5 day Serengeti safari: Ultimate Tanzania Safari Itinerary & Costs
5 day Serengeti Safari: Ultimate Tanzania Safari Itinerary & Costs. This 5 days Serengeti safari holiday offers travelers a full immersion into one of Africa’s most famous wildernesses in the Northern Circuit Tanzania National Parks area. Unlike short trips to Serengeti National Park, this 5 days Tanzania safari itinerary gives you enough time to explore the endless plains of the Serengeti. Also, get the opportunity to witness the Wildebeest Migration in Serengeti, which happens from July to October and from December to February.
In addition, enjoy unforgettable wildlife sightings including the “Big Five in Tanzania”, lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinos. This 5 day Serengeti safari will use road transport from Arusha, one of the prominent cities of Tanzania, to Serengeti National Park. Hence, it gives you the chance to enjoy beautiful landscapes, cultural encounters, and a gradual transition from the bustling town to the raw wilderness of the park. You will sleep in a luxury Serengeti lodge called Meliá Serengeti Lodge for four nights, and other costs involved in this trip will be highlighted
When is the Best and Worst Time for the 5 Day Serengeti Safari?
The best time for this 5 days Serengeti National Park safari is in the dry season from late June to October. So, this is the most rewarding and ideal time to visit Serengeti. During this period, large numbers of wildebeests accompanied by the zebras and gazelles, gather for the Great Migration in Tanzania. Additionally, these animals are often spotted crossing the Mara and Grumeti rivers while escaping predators like the lions and cheetahs.
The worst time for the 5 days Serengeti migration safari is from March to May. So, during this period, heavy rains fall across northern Tanzania, and some roads in Serengeti become impassable. Hence, limits the entry points to the park, thereby causing congestion on the roads. Although the park is still open in these months, the safari experience for this 5 day Serengeti safari itinerary is less profitable compared to the dry seasons.
Summary of 5 Day Serengeti Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Arusha to Serengeti
- Drive 6–7 hours from Arusha to Serengeti via Ngorongoro, stop at Crater viewpoint.
- Afternoon game drive to see giraffes and the big 5 in Serengeti including elephants and lions. Stay at Meliá Serengeti Lodge.
Day 2: Central Serengeti Game Drive safaris
- Sunrise game drive in Seronera Valley for predators, elephants, birds. Picnic lunch.
- Explore plains, kopjes. Return to Meliá Serengeti Lodge for dinner.
Day 3: Serengeti Migration Safari
- Track migration in Northern (Jul–Oct) or Western (May–Jul) Serengeti.
- See wildebeest river crossings, hippos, and leopards. Picnic lunch, dinner at the Serengeti lodge.
Day 4: Mara River Crossings
- Explore the Mara River for wildebeest crossings and predators. Packed lunch.
- Tanzanian cuisine dinner at Meliá Serengeti Lodge.
Day 5: Return to Arusha
- Morning game drive, breakfast. Drive back to Arusha with optional market stops.
What is Included?
- All meals during this 5 days safari to Serengeti
- Pick-up and road transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle in Tanzania
- Serengeti National Park entrance fees
- Accommodation at Meliá Serengeti Lodge ($600 to $1,200 per person per night, depending on the room type and season)
- Professional guide/driver
- Bottled drinking water
What is Excluded?
- International or domestic flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips and personal expenses (souvenirs, alcoholic drinks, laundry, etc.)
- Optional cultural village visits
Activities to do in this 5 day Serengeti Safari
- Game drives (Days 1–5): Spot lions, elephants, wildebeests, and more.
- Scenic drive: Arusha to Serengeti via Ngorongoro (Days 1, 5).
- Ngorongoro Crater viewpoint (Day 1).
- Wildlife photography: Plains, kopjes, river crossings (Days 2, 4).
- Great Migration tracking (Day 3).
- Wildebeest river crossings (Day 4).
- Birdwatching in Seronera Valley (Day 2).
- Picnic lunches (Days 2–4).
- Dining: Buffet and Tanzanian cuisine at Meliá Serengeti Lodge (Days 1–4).
- Optional craft market visits (Day 5)
Note: You can customise this 5-day Serengeti safari and choose where to stay, activities to do in Tanzania, and more
Packing essentials for the 5 day Serengeti Safari
- A backpack
- Sunglasses and a hat
- First aid kit
- Comfortable hiking boots
- Neutral-colored clothing
- Hydration pack / reusable water bottle
- Binoculars and a camera with extra memory cards
- Sunscreen and insect repellent
- Travel documents (passport, visa, and travel insurance)
Detailed Itinerary for your 5 day Serengeti Safari from Arusha
Day 1: Departure from Arusha and transfer to Serengeti National Park
Your 5-day Serengeti Safari from Arusha begins with a pick up early from your hotel in Arusha around 6:30 AM after breakfast. The drive will take approximately 6–7 hours and 325 km, taking you through the Ngorongoro Highlands. So, you’ll stop briefly at the Ngorongoro Crater viewpoint for stunning panoramic views. Along the way, admire the rural countryside, Maasai villages, and open savannahs before entering the Serengeti through the Naabi Hill Gate.
After the Serengeti park entry formalities are worked on by your Serengeti Masai Mara Experts guide, you’ll proceed for your first afternoon game drive. Expect to encounter the giraffes, zebras, and the big 5 in Tanzania, including elephants, prides of lions resting under acacia trees. In the evening, settle into Meliá Serengeti Lodge, which is one of the luxury Serengeti lodges where you’ll have a buffet Dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 2: Full Day Game Drive in Central Serengeti (Spot the big cats and more)
Wake up early for a sunrise game drive after having a phenomenal morning meal. So, at dawn, it’s the best time to witness predators like lions and leopards hunting. The central Serengeti, especially the Seronera Valley, is rich in wildlife year-round due to its permanent water sources. Also, it has food available for the animals, including the savannah plains and prey for the predators. Hence, you might see cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, and many bird species.
After a picnic lunch under the shade of acacias, continue exploring the plains. The central Serengeti area offers endless Tanzania photo safari opportunities with golden savannahs. Also, the rocky outcrops (kopjes) are under the dazzling sunny skies. Return to the Meliá Serengeti Lodge for an evening rest after your evening meal.
Day 3: Serengeti Migration Safari (See wildebeests in Tanzania, zebras, and more)
During the 5 days Serengeti migration safari on this day, you will first have breakfast. Depending on the African wildebeest migration season, you’ll head towards the Northern Serengeti near the Mara River. So, that’s in the months between July and October or towards the Western Corridor in the months from May to July. In addition, these are the months when the great herds are circulating around this area. So, witness river crossings of wildebeests while avoiding crocodiles in these areas. Thus, today’s game drive will take you deeper into remote, untouched wilderness with fewer vehicles compared to the central Serengeti.
Hence, you will enjoy a more productive and personal wildlife touch since the Game drives en route will expose you to giraffes. Also, other animals to spot include topis, hippos, and possibly leopards along the riverbanks. During the day, stop at a designated picnic area for a packed lunch. Later in the evening, dinner will be at your luxury Serengeti lodge, but this time under the sky covered in stars.
Day 4: Experience the dramatic Mara River crossings in the Serengeti
Enjoy your breakfast before you prepare to spend the entire day exploring the Mara River region. So, this is the highlight on this 4th day of the 5-day Serengeti safari tour package. Next, witness the dramatic wildebeest river crossings on Mara River, where thousands of animals flood into crocodile-infested waters. Also, the most beautiful part of this experience is that even if you miss a crossing, observing the movements of the sheer numbers of wildebeest and zebras in the area is breathtaking.
Additionally, predators are also highly active during these traverses, with lions and hyenas lurking to ambush prey. This is one of the most rewarding Tanzania safari holidays for photographers, as this is the magical moment to capture these unforgettable moments. On the way, you will eat your packed meal that the chefs at the Meliá Serengeti Lodge will have prepared for you. Lastly, in the evening, feast on a traditional Tanzanian cuisine at this lodge before you sleep.
Day 5: Morning Game Drives & Return to Arusha for departure
Enjoy a final early morning game drive in the Serengeti after having your last morning cuisine at the Meliá Serengeti Lodge. Also, witness the golden sun rise over Serengeti. After breakfast, begin your return journey towards Arusha. Depending on time and arrangements, you may pass through the Ngorongoro area again. Also, have optional stops at local craft markets as you reminisce about this 5-day Serengeti National Park safari. Then you will arrive back in Arusha in the evening, marking the end of your 5-day Serengeti safari holidays in Tanzania.
Why Should One opt for a 5-Day Serengeti Safari holiday?
- There’s an extended wildlife exploration in Tanzania’s Serengeti over the five days. So, the travelers can visit most of the regions in the park, including the Seronera Valley, which is a habitat famous for predators. Also, the Mara region, which is known for the great wildebeest migration, varies depending on the season. Hence, allows varied safari experiences and greater chances of witnessing dramatic predator-prey interactions.
- Similarly, with this 5-day Tanzania safari to Serengeti, you stand a better chance of witnessing the wildebeest migration at different stages. So, this includes the calving season in Ndutu, river crossings in the Mara River, or the vast herd movements across the central plains.
- Cultural Encounters are part of what one experiences during the 5-day Serengeti safari from Arusha. So, there’s an opportunity to interact with Maasai communities. Also, visit their Manyattas, and learn about traditional lifestyles that have coexisted with wildlife for centuries.
- Since Serengeti is well connected by road from Arusha, it’s possible to do the safari by land rather than flying. Hence, this is conducted at a more budget-friendly cost than the Serengeti fly in safari with flexible accommodation choices ranging from budget camps to luxury lodges.
Note: The long drives inside the Serengeti and between destinations may cause motion sickness due to bumpy roads. Travelers are advised to carry medication, pack wisely, and prepare for variable weather.
Safety Guidelines and Rules to follow during the 5 days Serengeti migration safari.
- Stay inside the Vehicle unless instructed by the safari guide to move out at designated picnic sites or viewpoints. This is because predators and even herbivores can attack unexpectedly. Lions may look lazy, but they can sprint in seconds.
- Keep a Safe Distance from wildlife by always maintaining distance. Because getting too close can stress the animals or provoke aggression. For example, elephants flap their ears and trumpet when irritated.
- Next, do not feed wild animals because it could make them dependent on humans and lead to aggression.
- Do Not Litter by carrying all trash out of the park since plastics and wrappers can harm animals if eaten. Also, spoils the pristine environment, hence degrading it.
- Respect your Guide’s Authority and instructions since they are experts who are trained in animal behavior and park regulations. Thus, ignoring them can lead to fines and eviction from Serengeti NP
