Tanzania Simba Safari – 5 Days

The real prize here is waking up in the Serengeti, then spending long hours among open plains where lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and perhaps rhinos may appear. The route also brings you to the Ngorongoro Crater, one of Tanzania’s most remarkable wildlife settings, before your flight home.

I like the privacy of having your own guide and vehicle, and I like that the price includes lodging, meals, park fees, and airport pickup. The main drawback is the long drive from Arusha to Serengeti, about seven hours and 335 kilometers, so this is a wildlife trip with plenty of road time.

Key points to know before booking

• Two full nights in Serengeti: You get an afternoon game drive on arrival, a long full day the next day, and another morning drive before leaving.
• Private 4×4 Toyota Cruiser: Your group travels with its own driver-guide rather than joining a large shared vehicle.
• Ngorongoro Crater finale: An early morning crater drive gives you one last major wildlife outing before the airport.
• Guide quality matters: Past trips have featured guides such as Adrian, Goodluck, Harry, Dennis, Louis, and Musa, with wildlife spotting and local knowledge repeatedly praised.
• Most major costs are covered: Lodging, park fees, meals listed in the plan, and drinks on game drives are included.
• A demanding five days: Long driving days and early starts reward you with more time in the parks, but this is not a slow, restful holiday.

Why this five-day route works

This Tanzania Simba Safari is built around two famous wildlife areas rather than a long list of stops. That is a sensible choice. You spend enough time in Serengeti National Park to get more than a quick look, then finish at Ngorongoro Crater, where wildlife viewing is concentrated in a dramatic natural setting.

The tour begins and ends around Arusha, with pickup at Arusha Airport. A private trip gives you more control than a shared departure. You can ask questions freely, spend more time at an animal sighting, and avoid fitting your day around strangers. The itinerary still follows a firm schedule, but the private format should make the long drives easier to manage.

The price is $2,897.06 per person. That is a serious amount of money, but the package includes the costly foundations of a northern Tanzania safari: a 4×4 vehicle, driver-guide, accommodation, park fees, and most meals. International and domestic flights, visas, insurance, tips, laundry, and drinks at the lodges are extra.

I would judge the value by looking at what you would otherwise need to arrange separately. Park fees and a private vehicle can quickly add up, and moving between Arusha, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro requires careful planning. The package is most appealing if you want a private, organized safari without arranging each transfer and hotel yourself.

Day 1: Arusha arrival and a gentle start

Your guide meets you at Arusha Airport and takes you to Arusha and your chosen hotel. The plan allows time to get settled and receive an introduction to the city and Tanzania before the safari begins.

This is a useful first day because you do not have to land and immediately begin a long park transfer. If your flight arrives late, confirm how the hotel night and airport transfer will work. The listed accommodation plan includes one night in Arusha on half board, meaning breakfast and dinner are provided.

There is no scheduled sightseeing program in Arusha beyond the introduction to the city. Think of this as a practical arrival day, not a city tour. It gives you a buffer before the main road journey west.

Day 2: The long road to Serengeti

Day two is the hardest travel day. The drive to Serengeti takes about seven hours and covers roughly 335 kilometers. You will see changing scenery and rural Tanzania along the way, but the distance is still substantial.

After reaching the park, you have lunch and begin an afternoon game drive. This timing matters. You do not lose the whole day to transport, though the first safari outing may come after a tiring ride.

Serengeti is famous for its immense open plains. The first sight of that space can be as memorable as the animals. The scenery seems to stretch far beyond the road, and the changing light gives the afternoon a different feel as the drive goes on.

Your guide is central here. A good guide does more than steer the vehicle. Guides connected with past trips include Adrian, Goodluck, Harry, Dennis, Louis, Musa, and others. Their reported strengths include spotting animals at a distance, explaining animal behavior, finding useful routes, and making the drive enjoyable. Your assigned guide is not named in the tour details, so you should not assume you will receive a particular person.

Day 3: A full Serengeti wildlife day

Day three is the heart of the safari. After breakfast, you set out for a morning game drive, return to a picnic lunch, then continue searching through the afternoon. The stated outing lasts about 12 hours, so prepare for a very long day in the vehicle.

That long schedule is a major advantage. Wildlife does not appear on demand, and a full day gives you more time to search different parts of the park. You may see big cats resting, herds moving across the plains, elephants feeding, or smaller animals that are easy to miss when you rush from one stop to the next.

The focus is the Big Five: lion, leopard, Cape buffalo, elephant, and rhino. Seeing all five is never guaranteed, and the itinerary does not promise it. Leopards and rhinos can be especially elusive, while lions, elephants, and buffalo may be easier to find depending on conditions and the guide’s route.

Bring patience. The best moments may involve sitting quietly while your guide watches the grass or distant trees. Previous guide accounts single out the ability to spot animals from far away, which can make a real difference on the open plains. A pair of binoculars is useful, though the tour does not state that one is provided.

You return to the lodge for dinner and rest. The plan includes lodging and meals during the safari, but it does not name the specific lodge or camp. Ask for the accommodation names before booking if comfort level, location, or room style is important to you.

Day 4: One last Serengeti drive, then Ngorongoro

The morning begins with another Serengeti game drive of about four hours. This shorter outing gives you one more chance to look for wildlife before leaving the park.

After a picnic lunch, you drive east toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The transfer is listed at about four hours. It is another road-heavy day, but the route links two of northern Tanzania’s major wildlife areas without requiring an extra flight.

On arrival, you settle into the lodge while dinner is prepared. The crater drive itself comes the following morning, so this night is more about reaching the rim area and getting ready for an early start.

Ngorongoro is different from Serengeti. Serengeti offers a huge sense of open distance and moving wildlife. Ngorongoro gives you a contained setting, with the crater walls creating a striking natural boundary around the animals below. That contrast makes the pairing work well.

Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater before the airport

The final day starts early with a game drive in Ngorongoro Crater. The outing lasts about four hours, followed by a picnic lunch in the crater before you return to the airport for your flight home.

This is an efficient final morning, but it leaves little room for delay. If you have a fixed flight, confirm the expected airport arrival time and allow a sensible buffer. The supplied plan says you return to the airport after lunch, but it does not specify the airport or flight schedule.

The crater is often called a wonder of the world, and its appeal is easy to understand from the itinerary alone: dramatic scenery, a concentrated wildlife area, and a final chance to see animals before departure. You should expect an early start and a full transfer afterward, not a relaxed final day at the lodge.

Breakfast and lunch are included on departure day, while dinner is not. The broader inclusion list states four breakfasts, four lunches, and four dinners, so check the exact meal schedule with the operator before you travel. It is clear that dinner on the last day is not part of the plan.

What the private vehicle adds

The private 4×4 Toyota Cruiser is one of the strongest parts of this trip. A private vehicle means only your group participates, which is useful for couples, families, and friends who want to set the pace together.

Safari vehicles are also your viewing platform for long stretches of the day. You will spend many hours seated while driving between sightings and over rough park roads. The private setup lets you ask for a little more time at an animal sighting or request a short break without negotiating with a busload of people.

The tour includes soft drinks, coffee or tea, and water on game drives. Drinks at the lodges and camps are not included, so budget separately for those. Laundry is also extra, as are tips for the guide and hotel staff.

The guide can make or break the experience

The strongest pattern in the supplied trip details is the importance of the driver-guide. Specific names connected with highly praised safari experiences include Adrian, Goodluck, Harry, Dennis, Louis, Musa H., Celvin, Abisai Mbasha, Everest Mboy, and Gerald.

The praise is specific rather than vague. Guides are credited with finding animals at great distances, knowing useful routes, explaining flora and fauna, driving safely, helping older passengers, and keeping the mood light during long days. Goodluck, Adrian, Harry, and Dennis receive especially strong attention in the supplied material.

You should still treat guide assignment as unknown until confirmed. If a particular guide matters to you, ask Easy Travel Tours LTD if a request can be noted, but do not assume availability. The company describes itself as family-owned and family-managed, with 40 years of experience, but your practical concern should be who will be in the vehicle, how well they communicate, and what vehicle support is provided.

Meals, lodging, and what to budget

The plan includes one night in Arusha on half board and four safari nights on full board. It also lists breakfast, lunch, and dinner inclusions, with four of each shown separately. The day five note says breakfast and lunch are included, but dinner is not.

Because the accommodation names are not supplied, you cannot judge the exact room quality from the itinerary alone. Ask about the lodges or camps, their locations, and whether the safari nights are in permanent lodges, tented camps, or another style of accommodation.

The package does cover the basics you need while inside the parks. You will still pay separately for international and domestic flights, a visa, travel and medical insurance, tips, lodge drinks, and laundry. These extras should be part of your budget from the start.

Who should book this safari

I would recommend this trip to you if you want a private northern Tanzania safari and have only five days available. It suits couples, families, and small groups who value a dedicated guide and do not want to share a vehicle with unknown people.

It also suits first-time safari visitors who prefer a package with transport, park fees, lodging, and meals arranged together. The airport pickup makes the arrival simple, and most travelers can participate according to the supplied information.

This is less suitable if you dislike long drives, early mornings, or full days in a vehicle. The Arusha to Serengeti journey is lengthy, and the itinerary packs a great deal into five days. If you want a slower safari, more time in one camp, or a stronger focus on relaxation, add extra nights rather than trying to make this route even tighter.

The itinerary is also not ideal for someone determined to see a particular animal. Wildlife is wild, and neither the Big Five nor any specific sighting is guaranteed. The value comes from spending sustained time in excellent wildlife areas with a guide who can search well.

Booking details worth checking

Pickup is offered from Arusha Airport, and confirmation normally arrives at booking. If you book within seven days of departure, confirmation may take up to 48 hours and remains subject to availability.

The listed cancellation rule allows a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Ask these questions before paying:

• Which Arusha hotel and safari lodges are included?
• Which airport receives you at the end?
• What time should your departure flight be?
• How are the four safari nights divided between Serengeti and Ngorongoro?
• Is your preferred guide available?
• Are all meals included exactly as shown, especially on the final day?

Should you book the Tanzania Simba Safari?

Book it if your priority is maximum wildlife time in a compact five-day plan, with a private vehicle and the major costs handled in advance. Serengeti gives you two nights and several game drives, while Ngorongoro provides a powerful final morning.

Think twice if the price strains your budget or if seven-hour road transfers sound miserable. You can find shorter or slower safari plans, but they may offer less time in Serengeti or cost more once private transport and park fees are added.

For families, couples, and small groups who want a direct route through Tanzania’s best-known northern parks, this is a strong choice. Confirm the lodges, meals, flight timing, and guide assignment first, then book with realistic expectations: early starts, long drives, dusty roads, and wildlife sightings that depend on nature rather than a schedule.

FAQ

Where does the safari start?

The safari starts at Arusha Airport in Arusha, Tanzania. A driver-guide meets you and takes you to Arusha and your chosen hotel.

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts approximately five days.

Is this a private safari?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity, and the tour includes a private guide and a 4×4 Toyota Cruiser.

Which parks and wildlife areas are included?

The route includes Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, including a game drive in Ngorongoro Crater.

Are meals included?

Meals are included according to the listed safari plan. The package lists four breakfasts, four lunches, and four dinners, while the departure-day note specifies that breakfast and lunch are included but dinner is not. Confirm the exact meal schedule before departure.

What is not included in the price?

International and domestic flights, a visa, travel and medical insurance, tips, lodge and camp drinks, and laundry services are not included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund.