. Bring a warm layer for that morning, and pack a small overnight bag, leaving the rest at your Moshi hotel. Keep your expectations realistic too. You will get a real taste of safari life, and you will see a lot of animals, but you will not see everything.

Is it worth visiting two parks in two days?

We think so, because they are so different. If you would rather slow down, ask us about spending both days in one area. Tarangire on its own, for example, means less driving and more time watching elephants. A wildlife day trip is another option if you have only a single day.

Doing this safari after a Kilimanjaro climb

Many climbers use this safari as a reward. Sitting in a vehicle is a pleasant change after a long descent, but give yourself at least one night to recover in Moshi first. Your feet and knees will thank you. See our Kilimanjaro climbing guide.

What a day on this 2-day Tanzania safari feels like

Most days begin early. You are up with a hot drink before dawn, and out on the first drive as the sun comes up, when predators are active and the air is cool. You may stop for a picnic breakfast, or return to camp for a proper meal. Midday is hot, and many animals rest, so you do the same. The late-afternoon drive runs until the park closes around sunset, when the light turns gold. Then it is dinner, stories by the fire and an early night.

You can always change this rhythm. Because this is a private safari, your guide can start later, stay longer at a sighting or go back early if you prefer.

Where you stay on this safari

Prices are based on mid-range tented camps and lodges, usually with en-suite bathrooms and full-board meals, either in or close to the parks. Your written quote will list where you are staying. If you would prefer simpler rooms or a higher level of comfort, compare the budget and luxury prices above.

Safari rules worth knowing

Stay in the vehicle unless your guide tells you it is safe to get out. Keep your voice down near animals, do not stand on the roof, and never ask your guide to leave the track or get too close. Parks usually close around sunset, and your guide will plan around that.

Planning your 2-day Tanzania safari

Best time for this safari

June to October is the most reliable time, as animals gather around water and the grass is short. January to March brings calving on the southern Serengeti plains, and April and May are the wettest months. Tarangire is at its best from June to October. See our guide to the best time for a Tanzania safari.

Getting to the start in Moshi

This safari starts and finishes in Moshi. Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) is about an hour away. Your airport transfers are included in the price. Extra hotel nights are not, but we can add them. Tell us if you would rather start in Arusha.

What to bring, and how to prepare

Neutral clothing, layers for cold early drives, a hat, sunscreen and binoculars will serve you well. See our safari packing list. See a travel clinic six to eight weeks before you leave. Malaria is a risk in the safari parks, so ask about tablets and bring repellent. Travel insurance is not included, and we strongly recommend a policy that covers medical care and evacuation.

Adding to your trip

Moshi is the base for climbing Kilimanjaro, so many travelers combine the two. You can also add a day trip from Moshi.

2-day Tanzania safari: your questions answered