By Sabinus Msimba, Senior Mountain Guide & Co-founder · Last reviewed 3 November 2026
In 30 seconds
This 2-day Tarangire and Ngorongoro Crater safari starts and ends in Moshi, with one night in Karatu between the two parks. It suits travellers with two spare days, including climbers coming off Kilimanjaro. Prices start at $333 per person (Budget, group of 6) and $584 per person for two travellers, depending on your lodge tier. Expect long road sections: two days covers two parks, so a good share of your time is spent driving.
On this 2-day Tarangire Ngorongoro safari from Moshi, you spend day one on a game drive in Tarangire National Park, sleep one night in Karatu, then drive down into the Ngorongoro Crater on day two before heading back to Moshi.
Duration2 days
Nights1
Starts / endsMoshi
From $333 per person (Budget, group of 6) 2 travellers from $584 each · travelling alone from $941
Elephant mother and calf, Tarangire National Park, dry season.
What is this safari, and why combine Tarangire with the crater?
This is a two-day, one-night lodge safari from Moshi. You spend day one in Tarangire National Park and day two on the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater, with one night in Karatu in between.
The two places feel very different. Tarangire is open bush, baobab trees and a river that draws animals in the dry months. The crater is an enclosed volcanic basin where grazing animals live all year. Seeing both gives you two kinds of safari in a short time.
Two days means real time on the road between parks. This trip suits people who want a short first taste of safari, not a slow, deep one. If you want to go pole pole, slowly, the 3-day version adds a day.
Who this trip suits
Couples and friends with two free days
Solo travellers who want a private trip
Families with children used to long car journeys
Kilimanjaro climbers before or after the mountain
Anyone short on time who wants a first northern Tanzania safari
Is a 2-day Tarangire Ngorongoro safari right for you?
Two days is enough to see two very different places, but not enough to see them slowly. Read both lists before you decide.
Choose this trip if
You have exactly two days and want both Tarangire and the crater.
You have just finished a Kilimanjaro climb and want a short safari from Moshi.
You are comfortable with early starts and long hours in the vehicle.
On the Tarangire Ngorongoro route you sleep one night in Karatu, a town between Tarangire and the crater rim. Staying there means day two starts close to the road down into the crater.
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Itinerary and lodge options by tier
Day
Route
Night at
Budget
Mid-range
Luxury
Day 1
Moshi → Tarangire game drive → Karatu
Karatu
Amora Homestay, or Cajanus Inn or Ngorongoro Haven
Ngorongoro Corridor Lodge
Kitela Lodge
Day 2
Karatu → Ngorongoro Crater → Moshi
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Your exact lodge is confirmed in your written quote and depends on availability on your dates.
1
Day 1 · Moshi to Tarangire, overnight in Karatu
Your guide collects you in Moshi in the morning and drives west to Tarangire National Park. You spend the day on a game drive, then continue to Karatu for dinner and the night.
Park
Tarangire National Park
Sleep
Karatu, lodge by your chosen tier
2
Day 2 · Ngorongoro Crater, back to Moshi
You leave Karatu early, drive up to the crater rim and descend to the crater floor for your game drive. After climbing back out, you drive to Moshi, arriving in the evening.
Area
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Sleep
Not included — trip ends in Moshi
Where will you sleep in Karatu?
Your one night is in Karatu, a farming town on the road between Tarangire and the crater rim. You choose the comfort level; the tier changes your room, not your route or your game drives.
Budget
Homestay or small inn
Simpler rooms in a family-run homestay or small inn. A good fit if you mainly want a clean bed between two game drives.
Amora Homestay
Cajanus Inn
Ngorongoro Haven
Mid-range
Ngorongoro Corridor Lodge
A lodge room in the Karatu area, on the road towards the crater gate. A step up in room comfort from the budget tier.
Ngorongoro Corridor Lodge
Luxury
Kitela Lodge
The highest comfort tier we offer on this route, for travellers who want more space and service after a long day in the vehicle.
Kitela Lodge
Every property is subject to availability on your dates. Your written quote names the exact lodge before you pay anything.
How are Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater different?
Wildlife in both places moves with the season and the rain, so no sighting on this page is promised.
Day 1 · Tarangire National Park
Tarangire is known for elephant herds, old baobab trees and the Tarangire River. In the dry months the river is one of the few reliable water sources, so animals gather along it.
Male lion resting in dry grass, Tarangire.Lioness with cubs, Tarangire.
The crater is a collapsed volcano inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You drive down from the rim to a floor of grassland, swamp and a shallow soda lake.
Because the walls enclose it, many grazing animals stay on the crater floor all year, and lions hunt them there. Black rhino live in the crater but are few and not always seen.
How much does a 2-day Tarangire Ngorongoro safari cost?
Your price depends on two choices: the lodge tier you sleep in, and how many people share the vehicle. The more people share, the less each person pays, because the vehicle and guide cost is split between you.
Work out your price
$725 per person · $1,450 total for 2 people
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Price per person in USD, by lodge tier and group size (total for the group underneath)
Tier
1 person
2 people
4 people
6 people
Budget
$941 pp$941 total
$584 pp$1,167 total
$393 pp$1,570 total
$333 pp$2,000 total
Mid-range
$1,190 pp$1,190 total
$725 pp$1,450 total
$473 pp$1,890 total
$401 pp$2,405 total
Luxury
$1,585 pp$1,585 total
$943 pp$1,885 total
$705 pp$2,820 total
$598 pp$3,590 total
pp = per person. Per-person prices are the group total divided by the number of travellers, rounded to the nearest dollar; the group total is what you pay. Travelling alone, you pay the 1-person price. Group of 3, 5 or more than 6? Send your dates and we will quote your exact group.
From, for 2 people (Budget)$584 per person
From, for a group of 6 (Budget)$333 per person
Want a Tarangire Ngorongoro safari quote for your dates?
Tell us your month, group size and tier. You get an itemised quote with the lodge named. We reply within 12 hours, 7 days a week (EAT, UTC+3).
A Kilimania guide and guest on a day trip from Arusha.
Who plans and runs your safari?
Kilimania is a locally owned operator based in Moshi Kiboriloni, near Msaranga Primary School. You deal directly with the team that plans the route, books your lodge and assigns your guide.
Based in Moshi. Our office is in Kiboriloni, near Msaranga Primary School, so pickups from Moshi hotels, JRO and Arusha Airport are local runs.
You talk to the organisers. The people who answer your WhatsApp are the people who book your lodge and brief your guide.
Itemised written quote. Lodge name, park fees and extras are listed line by line before you commit.
Honest advice. If a 3-day trip or a different park suits you better, we will say so.
Your safari guide is named in your quote. Karibu — you can ask anything about the route before you pay a deposit.
Sabinus Msimba Senior Mountain Guide & Co-founder. His 22+ years and 300+ summits are on Kilimanjaro; he stands behind every safari the company runs. Read his full biography
What should you know before booking a Tarangire Ngorongoro safari?
Two days is mostly driving. You cover two parks and the road back to Moshi, so expect long sections in the vehicle on both days.
The crater is one game drive. You spend part of day two on the crater floor, then climb out and drive home the same afternoon.
No sighting is promised. Lions, elephants and rhino may or may not be visible on your day. Your guide reads the conditions but cannot control them.
You can do this trip all year. The season changes what Tarangire looks like more than the crater, because crater wildlife stays put while Tarangire’s animals follow the water.
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Typical seasons on this route (rains vary from year to year)
Season
Usual months
Tarangire
Ngorongoro Crater
Travel note
Dry season
June to October
Animals gather near the river; thin grass makes spotting easier
We collect you from your Moshi hotel, Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK). The trip ends back in Moshi on the evening of day two; your quote confirms the pickup time.
What to pack
Passport, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, a refillable bottle and any medication. Keep one small daypack in the vehicle and leave the rest of your luggage at your Moshi hotel.
Clothing
Wear neutral layers. The crater rim sits at more than 2,000 metres, so early mornings there can be cold even when Tarangire was hot the day before.
Photography
A zoom lens helps, as animals are often some distance from the road. Bring a cloth for dust and a spare battery or power bank.
Insurance
You need your own travel insurance covering medical care, evacuation and cancellation. Please bring your policy details on day one.
Food and diets
Tell us about vegetarian, vegan, halal, allergy or other needs when you enquire, so we can pass them to the lodge and pack your lunch to suit.
Children and families
Children are welcome. Long drives are the main challenge, so bring snacks and something to do. Tell us ages so we can check each lodge’s rules.
Travelling alone
You can book this trip on your own. You get the vehicle and guide to yourself; the 1-person column in the price table shows what that costs.
Adding Kilimanjaro
Many guests add this safari before or after a climb, as both start in Moshi. See our Kilimanjaro climbing routes and tell us your climb dates.
Questions travellers ask about this safari
How much does a 2-day Tarangire Ngorongoro safari cost?
Prices start at $333 per person for a group of six in the Budget tier. Two people pay from $584 each, and one person travelling alone pays from $941. The price depends on your lodge tier and how many people share the vehicle. Your written quote names the lodge and lists every fee.
Where do we sleep on this safari?
You sleep one night in Karatu, between Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater rim. Budget options are Amora Homestay, Cajanus Inn or Ngorongoro Haven; mid-range is Ngorongoro Corridor Lodge; luxury is Kitela Lodge. Your exact lodge depends on availability and is named in your quote before you pay.
Are park and crater fees included in the price?
Yes. Park and crater fees are included, along with the vehicle, guide, meals and drinking water. Flights, visa, travel insurance, tips and drinks are not. For a breakdown of crater charges, see the Ngorongoro Crater fees guide linked in the inclusions section.
Will we see the Big Five in two days?
Nobody can promise that. Lions, elephants and buffalo are seen on many trips. Black rhino live in the crater but are few and often far from the road, and leopard is rarely seen on this route. What you see depends on the season and on luck.
Can I do this safari after climbing Kilimanjaro?
Yes, many travellers add it after a climb because it starts and ends in Moshi. Choose “Yes” for “Climbing Kilimanjaro too?” on the enquiry form and we will plan the safari around your climb dates, with a rest day if you want one before setting off.
Can you pick us up from the airport or Arusha?
Pickups are available from Moshi hotels, Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and Arusha Airport (ARK). Tell us where you will be staying or landing, and we will confirm the pickup point and time in your quote. The safari also ends back in Moshi.
What if our group is 3, 5 or more than 6 people?
The table shows prices for 1, 2, 4 and 6 people. For any other group size, send your dates and numbers through WhatsApp or the form, and we will prepare a quote for your exact group rather than guessing from the table.
Which parks does this safari visit, and for how long?
You visit Tarangire National Park on day one and the Ngorongoro Crater on day two. The safari lasts two days with one night in Karatu, between the two parks. It starts and ends in Moshi, so you need no extra hotel nights for the safari itself.
Is this safari a good choice for couples or solo travellers?
Yes. Couples and solo travellers both book it often because it fits into a short stay. You travel in a private vehicle with your own guide, so you set the pace for photo stops. Solo travellers pay the 1-person rate shown in the price table.
When should I go?
You can go at any time of year. June to October is dry, and animals gather near the Tarangire River. November to May is greener and quieter, with heavier rain from March to May. Crater wildlife stays on the floor all year, so day two works in any season.
How do I request a quote and confirm my booking?
Send your dates, group size and lodge tier by WhatsApp or the form on this page. We reply with an itemised written quote naming your lodge. Your booking is confirmed only when you accept that quote and pay the deposit it states. Sending an enquiry does not commit you.
Can children join this safari?
Families can join. The long driving days suit children who are comfortable in a vehicle for several hours. Read our guide to a Tanzania safari with kids, then tell us the children’s ages so we can check lodge rules and plan the day.
Plan your 2-day safari with us
Thank you for your interest in this 2-day Tarangire and Ngorongoro safari. Send your dates and group size. We review availability and reply with an itemised quote that names your lodge and lists every fee. Sending this form does not commit you to anything.
We reply within 12 hours, 7 days a week (EAT, UTC+3).
Operator disclosure: This page is published by Kilimania Adventure Limited, which sells and operates this safari. Moshi Kiboriloni, near Msaranga Primary School, Moshi District, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. P.O. Box 1966, Moshi.
Safety: Wildlife is wild and no sighting is promised. Stay in the vehicle unless your guide says otherwise. Every traveller needs their own travel insurance.
Data sources: Kilimania itinerary and price records. Last reviewed 3 November 2026.
Kilimania Adventures
