
5-Day Luxury Honeymoon Safari
Five days on the northern circuit with luxury lodges chosen for where they are, not only how they look — so you spend your time on game drives, not in the car.
About this safari
Five days on the northern circuit with luxury lodges chosen for where they are, not only how they look — so you spend your time on game drives, not in the car. Ends in Arusha or with a flight to Zanzibar.
This 5 days private safari starts in Arusha and takes you to Two nights at a luxury lodge in the central Serengeti, Optional sunrise balloon flight with a champagne bush breakfast, A luxury tented camp in the Ngorongoro highlands, Private guide and vehicle throughout. Your own vehicle and guide set the pace, and every stay and transfer is confirmed around your dates.
Safari snapshot
A quick look at the route, day by day.
| Day | Place | Highlights | Hotel options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arusha to Tarangire and the Ngorongoro highlands | Crater floor game drive · black rhino · Lerai forest | Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge, or similar |
| Day 2 | Into the Serengeti | Full-day game drives · lions and leopards · migration in season | Meliá Serengeti Lodge, or similar |
| Day 3 | A full day in the Serengeti | Full-day game drives · lions and leopards · migration in season | Meliá Serengeti Lodge, or similar |
| Day 4 | Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area | Full-day game drives · lions and leopards · migration in season | Ngorongoro Lion's Paw Camp, or similar |
| Day 5 | Ngorongoro Crater and back to Arusha | Crater floor game drive · black rhino · Lerai forest | Departure |
Ways to customise this trip
- Add a night in the bush, a cultural visit or a balloon flight
- Upgrade your stays or finish with beach time in Zanzibar
Route
- Day 1Tarangire
- Day 2Serengeti
- Day 3Serengeti
- Day 4Ngorongoro Crater
- Day 5Ngorongoro Crater
Day by day
Here is how the days run. We can adjust the route around your dates and the pace you want.
1Day 1Arusha to Tarangire and the Ngorongoro highlandsNgorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge, or similar / Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A two-hour drive from Arusha past Maasai herders brings you to Tarangire for a long game drive among elephants and baobabs, with a picnic lunch in the park. In the afternoon, climb to the cooler Ngorongoro highlands for your first lodge night. Ngorongoro Crater is a world of its own: grassland, swamp, the yellow-barked Lerai forest and a soda lake, all ringed by steep walls. Going down early gives you the best light and the quietest hour on the crater floor before you climb back to the rim. A packed lunch is eaten out in the park, often within sight of grazing herds. You return to Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge, or similar as the sun drops, with time to rest before dinner. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included today.
- Main stop
- Tarangire
- Accommodation
- Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge, or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
2Day 2Into the SerengetiMeliá Serengeti Lodge, or similar / Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Cross the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and descend onto the Serengeti plains. The drive becomes a game drive as soon as you pass the gate — look for lion, cheetah, elephant and the big herds — before arriving at your lodge for dinner. The Serengeti covers almost 15,000 km² of grassland, woodland and kopjes. Over the day your guide follows the wildlife rather than a fixed route — where the migration herds are depends on the month, but lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants and giraffe live here all year. An optional sunrise balloon flight over the Serengeti can be booked for this morning (extra cost). Lunch is a picnic in the park, usually at a viewpoint or under a big tree, so no time is lost driving back to camp. In the late afternoon you check in at Meliá Serengeti Lodge, or similar, with time to freshen up before dinner and a briefing from your guide about tomorrow. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included today.
- Main stop
- Serengeti
- Accommodation
- Meliá Serengeti Lodge, or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
3Day 3A full day in the SerengetiMeliá Serengeti Lodge, or similar / Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Explore the Seronera valley, where kopjes and year-round water hold wildlife in every season. Lunch is served in the bush. Start the day with a hot-air balloon flight over the plains if you like, landing to a champagne breakfast. Game drives in the Serengeti have an easy rhythm: out at first light when predators are most active, back to the vehicle's shade for a picnic, and a long afternoon drive as the light turns golden. Your guide is in radio contact with other guides and knows where the herds have moved. Your guide picks a shady spot for a picnic lunch in the field, keeping the whole middle of the day for wildlife. The evening is spent at Meliá Serengeti Lodge, or similar: a hot shower, sundowners as the light fades, and dinner while you compare the day's sightings. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included today.
- Main stop
- Serengeti
- Accommodation
- Meliá Serengeti Lodge, or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
4Day 4Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Conservation AreaNgorongoro Lion's Paw Camp, or similar / Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A morning game drive, a stop at the Serengeti visitor centre, then the drive south-east past Simba Kopjes to the Ngorongoro highlands and a luxury tented camp near the crater rim. With another day in the same area, your guide can explore sections you haven't seen yet, return at first light to a promising sighting, or wait patiently where the animals are gathering. You return to Ngorongoro Lion's Paw Camp, or similar as the sun drops, with time to rest before dinner. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included today.
- Main stop
- Ngorongoro
- Accommodation
- Ngorongoro Lion's Paw Camp, or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
5Day 5Ngorongoro Crater and back to ArushaBreakfast, Lunch

Descend into the crater early and look for elephants in the Lerai Forest, lions on the plains and black rhino in the open grass. Lunch on the crater floor, then a scenic drive of about three and a half hours back to Arusha — or the airport for a flight to Zanzibar. You descend 600 metres down the crater wall to the floor of Ngorongoro, a 260 km² caldera that holds one of the densest concentrations of wildlife in Africa. Over the morning you look for lions, spotted hyenas, buffalo, zebra, elephant bulls and the rare black rhino, with flamingos on Lake Magadi and hippos at the Ngoitoktok spring. At the end of the game drive your guide takes you to the airstrip for your flight back to Zanzibar, arriving in time to reach your beach hotel for the evening.
- Main stop
- Ngorongoro Crater
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation
Where you stay on this trip. We can move the comfort level up or down when we plan your dates.
Day 1Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge, or similar
Days 2, 3Meliá Serengeti Lodge, or similar
Day 4Ngorongoro Lion's Paw Camp, or similarTour rates
Your price depends on your dates, group size and the stays you choose. We confirm it in writing once we have checked availability.
Prices are per person and assume shared rooms. Season, park fees, group size, flights and lodge availability all affect the final quote.
Get my exact quoteWhat’s included
Included
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Park entrance and conservation fees for the itinerary
- Accommodation as listed, or similar
- Meals as listed and bottled drinking water in the vehicle
- Airport or hotel transfers at the start and end
Not included
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips for guides and lodge staff
- Drinks at lodges and personal expenses
- Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
- Hot-air balloon flight (optional add-on)
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Read guideFrequently asked questions
Can this 5 days itinerary be changed?
Yes. We can review your dates, daily pace, room preferences and interests, then build a specific proposal. Changes to flights, activities or park nights may affect cost and availability.
Which accommodation will I stay in?
Your proposal will name the properties and room categories for each night. Any stays shown here are planning options and remain subject to availability; alternative properties are agreed before confirmation.
What wildlife will we see?
On this route, look out for — Serengeti: wildebeest, lion, leopard; Ngorongoro Crater: black rhino, lion, spotted hyena; Tarangire: elephant, lion, yellow-collared lovebird. Sightings depend on the season and the animals themselves, so particular species, migration movements and river crossings can't be guaranteed.
Can I change the route and accommodation?
Yes. The published routes are starting points. Tell us your dates, interests and preferred comfort level so we can adjust nights, transfers and activities before quoting.
What determines the final price?
The travel season, number of travellers sharing a vehicle, park fees, room arrangements, lodge availability and domestic flights all affect cost. Your written proposal will identify inclusions and optional extras.
Can the safari finish in Zanzibar?
A mainland safari can connect with Zanzibar by a separately arranged domestic flight. Leave enough time for the transfer and confirm baggage allowances before booking flights.
When is the best time to do this safari?
For the places on this route — Serengeti: Year-round; calving Jan–Mar, river crossings Jul–Oct. Ngorongoro Crater: Year-round; driest June to October. Tarangire: June to October for the elephant herds. Tell us your month and we will set the route and camps to match.
How many days do I need?
Two or three days suit Tarangire and Ngorongoro. Four to six days let you add the Serengeti without rushing, and seven or more give time for extra parks, a cultural visit or the coast. Fewer long drives usually means a better trip.
Is the safari private?
Our tailor-made safaris are private: your own vehicle and guide, and a daily pace set around your group. Shared departures can sometimes be arranged for solo travellers — ask us and we’ll explain the options.
What vehicle will we travel in?
Game drives are in a 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for viewing and photography. Your proposal confirms the vehicle and seating for your group size.
Is a safari suitable for children?
Yes, with the right planning. We keep drives shorter, choose family-friendly rooms and build in rest time. Some camps and activities have minimum ages, so please share each child’s age when you enquire.
Can you cater for dietary needs?
Most lodges and camps can prepare vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and other meals with notice. Tell us about allergies or requirements when you enquire and we’ll pass them to every property on your route.
Do I need vaccinations or malaria tablets?
Requirements depend on your nationality and recent travel, and a yellow fever certificate may be needed if you arrive from certain countries. Malaria precautions are generally advised. Please check with a travel health clinic before you go.
What should I budget for tips?
Tipping is not compulsory but is customary for guides and lodge staff. We include current guidance with your proposal so you can plan for it in advance.
Will there be Wi-Fi and charging?
Many lodges and camps offer charging points and some Wi-Fi, but the connection can be slow or limited to main areas in remote parks. A spare power bank is useful on game drives.
How far in advance should I book?
For July to October and the holiday season, three to nine months ahead gives the best choice of camps. Shorter notice is often possible — send us your dates and we’ll check availability.
A few details.
A good beginning.
Tell us who is coming and what you would love to find here. We’ll send back a route you can read, question and make your own.
- Planned around your dates and interests
- Midrange or luxury, at your pace
- A personal conversation with our local team


