There is something almost cinematic about flying into the Serengeti rather than driving toward it, the endless plains rising up beneath the aircraft before you’ve had time to fully arrive. This three-day safari takes exactly that approach, a short internal flight from Arusha straight into the heart of the park, with game drives beginning the moment you land.
Serengeti takes its name from the Maasai word for endless plains, and it lives up to the description at every turn, home to some of the densest predator populations left in Africa: lion, cheetah, leopard and hyena among grasslands that genuinely seem to have no edge. From there, the journey continues to the Ngorongoro Crater, one of the seven natural wonders of Africa, formed when a volcano collapsed some two million years ago and left behind a self-contained ecosystem holding the highest concentration of wildlife anywhere on the continent, including some of the best remaining chances to see the rare black rhino.
A short safari that asks nothing of your patience and everything of your attention, flown in, driven through, and thoroughly worth both days spent.
This itinerary suits travellers who want the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater without the overland drive time, ideal for shorter trips, add-ons to a beach stay in Zanzibar, or anyone who simply prefers to spend their time on game drives rather than in transit. It works equally well for first-time visitors after the classic Tanzania highlights and for repeat travellers looking for an efficient, high-impact return to the region.
Because this itinerary centres on Seronera and Ngorongoro Crater rather than following the migration itself, it holds up well across most of the year. January to March coincides with the calving season on the southern plains, June to October is the dry season peak with the clearest game viewing conditions, and April, May and November are simply quieter, not lesser, options for travellers who prefer fewer vehicles at the same sightings.
You’ll be collected from anywhere in Arusha town and transferred to Arusha Airport for the short internal flight to Seronera Airstrip, departing at 9:30am and landing by 11:15am, deep in the heart of the Serengeti. Your guide meets you on arrival, and the safari begins almost immediately with a game drive and picnic lunch across a landscape that takes its name, fittingly, from the Maasai word for endless plains. Few grasslands anywhere support this density of predators, healthy populations of lion, cheetah, leopard, hyena and wild dog roam here, alongside the herbivores that sustain them and no shortage of other wildlife your guide will be glad to track down with you. In the evening, you’ll head to camp for dinner and your overnight stay.
After breakfast, you’ll spend the morning on a further game drive safari across the Serengeti’s rolling plains, tracking the reserve’s large predators and the herbivores they depend on, from a different vantage point each time your guide finds a new stretch of grassland worth exploring. In the late afternoon, you’ll travel on to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, arriving in time for dinner and an overnight stay ahead of tomorrow’s descent into the crater itself.
After a good breakfast and with picnic lunches in hand, you’ll descend into the Ngorongoro Crater itself, one of the seven natural wonders of Africa, formed when a volcano collapsed roughly two million years ago and left behind an ecosystem unlike anywhere else on the continent. The crater holds the highest concentration of wildlife found anywhere in Africa, home to numerous lion prides, buffalo, zebra and wildebeest, and offering one of the best remaining chances anywhere to spot the rare black rhino. After a memorable day on the crater floor, your guide transfers you back to Arusha for drop-off.
Pricing
This safari is available from $1,550 per person, with rates varying by travel dates, camp selection and group size. Speak with our team for a full, tailored quotation.
Why travel with us
We keep group sizes intentionally small so every guest gets the attention, flexibility, and authenticity a safari deserves.
Our guides are born from the landscapes they lead. Decades of knowledge, sharp eyes, and a genuine passion for East African wildlife.
From comprehensive pre-trip briefings to 24-hour in-country support, your safety and comfort are always our first consideration.
Every safari we operate contributes to wildlife conservation and local community projects across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
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