3-Day Tanzania Safari: Tarangire and Ngorongoro at an Easier Pace

Why a 3-day safari is a good short Tanzania safari

Three days is the shortest safari we would call relaxed. You have time to settle into Tarangire, go beyond the busy river section and watch elephants without hurrying, then finish with a game drive in Ngorongoro Crater. Prices start from $1,920 per person.

The trade-off is the Serengeti. It is too far to include comfortably in three days, so if the Serengeti is what you have dreamed of, look at the 4-day safari instead.

3-day Tanzania safari at a glance

3 days or 4 days on safari?

Adding a day lets you include the Serengeti, for about $690 more per person. You will spend more time on the road, though. If you want to enjoy two parks properly, three days works well. If the Serengeti matters most, take four.

Who the 3-day safari suits

It suits travelers with limited time, those adding a safari to a climb, and families who do not want long drives every day. Elephant lovers will be especially happy here.

3-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: A full day in Tarangire

   • Overnight: Tarangire

   A second day here lets you go beyond the busy river section. You set off early, when the light is soft and predators are active, and explore the quieter swamps and woodland in the south of the park. Your guide will look for lion, and for the tree-climbing pythons and over 500 bird species that the park is known for. Lunch can be a picnic at a viewpoint over the river, and there is time to stop and watch elephants without rushing.

3. 03

   Day 3: 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 3-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 3-day Tanzania safari cost?

The 3-day Tanzania safari starts from $1,920 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 3-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.

Why a full day in Tarangire makes this 3-day safari work

Most short safaris spend just one afternoon in Tarangire. Staying a second night means you can go early in the morning, when lions may still be active, and reach the quieter south of the park, where few vehicles go. You have time for a picnic at a viewpoint over the river, and to stay with an elephant family for as long as you want. If you enjoy birds, this extra day also gives you time to look for some of the park's many species.

When this safari works best

Tarangire is at its best from June to October, when the river attracts animals from far around. From November to May, many large animals spread out across the plains, although the park is very green and full of birds. In those months, ask us whether you should spend more time at the crater instead.

What a day on this 3-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 3-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.

3-day Tanzania safari: your questions answered