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A short break into the bush: one night out, one full day in the Ngorongoro Crater. This is the trip for people who have a weekend, not a week, and still want the Crater properly — not a rushed half-day glimpse.
Day one is a game drive into Tarangire, known for its elephant herds and the big old baobabs along the river. Day two is the Crater floor from morning until the afternoon climb back out, before the drive home to Arusha.
The price below is a starting point. It moves with the season, your group size, and which of the three accommodation levels you pick. Tell us your dates and numbers and we'll quote it properly.
Travel on your own schedule — dates, pace and accommodation level are yours to choose. Tell us your group size and preferred dates on the enquiry form below and we'll confirm exact pricing.
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You're collected from your hotel in Arusha, Kilimanjaro International Airport, or Arusha Airport mid-morning, and the drive south-west to Tarangire takes a little under two hours. The tarmac gives way to the open acacia country of the Maasai Steppe, and by the time you reach the park gate the pace of the trip has already changed — this is bush time now, not clock time.
Tarangire is built around the Tarangire River, the only permanent water source for miles in the dry months, and that single fact shapes everything you'll see this afternoon. Elephant herds of thirty, forty, sometimes over a hundred move along the riverbanks and through the golden grass, and the park's ancient baobabs — some of them well over five hundred years old — stand scattered across the landscape like something out of an older world. Between June and October the concentration of wildlife along the river corridor rivals anywhere in northern Tanzania.
Beyond the elephants, Tarangire's swamps and grasslands hold good numbers of giraffe, zebra, buffalo and impala, along with tree-climbing pythons and over 550 recorded bird species, making the late afternoon light here as much a birder's stop as a game drive.
An early start puts you at the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater as the morning mist is still lifting off the caldera floor. The descent road drops 610 metres over about half an hour, and the change in scenery is immediate: the crater floor is 260 square kilometres of grassland, swamp and soda lake, enclosed by walls that keep a resident population of roughly 25,000 large mammals within reach of a single day's game drive.
This is one of the most reliable places in Africa to find all of the Big Five in a single outing. Lion prides move openly across the short grass, herds of buffalo and wildebeest graze near the Lerai forest, and the crater is one of the few remaining strongholds of the critically endangered black rhino. Spotted hyena clans, some of the largest and best-studied in the world, are a near-guaranteed sighting here — Ngorongoro's crater floor has one of the highest hyena densities on the continent.
By mid-afternoon you climb back out of the crater and begin the drive back to Arusha, arriving in the early evening in time for your onward flight or a last night before departure.
Per person, by group size — pick an accommodation level to compare
A comfortable, family-run lodge close to Tarangire's entrance gate.
| 2 people | 4 people | 6 people |
|---|---|---|
| $800 per person | $560 per person | $480 per person |
Set on the rift valley escarpment with views over the Manyara basin.
| 2 people | 4 people | 6 people |
|---|---|---|
| $930 per person | $705 per person | $630 per person |
Our top-tier pick for this route, with coffee-farm surroundings near the Ngorongoro highlands.
| 2 people | 4 people | 6 people |
|---|---|---|
| $1,090 per person | $850 per person | $770 per person |
Prices are a starting point — they move with season, exact dates and final group size. Tell us your details on the enquiry form below and we'll confirm the exact figure.
So there are no surprises once you book
Comfortable lodges and camps for your stay
A comfortable, family-run lodge close to Tarangire's entrance gate.
Set on the rift valley escarpment with views over the Manyara basin.
Our top-tier pick for this route, with coffee-farm surroundings near the Ngorongoro highlands.
What makes this experience exceptional
A full day in Tarangire, a full day on the Crater floor — not a squeezed day trip.
Three accommodation levels and any group size. We quote it to fit, not the other way round.
Every booking contributes toward the share of profit we commit to the community projects we run with ERIPOTO.
Fill in the form below and our team will get back to you within 24 hours with a customized itinerary and quote.
Our specialists will help you prepare every step of the way.
Receive a detailed, no-obligation itinerary and price breakdown within 24 hours.
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