5 Days – Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater Combined Safari
Planning a Serengeti Ngorongoro combined safari? This 5 day journey takes you to two of Tanzania’s most spectacular wildlife destinations. The endless plains of the...
Planning a Serengeti Ngorongoro combined safari? This 5 day journey takes you to two of Tanzania’s most spectacular wildlife destinations. The endless plains of the Serengeti and the stunning Ngorongoro Crater offer some of the best game viewing in Africa. A Serengeti Ngorongoro combined safari allows you to witness the Great Wildebeest Migration and search for the Big Five in one unforgettable trip. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about this incredible adventure.
The Serengeti wildebeest migration destination is famous for its annual wildebeest migration, where over 1.5 million animals move in search of fresh grazing. The Serengeti covers 14,750 square kilometers of diverse habitats, from grassy plains to woodlands and rivers. A Serengeti Ngorongoro combined safari gives you the best of both worlds: the vast, open spaces of the Serengeti and the concentrated wildlife of the Ngorongoro Crater.
This 5 day combined safari is designed for travelers who want to experience the absolute best of Tanzania’s northern circuit. The tour starts and ends in Arusha, with flights available from Kilimanjaro International Airport. You will spend two days exploring the Serengeti National Park, followed by two days in the Ngorongoro Crater. The final day brings you back to Arusha for your departure. A Serengeti Ngorongoro combined safari includes park entry fees, accommodation, meals, game drives, and professional guiding.
The Ngorongoro crater Big Five destination is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best places in Africa to see the Big Five. The crater is 610 meters deep and covers 260 square kilometers, creating a natural enclosure for over 25,000 large animals. A Serengeti Ngorongoro combined safari offers incredible value, allowing you to see lions, elephants, buffalo, rhinos, and leopards in their natural habitat.
A Serengeti Ngorongoro combined safari offers the best of Tanzania’s wildlife in one efficient itinerary. The Serengeti is famous for its vast herds of wildebeest and zebras, while the Ngorongoro Crater offers concentrated wildlife viewing in a stunning setting. The contrast between the two destinations is remarkable and makes for a well rounded safari experience.
This tour is ideal for photographers who want to capture both sweeping landscapes and intimate wildlife portraits. The Serengeti offers dramatic sunsets over endless plains, while the crater provides close up encounters with animals against the backdrop of the crater walls. A Serengeti Ngorongoro combined safari also offers excellent value, as you maximize your wildlife viewing while minimizing travel time between parks.
For those interested in the wildebeest migration, timing your visit between December and July will allow you to see the herds in the Serengeti. The wildebeest migration timing guide provides detailed information on where the herds are located throughout the year.
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met by our representative and transferred to Arusha for a briefing. You will then take a domestic flight to the Serengeti National Park, landing at one of the airstrips in the central or northern Serengeti depending on the migration location. The flight takes approximately 1.5 hours and offers stunning aerial views of the Rift Valley and the Ngorongoro highlands.
Upon landing, you will be met by your safari guide and begin your first game drive in the Serengeti. You will have a picnic lunch in the bush before continuing your game drive. In the late afternoon, you will drive to your lodge or tented camp for dinner and overnight.
After an early breakfast, you will depart for a full day game drive in the Serengeti. You will carry a picnic lunch to maximize your time in the park. Your guide will take you to the best areas for wildlife viewing based on the season and recent sightings.
If you are visiting between December and July, you will have excellent chances of seeing the wildebeest migration. The herds move through different areas of the Serengeti throughout the year, and your guide will know where to go. You may witness dramatic river crossings, with thousands of wildebeest and zebras plunging into crocodile infested waters.
In addition to the migration, the Serengeti is home to the Big Five: lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and rhinos. You will also see cheetahs, hyenas, giraffes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles, and over 500 bird species. Your guide will use radio communication to locate the best sightings.
In the late afternoon, you will return to your lodge or camp for dinner and overnight.
After breakfast, you will enjoy a morning game drive in the Serengeti before driving to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The drive takes approximately 3 to 4 hours, passing through beautiful highland scenery. You will stop at the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater for your first views of this natural wonder.
You will arrive at your lodge on the crater rim in the late afternoon. The lodges on the rim offer stunning views of the crater below, and you may see wildlife from your room. Overnight at a lodge on the crater rim.
After an early breakfast, you will descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a full day game drive. The descent takes about 30 minutes, and you will be at the crater floor by 8:00 AM when the wildlife is most active. The crater floor is home to over 25,000 large animals, including the Big Five.
The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the best places in Africa to see black rhinos. The crater also has a healthy population of lions, including some with magnificent manes. Elephants, buffalo, and leopards are also commonly seen. The crater floor has a large hippo pool where you can see dozens of hippos wallowing in the water.
You will have a picnic lunch at a designated spot near the hippo pool, watching the hippos as you eat. In the afternoon, you will continue your game drive before ascending back to the crater rim. Overnight at your lodge on the crater rim.
After breakfast, you will drive back to Arusha, with a stop at a Maasai village if you wish to learn about the local culture. The drive takes approximately 3 to 4 hours. You will have lunch in Arusha before being transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your departure flight.
Depending on your flight schedule, you may have time to visit the Arusha Cultural Heritage Centre or shop for souvenirs at the local markets. You will then be dropped off at the airport, marking the end of your Serengeti Ngorongoro combined safari.
The best time for a Serengeti Ngorongoro combined safari depends on what you want to see. The dry seasons from June to October and December to February offer the best wildlife viewing conditions. During these months, animals concentrate around water sources, making them easier to spot. The roads are also in good condition.
The wet seasons from March to May and November bring lush green landscapes and fewer tourists. However, roads can be muddy, and some animals may be harder to spot. This is a good time for bird watching, as many migratory species are present.
For the wildebeest migration, the best time to visit the Serengeti is from December to July. The calving season from January to February offers dramatic predator action, while the river crossings from June to July are spectacular.
The Serengeti is a vast national park covering 14,750 square kilometers with open plains and diverse wildlife. The Ngorongoro Crater is a volcanic caldera with concentrated wildlife viewing in a smaller area. Both offer excellent game viewing but very different experiences.
Yes, both parks are home to the Big Five. However, the Ngorongoro Crater offers the best chance to see black rhinos. Lions, elephants, buffalo, and leopards are commonly seen in both parks.
There is no minimum age for this safari. Children of all ages are welcome, and many lodges offer family friendly accommodation.
Yes, most nationalities require a visa for Tanzania. Visas can be obtained online before travel or on arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport. The cost is 50 dollars for most nationalities.
Yes, solo travelers are welcome. There is a single supplement fee for private accommodation, or you can join a group tour to share costs.
A Serengeti Ngorongoro combined safari offers the ultimate Tanzania wildlife experience. From the endless plains of the Serengeti to the stunning crater, you will see Africa’s most spectacular wildlife in two of the continent’s most famous parks. Book your Serengeti Ngorongoro combined safari today and experience the best that Tanzania has to offer.
