The wildlife attractions in Serengeti National Park are what brings many tourists to Tanzania every year and the park is a UNESCO World heritage site and the most popular in the country.
On a 5 day safari, you’ll experience it all including the Big 5 animals namely elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, leopards and lions as well as wildebeest, zebras, hyenas, giraffes, African dogs, hippos, crocodiles and 450 species of bird, making it the ultimate safari destination..
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The best 5 day Serengeti Tours
Cost of a 5 day Serengeti safari?
For a 5 day safari in the Serengeti, expect a starting price of $950 per person for a 5 day budget tour, while luxury tours start at about $2,000.
This will ultimately categorize tours as being budget, mid-range or luxury. Shared tours are usually cheaper than private tours and lodges range from budget to luxury whilst camping is usually the most budget-friendly option.
There are many 5 day road safaris on offer, but sometimes a fly-in safari might be the better choice. It will save you valuable time. Fly-in safaris generally use luxury accommodation and this comes at a higher price.
Visitors can also check out the seasons too; low-season prices can be favorable and while you’ll probably get some rain at this time, it’s when the scenery is at its best.
Tour breakdown for a typical 5 day in the Serengeti
Safari tour highlights
- One of Africa’s seven natural wonders
- Home of the Great Migration and the Big Five including the lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo in an iconic world-famous game park
- World’s largest lion sanctuary
- Private tour guide in English and other languages
- All-inclusive tours including lodging, entrance fees, meals, and transport
- Game drives in comfortable, open top safari vehicles
- Unique accommodation including safari lodges and tented camps
- Optional activity add-ons including hot air balloon safaris
Tour inclusions
The following details typical tour inclusions and exclusions on the best 5 day Serengeti safari package:
| Tour inclusions | Tour exclusions |
| Game drives per the itinerary as well as pick-up and drop-off | Visa fees, laundry services, drinks including mineral water at the hotels |
| Experienced english-speaking guide and driver | International/domestic flights |
| Transport and park entrance fees | Cultural visits to Maasai villages (15 USD p/p) |
| Accommodation (full-board safaris) | Tips to the driver guides, waiters and porters |
| Park fees | |
| Breakfast, lunch, dinner and bottled water | |
| Government taxes |
Safari essentials and information
Is 5 days sufficient for a Serengeti safari?
A 5 day safari is relatively short, but it will certainly do the trick if you are looking at a beach holiday with a safari extension. Moving camp or lodging every day is tiresome, but with a 5 day safari you should at least be able to spend a couple of nights in one spot.
Time permitting, you could perhaps add on another day or two to really make the most of this special experience, however 5 days is plenty to see, hear and experience the incredible wildlife and sights of the Serengeti.
The number of days needed to properly do a Serengeti safari can range from 1-2 days to 1-2 weeks, depending on how much time and budget a visitor has. A longer safari would be better as you’ll have more time in and really immerse yourself in the bush experience, however this depends on the amount of time you have.
Each day consists of an early morning game drive and a late afternoon game drive, certainly sufficient time to view the big 5 and incredible scenery. On a safari trip, you can even break up the drive to or from the Serengeti with an overnight stay in Grumeti Game Reserve or the stunning Ngorongoro Crater.
Alternatively you can spend all of your time in the Serengeti. With full days at the reserve, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to explore this iconic safari destination including a full-day dusk-to-dawn game drive that will include lunch at one of the picnic spots.
Accommodation offered on a 5 day Serengeti safari?
After a long day surveying the incredible Tanzania landscape and wildlife on offer, guests can look forward to the very best safari accommodation the Serengeti has to offer. The accommodation here is excellent with numerous options from tented camps, luxury lodges to camping grounds.
From camping in the bush with amenities to mid-range and luxury lodges located inside the reserve, there’s something for everyone. The Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge is the ideal place to stay near the Grumeti River and have a front-row seat to see the fabulous crossing of the river by the wildebeest and zebras.
Of particular note include the luxurious Four Seasons Serengeti safari lodge, the Serengeti Serena safari lodge and the Nomad Serengeti safari camp.
Animals on a Serengeti safari?
You’ll find just about everything in the Serengeti! The reserve is home to the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and African buffalo) and visitors will also find spotted hyenas as well as numerous hippos in the Serengeti Retina hippo pool.
Serengeti contains a high concentration of lions with over 3,000 of them found in the park and about 1.5 million wildebeests. A view of these huge beasts crossing the crocodile infested river Mara has been included in the 7 wonders of natural Africa.
You’ll also see wildebeest, gazelle, giraffes, African bush elephants, big cats, black rhinos and more spread across the endless plains. If you don’t mind a lot of driving, it is possible to visit the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater on a 5 day road safari.
This combination gives you a reasonable chance of seeing all the Big Five in a short time. Ngorongoro is the only reliable park in Tanzania to see black rhinos.
Fly or drive to the Serengeti?
On a 5 day safari, flying and driving to the Serengeti are both viable options, with flying bringing obvious time savings (2.5 hours from Kilimanjaro and 2 hours from Arusha) and incredible views of the wildlife and landscape.
Flying also comes with a higher price tag. The drive to the Serengeti from Kilimanjaro takes almost 4 hours. Fly-in safaris usually include top-end accommodation and all your activities.
On a 5 day tour of the Serengeti, you can easily break up the drive with a stopover. The Ngorongoro Crater is the most popular option and is often referred to as ‘Africa’s garden of Eden’, due to the sheer volumes of animals and wildlife found there.
The crater floor is also home to old elephant bulls that boast some of Africa’s largest tusks. The giant creatures are often found flaunting their ivory tusks near the Lerai Forest.
FAQs
How much spending money do I need for a 5 day Serengeti safari?
Visitors should budget for approximately $300 for a Serengeti safari per person per day, including food and accommodation. Serengeti safaris can be more expensive than their continental counterparts due to the higher costs of accommodation and food.
What animals will I see on a 5 day Serengeti safari tour?
Visitors on a 5 day Serengeti safari will see the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and African buffalo), hyenas, wildebeest, giraffes, cheetah, zebras, endangered black rhinos, hippos, crocodiles and much more.
What is the best time to go on a 5 day Serengeti safari?
The best time to go on a 5 day Serengeti safari is in the Dry season (from late June to October). This period offers the best wildlife viewing in general – with the wildebeest migration as its absolute highlight.