Yes, 4 days is enough for a rewarding Tanzania safari if you focus on the northern circuit: Tarangire, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater. With Lekobe, a private 4-day camping safari from Arusha starts from US$1,474 per person, and a 4-day trip from Zanzibar with flights included starts from US$2,025 per person.
Last updated: 9 November 2026. Prices checked against the live trip pages on lekobeadventures.com.
Four days is the sweet spot for many travellers who want to see the Serengeti without giving up their beach time in Zanzibar or adding a long overland trip. This guide compares every 4-day itinerary we run, explains how the days fit together, shows what the price covers and helps you choose between camping, lodges and fly-in options.
Is 4 days enough for a Tanzania safari?
For a first safari, four days gives you three nights in the bush and around three and a half days of game drives. That is enough to visit the “big three” of the northern circuit:
- Tarangire National Park: baobab trees and large elephant herds, usually the first or last stop because it is closest to Arusha.
- Serengeti National Park: the open plains, big cats and, depending on the month, the wildebeest migration.
- Ngorongoro Crater: a full morning or day on the crater floor, where black rhino can be seen with luck.
What four days will not give you is a slow pace. Road-based itineraries include long transfer drives (Tarangire to the Serengeti is about 3 to 5 hours on our itineraries), and every day starts early. If you would rather spend more hours watching wildlife and fewer hours in the vehicle, a fly-in option, or adding a fifth day, helps. If you only have two or three days, see our Zanzibar to Serengeti safari guide instead.
4 day Tanzania safari prices compared
These are the current “from” prices per person on our trip pages. Final quotes depend on group size, travel dates and accommodation, so treat them as a starting point rather than a fixed rate.
| Itinerary | Starts from | Style | Parks | From price (USD pp) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-Day Camping to Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro | Arusha | Budget camping, private | Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro | $1,474 |
| 4-Day Private Camping in Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro | Arusha | Budget camping with private chef | Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro | $1,482 |
| 4-Day Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro from Zanzibar | Zanzibar (flight to Arusha) | Lodges and tented camps, private | Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro | $2,025 |
| 4-Day Mid-Range Great Migration in Northern Serengeti | Zanzibar (fly-in to Kogatende) | Mid-range tented camps, private | Northern and Central Serengeti, Ngorongoro | $2,090 |
| 4-Day Luxury Safari to Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Tarangire | Zanzibar (fly-in to Seronera) | Luxury tented camps and lodge, private | Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire | $2,090 |
| 4-Day Fly-in Safari to Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Tarangire | Zanzibar (fly-in) | Mid-range, private | Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire | $2,167 |
| 4-Day Luxury Fly-in Migration to Serengeti & Ngorongoro | Zanzibar (fly-in to Kogatende) | Luxury tented camps, private | Northern and Central Serengeti, Ngorongoro | $2,420 |
We also run a 4-Day Safari from Arusha to Serengeti & Ngorongoro with lodge and tented camp stays; contact us for a quote on that itinerary. For a wider look at what drives safari prices, read our guide to safari from Zanzibar costs.
What a classic 4-day itinerary looks like
Most of our 4-day safaris follow the same logic: start with the park nearest to the airport, push deep into the Serengeti for one or two nights, then finish with an early descent into the Ngorongoro Crater. Here is how the 4-Day Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro from Zanzibar trip runs, as listed on the trip page.
Day 1: Zanzibar to Tarangire
Hotel pick-up at 5:00 am for an 8:00 am flight to Arusha. Your guide meets you and drives about 2 hours to Tarangire for an afternoon of game driving with a picnic lunch. Overnight at Mawe Mawe Manyara Lodge.
Day 2: Tarangire to the Serengeti
An early transfer of 3 to 4 hours takes you into the Serengeti, with a picnic lunch on the plains and an afternoon game drive. Overnight at Safari Haven Serengeti Camp.
Day 3: Serengeti to Ngorongoro
A morning game drive across the Serengeti, then the drive to Karatu near the Ngorongoro gate. Overnight at Ang’ata Ngorongoro Camp.
Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater and flight back to Zanzibar
Descent into the crater at 6:30 am to look for black rhino and other wildlife, picnic lunch on the crater floor, then the drive to Arusha Airport for your flight back to Zanzibar.
Meals on this trip run from lunch on day 1 to lunch on day 4; drinks are not included.
Fly-in or drive: which 4-day safari suits you?
Fly-in safaris from Zanzibar
Most fly-in trips start the same way, with a 5:00 am pick-up and an 8:00 am departure from Zanzibar, but the light aircraft lands straight inside the Serengeti. On the 4-Day Luxury Safari to Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Tarangire itinerary you land at Seronera in Central Serengeti at about 11:00 am and are on a game drive by lunchtime. The 4-Day Mid-Range Great Migration in Northern Serengeti and 4-Day Luxury Fly-in Migration to Serengeti & Ngorongoro trips land at Kogatende in the Northern Serengeti, the area to target when the herds are in the north. Check our Great Migration month-by-month guide before you choose.
The trade-off is price: fly-in trips sit at the higher end of the table above. In return, you swap the long drive into the park for extra time on game drives.
Road safaris from Arusha
If you are already in Arusha, for example after a Kilimanjaro trek, a road safari is the most cost-effective option. Both camping safaris start with a hotel pick-up in Arusha and finish back in Arusha on day 4. The drive from Tarangire to the Serengeti through the Ngorongoro Highlands takes around 4 to 5 hours, but it doubles as a game drive.
Camping or lodges on a 4-day safari?
Our two camping safaris are the lowest-priced way to cover all three parks in four days. You sleep in tents at public campsites with a cook preparing meals, and you camp inside the Serengeti, which means you wake up to the sounds of the bush. Both have a minimum age of 18 years. On the private camping trip, drinks except spirits are included. Our Tanzania camping safari guide explains what to expect.
Lodge and tented-camp trips cost more but add proper beds, en-suite bathrooms and, on several itineraries, family-friendly minimum ages (from 1 year on the Zanzibar road-and-flight trip and 3 to 5 years on the fly-in trips). All the 4-day trips listed here are run privately, so the vehicle and guide are yours alone. If you are weighing up group tours, read shared vs private safari in Tanzania.
What is included and what is not
According to the Cost tab on our 4-day trip pages, the price includes:
- Park fees for non-residents
- All activities and accommodation listed in the itinerary
- A professional driver-guide and all ground transportation
- Flights within the tour, where the itinerary includes them
- Taxes and VAT, and round-trip airport transfers
- Meals as listed day by day
Not included: international flights, extra nights before or after the tour, drinks (unless stated), personal items such as travel insurance and visa fees, any government increase in taxes or park fees, and tips.
Park fees at a glance
Park fees are a large share of any safari price. As an example, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority tariffs list an entry permit of US$70.80 for non-East African citizens aged 16 and over, plus a crater service fee of US$295 per vehicle per trip. Both are covered by the park fees in our prices; you do not pay them separately at the gate.
Tipping
Our tipping guideline is US$10 per person per day, so about US$40 per person for a 4-day safari. Our safari tipping guide covers camping crews and lodges.
How to fit a 4-day safari into a Zanzibar holiday
Because our Zanzibar departures include hotel pick-up and the return flight, it is easy to slot a 4-day safari into the middle or start of a beach holiday. Many travellers do the safari first, then unwind on Zanzibar Island. For full 7, 10 and 12-day plans, see our Tanzania safari and Zanzibar itineraries. Before you book flights, check the Tanzania travel requirements.
Want more time? A 5-day itinerary such as the 5-Day Camping to Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro adds an extra day of game drives, while the 3-Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro Fly-in from Zanzibar (from US$2,068) suits travellers with less time.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 4 day safari in Tanzania cost?
With Lekobe, 4-day safaris start from US$1,474 per person for a private camping trip from Arusha and from US$2,025 per person for a trip from Zanzibar including flights. Fly-in lodge safaris run from US$2,090 to US$2,420 per person. Final prices depend on group size, dates and accommodation.
Which parks can you visit in 4 days in Tanzania?
The classic 4-day route covers Tarangire National Park, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater. Some of our fly-in trips skip Tarangire and spend two nights in the Northern and Central Serengeti instead, which gives you more time in the area where the migration herds gather in certain months.
Can I do a 4 day safari from Zanzibar?
Yes. Most of our Zanzibar trips start with a 5:00 am hotel pick-up and an 8:00 am flight to Arusha or straight into the Serengeti, and finish with a flight back to Zanzibar on day 4. Flights within the tour, park fees, the guide, accommodation and listed meals are included in the price.
Is a 4-day safari suitable for children?
It depends on the trip. Our camping safaris have a minimum age of 18. Lodge and tented-camp trips accept younger travellers: from 1 year on the Zanzibar road-and-flight safari, and from 3 to 5 years on the fly-in itineraries. Because every 4-day trip is private, the pace can be adjusted for families.
Are park fees included in the price of a 4 day safari?
Yes. Park fees for non-residents are included in all our 4-day safari prices, along with taxes and VAT. The only exception is a government increase in park fees or taxes after booking, which would be passed on. Tips, drinks and international flights are not included.
Get a quote for your 4 day Tanzania safari
Tell us your travel dates, how many people are travelling and whether you are starting from Zanzibar or Arusha, and we will send you a tailored quote. Message us on WhatsApp at +255 676 68 1293, email info@lekobeadventures.com, or use the enquiry form on any trip page, such as the 4-Day Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro from Zanzibar safari.
