3 day camping To the North Top Tanzania

Camping To the North Top Tanzania

Our 3-day Camping safari Tanzania is the best you can take if you are looking for a ‘no-frills’ budget safari in Tanzania but still enjoying all the wildlife and game watching opportunity that you can get in the shortest time possible.

This 3 days safari in Tanzania takes you to some of the best national parks in the Northern Tanzania Safari Circuit including a visit to Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park as well as the Ngorongoro Crater which is UNESCO World heritage site and one of the best wildlife areas in Africa and the whole world.

Safari Tour Highlights

Day 1: Arusha - Tarangire National Park

Pick up from Arusha early in the morning and drive for around 2 hour along a nice paved road to Tarangire National Park which is along the way when you take the Arusha – Dodoma Road; past Makuyuni Junction. Tarangire National Park is the place to be if you want see elephant herds in their big numbers as well as other big game and birdlife. Dotted with gigantic baobab trees the Tarangire National Park is one of  the parks where you can see most of the big five including the leopards, Buffaloes lions and elephants with one exception of the Rhino. The park derives its name from Tarangire River which flows across the park ensuring the park is teeming with wildlife throughout the year. You will do game drives until later in the afternoon then transfer to Mto wa Mbu where you will spend the night at a campsite at Mto wa Mbu near Lake Manyara. 

Accomodation Option

Simba Campsite

Simba Campsite

A vast grassland with many zebras and wildebeests grazing, typical of a Tanzania Safari and Adventure tour. The sky is overcast, and scattered trees dot the horizon. The animals are spread out across the landscape, with several zebras grazing in the foreground and more wildlife visible in the background.

Day 2: Ngorongoro Crater tour

This morning we will wake up very early in the morning and transfer trough Karatu township arriving early at Loduare Main Gate of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area where you will register to access the NCAA. You will make a brief stop at the Crater’s View point where guests are allowed to alight from the jeeps and have some great views over the Crater floor and an opportunity to take some pictures before descending to the Crater floor where most of the animals reside. You will to day spend the most of the day at the base of the ‘World largest Caldera’ doing game drives in a bid to spot all the Big five as well as many other animals that can be spotted at a very close range in this area. Ngorongoro Crater boasts of the largest concentration of wild animals in their natural habitat. Lunch will be picnic lunch at one of the picnic sites, and later in the afternoon you will drive up the Crater rim where you can camp at Simba Campsite or returned to Mto wa Mbu where you will check in again at your campsite. Request for the price to stay at the Crater’s rim if you wish. 

Accomodation Option

Ngorongoro-Simba-Campsite

Ngorongoro-Simba-Campsite

Day 3: Lake Manyara safari - back to Arusha

Breakfast at your campsite freshly prepared by your professional trained safari cooks then you enter the Lake Manyara National Park at the base of the Great Rift Valley which runs from North to South Africa. The 3rd and last day of your safari will be spent at this small gem of a park which constantly lush green with leafy green forests that are fed by underground rivers making it a very beautiful park regardless it’s size. You will do game drives in the few plains inside this park while elephants and giraffes can be spotted as you pass the forests right from the park’s entrance. The park is also home to thousands of primates including cheeky monkeys and large troops of baboons that reside in this wildlife park.

The lake itself makes up for two thirds of the park (220 Km Square) and at the shores of the lake you will see a lot of hippos as well as aquatic birds like cormorants, Egyptian geese, herons , as well the Greater and lesser flamingos that flock in this lake.  Later in the afternoon depending on your schedule you will be transferred back to Arusha where your safari ends.

  • 05 days private safari for 02 – 06 persons
  • Transport and wildlife drives in modified 4 x 4 Land Cruiser with photographic roof hatch
  • Services of a professional English speaking safari guide
  • All wildlife reserve entry fees
  • All game drives as mentioned in the itinerary
  • 03 x 0,5 l mineral water per person / day during game drives
  • 03 x FB at public campsites as per itinerary.
  • services of a professional safari cook
  • 03 meals a day prepared by the safari chef
  • Value Added Tax by Tanzania Revenue Authority
  • International Flights
  • all airport pick up and transfers in private car
  • Accommodation at Arusha before or after safari
  • Any domestic connection flights on arrival or departure
  • All items of a personal nature
  • Gratuities for safari guide and safari chef (please tip separately)
  • Travel insurance if needed
  • Visa fee (50 US$ /100 US$ for American or Irish Passport holders – to be paid upon arrival)
  • Drinks and beverages at the campsites
  • Hot Air Balloon Safari at Serengeti (549 USD per person), including concession fees

Let Us Create Your Perfect Safari Adventure!

We’re thrilled to assist in designing your perfect safari experience! Kindly share your vision and preferences with us, and we’ll turn your dream adventure into reality.

A scenic image of a safari in a green, lush landscape featuring a tall, flat-topped acacia tree with a lion resting on its branch. In the foreground, a beige safari vehicle with tourists from the Tanzania Safari and Adventure tour is partially visible, and another vehicle is nearby.

3-Day camping Tanzania: Trip Itinerary & Travel Guide

A safari package is only useful when its number of days corresponds to real time on the ground. Review the first pickup, the order of the destinations, each accommodation night and the last transfer. Make sure the published itinerary is specific enough to compare fairly with a competing quotation.

Arrival, overnight stops and departure: a practical checklist

  • Confirm the pickup airport, hotel or agreed meeting point and the final drop-off location.
  • Identify each night by area and intended property, with a clearly explained alternative standard if necessary.
  • Distinguish full sightseeing or game-drive days from transfer and connection days.
  • Verify flight schedules, baggage conditions and required transfers when air travel forms part of the tour.
  • Review the specific inclusions, exclusions and the cancellation terms in the final quotation.

What camping means for comfort and facilities

Camping may mean public campsites, a privately arranged mobile camp or a fixed tented accommodation. They vary considerably in facilities, sleeping equipment, food service and privacy. Compare the actual arrangement rather than assuming that all “camping safari” packages include the same standard.

When this itinerary makes the most sense

A great itinerary is matched to the season, the traveller’s pace and the main goal of the trip. Someone focused on photography or one particular species may prefer longer in a single area; a first-time visitor may value a broader mix of scenery. Wildlife remains unpredictable, and a responsible operator should never guarantee sightings.

Questions to ask before paying a deposit

Ask for an updated dated itinerary, confirmation of accommodation or approved alternatives, the exact services in the total price and the applicable payment and cancellation policy. These details help prevent a mismatch between attractive online copy and the actual holiday.

This 3 day camping to the north top tanzania programme should be read as a complete travel schedule, not simply a list of attractions. A clear daily rhythm, suitable overnight stops and a realistic plan for getting to and from the destination make an enormous difference.

For a short safari, logistics can dominate the trip. Ask for the planned starting time, the exact park or airstrip, the overnight location if applicable and the likely time of return. Two days with thoughtful pacing can be more satisfying than a packed route that spends most of its hours on transfers.

How to evaluate the daily route and overnight plan

Start by marking the pick-up point, each overnight base and the final drop-off point on a map. Then ask how the operator expects the transfer days to work. A night spent near the next activity often creates more useful time than a distant property that looks appealing only in a brochure.

The camping element deserves its own clear description. Public campsites, mobile camps and permanent tented camps offer different levels of privacy and facilities. Confirm the sleeping arrangement, bedding, meals, washing facilities, camp staff and any equipment you would need to bring.

Booking inclusions and exclusions to verify

Before confirming, request a final breakdown of accommodation nights, room type, meals, drinking water arrangements, transport, guides, park or conservation fees, domestic flights if relevant, and activities not included in the basic tour. Understand deposit, cancellation and refund terms from the company’s current official policy—not from generic third-party price lists.

Best season and realistic wildlife expectations

Tanzania’s landscapes change between wetter and drier periods. Seasonal wildlife movements, trail conditions and flying weather can all influence the day-by-day experience. A thoughtful itinerary explains the advantages and trade-offs of the requested dates without promising a specific animal sighting or perfect weather.

Frequently asked questions

Can the itinerary be customized?

Often, but any customization depends on provider availability, park access, accommodation and transport arrangements. Request a revised written itinerary and price before confirming.

Are all park fees and travel transfers included?

Not automatically. The published inclusions for this specific tour and the final written quotation govern what is covered.

How do I choose between private and group safari arrangements?

Private travel may offer more schedule flexibility, while shared options follow a common plan. Verify vehicle occupancy, accommodation arrangements and departure status.

Will wildlife sightings or particular weather be guaranteed?

No. Wildlife moves freely and local conditions vary. A professional guide can improve the quality of the experience, not guarantee a particular encounter.

Continue planning with related Tanzania travel guides

Logo of Ascnzen Safaris featuring the company's name in orange and black text. On the right side of the text, there is an illustration of a secretary bird, perfectly capturing the essence of Tanzania Wildlife Safaris.

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