5-Day Classic Big Five & Cats Safari – Serengeti & Ngorongoro
Central Serengeti • Ngorongoro Crater • Mto wa Mbu
Trip Summary
- •Central Serengeti big cat country
- •Ngorongoro Crater Big Five safari
- •Mto wa Mbu cultural village visit
- •Private 4x4 with dedicated guide
- •Mid-range tented camps and lodge
- •Optional Serengeti balloon safari
Day-by-Day Overview
Pricing
From USD $2,100
Safari Overview
Experience the ultimate Tanzania safari featuring the legendary Big Five — lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and black rhino — plus exceptional big cat sightings in the world-famous Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. This five-day classic route concentrates on Tanzania's two most celebrated wildlife destinations, delivering thrilling game drives, stunning African landscapes, and unforgettable safari moments without the long drives of a four-park circuit.
Your journey begins in Arusha and heads straight into the heart of the Serengeti, where two full nights at Tukaone Serengeti Camps place you inside Central Serengeti National Park — one of Africa's most reliable areas for lion, leopard, and cheetah encounters year-round. The endless grass plains, kopje-studded horizons, and the sounds of the bush at night create the authentic safari atmosphere that draws travellers back to Tanzania again and again. An optional hot air balloon flight at dawn offers a bird's-eye perspective of the awakening plains — one of the continent's most iconic experiences.
From the Serengeti, the route sweeps through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to Ngorongoro Wild Camp, a comfortable tented camp in the highlands less than an hour from the crater rim. A full-day descent into the Ngorongoro Crater follows — 260 square kilometres of enclosed wilderness where lion prides, endangered black rhinos, wading hippos, and some of Africa's largest elephants share a single volcanic floor. You overnight in Karatu at Martina's Retreat before a final morning cultural visit to Mto wa Mbu, a vibrant village where more than 120 ethnic groups meet, before returning to Arusha.
This is a fully private safari — your own pop-up roof 4x4 vehicle, your own dedicated English-speaking guide, and your own pace throughout. Start on dates that suit you, linger at a lion pride as long as you wish, and adapt each day's route to your interests. The itinerary can be tailored on request — accommodation upgrades, extra Serengeti time, or pre/post nights in Arusha. Porcupine Tours is family-run by Johannes and Jacqueline Weigl; a portion of every booking supports the School of St. Jude in Arusha.
Safari Highlights
Central Serengeti Big Cats
Two nights inside Central Serengeti National Park put you in the Seronera heartland — year-round home to lion prides, leopards in riverine forest, and cheetah on the open plains, with Africa's highest big-cat concentrations outside the calving season.
Ngorongoro Crater Big Five
A full-day descent into the world's largest intact volcanic caldera delivers exceptional Big Five viewing — including Tanzania's best chance of spotting the endangered black rhino — in a single enclosed ecosystem of 25,000 large mammals.
Atmospheric Mid-Range Camps
Stay at Tukaone Serengeti Camps inside the park, Ngorongoro Wild Camp in the highlands, and Martina's Retreat in Karatu — comfortable tented camps and lodge accommodation with full board throughout.
Optional Balloon Safari
Drift silently above the Serengeti at sunrise in a hot air balloon — an extraordinary aerial perspective of wildlife and landscapes, followed by a champagne bush breakfast on the plains (optional, pre-bookable).
Mto wa Mbu Cultural Visit
Explore one of Tanzania's most culturally diverse villages on your final morning — local market, banana and rice farms, artisan workshops, and meaningful interaction with residents from over 120 ethnic communities.
Fully Private Safari
Your own 4x4 pop-up roof vehicle and dedicated naturalist guide — no shared groups, no fixed schedules. Set the pace, choose how long to stay at each sighting, and travel on dates that work for you.
Photo Gallery
Who Is This Safari For?
This private safari suits couples, families, and friends who want Tanzania's iconic Serengeti and Ngorongoro experience with complete control over pace and schedule. It is ideal for first-time safari-goers seeking Big Five and big cat viewing without sharing a vehicle, wildlife photographers who need flexibility to wait for the perfect shot, and travellers who prefer a focused two-park itinerary over a rushed four-park circuit. Solo travellers are welcome — a single supplement applies. Minimum age is 3 years.
Your Accommodations
Tukaone Serengeti Camps
Solar-powered tented camp inside Central Serengeti with en-suite tents and classic savannah views
Tukaone Serengeti Camps
Solar-powered tented camp inside Central Serengeti with en-suite tents and classic savannah views
Ngorongoro Wild Camp
Tented camp in the Ngorongoro Highlands with pool, bar, and restaurant — nicely removed from the busy crater rim
Martina's Retreat
Comfortable lodge, ideal Ngorongoro location
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arusha to Central Serengeti National Park
Your safari begins with a morning pick-up from your accommodation in Arusha. Board your private pop-up roof 4x4 safari vehicle and set out for Serengeti National Park — a scenic overland journey through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area highlands where Maasai pastoralists graze cattle alongside wildlife, before the landscape opens onto the legendary Serengeti plains.
The drive itself is part of the adventure: watch for giraffe, zebra, and gazelle as you approach the park, and enjoy a picnic lunch en route. You arrive at Tukaone Serengeti Camps in the late afternoon — a solar-powered tented camp inside Central Serengeti, positioned in an area crucial to cheetah and other big cat habitats. Settle in, enjoy the campfire atmosphere, and fall asleep to the sounds of the African night.
Day 2: Full Day Central Serengeti — Big Cat Country
Morning in the Serengeti is worth waking early for. Optional hot air balloon safaris depart before dawn (USD 520 per person, weather permitting) — drifting silently above the golden plains as the sun rises, with breathtaking aerial views of wildlife and landscapes below, followed by a champagne bush breakfast.
After breakfast at camp, spend the full day on game drives through Central Serengeti. The Seronera Valley hosts some of Africa's highest year-round predator densities: lion prides on the kopjes, leopards draped in acacia trees, cheetah scanning the plains, and spotted hyena never far behind. The annual wildebeest migration passes through this region at different times of year — when herds are present, the predator action intensifies dramatically.
A picnic lunch in the bush keeps you in the field through the golden afternoon light, when big cats are often most active. Return to Tukaone Serengeti Camps for dinner and another night under the stars.
Day 3: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Enjoy a final morning game drive in the Serengeti before departing for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The overland transfer offers more wildlife viewing along the way — keep your binoculars ready as the highland scenery unfolds.
Optional and weather permitting: a guided 90-minute Crater Rim Nature Walk with a resident naturalist around the lodge and crater rim. This purely educational walk reveals bird species, plants, flowers, and smaller wildlife while offering spectacular views down to the crater floor below.
Arrive at Ngorongoro Wild Camp in the afternoon — a mid-range tented camp in the Ngorongoro Highlands, less than an hour's drive from the crater rim and removed from the busier lodge areas. Giraffes and other animals often wander through the camp grounds. Dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater Full-Day Safari — Karatu
An early breakfast, then the descent into Ngorongoro Crater — 600 metres down through lush highland forest alive with birdlife, emerging onto the grassy crater floor where grazing herbivores and their predators create one of Earth's most concentrated wildlife spectacles.
The 260 sq km floor is surprisingly diverse: permanent soda lake, open savannah, mature woodland, and swamp — all enclosed by steep forested walls rising over 600 metres. Lion prides, endangered black rhinos, massive-tusked elephants, buffalo herds, hippos, and flamingos on Lake Magadi are all possible in a single day. A picnic lunch is served at a scenic site on the crater floor.
After ascending the crater walls in the afternoon, drive to Karatu and check in at Martina's Retreat — a welcoming mid-range lodge in a peaceful garden setting, perfectly positioned as your base after a long and rewarding crater day.
Day 5: Mto wa Mbu Cultural Visit — Return to Arusha
After a leisurely breakfast at Martina's Retreat, check out and drive to Mto wa Mbu village — one of Tanzania's most culturally rich communities, home to more than 120 ethnic groups living side by side.
A guided village tour takes you through the bustling local market, banana and rice farms, artisan workshops, and everyday village life. The experience offers a fascinating insight into Tanzania's cultural heritage and meaningful interaction with local residents — a fitting human counterpoint to four days of extraordinary wildlife.
After the cultural visit, drive back to Arusha for onward travel arrangements. Airport transfers can be arranged on request.
What to Expect
Expect five days of private wildlife viewing in two of Africa's greatest destinations. Your dedicated guide adapts each day to conditions and your interests — staying longer at a lion sighting, rerouting for fresh tracks, or taking an unhurried crater descent. Game drives start early when predators are most active; picnic lunches in the bush are part of the rhythm. Your private pop-up roof 4x4 is yours alone — no strangers, no group consensus on where to go. Roads inside the parks are unpaved and game drives can be bumpy; this is part of the authentic safari experience. All three overnight properties are mid-range with en-suite facilities, full board meals, and genuine bush atmosphere. Day 5 adds a cultural dimension at Mto wa Mbu before returning to Arusha.
Best Time to Visit
This private safari runs year-round on dates you choose. The from price of USD $2,100 per person applies to green season travel (April–May) with six travellers sharing your private vehicle — the best per-person rate. Couples and smaller groups pay more because vehicle and guide costs are divided among fewer people: expect from USD $2,760 per person for two travellers in green season, and from USD $2,975 in peak season (January–February, July–October, and 15 December–31 December). Shoulder months (March, June, November) sit between green and peak rates. Green season brings lush landscapes and excellent birdlife with fewer vehicles on the roads. The Ngorongoro Crater rewards visits in every month; Central Serengeti big cat viewing is exceptional year-round.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a private or shared safari?
This is a fully private safari. You travel in your own pop-up roof 4x4 with a dedicated English-speaking guide — no other guests join your vehicle. You set the pace, choose how long to stay at each sighting, and start on dates that suit your schedule.
Can we customize the itinerary or accommodations?
Yes. This route is our recommended Big Five and big cat programme, but as a private safari it can be adapted — extra time in the Serengeti, accommodation upgrades, pre- or post-safari nights in Arusha, or optional fly-in transfers to skip the Day 1 overland drive. Contact us with your preferences and travel dates for a tailored quote.
Can single travellers book this safari?
Yes. Solo travellers are welcome on a private basis. A single room supplement of approximately USD 459 per person applies for the four overnight stays, in addition to the per-person safari rate. Contact us for an exact quote on your preferred dates.
Can we see the Big Five and big cats on this safari?
Yes — this itinerary is specifically designed for Big Five and big cat viewing. Central Serengeti is one of Africa's best areas for lion, leopard, and cheetah year-round. The Ngorongoro Crater floor offers Tanzania's most reliable black rhino sightings alongside elephant, buffalo, and lion. Leopard sightings in the Serengeti are frequent in the Seronera riverine forest. While no wildlife sighting is ever guaranteed, this route consistently delivers the species most travellers come to Tanzania to see.
How does pricing work for different group sizes and seasons?
The from price of USD $2,100 per person applies to green season (April–May) with six travellers in your private vehicle. Rates vary by party size and season — for example, two travellers in green season from USD $2,760 per person, and two travellers in peak season from USD $2,975. Larger private groups always receive the lowest per-person rate because vehicle and guide costs are shared within your party. Child rates (ages 3–12) and single supplements are available on request. Contact us with your travel dates and group size for an exact quote.
Is the hot air balloon safari included?
No — the Serengeti hot air balloon flight is an optional add-on at USD 520 per person, subject to weather and availability. It departs before dawn on Day 2 and includes a champagne bush breakfast on the plains. We strongly recommend pre-booking as spaces are limited. A fly-in option to Serengeti from Arusha Airport is also available at USD 265 per person if you prefer to skip the Day 1 overland drive.
Trip Summary
- •Central Serengeti big cat country
- •Ngorongoro Crater Big Five safari
- •Mto wa Mbu cultural village visit
- •Private 4x4 with dedicated guide
- •Mid-range tented camps and lodge
- •Optional Serengeti balloon safari
Day-by-Day Overview
Pricing
From USD $2,100
What's Included
- ✓Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- ✓Professional English-speaking safari driver-guide
- ✓All national park entry fees, concession fees, and Ngorongoro Crater service fees
- ✓4 nights mid-range accommodation with meals as stated in the itinerary
- ✓Mineral water, coffee, and soft drinks on game drives
- ✓Binoculars for wildlife viewing
- ✓WiFi on safari vehicle
- ✓All government taxes and levies
Optional Add-ons
- + - Float over the Serengeti plains at dawn with breathtaking aerial views of wildlife and landscapes, followed by a champagne bush breakfast. Weather permitting; pre-bookable on Day 2.
- + - Skip the overland drive on Day 1 by flying from Arusha Airport to Serengeti — saving a full day of road transfer and arriving refreshed for afternoon game viewing.
- + - Guided 90-minute educational walk around the Ngorongoro Crater rim with a resident naturalist — birds, plants, and spectacular crater views. Weather permitting on Day 3.
- + - Private transfer between Kilimanjaro International Airport and your Arusha accommodation before or after the tour.
Essential Travel Info
- •Visa: $50 ($100 US citizens)
- •Currency: USD preferred (post-2006 notes)
- •Temperatures: 27-29°C day, 15°C nights
- •Clothing: Neutral colors, warm layers
- •Camera: Telephoto lens recommended
Explore More Tanzania Safari Destinations
Combine 5-Day Big Five & Cats with these incredible wildlife areas
Serengeti National Park
Northern Tanzania
A Serengeti safari is Africa's most iconic wildlife experience — and for good reason. Spanning 14,750 square kilometres of pristine savanna, the Serengeti National Park hosts the Great Migration, where over two million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles thunder across endless plains in one of nature's most breathtaking spectacles. The Serengeti — meaning 'endless plains' in the Maasai language — is Tanzania's oldest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, established in 1952 to protect one of Earth's most extraordinary ecosystems. Beyond the migration, the Serengeti is home to Africa's densest lion population, with over 3,000 individuals roaming the plains, alongside leopards draped over acacia branches, cheetahs sprinting across open grasslands, and massive herds of elephants and buffalo. Whether you visit during the dramatic calving season in the southern plains (December–March), the Grumeti River crossings of the western corridor (June–July), or the legendary Mara River crossings in the north (August–October), a Serengeti safari delivers unforgettable wildlife encounters at every season of the year.
Ngorongoro Crater
Northern Tanzania
Descend into Africa's Eden - a UNESCO World Heritage Site where a volcanic caldera collapsed 3 million years ago, creating the world's largest intact crater. This natural amphitheater spans 260 square kilometers and hosts the highest concentration of wildlife in Africa, making it the best place to see the Big Five in Tanzania.
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