Hook: This route turns wild Africa into a daily plan.

In 5 days, you’ll be based in Serengeti National Park for two nights, then head to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area for a crater game drive. I love the rhythm of the itinerary: long enough on the ground to chase sightings, but not so rushed that you feel like you’re just passing through. I also like the practical setup—private 4×4 Toyota Cruiser with a driver-guide, plus meals, lodging, and park fees built in.

One possible drawback: the days are long (especially around the crater morning), so if you hate early starts or you’re easily wiped out by road time, you’ll want to plan your energy carefully.

Key Highlights to Expect

• Big Five focus in Serengeti on repeated game drives, not just one quick visit
• Ngorongoro Crater early morning drive plus a picnic lunch inside the crater area
• Private safari experience with only your group in the 4×4 Toyota Cruiser
• Meals and park fees included, so you’re paying for the safari, not nickel-and-diming entry costs
• Driver-guides with strong wildlife-spotting skills, often credited for finding animals fast

A Smart 5-Day Plan for Serengeti + Ngorongoro

Tanzania safaris are where planning either helps… or gets in the way. This one works because it concentrates on two places that do very different jobs. Serengeti is about hours of searching across huge plains, where the day can change fast. Ngorongoro Crater is about a timed, early-drive payoff—one dramatic landscape where animals gather and the views feel like a world you don’t want to leave.

The other thing I like: you’re not just doing drives and calling it a day. Lunches are built in, you’ll return to lodge for dinner, and the itinerary actually gives you rest time between the longer game-drive blocks. And because it’s private, your driver-guide can shape the pace to your group instead of reacting to a mixed crowd.

Arusha Airport Arrival and Your First Night (HB)

You start by landing in Arusha Airport, where a driver-guide meets you and helps you get settled at your chosen hotel. Then you’re looking at 1 night in Arusha on half board (HB)—so breakfast and dinner are part of the package for that first stop.

Why that matters: Arusha is a useful “reset” point before the safari. Your body clock is usually still in question after travel, and this hotel night gives you room to get organized—charging devices, sorting small essentials, and sleeping like a normal human before the safari vehicle starts bouncing down the road.

If you’re coming in from far away, I’d treat this as your buffer night. Don’t schedule tight plans the evening of arrival; save your energy for the Serengeti push.

The 335 km Transfer to Serengeti: A Long Day That Sets the Stage

On day two, the plan is a 7-hour journey (335 km) westward from Arusha toward Serengeti. You’ll stop for lunch, then go out for an afternoon game drive.

This transfer day is one of the most important parts of the trip, even if it looks like just “getting there.” You’re going from city-adjacent life into full safari country, and the timing usually helps you avoid the feeling of arriving in the dark and wasting your first afternoon. By the time you reach the park, you’re ready to look closely.

Practical detail: the itinerary notes Soft Drinks, coffee/tea, and water on game drives, which helps a lot when you’re out for hours and don’t want to constantly think about drinks.

Serengeti Day One: Afternoon Drive and the Feeling of Scale

Your first full game-drive day in the park is built around the afternoon. After breakfast and the drive-in, you’ll get your first real look at Serengeti wildlife patterns as the light starts shifting.

Why afternoon matters: animals don’t just appear—they move with the sun, weather, and the day’s rhythms. Afternoon drives can be a great time to see feeding behavior, smaller predator activity, and the way herds react as you move along the tracks.

Also, don’t underestimate how valuable your driver-guide’s on-the-spot interpretation becomes here. In the reviews connected to Easy Travel’s safari guiding, drivers like Emil, Adrian, Louis, and Goodluck are repeatedly praised for spotting animals from far away and for explaining what you’re seeing on the ground. That skill changes the experience—when you’re not constantly searching, you start watching.

Serengeti Day Two: Morning + Picnic Lunch + Another Search Window

Day three is the long one in Serengeti. You’ll start with a morning game drive, then have a picnic lunch before heading out again for more wildlife searching. The itinerary places this day as a longer block (listed as 12 hours).

This is where Serengeti really shows its character. You get more than one lighting situation and more than one chance for sightings. In a place with this much space, one drive rarely gives the whole story. Two drives, separated by a picnic lunch and lodge time, gives you the best shot at matching what you want to see with what the park is offering that day.

And yes, the Big Five are part of the pitch—lions, leopards, Cape buffalo, elephants, and rhinos—but the honest value is this: you’re building time for multiple encounters rather than betting everything on one magic hour.

Serengeti Day Three: A Shorter Morning Drive Before Ngorongoro

On day four, you’ll do another morning game drive in Serengeti, then transition toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The itinerary notes a picnic lunch and then arrival at the lodge for dinner.

This structure helps you avoid a common safari problem: trying to do too much in one direction while your attention is fading. A morning drive keeps the energy up, and then you switch landscapes for the crater day ahead.

One caution: transfers always take focus, and you’ll be moving east after the Serengeti morning. If your group is sensitive to long travel days, treat this as your “stay hydrated, keep snacks accessible, and take it easy” day.

Ngorongoro Crater Day: Early Drive and the Signature View

The crater morning is the star. On day five, you’ll set out for an early morning game drive in Ngorongoro Crater, then return for a picnic lunch inside the crater area. After that, you head back to the airport for your flight home.

Ngorongoro works because it compresses the drama. Instead of searching across endless plains, you’re dealing with a natural bowl where animals often feel easier to track. Early mornings also tend to feel quieter and more active at the same time—great for wildlife viewing and for photos without harsh lighting.

Meals matter here too. The itinerary explicitly notes Breakfast and Lunch are included on this departure day, but dinner is not included. So plan for the end-of-trip meal situation accordingly if your flight timing runs long.

What the Includes List Means for Your Budget

The headline price is $2,897.06 per person for the 5-day safari, and the value isn’t just the sticker number—it’s how the package handles costs you’d otherwise have to chase down.

Included items worth real money:

• 4×4 Toyota Cruiser + driver-guide
• Accommodation: 1 night in Arusha (HB) and 4 nights on safari (FB)
• Meals: breakfast (4), dinners (4), lunches (4)
• Park fees included
• Soft drinks/coffee/tea/water on game drives

Not included (important for planning):

• Flights (international and domestic), visa, travel/medical insurance, tips
• Laundry at lodges/camps
• Drinks at lodges/camps

Here’s the practical takeaway: this is a “pay once, follow the plan” style safari. If you don’t want to spend your vacation doing math on entry fees and meal add-ons, this kind of inclusion is a real convenience.

Also, because it’s private, you’re paying for a quieter, more flexible experience. If you’ve ever been stuck in a shared vehicle where stops feel less personal, you’ll probably appreciate the private setup.

Driver-Guides: The Difference Maker You Can Feel

The reviews repeatedly point to one thing: the guide changes everything. People describe driver-guides like Adrian, Emil, Louis, Goodluck, Musa H., and Celvin as people who can spot animals from far away and who add context while you’re watching.

That matters because safari success isn’t only about luck. It’s about scanning efficiently, reading animal movement, and knowing where the chances are best without wasting your day.

For me, the best part is how these guides are described beyond spotting—also as helpful, accommodating (including for travelers in their 70s), and even funny. When you’re spending hours together in a small vehicle, vibe and communication count as much as eyesight.

Who This Safari Fits Best

This Tanzania Simba Safari is a strong choice if you want:

• A classic Northern Tanzania combo: Serengeti plus Ngorongoro
• A private experience without the stress of sharing a 4×4 with strangers
• A trip designed around repeated game drives, not one quick hit
• Lodging and park fees handled for you

It’s especially suited to first-timers who want the Big Five concept but also understand that animals and sightings aren’t scheduled like a museum. You’re buying time on the ground and a driver-guide who knows how to work that time.

Should You Book the Tanzania Simba Safari (5 Days)?

Yes—if your priority is straightforward safari value with a plan that actually gives you time in Serengeti and a proper crater morning. The combination of private guiding, meals and park fees included, and a structure that doesn’t cram everything into one drive makes this a solid buy for most people.

I’d hesitate only if:

• you’re very sensitive to early starts and long days
• you want a highly flexible itinerary that changes day-by-day with no set rhythm (this one is planned and structured)
• you’re trying to minimize time in the car above all else

If your dream is to spend real hours chasing wildlife, and you like the idea of having meals and park access organized up front, this is the kind of safari that usually turns into a story you repeat for years.

FAQ

Where does this safari start?

It starts in Arusha, meeting you at Arusha Airport and then escorting you to your chosen hotel for the first night.

What parks are included in the 5-day itinerary?

You’ll have game drives in Serengeti National Park and then visit Ngorongoro Crater in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Is the safari private?

Yes. This is listed as a private tour/activity, so only your group participates.

What’s included for meals and lodging?

You get 1 night in Arusha on half board (HB) and 4 nights on safari on full board (FB). Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included as specified across the days.

Are park fees and game drive refreshments included?

Yes. Park fees are included, and on game drives you’ll have soft drinks, coffee/tea, and water.

What’s not included in the price?

International and domestic flights, visa, travel and medical insurance, tips for guide/hotel staff, and drinks/ laundry services at lodges or camps are not included.

How does departure day work for meals?

On the departure day at Ngorongoro, breakfast and lunch are included, but dinner is not included.