This 6-day Tanzania safari from Nairobi is designed for travellers who begin their East Africa holiday in Kenya and want to continue into Tanzania’s most celebrated wildlife areas. The journey connects Nairobi with Arusha and then takes you through Tarangire National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park.

It is a rewarding route for couples, families, photographers, honeymooners and first-time safari travellers. You will experience three very different landscapes in one well-planned trip: Tarangire’s giant baobabs and elephant herds, the wildlife-rich floor of Ngorongoro Crater and the sweeping plains of Serengeti.

EKO TANZANIA ADVENTURES can arrange the connection from Nairobi to Arusha by scheduled flight, private road transfer or shuttle service, depending on your preferred travel style, timing and budget. Once in Tanzania, you will travel in a private 4×4 safari vehicle with an experienced English-speaking driver-guide.

Safari at a Glance

  • Duration: 6 days / 5 nights
  • Starting point: Nairobi, Kenya
  • Main Tanzania safari destinations: Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Serengeti
  • Ending point: Arusha, Kilimanjaro International Airport or Nairobi
  • Transport: Nairobi–Arusha connection plus private 4×4 safari vehicle
  • Accommodation: Lodge or tented camp options available
  • Ideal for: Kenya holiday extensions, couples, families and private groups

Why Add Tanzania to Your Nairobi Holiday?

Nairobi is a natural starting point for an East African holiday, but Tanzania offers wildlife landscapes that are very different from Kenya’s safari parks. Crossing into Tanzania allows you to experience the Serengeti ecosystem, the unique volcanic setting of Ngorongoro Crater and the elephant-rich baobab country of Tarangire.

This itinerary is arranged to make the border or flight connection straightforward before beginning the safari. Once you arrive in Arusha, EKO TANZANIA ADVENTURES takes care of the logistics: transfers, accommodation, park fees, guide, vehicle and daily safari planning.

The trip is private, which gives you flexibility. You can stop for photographs, spend longer with a lion pride, take breaks during the drive and adjust game-drive timing around your interests. A private guide also makes the journey more informative, helping you understand animal behaviour, landscapes and local culture along the route.

Day 1: Nairobi to Arusha – Welcome to Tanzania

Your Tanzania safari begins with travel from Nairobi to Arusha. The connection can be arranged by scheduled regional flight, private transfer or shuttle service, depending on availability and your confirmed package. The most suitable option will depend on your accommodation location in Nairobi, your arrival time in Kenya and your preferred level of comfort.

If travelling by road, the route passes through the Kenya–Tanzania border area before continuing towards Arusha. Border procedures are required, and guests should ensure they have the appropriate passport, visa and travel documentation before departure. If flying, you will be met on arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport.

After reaching Arusha, transfer to your hotel and settle in. Arusha is Tanzania’s main northern safari gateway, located beneath Mount Meru. The afternoon is usually relaxed, allowing you to rest after the journey and prepare for the safari days ahead.

Your guide will meet you for a briefing, explain the route and answer any questions about wildlife viewing, packing or the next morning’s departure.

Overnight: Hotel in Arusha
Meals: Dinner, depending on arrival time and confirmed arrangement

Day 2: Arusha to Tarangire National Park – Elephants and Baobabs

After breakfast, leave Arusha and travel towards Tarangire National Park. The drive normally takes around two to three hours, depending on road conditions and comfort stops.

Tarangire is one of northern Tanzania’s most scenic parks. It is known for its large elephant herds, old baobab trees, open grassland, acacia woodland and seasonal marshes. During the dry season, the Tarangire River becomes especially important for wildlife, drawing animals from the surrounding landscape.

Your first game drive may reveal elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, impalas, warthogs and many bird species. Tarangire is also home to lions, leopards and cheetahs, although sightings always depend on animal movement and conditions on the day.

Enjoy a picnic lunch at an approved location in the park before continuing your afternoon game drive. The late-afternoon light is beautiful in Tarangire, especially around the baobab trees and open plains.

Later, travel to your lodge or tented camp near Karatu or Mto wa Mbu for dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Lodge or tented camp near Karatu or Mto wa Mbu
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3: Karatu Area and Ngorongoro Highlands – Relaxed Safari Day

Today is planned as a comfortable transition day before your Ngorongoro Crater safari. Depending on your preferred pace and final accommodation plan, you may enjoy a relaxed morning at the lodge, a cultural visit near Mto wa Mbu, a coffee or farm experience in the Karatu area, or an additional wildlife activity such as Lake Manyara National Park.

This flexibility makes the itinerary more enjoyable than trying to squeeze every major destination into one long driving day. The Karatu and Ngorongoro Highlands region is green and scenic, with farms, forests, small villages and cooler air.

A visit to Lake Manyara National Park can be included on this day if you would like an extra game drive. The park is known for its groundwater forest, baboons, elephants, birdlife and views beneath the Rift Valley escarpment. Alternatively, you may choose a quieter lodge day before the early start for Ngorongoro.

Your guide will explain the final plan based on the confirmed package and your interests. Return to your lodge in the afternoon, relax and enjoy dinner.

Overnight: Lodge or tented camp near Karatu or Ngorongoro
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive and Transfer to Serengeti

After an early breakfast, travel to the Ngorongoro Crater descent road. The crater is a huge volcanic caldera and one of Tanzania’s most important wildlife areas. From the rim, the view opens across grassland, wetlands, forest patches and Lake Magadi far below.

Descend to the crater floor for a morning game drive. Ngorongoro supports a high concentration of wildlife, including lions, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, hippos, hyenas, jackals, elephants and many bird species. Black rhinos live in the conservation area, although sightings depend on distance, visibility and animal movement.

A picnic lunch is usually served at an approved site near a hippo pool. After lunch, ascend the crater and continue through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area towards Serengeti National Park.

The scenery changes gradually as you leave the crater highlands and approach the endless plains of Serengeti. Wildlife viewing begins along the route, and your guide will stop for interesting sightings when time allows. Arrive at your tented camp or lodge in the late afternoon.

Overnight: Lodge or tented camp in Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5: Full-Day Serengeti Safari – Tanzania’s Classic Wildlife Plains

Today is dedicated to Serengeti National Park. You may choose an early morning game drive followed by breakfast at camp, or enjoy a full-day safari with a picnic lunch. Because the trip is private, your guide can shape the day around your interests.

The Serengeti is famous for its open grasslands, granite kopjes, acacia trees and remarkable predator population. Lions are often seen resting in the shade or moving through the grass. Cheetahs may be found in open areas, while leopards are sometimes spotted near riverine woodland.

The park also supports elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, gazelles, hyenas, jackals, ostriches, hippos and a huge diversity of birds. Even during periods when the Great Migration herds are elsewhere in the ecosystem, central Serengeti offers excellent resident wildlife.

If the Great Migration is your priority, EKO TANZANIA ADVENTURES can advise on the best travel dates and camp areas. The herds move throughout the year according to rainfall and grazing conditions, so their exact location cannot be guaranteed.

Return to camp in the late afternoon for dinner and your final night in the Serengeti bush.

Overnight: Lodge or tented camp in Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6: Serengeti to Arusha – Departure or Return to Nairobi

After breakfast, enjoy a final morning game drive before departing Serengeti. Your onward travel can be arranged in different ways based on your plans.

Many guests choose a scheduled flight from Serengeti to Arusha, which saves time and avoids a full-day road transfer. From Arusha, you can connect to Kilimanjaro International Airport, stay an extra night or continue towards Nairobi. Road transport from Serengeti to Arusha can also be arranged, but it takes longer and is usually better suited to travellers with flexible schedules.

If you are returning to Nairobi, EKO TANZANIA ADVENTURES can help organise the onward flight, shuttle or private transfer connection as part of a tailored package. We recommend allowing enough time between regional and international flights, especially when crossing borders.

Meals: Breakfast and lunch, depending on travel schedule

What Makes This Safari Special?

This itinerary is more than a transfer from Kenya into Tanzania. It is a complete northern Tanzania wildlife journey, combining three major safari environments in one private package.

Highlights include:

  • Easy connection from Nairobi to Arusha
  • Elephant herds and baobab trees in Tarangire
  • Optional Lake Manyara or cultural experience near Karatu
  • Full game drive inside Ngorongoro Crater
  • Big-cat and plains wildlife viewing in Serengeti
  • Private 4×4 safari vehicle and professional guide
  • Lodge, tented-camp and luxury options to suit your budget

Accommodation Options

EKO TANZANIA ADVENTURES can arrange the package at mid-range, comfort or luxury level. Mid-range lodges and tented camps provide clean en-suite rooms, good meals and reliable service. Premium options may offer larger suites, more exclusive locations, swimming pools, private decks and enhanced dining experiences.

Your final accommodation plan can be shaped around:

  • Couples and honeymoon travel
  • Family rooms or interconnecting units
  • Senior-friendly room access
  • Private tented camps in Serengeti
  • Luxury lodge upgrades
  • Dietary requirements
  • Extra nights in Arusha, Nairobi or Zanzibar

Package Inclusions

Your confirmed safari quotation can include:

  • Nairobi to Arusha travel connection as listed
  • Airport, hotel or border transfers as confirmed
  • Private 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
  • Professional English-speaking driver-guide
  • Accommodation during the safari
  • Meals shown in the itinerary
  • Drinking water during game drives
  • Tarangire National Park fees
  • Ngorongoro Conservation Area and crater fees
  • Serengeti National Park fees
  • Government taxes and tourism levies as stated in the quotation

Package Exclusions

Unless specifically included, the following are usually excluded:

  • International flights
  • Kenya and Tanzania visa fees
  • Travel and medical insurance
  • Alcoholic drinks and premium beverages
  • Tips for guides, drivers and lodge staff
  • Personal expenses and souvenirs
  • Optional balloon safari in Serengeti
  • Optional activities on Day 3
  • Extra hotel nights before or after the safari

Important Travel Notes

Border regulations, visa requirements and regional flight schedules can change. Before travelling, check current entry requirements for both Kenya and Tanzania using official sources or obtain professional travel advice. EKO TANZANIA ADVENTURES will provide your confirmed transfer and flight arrangements, but guests remain responsible for carrying valid travel documents.

Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed because animals move freely in natural habitats. Your guide will use experience and current information to create the best possible game-viewing experience.

The itinerary can be adjusted to begin in Arusha, finish in Zanzibar, add Kenya’s Maasai Mara or include extra nights in Serengeti. Tell us your dates, group size and preferred accommodation level, and we will prepare a personal quotation.

Book Your 6-Day Tanzania Safari from Nairobi

Start in Kenya and experience Tanzania’s most iconic wildlife destinations in one smooth private journey. EKO TANZANIA ADVENTURES will arrange your Nairobi connection, safari vehicle, guide, accommodation and park activities around your travel plan.

Explore more Tanzania safari ideas at EKO TANZANIA ADVENTURES.