This is the cheapest honest way to sleep under the stars in the Serengeti. Over four days you camp your way through Tarangire, the central Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, staying in tents at the parks' public campsites, including a night on the open Serengeti plains and a night on the crater rim. A safari cook handles every meal, and you game drive in a private 4x4 with your own guide. It is real, close-to-nature adventure from US$1,470 per person, with every park fee, camping fee and the Ngorongoro Crater service fee included. Below is exactly what camping means, the full itinerary, and honest wildlife expectations.
The safari at a glance
Adding the Serengeti to a camping safari is what turns a good trip into a great one, and doing it under canvas keeps the cost down while bringing you closer to the wild than any lodge can. This 4-day route takes you from the elephant country of Tarangire, out onto the endless Serengeti plains for a night among the predators, and finishes at the Ngorongoro Crater, all as a loop from Arusha. It is the classic budget adventure for travellers who want the Serengeti without the lodge price tag.
| Day | Route | Camp |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arusha to Tarangire, full-day game drive | Campsite near Tarangire / Mto wa Mbu |
| 2 | Tarangire to the central Serengeti, afternoon game drive | Public campsite, central Serengeti |
| 3 | Serengeti game drive, then up to the crater rim | Simba Campsite, Ngorongoro rim |
| 4 | Dawn descent into the Ngorongoro Crater, then Arusha | - |
Why camp the Serengeti?
A lodge keeps the wilderness at arm's length. A tent does not. Camping at a public site in the central Serengeti means falling asleep to the sounds of the plains and waking to the dawn where the animals are, not an hour's drive away behind a fence. Add a night on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater and you have two of the most atmospheric campsites in Africa, at a fraction of what the lodges nearby charge. If you are comfortable with basic, shared facilities in exchange for that closeness and a lower price, this is the honest, adventurous way to see the Serengeti.
What budget camping really means
Camping safaris are often sold on atmosphere alone, so here is the honest, complete picture of what you are booking, because knowing exactly what to expect is what makes the trip enjoyable.
Where you sleep
You stay at the official public campsites serving the parks, not in lodges. That includes a campsite near Tarangire or the village of Mto wa Mbu, a public campsite in the central Serengeti near Seronera, and the well-known Simba Campsite on the Ngorongoro crater rim. We pitch comfortable dome tents with proper sleeping mattresses inside, and provide camp chairs and a dining area. You sleep in a tent, but not on the ground.
Camping in the Serengeti, honestly
The public campsites in the central Serengeti are unfenced, which means wildlife can and sometimes does wander through at night. This is part of the adventure, and it is safe if you follow the simple rules your guide explains: stay in your tent after dark, keep a torch handy, and never leave food in the open. Camp staff are present through the night. It is a genuine wilderness experience, and for most campers the highlight of the whole trip, but it is not for anyone who wants a locked door between themselves and the bush.
The facilities
Public campsites have basic, shared facilities: simple blocks with flush or long-drop toilets and cold or solar-warmed showers. They are clean but plain, and you share them with other campers. Electricity is limited, usually only for charging at a central point, so bring a power bank. This is the trade you make for the lower price.
The food and the crew
A dedicated safari cook travels with your group and prepares all your meals fresh at camp: a cooked breakfast, a packed picnic lunch in the parks, and a three-course dinner in the evening. You travel in a private 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof and your own professional driver-guide. Budget refers to the accommodation, not the safari: your game drives, guiding and vehicle are the same quality as on a lodge trip.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Arusha to Tarangire National Park
- Early pick-up from your Arusha hotel or the airport, meeting your guide and cook and loading the camping gear.
- Drive to Tarangire, about 2 to 2.5 hours, for a full-day game drive among the largest elephant herds in northern Tanzania and its ancient baobab trees, with a picnic lunch in the park.
- In the late afternoon, head to your campsite near Tarangire or Mto wa Mbu, where your tents are pitched and your cook prepares dinner under the stars.
Camp: near Tarangire / Mto wa Mbu. Meals: lunch, dinner.
Tarangire to the central Serengeti
- After breakfast, a long, scenic drive northwest, climbing through the Ngorongoro highlands and descending onto the vast Serengeti plains, with wildlife viewing as you enter the park.
- An afternoon game drive in the central Serengeti as you make your way to camp, when predators are often on the move.
- Arrive at your public campsite in the heart of the Serengeti for dinner and your most memorable night, camping on the open plains.
Camp: central Serengeti public campsite. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Serengeti game drive, then the crater rim
- A morning game drive in the central Serengeti, the best time to search the plains, rivers and kopjes for lion, cheetah, elephant and the elusive leopard.
- After lunch, drive southeast out of the Serengeti and up into the Ngorongoro highlands, with a chance to stop at Olduvai Gorge on request.
Camp: Simba Campsite, Ngorongoro rim. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Ngorongoro Crater, then return to Arusha
- An early breakfast and a dawn descent into the Ngorongoro Crater, the world's largest intact volcanic caldera and the densest concentration of wildlife in Africa.
- A full morning game drive on the crater floor with a picnic lunch, seeking lion, elephant, buffalo, hippo and the resident black rhino, one of the best rhino chances in Tanzania.
- Ascend in the afternoon and drive back to Arusha, arriving in the early evening.
Meals: breakfast, lunch.
Enjoy nature gamedrive during 4 days budget Tanzania Safari
Close encounter and photography of lions during Tanzania safari
What you will see, honestly
Adding the Serengeti makes this the strongest of our camping routes for wildlife, and it offers a genuine chance at four of the Big Five with the crater providing the rhino. Here is an honest guide to what to expect.
| Animal | Where and likelihood |
|---|---|
| Elephant | Very high, Tarangire above all |
| Cape buffalo | Very high, all three parks |
| Lion | High, Serengeti and the crater |
| Black rhino | Realistically the Ngorongoro Crater only, around 30 resident |
| Leopard | Best chance in the Serengeti, but elusive and never guaranteed |
| Cheetah | The Serengeti plains, moderate chance |
| Giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, hippo | Very high (no giraffe on the crater floor) |
| Great Migration herds | Serengeti, seasonal, depends on the month |
An honest word on the Big Five. You have an excellent chance of four, with the crater providing the rhino. Leopard is the one that decides a full five, and although the Serengeti gives you the best chance of the whole trip, no operator can promise it. Treat a leopard as the prize it is. What this route reliably delivers is elephant country, the Serengeti's predators and open plains, and the concentrated spectacle of the crater floor.
The Great Migration and timing
Many campers hope to witness the Great Migration, the year-round movement of around two million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle across the Serengeti. It is worth understanding how it works, because the herds are not in one fixed place.
They follow the rains in a rough clockwise circuit. Around December to March they gather in the southern and central Serengeti for the calving season, when predators are at their most active. Through April and May they move north and west. From roughly July to October they are in the far north, where the dramatic Mara River crossings take place. Because this itinerary camps in the central Serengeti, it is best positioned for the migration in the green and calving months and when the herds pass through, and less so in the peak dry season when they are further north.
Price and what is included
The private budget camping safari is US$1,470 per person, based on two people sharing. Every park fee, camping fee and the Ngorongoro Crater service fee are already included, so there is nothing to pay at the gate.
The package includes
- • Airport or hotel pick-up and drop-off in Arusha
- • Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
- • Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- • A dedicated safari cook and all camping gear
- • Dome tents and sleeping mattresses
- • All national park and camping fees
- • Ngorongoro Crater service fee
- • All meals as per the itinerary and drinking water
- • Government taxes and VAT
The package excludes
- • International flights and Tanzania visa
- • Travel and medical insurance
- • Sleeping bag (available to hire, or bring your own)
- • Tips for your guide and cook
- • Drinks other than water, and personal expenses
- • Optional activities and upgrades
Per person, based on two sharing, private budget camping safari, 2027 indicative rate. The per-person price falls for larger groups, because the vehicle, crew and fees are shared. Park fees are reviewed annually, so your exact price is confirmed when we quote.
Camping vs lodge, and other lengths
The same parks can be done camping or in mid-range lodges, and over different numbers of days. Here is how this trip fits with our other options, so you can choose honestly.
| Safari | Parks | Style | From (pp) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Day Budget Camping | Tarangire, Manyara, Ngorongoro | Camping | $1,100 |
| 4-Day Budget Camping (this trip) | Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro | Camping | $1,470 |
| 7-Day Northern Circuit | Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro | Mid-range lodge | $3,200 |
Choose this 4-day camping trip if the Serengeti is a must and budget matters. Choose the 3-day camping trip if you want to save more and are happy to skip the Serengeti. Choose the 7-day lodge safari if you want comfort and unhurried time on the plains.
What to bring for camping
A camping safari asks a little more of your packing than a lodge trip. Bring these in addition to the usual safari kit, and you will be comfortable throughout.
- A warm layer and a hat for the night. The Simba Campsite on the crater rim is genuinely cold after dark, often near freezing. A fleece or down jacket is essential.
- A headtorch. Campsites have limited lighting, and in the Serengeti you will want your hands free after dark.
- A power bank. Charging is limited to a central point at camp.
- A sleeping bag, your own or hired from us. A three-season bag is ideal for the cold rim night.
- A small quick-dry towel and toiletries, as campsites do not provide them.
- Insect repellent, a refillable water bottle, plus sunscreen, hat and binoculars.
Pack light in a soft bag rather than a hard suitcase, which is easier to store in the vehicle and the tent.
Best time to travel
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Dry, best for camping | June to October | Dry ground, easy game viewing, the migration in the northern Serengeti. The most comfortable time to camp. Busiest, cold nights on the rim. |
| Calving | December to March | The migration in the central and southern Serengeti, superb predators, green scenery. Excellent for this central-Serengeti route. |
| Green, best value | April, May and November | Greenest, quietest and cheapest, best for birds. Expect rain and muddier campsites. The crater stays excellent. |
Because this route camps in the central Serengeti, the calving and green months suit it especially well. For the driest camping and the northern crossings, choose the June to October dry season. The crater rim is cold at night in every season, so pack warm whenever you travel.
How to book
- Send us your details. Travel dates, group size, and any dietary needs for the cook.
- We confirm and quote. We check availability and send an exact, all-inclusive price, usually within a few hours.
- Secure your dates. A 30 percent deposit confirms the booking, by bank transfer or card.
- We arrange everything. Permits, campsites, gear, vehicle, guide and cook, under one confirmed itinerary.
- Pack and go. The balance is due before your safari begins. Then bring a warm layer for the crater rim and a sense of adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tarangire Wildlife Gallery
