Tarangire → Ngorongoro → Lake Manyara → Arusha town
3-Day Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Manyara Camping Safari
Elephants, the crater and Lake Manyara in three affordable days of camping.
3 days 2 nights
From $720 pp
Gateway town · Northern Circuit
Arusha
The safari capital, between Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro.
About Arusha town
Arusha is where almost every northern safari begins. It sits at the foot of Mount Meru, an hour from Kilimanjaro International Airport, with coffee farms, markets and a mild highland climate.
We use it for a calm first night after a long flight, so your first game drive starts the next morning fully rested. If you have spare time, there are coffee tours, the cultural heritage centre and Arusha National Park nearby.
Highlights
- Coffee farm tours on Meru's slopes
- Maasai market and cultural heritage centre
- Arusha National Park day trips
- Restful first night before safari
- Materuni waterfalls near Moshi
When to go
Best Good Quieter / wet
Pleasant year-round, with long rains in April and May.
Getting there
Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) is about an hour away. Arusha airport handles domestic flights to the parks and Zanzibar.
How long
1 night
Where to stay
- BudgetArusha guesthouse
- Mid-rangeMount Meru Hotel
- LuxuryArusha Coffee Lodge
Examples of properties we use. We choose the right camp for your month and budget.
20 trips visit Arusha town
Arusha town safaris & tours
Tarangire → Ngorongoro → Serengeti → Arusha town
4-Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro Camping Safari
The shortest safari that still reaches the Serengeti — camping inside the park.
4 days 3 nights
From $1,090 pp
Tarangire → Ngorongoro → Serengeti → Arusha town
5-Day Classic Tanzania Camping Safari
Two nights in the Serengeti, the crater and Tarangire — the best value classic.
5 days 4 nights
From $1,340 pp
Tarangire → Lake Manyara → Ngorongoro → Serengeti …
6-Day Northern Circuit Camping Safari
All four northern parks on a budget, with a full day in the Serengeti.
6 days 5 nights
From $1,580 pp
Tarangire → Ngorongoro → Serengeti → Arusha town
4-Day Group Joining Camping Safari
Share the vehicle, split the cost. Serengeti and the crater on fixed dates.
4 days 3 nights
From $890 pp
Tarangire → Ngorongoro → Serengeti → Arusha town
6-Day Group Joining Lodge Safari
Three Serengeti nights in comfortable lodges, sharing with other travellers.
6 days 5 nights
From $1,890 pp
Good to know
Arusha town: questions travellers ask
Do I need a night in Arusha?
We recommend it. Most long-haul flights land in the evening, and starting a safari rested makes a real difference.
Nearby
Also on the Northern Circuit
National ParkSerengetiEndless plains, big cats and the Great Migration.Explore
Conservation AreaNgorongoroA collapsed volcano holding one of Africa's richest wildlife floors.Explore
National ParkTarangireBaobabs, a life-giving river and some of Africa's largest elephant herds.Explore
National ParkLake ManyaraGroundwater forest, a soda lake and the Rift Valley wall.Explore
Plan your Arusha town trip
Tell us your dates, who is travelling and a rough budget. A real person in Arusha will reply within 24 hours with a route and an honest price — no obligation.