
Best 3 Day Safari in Tanzania - Start from Arusha / Kilimanjaro
A 3-day Tanzania safari is the perfect way to experience the thrill of African wildlife without a long commitment. Designed for those short on time but high on adventure, this immersive journey with The Image of Tanzania Safari takes you through three of Tanzania’s most iconic parks, each offering breathtaking beauty and unforgettable wildlife encounters.
In just three days, you’ll traverse:
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The elephant-filled plains of Tarangire National Park
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The world-renowned Ngorongoro Crater, home to the legendary Big Five
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And the lush landscapes of Lake Manyara National Park, where tree-climbing lions and flamingos await
This 3-day Tanzania safari from Arusha is ideal for couples, families, or solo travellers looking to explore the best of northern Tanzania in a private, personalised setting. With your choice of comfortable mid-range lodges or exclusive luxury camps, you’ll enjoy expert-guided game drives, scenic beauty, and warm Tanzanian hospitality from start to finish.
You’ll Experience on This 3-Day Safari
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🛻 Game drives in Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater & Lake Manyara
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🏨 Stay in mid-range or luxury lodges with all meals
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👨✈️ Expert local safari guide (English, French & German available)
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🚐 Start & end in Arusha – no flights needed
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📅 Available year-round, best wildlife viewing June–October
📌 Duration: 3 Days / 2 Nights
💰 From: $990 per person (sharing)

3 Day Tanzania Safari, Itinerary,Price & Inclusions
🗓️ Day 1: Arusha – Tarangire National Park
Scenic Drives, Majestic Baobabs & Elephant Herds
Your journey begins at 7:30 AM with a personalised pickup from your Arusha hotel by your dedicated safari guide. As you drive through the countryside, watch villages and farms pass by before entering the vast wilderness of Tarangire National Park, just two hours away.
Tarangire is a park of giants—giant elephants, giant baobabs, and big game in big numbers. It’s one of the most underrated parks in Tanzania, and a favourite among photographers and seasoned safari-goers. Here, you’ll enjoy a full-day game drive, with the chance to spot:
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Massive herds of elephants bathing or grazing
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Lions resting under acacia trees
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Giraffes, impalas, buffalo, zebras, and more
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Vibrant birdlife, including lilac-breasted rollers and secretary birds
Pause midday for a scenic picnic lunch under the shade of a baobab or near the Tarangire River, then continue exploring until the golden afternoon light settles in.
In the late afternoon, exit the park and ascend the escarpment to the Karatu region, where your handpicked lodge or luxury retreat awaits. Enjoy a warm Tanzanian welcome, dinner, and a restful evening surrounded by nature.
🏨 Overnight Accommodation (Choose Your Comfort):
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Lodge Option: Marera Valley Lodge / Eileen’s Trees Inn
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Luxury Option: The Retreat at Ngorongoro / Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge
🍽️ Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations Options - Camping | Mid-range | Luxury

Heart and Soul Lodge | Marera Valley Lodge
Heart & Soul Lodge is a stylish 4-star retreat located between Mto wa Mbu and Karatu, near Lake Manyara. Surrounded by lush gardens, it offers spacious suites, a swimming pool, a sky-bar, and a peaceful farm setting. Guests love its warm hospitality, delicious food, and serene atmosphere.
🗓️ Day 2: Ngorongoro Crater – Full Day Game Drive
A UNESCO World Heritage Site & Home of the Big Five
Wake up early for breakfast, then head to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area—a haven of dramatic beauty and unmatched wildlife concentration. After a scenic drive, you’ll reach the crater rim and descend into one of the world’s largest intact volcanic calderas.
Prepare to be awestruck. Ngorongoro Crater is often described as Africa’s Garden of Eden, home to around 25,000 animals living within its steep walls. On today’s game drive, expect to see:
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Lions, hyenas, and jackals on the hunt or lazing in the grass
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Elephants, hippos, flamingos, and possibly a black rhino
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Dramatic landscapes—forests, lakes, swamps, and open plains
You’ll break for a picnic lunch beside a hippo pool, where you can eat while watching the animals wade nearby. After lunch, continue your game drive before slowly ascending the crater wall in the afternoon and returning to your lodge.
🏨 Overnight: Same lodge or luxury camp as Day 1
🍽️ Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations Options - Mid-range | Luxury

Heart and Soul Lodge | Marera Valley Lodge
Heart & Soul Lodge is a stylish 4-star retreat located between Mto wa Mbu and Karatu, near Lake Manyara. Surrounded by lush gardens, it offers spacious suites, a swimming pool, a sky-bar, and a peaceful farm setting. Guests love its warm hospitality, delicious food, and serene atmosphere.
🗓️ Day 3: Lake Manyara National Park – Return to Arusha
Tree-Climbing Lions, Flamingos & Lush Forests
After breakfast, drive just 45 minutes to Lake Manyara National Park, a hidden gem nestled between the Great Rift Valley wall and a shallow alkaline lake. Though compact in size, this park offers incredible diversity:
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The famous tree-climbing lions
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Huge troops of baboons—some of the largest in Africa
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Hippos, giraffes, impalas, warthogs, and cape buffalo
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Flamingos and pelicans lining the shimmering lakeshore
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Lush groundwater forest filled with monkeys and birds
Enjoy a relaxed game drive until late morning, then begin the return journey to Arusha. After lunch en route or at a local lodge, you'll arrive in Arusha in the late afternoon (around 4:30–5:00 PM), with drop-off at your hotel or airport.
🍽️ Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
End of Safari
Let Us Help you plan this 3 Day Safari
Why Book a 4 -Day Tanzania Safari ?
✅ Perfect Balance of Time & Adventure
Four days is just right to explore Tanzania’s top parks without rushing. Experience the Big Five, breathtaking landscapes, and rich cultures all in one short, powerful trip.