Budget Safaris
5 Days / 4 Nights
easy
5-Day Budget Northern Circuit Safari | Affordable Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro
Explore Tanzania's iconic northern circuit on a budget-friendly 5-day safari. Tarangire elephants, Serengeti Big Five, and Ngorongoro Crater. Best value safari with expert guides and comfortable camping. See the Big Five without breaking the bank.
5 Days
Max 12 People
5.00 Rating
Arusha, Tanzania
Starting from
$1,100
per person
Budget: $1,100
Standard: $1,400
Overview
5-Day Budget Northern Circuit Safari
Experience the best of Tanzania's legendary Northern Circuit without breaking the bank on this 5-day budget safari. Covering three iconic parks - Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater - this affordable safari delivers incredible wildlife viewing at the best possible price.
Why Choose This Budget Safari?
- ✓Three Iconic Parks: Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater
- ✓Best Value: Most affordable 5-day northern circuit safari
- ✓Big Five: Best chances to see lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino
- ✓Tarangire Elephants: Largest elephant herds in northern Tanzania
- ✓Serengeti Migration: Witness 1.5 million wildebeest on the move
- ✓Ngorongoro Crater: UNESCO World Heritage Site with densest wildlife
- ✓Expert Guides: Professional guides with deep knowledge of wildlife
- ✓Comfortable Camping: Quality camping equipment and delicious meals
- ✓Small Groups: Maximum 12 travelers for personalized experience
Affordable Doesn't Mean Compromised
Our 5-day budget safari is designed for travelers who want to experience the best of northern Tanzania without spending a fortune. While we use budget camping instead of luxury lodges, we never compromise on the quality of the safari experience.
You will have the same expert guides, the same incredible wildlife viewing, and the same unforgettable experiences as our luxury safaris - just at a fraction of the price. Our comfortable camping equipment includes quality tents, sleeping bags, and mattresses to ensure a good night's sleep.
5 Days
Duration
Max 12
Group Size
Arusha, Tanzania
Start Point
easy
Difficulty
Day by Day
5 days of unforgettable adventure
D1
Day 1 of 5
Arusha to Tarangire - Elephant Kingdom
Your budget safari begins with a morning pickup from your Arusha hotel at 8:00 AM. Drive south to Tarangire National Park, approximately 2 hours through the beautiful Tanzanian countryside.
Tarangire is famous for its massive elephant herds - some of the largest in Africa. The park is home to over 3,000 elephants, and huge herds gather along the Tarangire River during the dry season. Watch families of elephants bathing, playing, and interacting in their natural habitat.
The landscape is stunning - ancient baobab trees dot the savanna, some over 1,000 years old. These magnificent trees provide shelter for leopards and nesting sites for birds.
Afternoon game drive along the Tarangire River. Spot lions, giraffes, zebras, and over 500 bird species. Arrive at your campsite as the sun sets. Dinner under the African stars with the sounds of the bush.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
Budget Campsite near Tarangire
D2
Day 2 of 5
Tarangire to Serengeti - Entering the Endless Plains
Morning game drive in Tarangire as you exit the park. Search for any wildlife you may have missed yesterday.
Drive north through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area towards the Serengeti. Stop at the Ngorongoro Crater rim for spectacular views into the world's largest intact volcanic caldera.
Enter the Serengeti through the Naabi Hill Gate and begin your game drive on the vast Serengeti plains. The Serengeti is home to the Great Migration - over 1.5 million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles.
Arrive at your campsite in the central Serengeti. Dinner under the stars with the sounds of the African bush.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
Budget Campsite in Central Serengeti
D3
Day 3 of 5
Full Day Serengeti - Big Five & Migration
Full day exploring the Serengeti ecosystem. Early morning game drive when predators are most active.
The Serengeti is famous for its Big Five:
- Lions: Watch prides hunting on the plains
- Leopards: Look for them in sausage trees along the Seronera River
- Elephants: Large herds throughout the park
- Buffalo: Massive herds grazing on the grasslands
- Rhinos: Rare but occasionally spotted
Visit the Seronera River valley - the best area in Africa for leopard sightings. The river is home to large hippo pods and massive crocodiles.
If visiting during migration season, search for the Great Migration herds. Watch thousands of wildebeest and zebras moving across the plains.
Return to camp for dinner and stargazing.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
Budget Campsite in Central Serengeti
D4
Day 4 of 5
Serengeti to Ngorongoro - The Eighth Wonder
Morning game drive in the Serengeti as you depart. One last chance to spot any wildlife you may have missed.
Drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and ascend to the crater rim. Stop at the viewpoint for breathtaking panoramic views of the world's largest intact volcanic caldera.
Descend 600 meters into the crater floor for a full day game drive. The Ngorongoro Crater is home to approximately 25,000 large animals, including the rare black rhino.
Search for the Big Five on the crater floor. Watch for flamingos at the alkaline Magadi Lake. Visit the famous Hippo Pool.
Ascend the crater wall as the sun sets. Head to your campsite on the crater rim.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
Budget Campsite on Ngorongoro Crater Rim
D5
Day 5 of 5
Ngorongoro to Arusha - Farewell Safari
Optional early morning game drive in the crater (additional cost). The early morning light is spectacular, and predators are more active in the cool morning hours.
Return to camp for breakfast with crater views. Pack up and begin your journey back to Arusha.
Drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, stopping at viewpoints along the crater rim for final photos.
Optional stop at Olduvai Gorge - the Cradle of Mankind where early human fossils were discovered (additional entry fee).
Continue through the Great Rift Valley with stunning views. Arrive in Arusha in the late afternoon. Farewell lunch at a local restaurant. Transfer to your hotel or the airport.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation
N/A - Return to Arusha
What's Included
Included
All park entry fees (Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro)
Ngorongoro Crater service fee
Professional English-speaking safari guide
4x4 safari Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Camping equipment and sleeping bags
Cook and camp assistant
Drinking water throughout safari
Hotel pickup and dropoff in Arusha
Not Included
International flights
Tanzania visa fees
Travel insurance
Tips for guide and camp staff
Personal expenses and souvenirs
Alcoholic beverages
Olduvai Gorge museum entry ($35)
Guest Reviews
"Proof that you do not need to spend a fortune to have an amazing safari. The camping was comfortable and the wildlife was incredible."
J
Jake Morrison
Australia
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Book This Safari
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Group Pricing (per person)
1–1 travelers
$1,700
2–3 travelers
$1,400
4–6 travelers
$1,250
7–12 travelers
$1,100
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