There’s a purpose the Serengeti sits on the high of most individuals’s safari bucket listing. Countless golden plains, extra predators than what to do with, and skies that make you perceive why “massive sky nation” will get used so liberally in East Africa. That is the itinerary I’d ship to anybody asking the way to do a brief however significantly impactful Serengeti safari — 4 nights within the coronary heart of the park, bookended by two very totally different cities, and one hard-won lesson in regards to the Ngorongoro Crater street that I’m passing on so that you don’t should be taught it the way in which we did.
The brief model: fly into Nairobi, drive to Arusha, hop on a bush aircraft into the Serengeti, keep 4 nights at Nimali Serengeti, then loop again by way of Ngorongoro Crater into Arusha for 3 nights of pure restoration on the Gran Meliá. Let’s get caught into this 4-day Serengeti safari itinerary.
Earlier than we get into the day-by-day, listed below are the questions I get requested most, beginning with the one which shapes the entire journey.
One of the simplest ways to get to the Serengeti?
Definitely, flying. The central Serengeti is round 225km from Arusha because the crow flies, and far additional by street. The flight into Seronera airstrip takes about an hour, in comparison with 9 hours on a really bumpy, dusty street. I’m afraid of flying, nevertheless it was so price it. You cross over Ngorongoro Crater, then swoop down over the good migration earlier than touchdown within the coronary heart of the Serengeti, which you merely can’t replicate from a automotive. The flight was tremendous easy too.
The very best place to remain within the Serengeti?
Central Serengeti has one of many highest densities of wildlife on this planet, with predator motion that’s unmatched year-round. The infinite plains and rocky kopjes make it really feel like a real-life Lion King. Southern Serengeti is the perfect spot for cheetahs, so it is dependent upon your objectives, and you may simply do each in a single journey. I’d base your self in Central Serengeti, although, particularly if the migration is there. There are some lovely luxurious camps to select from, and Nimali and Asilia are my favourites.
The very best time to go to the Serengeti?
It’s unbelievable year-round, but when I had to decide on, I’d go through the nice migration. It passes via between April and June, then returns round October and November.
How a lot does it value?
The Serengeti has the best park charges in Africa, nevertheless it’s additionally the perfect place on this planet for wildlife, particularly predators. Lodging ranges from price range camps to luxurious villas, and I’d intention for at the least a mid-tier camp. Settle for that it isn’t low-cost, nevertheless it’ll be the journey of a lifetime and can eclipse any safari you’ve achieved earlier than.
4 days within the Serengeti prices anyplace from $750 to $4,000+. Group excursions that drive from Arusha by way of Tarangire are the most affordable choice, however you’ll share a car and spend most of your time getting from A to B somewhat than watching wildlife.
Finest recommendation!
There are two sorts of guides within the Serengeti: tour guides and subject guides. Tour guides are based mostly in Arusha and take friends on an extended loop via locations like Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara earlier than reaching the Serengeti. The autos are often packed, and for my part friends miss the true expertise, shuttled from cease to cease with little time at every sighting. Area guides are based mostly on the camps contained in the park. They know the world finest and supply a much more intimate safari.
In case you can, e book your safari bundle via your lodging somewhat than a tour firm.
With all that in thoughts, right here’s precisely the way it performed out, beginning with landing in Nairobi.
Day One: London to Nairobi
We flew direct from London to Nairobi and landed within the night. In case you’ve achieved any analysis into East Africa journey, you’ll already know the recommendation: don’t try an extended drive after a long-haul flight, and positively don’t do it after darkish. So somewhat than push straight on to Tanzania, we inbuilt an in a single day keep in Nairobi to reset, get some sleep, and begin the journey correctly rested somewhat than operating on fumes.
It’s a small addition to the itinerary, nevertheless it makes a real distinction to how you are feeling on day two.
Day Two: Nairobi to Arusha, then a Bush Aircraft into the Serengeti
This was the logistics-heavy day, nevertheless it’s additionally the place the journey begins to really feel like a correct journey. From Nairobi, we drove south throughout the border into Tanzania, arriving about 6 hours later in Arusha, the place to begin for safaris in Tarangire, Ngorongoro and, after all, the Serengeti.
From Arusha, as an alternative of the lengthy overland route, we caught a bush aircraft into Seronera Airstrip, proper within the coronary heart of central Serengeti. Fast disclaimer: I’m afraid of flying… and particularly afraid of flying in a small, 12-seater bush aircraft. Nonetheless, there’s nothing fairly like hovering above the Ngorongoro Crater and watching the panorama shift from inexperienced mountains to the flat, dry grasslands of the Serengeti. The flight is simply about 1 hour from Arusha to Seronera (relying on stops)… and what number of occasions the pilot must swoop down above the wildebeest to clear them from the airstrip. An expertise I received’t be forgetting in a rush!
Flying vs driving into the Serengeti: that is the only finest choice we made on this complete itinerary. A street switch from Arusha into the central Serengeti can take the perfect a part of a day on tough tracks. The bush flight takes about an hour, and also you land with loads of time left for sport drives.
Days Three to Six: 4 Nights at Nimali Serengeti
Touching down at Seronera, we had been met by our information and pushed the brief distance to Nimali Serengeti, our base for the following 4 nights and, with out query, among the finest safari camps I’ve stayed in.
Nimali Serengeti sits near Makoma Hill within the central a part of the park — prime, year-round game-viewing territory, whether or not or not the Nice Migration occurs to be passing via on the time of 12 months you go to. Fortunately for us, it was! The camp itself is intimate: a small assortment of elevated tented suites with sweeping views over the plains, every with an outside bathe and a bath that makes post-game-drive downtime really feel correctly indulgent somewhat than an afterthought.
Enjoyable details in regards to the Serengeti:
- The Serengeti ecosystem spans roughly 30,000 km² throughout Tanzania and Kenya
- “Serengeti” comes from the Maasai phrase siringet, which means “the place the place the land runs on without end”.
- It’s dwelling to the Nice Migration — over two million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle shifting in a steady loop.
- Central Serengeti (the place Nimali sits) gives sturdy sport viewing year-round, migration or not.
The Serengeti actually is safari on simple mode. We noticed numerous lion prides, some sitting excessive on the kopjes, others hanging out in timber, cheetahs scanning the plains from termite mounds, and naturally the good migration of wildebeest and zebra. Early-morning and late-afternoon sport drives out of Nimali are genuinely among the finest wildlife encounters I’ve had anyplace in Africa.
High tip:
4 nights is the candy spot right here. It’s sufficient time to have a gradual morning or two, get a number of sport drives in several instructions from camp, and never really feel such as you’re racing the clock each single day.
Feeling impressed by the thought of an African safari? Check out a few of our different journey guides for extra journey inspiration.
Day Seven: The Lengthy Method Again — Serengeti to Arusha by way of Ngorongoro Crater
That is the day I’d do otherwise if I went once more.
We drove out of the Serengeti again in direction of Arusha, by way of the Ngorongoro Crater. The drive takes you out of the Serengeti after which climbs up via Masai territory till reaching the crater rim, the place you’ll be able to benefit from the immense view earlier than progressively descending towards Arusha. In case you can construct in an in a single day keep on the crater rim, it’d be price it to take pleasure in a sport drive on the crater ground the following day, however sadly we didn’t issue this into our journey.
Nevertheless — and that is the sincere bit — the drive itself was 9 hours. From central Serengeti to Arusha was 9 hours on winding, tough and really dusty roads, which, to be sincere, I by no means wish to do once more. By the point we rolled into Arusha we had been flattened, and that’s actually the one draw back to an in any other case unbelievable itinerary.
My sincere advice: if crossing the crater rim isn’t a non-negotiable for you, fly again to Arusha as an alternative. You’ll save the perfect a part of a full day and arrive at your subsequent resort with some power left to really take pleasure in it. In case you do need Ngorongoro Crater in your journey, I’d construct in an in a single day close to the crater rim somewhat than making an attempt to drive the entire route in a single push — it turns a brutal switch day into a correct two-day spotlight.
Days Eight to Ten: Three Nights on the Gran Meliá Arusha
After that drive, arriving on the Gran Meliá Arusha felt like touchdown in paradise. This was, genuinely, the proper technique to shut out the journey.
The Gran Meliá is presently the one luxurious resort in Arusha, and it reveals in each element. The design leans into its setting between the Serengeti and Kilimanjaro — Tanzanian tribal motifs woven via trendy interiors, heat coffee-bean tones, and a way of scale and polish that’s genuinely uncommon on this a part of Tanzania. The resort rises up out of surrounding espresso and tea plantations, and the grounds really feel like a correct inexperienced oasis after days spent on dusty safari tracks — manicured gardens, an infinity pool, and sufficient shaded terrace house to spend total afternoons doing completely nothing.
Meals was an actual spotlight too — a number of on-site eating places meant we didn’t get bored over three nights, from worldwide menus to extra elevated choices, all executed correctly somewhat than feeling like customary resort fare.
Why three nights works so nicely right here: after the depth of a Serengeti safari (early begins, lengthy drives, sensory overload in one of the best ways), you really need downtime that seems like downtime. Three nights on the Gran Meliá gave us time to correctly decompress — pool days, spa visits, good meals, and 0 alarm clocks — earlier than going through the journey dwelling.
Day Eleven: Arusha to Nairobi, and the Flight Dwelling to London
The ultimate leg mirrored day two in reverse: a drive from Arusha again throughout the border to Nairobi, then a flight again to London. It’s an extended closing day, however by this level you’re operating on the type of contentment that makes journey days really feel much more bearable.
Fast-Reference Itinerary
| Day | The place | What |
| 1 | London → Nairobi | In a single day keep to reset after the flight |
| 2 | Nairobi → Arusha → Serengeti | Drive to Arusha, bush aircraft to Seronera Airstrip |
| 3–6 | Serengeti Nationwide Park | 4 nights at Nimali Serengeti |
| 7 | Serengeti → Arusha | Drive by way of Ngorongoro Crater (9 hrs — fly should you can) |
| 8–10 | Arusha | 3 nights at Gran Meliá Arusha |
| 11 | Arusha → Nairobi → London | Drive to Nairobi, fly dwelling |
Closing Ideas on This 4-Day Serengeti Safari Itinerary
In case you’re weighing up the way to construction a Tanzania safari journey, this route offers you the perfect of each worlds: complete immersion within the Serengeti’s wildlife, with out the journey feeling like an endurance check from begin to end. The bush aircraft switch is what makes it work — defend as a lot of your Serengeti time as doable by flying somewhat than driving wherever you’ll be able to, and save the street miles for the one leg the place the surroundings (Ngorongoro Crater) genuinely earns it.
And no matter you do, price range in correct restoration time on the finish. After days like those you’ll have within the Serengeti, an oasis just like the Gran Meliá Arusha isn’t a luxurious — it’s mainly a necessity.
Have you ever been to Serengeti?
What had been your ideas on visiting Serengeti Nationwide Park? Something you’d add to this Serengeti bucket listing?