Look, I’ve been lucky enough to guide friends and family on trips to Tanzania National Parks. So, every single time someone asks me for the “perfect safari,” I point them straight to this exact 5-day Serengeti National Park safari. It’s not just another checklist trip—it feels like the park opens up just for you. Here’s why it’s become my absolute favorite (and why it’ll probably become yours too):

1. You actually get to explore the real Serengeti, not just one corner.
   Over five days, we don’t rush from gate to gate. Depending on the season, we’ll pick the best zone together. So, you could find yourself in the endless golden plains of the Southern Serengeti chasing newborn wildebeest calves in February. Or parked under an acacia tree in the Central Seronera area watching lion prides nap just meters away. Come July–October? We’ll head North to the Mara River for those heart-stopping Serengeti wildebeest migration crossings. Five days means you’re not choosing one Serengeti but you’re tasting all its different moods.
   
2. The Serengeti wildlife moments that leave you speechless.
   Yes, everyone talks about the Big Five in Tanzania, but it’s the little scenes that stick with you forever. Additionally, spot a leopard dragging her kill up a sausage tree at dawn, cheetah cubs play-fighting while mum scans the horizon. Or thousands of wildebeest thundering past your jeep so close you feel the ground shake. I still get goosebumps remembering my last group on day 3 we sat quietly as a lioness taught her two tiny cubs to stalk a warthog. Moments like that don’t happen on rushed 2-day trips to Serengeti.
   
3. That sunrise Serengeti hot-air balloon ride? Worth every penny.
    Floating silently above the Serengeti plains as the sun paints everything orange. So, watch the animal migration in East Africa snaking below like a living river. Later, land for a champagne breakfast in the middle of nowhere. It’s pure magic, and we build it right into this 5 day Serengeti itinerary (optional, but trust me, you’ll want it).

4. Meeting the people who call this place home (Maasai Cultural tours).
   

   One afternoon during this 5 day Serengeti safari holidays, we visit a local Maasai village. The warriors show you how they make fire with sticks, the women sing you welcome with those incredible high-pitched calls. So, suddenly the landscape feels even bigger because you understand the stories behind it. My friend Sarah cried when a little girl gave her a beaded bracelet—said it was the highlight of her whole 5 day Serengeti trip.
   

5. Room to breathe, laugh, and just soak it in.

   Five days in Serengeti National Park is that sweet spot: long enough to unplug completely, short enough that you’re not exhausted. Evenings around the campfire swapping photos, falling asleep to hyena whoops, waking up to birdsong. Photographers love the golden-hour game drives in Serengeti. Also, couples love the private sundowners in Serengeti. Lastly, families love how the kids turn into little wildlife detectives on this 5 day Serengeti National Park safari. There’s space for whatever kind of trip you need.
   Honestly? After your first game drive on day one, you’ll already be texting friends back home saying, “You HAVE to do this.” By day five, you’ll be scheming how to come back. That’s the Serengeti safari effect and this 5-day trip is the perfect way to catch it. Ready to make some stories of your own? Let’s talk dates with experts from Tanzania National Parks.

Safari Overview
Start/End Point: Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
Destinations: Serengeti National Park (via Ngorongoro Conservation Area)
Travel Modes: Light aircraft flight or overland 4×4 in Tanzania
Travel Time: Flight: ~1.5 hours | Drive: ~7–8 hours (325 km via Ngorongoro)

Day 1: Arrival in Arusha and Transfer to Serengeti National Park

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK) in Tanzania, you are welcomed by our safari driver‑guide. So, depending on your Serengeti tour package and aligned here, you cano either do a fly-in safari or a road trip to the park for your 5 days trip in Northern Tanzania. Hence, luxury travellers have domestic flights which may take about (~1.5 hours) from Arusha to Serengeti airstrips like Seronera, Kogatende, or Ndutu Airstrip, depending on the season and wildlife location.

Also, road options by 4×4 through Ngorongoro Conservation Area can be considered for your 5-days Serengeti National Park safari. So, during this drive,  enjoy wildlife sightings en route, and it takes approximately 325 km / 7–8 hours with stops and a picnic lunch. Once you get to the Serengeti, transfer immediately to your lodge or tented camp and check in. Later, enjoy a well‑prepared lunch as you appreciate the beauty of Serengeti National Park. Next, in the evening, head out for a short sunset game drive near your Serengeti lodge. So, witness the big 5 animals, including lions and elephants. Lastly, have your dinner and rest in your lodge or camp for the night.

Day 2: Full-Day Game Drive in Serengeti and spot the Big 5 in the open plains

First, immediately after an early breakfast, head out for a full‑day game drive in Serengeti with a packed bush lunch. These game drive routes depend on the direction where the wildlife is most concentrated. We advise you explore the Northern Serengeti for possible Mara River crossings during the months of June–October. Also, within months of December–March, put more emphasis on the Southern Serengeti (Ndutu) to witness the calving season of wildebeests.

Later, have your lunch under an acacia tree or at a picnic site like Retina Hippo Pool in the afternoon. Also, discuss predator‑prey dynamics, migratory patterns, and the ecosystem during this lunch break with your guide. Once your lunch break is done, continue game viewing in Seronera Valley, which is a location well known for big cats in Tanzania, like leopards, lions, and cheetahs. Also, explore the unique things to see in Serengeti, including rocky kopjes, where lions love to lounge. Lastly, return to your lodge for dinner and relax by the campfire under the stars in the evening as you reflect on your day and days to come.

Day 3: Optional Hot Air Balloon Safari in Serengeti and Maasai Cultural Visit

Early in the morning at 5:00 am, head to the head office of the Serengeti National Park for a briefing about your hot air balloon safari, which is an optional activity. Next, set out for your hot air balloon safari to experience the Serengeti from above. This activity strictly starts at dawn, as you float silently above herds, and finishes with a champagne breakfast in the bush. Additionally, the hot air balloon flights in Serengeti will take 1 hour and are carried out from the Central, Northern, or Ndutu (season‑dependent).

After that unique Serengeti luxury safari experience, head back to the camp to rest or continue on a half‑day game drive to less‑explored areas like Moru Kopjes. After lunch, go for your cultural visit to the Maasai village located on the park’s outskirts. So, learn their local customs, dress, and daily life through engaging with them. Lastly, get back to your Serengeti tented camp and enjoy a relaxing dinner and storytelling around the fire in the evening.

Day 4: Seasonal Exploration, Predator Action and Serengeti Migration Safari

First, explore the Serengeti depending on the seasonal highlights, like in the Northern Serengeti (June–Oct). So, move to the Mara River, which takes about ~1–1.5 hours from Kogatende, and witness the wildebeest crossings. Alternatively, explore the Southern Serengeti (Dec–Mar) and visit the Ndutu plains during your game drives. So, this is excellent during calving season because here predators are highly active, hence you can observe the predator-prey events. Later, have a lunch break at Midday near a waterhole or scenic location and enjoy your lunch in the wild as you see the savannah of the park.

In the afternoon, continue with your game drives in the remote areas of Serengeti or near seasonal water sources. Hence, engage in Wildlife viewing, which is more mind-blowing during the late afternoon. Observe the great Serengeti sundowner and a memorable dinner at the lodge or camp in the evening. Also, program yourself for the departure the next day and end of your 5 days Serengeti safari from Arusha.

Day 5: Walking safari in Serengeti and Departure to Arusha / Zanzibar

Once you are done with your morning breakfast in the bush, depending on your flight, you can have a final nature walk or a walking safari in Serengeti.
Later, fly-out on a scheduled flight back to Arusha (ARK) or direct to Zanzibar (1.5–2 hours) and this marks the end of your 5 days Serengeti National Park safari.
Drive‑Out: Overland transfer to Arusha (7–8 hours), optionally via a Ngorongoro Crater game drive or overnight stay. Lastly, you can also decide to transfer to Zanzibar for beach relaxation. However, you must inform us some time before your 5 day safari in Serengeti starts.

There are various Serengeti lodges and camp options to opt for during this 5 day itinerary.  So, there are different budgets of options of Serengeti accommodations ranging from budget-friendly, mid-range and luxury and they are as below with their respective prices.

1. Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp: One of the most opted tented camps in Serengeti, this camp is located in the southwest of Seronera, and it takes about an hour drive from the Seronera airstrip. The camp costs ~US $237.50 per person per night (full board) in many seasons.
2. Ndutu Kati Kati Tented Camp: Costs about ~US $237 in peak seasons per person per night (full board). Additionally, Ndutu Kati Kati Tented Camp is yet another comfortable accommodation facility to opt for while at Serengeti National Park for five days. Additionally, the camp is found in the southern plains (Ndutu region).  Also, it is as well a 1-hour drive along scenic routes from Seronera, and ~30 minutes from Olduvai Gorge.
3. Mara Kati Kati Camp (North Serengeti): One of the most famous Serengeti camps opted for by sightseers while on a 5 day safari to Serengeti. Also, the camp costs about ~US $315 per person per night in peak periods. The camp is known to be a mobile camp found close to the Mara Triangle, ~20 minutes from Kogatende airstrip.
4. Singita Sasakwa Lodge (Luxury): This luxury Serengetinlodge is found the Grumeti Private Game Reserve adjoining the Serengeti, with direct access via Sasakwa Airstrip (about 10 minutes away) and approximately 1‑hour internal fly distance from Arusha. Singita Sasakwa Lodge does have rates that vary by season e.g. US $3,260 per person per night in peak times. Lastly,it ranges around ~US $2,455 in lower seasons.

Note:  due to public demand, it is always great to see to it that you make your bookings as early as possible. Most especially in the peak seasons and those who would love to catch up with the Great Migration in Tanzania within the months of (June–October and December–March)

Final Thoughts

Book with us for the most exciting safari experiences in Serengeti National Park. Also, make your dream come true, most especially for nature lovers, photographers, and adventurers to the Serengeti.

Book your unforgettable 5 day Serengeti safari with Tanzania National Parks today.