3-Day Tanzania Tour Packages

Insider tips: Recommended 3-day Tanzania tour itineraries

Compiled by

MelissaTanzania travel expert at TourRadar

• 3 Day Tanzania Safari Itinerary, incl. Tarangire and Ngorongoro

  Wildlife enthusiasts track elephants and pythons in Tarangire National Park, spot tree-climbing lions in Lake Manyara, and find black rhinos across 304 sq km crater floor during this 3-day safari. Includes comfortable lodging at Campor Lodge and highly-rated guiding.

  

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  • Day 1

    Arusha to Tarangire National Park

    Start your day with breakfast in Arusha at 7:30 AM before a 2-hour drive to Tarangire National Park. You'll travel 120km on good roads through rural Tanzania. Spend the full day on game drives with a focus on the river area in the morning where animals gather. Tarangire is famous for its large elephant herds and ancient baobab trees. Bird enthusiasts will love spotting some of the 450 species here. One visitor shared: "Tarangire is very beautiful with a lot of elephants - we even had them walk right past our vehicle!"

    
  • Day 2

    Lake Manyara National Park

    Take the 60km drive to Lake Manyara National Park after breakfast. While smaller than other parks it offers diverse landscapes from groundwater forest to acacia woodland and the alkaline lake. Look for the unique tree-climbing lions near the park entrance. A visitor reported: "We saw hippos, baboons, tree-climbing lions and numerous water birds. The afternoon light on the lake with thousands of flamingos was spectacular." You can add a canoe safari on the lake for a different view of the park.

    
  • Day 3

    Ngorongoro Crater

    Make an early start to get the most out of your crater experience. The descent road opens at 6 AM and it's worth being among the first vehicles down. The crater floor covers 304 sq km and supports an incredible variety of wildlife. One guest suggested: "Get to the crater early before it gets busy with other vehicles. We saw black rhinos, huge elephant bulls, and a pride of lions before 9 AM." Stop for a picnic lunch at Ngoitoktok spring where hippos often gather. Plan to leave the crater by 4 PM to return to Arusha.

    

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• 3 Day Tanzania Itinerary, incl. Arusha and Serengeti

  This 3-day safari takes you straight from Arusha into Serengeti National Park by air, so you'll spend more time with wildlife and less time traveling. You'll go on afternoon and full-day game drives searching for the Big Five across those endless plains, and stay in lodges right inside the park.

  

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  • Day 1

    Arusha to Serengeti

    Book an early morning flight from Arusha to the Serengeti to get the most wildlife viewing time. The 2-hour flight gives you great views along the way. Try to get a seat on the left side to see the Great Rift Valley below. Your safari vehicle will meet you at the Serengeti airstrip. The afternoon game drives start around 3:30 PM when animals are more active and the lighting is ideal for photos. Bring light layers since mornings can be cold but afternoons get quite warm.

    
  • Day 2

    Full-day Serengeti Safari

    Get up early before sunrise for the best wildlife spotting. Head to the Seronera Valley in Central Serengeti where permanent water sources attract lots of animals year-round. Visit the Retima Hippo Pool between 10 AM and 2 PM to see hippos at their most active. Later, check out the kopjes (rocky outcrops) where lions like to rest. Bring binoculars since guides keep a safe distance from predators. The roads can be rough so take motion sickness pills if needed.

    
  • Day 3

    Final Game Drive & Return to Arusha

    Start with a sunrise game drive to catch nocturnal predators coming back from hunting. Most flights back to Arusha leave around 11 AM. Ask for a window seat to get one last look at the landscape from above. Once you land it takes about 45 minutes to reach Arusha city center depending on traffic.

    

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• 3 Days in Tanzania, incl. Dar es Salaam and Mikumi National Park

  Mikumi's key areas come alive over three days: Mkata flood plains, Chamgore's python territory, and evening game drives. Two nights at Tanapa Bandazi lodge complement morning and afternoon safari experiences averaging 6-8 hours daily.

  

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  • Day 1

    Dar es Salaam to Mikumi National Park

    Your journey starts at 7:00 AM from Dar es Salaam. The drive to Mikumi takes 5-6 hours on the main Dar-Iringa highway. "The organization ran like clockwork - leave early to avoid Dar's notorious morning traffic." Bring a picnic lunch for the road. Once you arrive you'll go straight into your afternoon game drive when wildlife is most active. You'll spend the night at Tanapa Bandazi lodge inside the park which gives you a great position for wildlife spotting.

    
  • Day 2

    Full Day in Mikumi National Park

    Make the most of your lodge's location with morning and afternoon game drives. The morning route covers the Mkata floodplain which is excellent for lion sightings. In the afternoon you'll explore the Chamgore area known for its pythons. A recent visitor said: "Thanks to our guide's expertise, we had unforgettable moments, including close encounters with lions, giraffes, and elephants. We also spotted zebras, hippos, and crocodiles." You can also add an optional evening drive when the park looks beautiful at sunset.

    
  • Day 3

    Final Game Drive and Return to Dar

    Start your day with an early morning game drive when animals are active and visibility is clear. After lunch at the lodge leave for Dar es Salaam at 2:00 PM. You should reach the city between 7:00-8:00 PM traffic permitting. A helpful tip from a traveler: "Book evening flights out of Dar the next day rather than the same night - the return timing can be unpredictable."

    

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