5 Days Tanzania Big Five Safari
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Duration
Tour highlights
This 5-day BIG 5 safari offers the perfect mix of wildlife and culture in northern Tanzania. You’ll explore Tarangire National Park, famous for elephants and baobabs, the legendary Serengeti National Park, and the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater, often called the 8th Wonder of the World. Along the way, you’ll also visit a Maasai village in the Ngorongoro Highlands for a unique cultural encounter.
Your safari begins in Arusha, where we’ll meet you at your hotel for a detailed briefing before departure (or in the morning if you arrive late). Comfortable mid-range lodges and camps are included throughout, offering a balance of value and comfort in the heart of the wilderness.
Suppose you’d like to customize the itinerary. In that case, our safari experts are happy to tailor a package to your ideas and budget—because at Velam Tours, we believe there’s always something for everyone. Karibu sana—welcome to Tanzania!
Itinerary idea in detail
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to the city of Arusha, at Masailand hotel. You will meet your driver guide who will brief you on your upcoming safaris, then relax for the rest of the day.
- Hotel is Bed & Breakfast basis.
After breakfast at you lodge in Arusha our safari driver guide will meet you & you will depart for Tarangire National Park via Arusha town just in case of any last minute purchase before heading to the park. The driving will be on the Great Northern highway & across Masai steppe & many village.
Tarangire is the fifth largest National park in Tanzania at the foot of the Great East African Rift Valley, it’s vegetation is comprise of low lying hills of acacia woodland, giant baobab trees & Savannah grassland.
The Main features of this park is lager population of elephant, Tarangire River which is a permanent water source in the entire park & the huge baobab tree that dwarfing some animal species that cometh beneath it. You may expect to spot herds of wildebeest, buffalo, elephant, zebra, giraffe, hippos and many antelope.
Primates like baboons, blue monkey, velvet monkeys are also inhibit the park, lion, hyena, jackals & the ever-elusive leopard which needs sharp eyes to sport can also be seen.
Later afternoon drive across the Great East African Rift Valley for sunset watch & to Marera Valley Lodge for dinner & overnight.
- Overnight at Marera Valley Lodge or similar at Karatu town. All meals included.
After breakfast, depart for Serengeti National Park, the driving is via attractive high lying farmland of Karatu and up to Ngorongoro gate, after check in you will drive more up and along the Crater rim, you may stop for some nice pictures at the crater view point. More drive around the Crater rim and down to the “Wild rich” The Serengeti National park with its endless rolling plains.
On the way you will visit one of the Masai village whereby some Masai warrior invites you & give you a brief story of their life around this area, questions & answer session before enter to their small houses to meet kids & members of the family. Later they will sing and dance their famous song which involving jumping high. From there drive further with en-route game drive to Naabi Hills Gate for check in before heading to the Central Serengeti park area called Seronera.
Seronera is the richest wildlife habitats in Serengeti, endowed with Seronera River, the main water source in the area that attracts abundance of wildlife well representative of most of the Serengeti’s species. Picnic lunch will to be served at the kopjes (Rocky outcropping). Afternoon game drive in search of the Wildebeest Migration, late drive to your lodge during or before the sunset for dinner & overnight.
- Overnight at Thorn Trees Camp Central Serengeti All meals included.
Your 5 days Tanzania lodge safari continue and today we are taking you for full day game drive in the Serengeti. You will start as early as 06:30 with packed breakfast box and lunch box. Early morning game drive allows you to spot the cat family on the road as they try to avoid the morning mist, you may also see nocturnal animals coming back from their long night of hunting or a group of lioness organizing an ambush or eating along the road.
Break for breakfast in the bush then you will be heading to where the Wildebeest migration is packed. Spend much time watching the migration of herds, the big cats and others (packed lunch will be served in the bush or in one of the picnic site in the area. You may expect to see a lot of animal actions like hunting, killing, fighting & so on. Drive back to the Camp during or before the sunset, dinner & overnight in the Camp.
- Overnight at Thorn Trees Camp Central Serengeti All meals included
On this day as early as 06:30 you can do another early morning game drive carry your breakfast & lunch box. Spend much time in Serengeti doing game drives before starting your en-route game drive towards Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Arrive at the lodge sunset watch at the Crater rim, dinner & overnight.
- Overnight at Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge at the Crater rim or similar in Karatu Town. All meals included.
Start with the first rays of the sun at 06:30, decent 600 meters into the Ngorongoro Crater floor for a wonderful game drives. Supported by water from the highlands and enough fodder, this area is rich in wildlife which include herds of wildebeest, Giant African elephants, eland, zebra, warthog, buffalo and the rare black rhino. The so called big 5 which includes lion leopard, buffalo, black rhino & the African elephant can be spotted in this area in the course of one day of game drive. (Packed lunch will be served at the crater floor).
Another big surprise in this picturesque crater is the denser population of predators which includes lion, cheetah, hyena, jackal and the ever mysterious leopard which require trained eye to spot. You will visit Lake Magadi a shallow alkaline lake which is among the water sources in the crater, some flamingos, hippos & other aquatic birds can be seen in this Lake.
Game drives until afternoon, then start your way out & drive back to Arusha, if not flying the same day you can visit some Masai market or shopping centers on your way to Arusha. Arriving in Arusha late afternoon for overnight. (Accommodation on this day can be arranged upon request at extra cost) If flying the same day we will take you to Kilimanjaro international airport (JRO) to catch your flight back home. (KLM can be the best option leaving Kilimanjaro international airport at 21:30)
All accommodation subjected to availability.
End of the service.
INCLUDES & EXCLUDES
- Pick-up at Kilimanjaro Int. Airport (JRO);
- Transfer to a hotel in Arusha and back to the airport;
- Accommodation before and after safari
- New Land Cruiser 4x4 with pop-up roof;
- Experienced English-speaking safari guide;
- All park fees;
- All accommodation under your program;
- Three meals per day on safari;
- AMREF Flying Doctors;
- Thermos with hot tea/coffee;
- Medical kit;
- Binocular (1 per SUV);
- International or Local Flights
- Visa fee;
- Optional Activities
- Lunch and dinner in hotel (only before and after safari);
- Insurance;
- Tips to your safari guide ($30-50 per day per car).
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Feel free to check out other similar tours we offer to find the one that fits you best. If you prefer, we can also help you create a custom tour based on your interests and budget. Just let us know what you’re looking for, and we’ll make it happen!
Testimonies
Words From Our Happy Clients
We have been receiving reviews from our served clients and We are rated 5/5 by customers. This honor is given to us by customers because we always remain committed to all our customers to do whatever is needed by them to make their safari fully satisfied.
Jeremy S2025-09-26Verified Incredible Safari Expereince We had the most incredible 7-day custom safari with Velam Safaris through the Serengeti and Northern Tanzania. From the very beginning, Adam and the entire Velam team went above and beyond to make our trip special. They carefully crafted the perfect itinerary based on our interests and desires, ensuring every detail was thought through.One of the highlights was having a professional photographer join us, capturing every moment so we could fully immerse ourselves in the experience. The team’s knowledge of the wildlife, landscapes, and local culture was outstanding, and everything about the trip felt seamless and well-coordinated.The accommodations and food throughout the journey were exceptional, making each day feel both adventurous and comfortable.We can’t recommend Velam Safaris highly enough. If you’re considering a safari in Tanzania, they will make your experience special. Christine L2025-08-18Verified Valence, Outstanding Safari Guide! We had the pleasure and honor of having Valence as our safari guide for seven days in Tanzania this August. This was my first safari and my husband’s fifth, and Valence was by far the most knowledgeable guide we have ever had. With over 12 years of experience, he was professional, full of energy, and always checking in on us with his friendly “Are you good?” He helped us spot an incredible range of wildlife, from zebras and giraffes to lions and cheetahs, and he seemed to know the habits of almost every plant and animal. He could even anticipate animal behavior, from predicting where a leopard would move during a hunt to finding the perfect spot for the wildebeest crossing in the Mara River. He even bought us some roasted bananas to try since we were curious about local cuisine, which made the experience feel even more authentic and special. We also ran into some car issues during the trip, which is quite common on safari, but Valence quickly identified the problem on the spot. As an experienced mechanic, he made the repairs at a nearby town without disrupting our itinerary much. Every day with him felt like a fascinating biology lesson, and thanks to Valence, our safari was both unforgettable and in the best of hands. We would highly recommend him to anyone planning a safari! Jiaming Ji2025-08-13Verified Best Guide - Valence: The Driver Who Made Our Tanzania Safari Unforgettable – Big Five, Perfect Views & Hakuna Matata In Tanzania, your driver is everything — guide, protector, storyteller. We were lucky to have Valence, with 12+ years of experience and a heart of gold. He showed us all the Big Five, river crossings, even lions hunting. He knew every road, avoided dust and breakdowns, and always found the perfect viewing spots. “Hakuna Matata,” he’d say, and we believed it. From day one he called us family — and treated us like it. SwatiUtukuri2025-05-11Verified Felt like home in the midst of the jungle Being Single ladies we were taken care of so much and we felt so safe in the midst of the jungle with barely any network. Safari experience was smooth and so surprisingly magnificent.Adam who crafted our tour itinerary was in touch from day 1 till we landed back . Lolo and Lawrence our guides were nothing less than family :) Nomad292367290962024-03-25Verified Exceptional Safari Experience! Velam Safaris delivered an outstanding safari adventure! From seamless communication to expert-guided game drives, every moment was exceptional. Luxurious accommodations, attentive staff, and a commitment to sustainability set them apart. Highly recommend for an unforgettable safari experience! Mama Bishop M2024-03-25Verified Unforgettable Trip - Organized by Adam This trip was absolutely incredible! A huge thanks to Adam for organizing everything so flawlessly. From the very beginning, Adam was incredibly helpful and responsive, answering all my questions and making sure everything was perfectly tailored to our interests. allen M2024-03-25Verified Exceptional 5-Day Safari with Velam Safaris Velam Safaris provided an outstanding 5-day safari experience. Our knowledgeable guide made every moment memorable with incredible wildlife sightings and insightful commentary. The accommodations were luxurious, and the opportunity to connect with local communities added depth to the journey. Highly recommended for an unforgettable adventure in the heart of Africa. Cate H2024-03-22Verified A Fantastic Adventure with Velam Safaris: My 5-Day Tanzania Safari Review I went on a safari trip with Velam Safaris in Tanzania for 5 days, and it was amazing. Everything was well planned, and the trip was fantastic from start to finish.The best part was seeing all the animals. Our guide took us on drives through Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. We saw lions, elephants, rhinos, and many other animals in their natural homes. It was so cool to be up close to them.Our places to stay were really nice too. We stayed in comfy tents and cozy lodges. Waking up to the sounds of animals and eating tasty meals outside was so nice.What I liked most about Velam Safaris is that they care about the environment. Our guide talked about why it's important to protect nature, and I thought that was great.Overall, I had an awesome time with Velam Safaris. If you want to go on a safari in Tanzania, I definitely recommend them. Thanks, Velam Safaris, for an unforgettable adventure!Verified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more