5-Day Tanzania Camping Safari - Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro

You'll stay at established public campsites with a perimeter fence or boundary, shared ablution blocks with toilets and showers, and a dedicated area for our mess tent and cooking, including two nights inside the Serengeti itself. Dome tents are set up before you arrive and taken down by our crew, you just bring your sleeping bag (or rent one from us) and personal items. Campsites in wildlife areas are well used by safari operators and not isolated, security is part of the campsite arrangement, though you're asked not to walk around alone after dark and to use a torch and call our crew if you need to.

This is a vehicle-based safari, no fitness threshold applies and no walking is required for the game drives. The only physical consideration is camping itself, getting in and out of a tent, and using shared ablution facilities a short walk from your tent, for four nights. Travellers with limited mobility should let us know in advance, as camping may not suit everyone, our 5-Day Tanzania Lodge Safari covers the identical route with lodge accommodation.

June to October is the dry season, with animals concentrated at water sources and the highest sighting reliability of the year, this is also when Tarangire's elephant herds are at their largest. January and February is the southern Serengeti calving season, with large predator concentrations and significantly fewer tourists than the peak months. The long rains in April and May can make campsites muddier, particularly inside the Serengeti and around Lake Manyara, though rates are at their lowest. The Ngorongoro Crater is productive year-round.

Across this 5-day route you are highly likely to see lion, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, hippo, baboon and a wide range of antelope and birdlife. Black rhino is likely on the Ngorongoro Crater floor. Leopard is possible, the Serengeti has the highest leopard density in East Africa, and two full days there meaningfully improves your odds, but leopards are solitary and elusive. Cheetah is likely on the Serengeti plains, and Lake Manyara adds a chance of tree-climbing lions and flamingos.

The price covers a private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof and English-speaking driver-guide, all park entry and conservation fees (Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Conservation Area including the Crater service fee, and Lake Manyara), camping equipment and campsite fees for all 4 nights including 2 nights inside the Serengeti, a safari cook and all meals as specified, and drinking water throughout. International flights, Tanzania visa, travel insurance, sleeping bag rental, alcoholic drinks, tips and personal expenses are not included. See the full "What's included" and "Not included" sections on this page for the complete breakdown.

The route, game drives, park fees, vehicle and guide are identical to our 5-Day Tanzania Lodge Safari. The only difference is where you sleep, dome tents at public campsites including two nights inside the Serengeti on this itinerary, versus lodges or tented camps on the lodge version, and the price reflects that difference. Camping inside the Serengeti for two nights is one of the most immersive experiences on the Northern Circuit.

Most nationalities can obtain a Tanzania tourist visa online via the eTA system before travel, or on arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport. The visa costs USD 50 for most nationalities and USD 100 for US citizens. Yellow fever vaccination is only required if you're arriving from a yellow-fever-endemic country. Malaria prophylactics are recommended. Comprehensive travel insurance covering medical evacuation is required for all safari participants, we cannot accept bookings without it.

SafariBando operates from Moshi with our own vehicles, camping equipment and team. If a vehicle has an issue, our Arusha operations base dispatches a replacement. All vehicles carry a satellite phone for emergencies, and campsites have radio or phone contact with the operations base. The Flying Doctors Service covers medical evacuation from any of the parks on this itinerary, and we can arrange membership as part of your booking on request.