The travel route begins on the flat savannah of the Great Rift Valley in Tarangire before climbing into the cool volcanic highlands of Ngorongoro. On Day 1, you search for elephants along dry riverbeds at an elevation of 1,100 meters (3,600 feet). The warm valley air stays dry throughout the afternoon.
On Day 2, your vehicle climbs up the rift wall to the crater rim at 2,200 meters (7,200 feet). You then descend 600 meters (2,000 feet) down steep caldera walls to search for black rhinos and lions before returning to Arusha in the evening.
Route and Schedule for Your 2-Day Tanzania Group Sharing Safari
Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire National Park, Overnight Near Karatu
Your safari driver picks you up from your Arusha hotel at 07:30 AM. You meet your fellow group members and store your duffel bags in the rear compartment of the Land Cruiser. You drive 120 kilometers (75 miles) southwest along the smooth Makuyuni highway. The journey takes about two hours. Along the road, you pass Maasai herders tending cattle beside tall termite mounds.
You reach the Tarangire National Park gate by mid-morning. Once your guide clears the park permits, you pop open the roof hatch for game viewing. Tarangire features broad red-dirt plains filled with giant baobab trees. The Tarangire River serves as the primary water point for thousands of animals. You watch large elephant families drink from the river and dust themselves with red soil. You also look for giraffes, zebras, waterbucks, and resting lions under shady acacia trees.
Your group stops at a shaded picnic site above the river at 1:00 PM to eat packed lunches. Monkeys often watch the tables, so you must keep food inside your vehicle. In the afternoon, you continue game driving toward the park exit. You then drive 60 kilometers (37 miles) up the scenic Rift Valley escarpment to Karatu town for a hot dinner and overnight rest.
Meal Plan: Lunch box, Dinner
Day 2: Ngorongoro Crater Tour, Return to Arusha
You wake up early for breakfast at 06:00 AM to beat the morning traffic at the park gate. Your vehicle drives 25 kilometers (15 miles) through lush highland forests up to the Ngorongoro Crater rim. Thick fog often covers the road, and temperatures drop quickly at this high elevation. Your driver stops briefly at the crater viewpoint so you can look down across the vast volcanic caldera floor.
Your Land Cruiser descends the steep, winding dirt track down to the crater floor. This 260-square-kilometer (100-square-mile) caldera acts as a natural enclosure for over 25,000 large wild animals. You search the short grasslands for endangered black rhinos moving alongside herds of blue wildebeests. Prides of lions often shelter in vehicle tracks or sleep near shallow water pans. You visit Lake Magadi to see hundreds of pink flamingos feeding in alkaline waters. After eating lunch beside the hippo pool at Ngoitoktok Springs, you climb out of the crater and drive 160 kilometers (100 miles) back to Arusha, arriving by 5:30 PM.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch box
3-Day Sharing Safari Package Inclusions and Exclusions
What Is Included
- All national park conservation fees for Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
- Official Ngorongoro Crater vehicle descent service permit
- Shared transport in a custom 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
- Services of a professional, English-speaking driver and wildlife naturalist
- One night shared accommodation in a budget lodge or tented camp near Karatu
- Meals as listed: 1 breakfast, 2 picnic lunch boxes, and 1 hot dinner
- Purified mineral drinking water inside the vehicle throughout both days
- Government value-added taxes (18% VAT)
What Is Not Included
- International flights and airport transfers
- Tanzania entry visa ($50 for most visitors, $100 for American citizens)
- Gratuities for your driver-guide (recommended $20 to $30 total per day per vehicle)
- Optional private single room upgrade (for solo travelers who do not wish to share a twin room)
- Travel insurance and medical emergency coverage
- Soft drinks, beer, wine, and personal shopping items
Preparing for Rift Valley and Crater Weather
Weather conditions shift quickly between the two parks on this route. Tarangire National Park sits at a low elevation where daytime temperatures reach 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit). You need sun protection, light cotton shirts, and insect repellent to deter tsetse flies in the woodlands.
In contrast, the Ngorongoro Crater rim stands at 2,200 meters (7,200 feet) above sea level. Morning temperatures here frequently fall to 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit). Bring a warm windbreaker jacket and long pants for the morning drive. Once you reach the crater floor, the sun warms the open plain, allowing you to remove outer layers.
Vehicle Standards and On-Board Amenities
You travel in a rugged four-wheel-drive Toyota Land Cruiser built specifically for rough East African roads. The vehicle seats a maximum of seven passengers in three rows, ensuring that every person gets a direct window seat. The roof opens upward so everyone can stand comfortably to take unobstructed wildlife photographs.
An electrical power inverter provides 220-volt charging sockets and USB ports for your phone and camera gear while on the move. Your driver communicates with other guides through an internal VHF long-range radio to share updates on predator movements. A small 12-volt cooler keeps bottled water chilled during hot afternoon drives.
Entry Requirements and Bush Cash Rules
Foreign travelers entering Tanzania must present a passport valid for at least six months from the arrival date. Most travelers can purchase a tourist visa online or at Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) upon arrival. Visas cost $50 for European, British, and Canadian travelers, and $100 for citizens of the United States.
There are no automated teller machines (ATMs) inside the national parks. You must withdraw cash in Arusha before your tour begins. If you carry US Dollars for tipping or souvenirs, ensure that every note was issued in the year 2009 or later. Local banks and safari lodges strictly reject older dollar bills, torn notes, and marked currency.
