Tanzania Simba Safari – 5 Days

The best part of this safari is the chance to spend two nights in the Serengeti, rather than rushing through it in a single game drive. You get a long afternoon on arrival, a full day in the park, and another morning before heading to Ngorongoro Crater.

I like the private format, since your guide can shape the pace around your group. I also like the practical package: a 4×4 Toyota Cruiser, lodging, meals, park fees, soft drinks, tea, coffee, and water on game drives are included. The drawback is the long road time, especially the seven-hour, 335-kilometer drive from Arusha to the Serengeti, followed by some very full game-drive days.

Key points to know before booking

• Two full nights in the Serengeti: This gives you more than a quick wildlife stop and improves your chance of seeing changing animal activity.
• Private driver-guide: Only your group joins the tour, with guides such as Adrian, Goodluck, Harry, and Dennis praised for sharp animal spotting and calm, helpful service.
• A full Serengeti day: Day 3 can run for about 12 hours, with morning and afternoon game drives separated by a picnic lunch.
• Ngorongoro Crater follows the Serengeti: You finish with an early morning crater drive, one of northern Tanzania’s most concentrated wildlife experiences.
• Most major costs are bundled: Lodging, meals, park fees, transport, and safari drinks are included, but flights, visas, insurance, tips, lodge drinks, and laundry are extra.
• The route is physically demanding: Long drives, early starts, dusty roads, and extended time in the vehicle are part of the deal.

Why the Serengeti gets two nights

The Serengeti is the heart of this trip. After leaving Arusha, you travel west for about seven hours and 335 kilometers. That is a serious first travel day, but it also gives you your first look at Tanzania beyond the city: changing colors, open country, roadside life, and the gradual shift toward the famous plains.

You arrive in time for lunch, then head out for an afternoon game drive. That first view of the Serengeti is likely to feel enormous. The horizon opens wide, and the sense of distance is part of the experience. You are not visiting a small wildlife park where every turn brings another enclosure. You are entering a huge, open ecosystem where animals may be close to the road or far away.

The two-night plan makes good sense. A single afternoon can bring lions, elephants, buffalo, or a memorable bird sighting, but wildlife does not follow a schedule. By staying longer, you have several different periods to search for animals. Light changes, temperatures shift, and animals become active at different times.

Your driver-guide is a major part of the value. The strongest praise connected with this operator centers on guides who can spot animals at surprising distances and explain animal behavior, plants, and the surrounding country. Adrian is noted for patience and humor, while Goodluck is praised for teaching about both animals and plant life. Harry and Dennis are also singled out for careful driving and strong attention to detail.

Those names are not a guarantee of your assigned guide, so you should not book solely to request one person. Still, they give you a useful idea of what matters most on this trip: your guide’s eyes, driving skill, and explanations can shape the entire safari.

Day 1 in Arusha, an easy landing

The safari begins with pickup at Arusha Airport. A driver-guide meets you and takes you to Arusha and your selected hotel, with time to get your bearings in the city and country.

This is a simple first day, which is helpful after an international flight. You are not pushed straight into a game drive or a long road transfer. The overnight stay also gives the operator a chance to handle the first practical steps before the safari begins.

The included accommodation plan lists one night in Arusha on half board. That usually means breakfast and dinner, but you should confirm the exact hotel and meal arrangement before departure. The provided details also list four breakfasts, four lunches, and four dinners overall, while Day 5 says dinner is not included. That small inconsistency is worth clearing up in writing.

Day 2: the long road to Serengeti National Park

Day 2 is mainly a transfer day, with the reward of an afternoon game drive. The seven-hour journey may sound manageable on paper, but road conditions, stops, and the desire to look around can make it feel longer. If you dislike extended drives, this is the day to prepare for.

The included 4×4 Toyota Cruiser is the right kind of vehicle for this route. You will spend a great deal of time seated, and the raised position helps with animal viewing once you enter the park. Soft drinks, water, coffee, and tea are provided during game drives, which is a welcome touch on long days.

After lunch, the afternoon drive begins. You may see wildlife right away, or you may spend time scanning the open country before your guide spots something. That uncertainty is not a flaw. It is part of how a real safari works.

The operator describes the afternoon as a chance to appreciate the size of the Serengeti, and that is important. The park is not only about ticking off the Big Five. It is also about the quiet stretches between sightings, the changing light, and the feeling of watching nature without a script.

Day 3: the safari’s fullest wildlife day

Day 3 is the most demanding and probably the most rewarding day on the schedule. After breakfast, you set out for a morning game drive, return to a picnic lunch, and continue searching through the afternoon. The total day is listed at about 12 hours.

This schedule gives you the best chance to see the Serengeti at different times. Morning can bring a cooler, softer start, while afternoon brings different light and activity. Your guide will explain what you are seeing and help you make sense of behavior rather than simply pointing out animals.

The Big Five are a major goal for many people: lion, leopard, Cape buffalo, elephant, and rhino. The itinerary presents them as a search rather than a promise, and that is the honest way to describe safari viewing. You may see several of them, but no operator can control animal movements.

You should also keep your expectations broad. The Serengeti can offer much more than the famous five, including a wide range of smaller animals, birds, and changing scenes. The supplied experiences place strong emphasis on guides who can identify animals from far away, find good viewing spots, and explain the surrounding plants and wildlife. That skill is especially useful when a leopard is partly hidden or a distant shape turns out to be a lion pride.

A 12-hour day can be tiring. You should bring sun protection, a light layer, and patience. You will be sitting for long periods, and roads can be rough. The private format helps because your group can discuss the pace with the guide, but it does not remove the basic demands of a safari day.

Day 4: one final Serengeti drive, then Ngorongoro

The fourth day begins with another morning section in the Serengeti, listed at about four hours. This is a smart use of your final time in the park. Instead of leaving immediately after breakfast, you get another chance to look for animals and enjoy the early light.

After a picnic lunch, you drive east toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This second transfer is also listed at about four hours. It breaks up the route between the two major wildlife areas, though you should still expect a tiring day with time in the vehicle.

Ngorongoro is different from the Serengeti. The Serengeti feels open and expansive, while the crater offers a more contained setting. You arrive at the lodge, settle in, and have dinner before the next morning’s drive.

The lodge location and standard are not specified in the supplied details, so you should ask what property is being used. This matters because accommodation can range from simple to quite comfortable, and the character of the evening can vary greatly. Lodging is included, but drinks and laundry at the lodges or camps are not.

Day 5: an early look inside Ngorongoro Crater

The final morning is built around Ngorongoro Crater. You take an early morning game drive, have a picnic lunch in the crater, and then return to the airport for your flight home.

The early start is worthwhile. Ngorongoro is often described as a natural wonder because of its dramatic setting and concentration of wildlife. The crater gives you a very different visual experience from the open Serengeti, with animals gathered within a huge natural bowl.

You should allow plenty of time for the airport transfer. The schedule says you return to the airport after lunch, but it does not specify the airport or flight time. Do not book a tight onward connection without confirming the route and expected arrival time with Easy Travel Tours LTD.

Day 5 includes breakfast and lunch, but dinner is not included. That is not usually a problem if you are flying home, though it is another reason to confirm your flight timing and meal plan before you go.

What the $2,897.06 price includes

At $2,897.06 per person, this is not a budget safari. The price makes more sense when you count what is bundled into five days:

• Private 4×4 Toyota Cruiser
• Private driver-guide
• One night in Arusha
• Four nights on safari
• Park fees
• Breakfasts, lunches, and dinners as specified
• Soft drinks, tea, coffee, and water on game drives

The private vehicle is the biggest value point. You are not sharing decisions with a large group, and you have direct access to one driver-guide throughout the trip. For families, couples, and friends who want their own pace, that can be worth paying extra for.

The price does not include international or domestic flights, a visa, travel or medical insurance, tips, lodge drinks, or laundry. You should also set aside money for guide and hotel staff tips. The trip is easier to budget than a bare transport-only package, but it is not all-inclusive in the resort sense.

Group discounts are available, and pickup is offered. Since this is a private tour, the per-person value improves if several people share the vehicle. A family of four, for example, gets the benefits of a private safari while dividing some vehicle and guide costs across the group.

How the guides affect the experience

The repeated strength of this safari is the people behind the wheel. Names associated with especially strong experiences include Adrian, Goodluck, Harry, Dennis, Musa H., Louis, and Abisai Mbasha.

The useful detail is not simply that these guides are friendly. Their real value lies in three practical skills: spotting animals at a distance, driving safely on rough roads, and explaining what you are seeing. A guide who can tell the difference between a distant rock and a resting lion saves time and adds excitement.

Several accounts also point to guides helping older family members and keeping the mood light. That matters because safari days can be long and dusty. A calm guide who adjusts to your needs can make the difference between a tiring outing and a memorable one.

Ask if you can request a specific guide, but understand that availability may vary. The company describes itself as family-owned and family-managed, with decades of experience in Tanzania. The most useful thing to confirm is not a promise of a particular person, but the guide’s language ability, vehicle arrangements, and experience with your group’s needs.

Who should book this safari

I would recommend this trip to you if you want the classic northern Tanzania combination of Serengeti and Ngorongoro in a short period. It suits first-time safari visitors who want the major parks without planning every transfer themselves.

It is also a good fit for families. The private setup allows you to manage your own group rather than adapt to strangers. Past experiences connected with the operator include families with children and older adults, with particular praise for guides who were patient and helpful.

You should think twice if you want a slow, luxurious holiday with short driving times. The Arusha to Serengeti transfer is long, Day 3 lasts about 12 hours, and the route includes rough roads and early starts. You are paying for access to remarkable wildlife areas, not for a relaxed hotel-to-hotel break.

The tour is listed as suitable for most people, but anyone with mobility, medical, or stamina concerns should discuss the long drives and game-drive schedule before booking.

Practical details to settle before departure

Confirmation is normally received at booking. If you book within seven days of travel, confirmation may take up to 48 hours and depends on availability.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that period are not accepted for a refund.

Before paying, I would ask four direct questions:

• Which Arusha hotel and safari lodges are included?
• Which airport will you return to on Day 5?
• What exactly is included in the meal plan, especially the final dinner?
• Can you request a named guide or a particular vehicle setup?

These are small questions, but they remove the few unclear points in an otherwise straightforward plan.

Should you book Tanzania Simba Safari?

Book it if your priority is seeing the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater with a private guide in only five days. The route is focused, the major park fees and meals are included, and the private 4×4 format gives you a better chance to set the rhythm of the trip.

I would choose it especially for a family or small group that values personal attention and does not want to share a vehicle. I would skip it if long road transfers sound miserable or if you want more time in each park. For most first safari visitors with limited time, though, this is a strong northern Tanzania package, provided you confirm the lodges, airport transfer, guide assignment, and meal details before departure.

FAQ

Where does the safari begin?

The meeting point is Arusha Airport in Arusha, Tanzania. Pickup is offered.

Is this a private safari?

Yes. Only your group participates in the private tour or activity.

Which national parks and wildlife areas are included?

The itinerary includes Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, including a game drive in Ngorongoro Crater.

How many nights are spent in the Serengeti?

The schedule includes two nights in the Serengeti.

Are meals included?

Meals are included as listed, with four breakfasts, four lunches, and four dinners provided in the package details. Day 5 specifically states that breakfast and lunch are included but dinner is not, so confirm the final meal plan before departure.

Are flights and visas included?

No. International and domestic flights, visas, travel and medical insurance, and staff tips are not included.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.