What You Need to Know: The 5-day luxury Big Five safari costs from US$4,675 per person for two travelers (US$4,260 each for four), with park fees, the crater service fee, four nights at luxury lodges inside the parks with meals, and a private Land Cruiser with your own Mweka-trained driver-guide. Lions, elephants and buffaloes are seen on almost every trip; leopards are harder and black rhinos are usually seen at a distance in the crater, so no one can promise all five, but this route gives you the best chance we know in five days.
Who Is the Luxury Big Five Safari For?
It is for travelers with a Big Five list to tick off and a few days to do it in comfort. The route goes to the park that is best for each animal at the time of day it is most active: the Seronera valley at dawn and dusk for leopards, the crater floor first thing in the morning for rhinos. Two nights in the Serengeti give your guide a full day to search, which is what makes the difference with leopards.
| This safari suits you if… | Consider another trip if… |
|---|---|
| The Big Five are your top priority | You want the migration herds as well: the 10-day private luxury safari or a river-crossing safari |
| You have five days and want every night inside the parks | You have only four days: the 4-day private luxury safari, with one Serengeti night |
| You'd like a guide who knows where each animal is likely to be | You'd rather share a vehicle and pay less: the 6-day luxury small-group safari |
Where to See Each of the Big Five on This Safari
No park in northern Tanzania holds all five in the same numbers, which is why the route links three of them. Where we look for each animal, and your chances:
| Animal | Where on this safari | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Lion | Central Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater | Very high |
| Elephant | Tarangire, especially June to October along the river | Very high |
| Buffalo | Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti | Very high |
| Leopard | Sausage and acacia trees along the Seronera River, central Serengeti | Moderate |
| Black rhino | Ngorongoro Crater floor | Possible, usually at a distance |
More on each animal is in our guide to the Big Five in Tanzania.
5-Day Luxury Big Five Safari Itinerary, Day by Day
The days are timed around the animals: a full day in the Seronera valley, and the crater at first light. Day by day:
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Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire: elephants and buffaloes
Pickup at your Arusha hotel and about two hours to Tarangire. In the dry season the river draws large herds of elephants and buffaloes, and lions rest in the shade of the baobabs.
Stay: Elephant Springs by Karibu Camps, Maramboi Tented Lodge or Lake Burunge Baobab Tented Lodge, or similar.
Elephant, buffaloTarangireLunch box, dinner -
Day 2: Tarangire to the central Serengeti
A short morning drive in Tarangire, then over the Ngorongoro highlands to the Serengeti, arriving for an afternoon game drive in the Seronera valley.
Stay: Four Seasons Serengeti, Serengeti Serena Lodge or Nyota Luxury Tented Camp, or similar, two nights.
LionsCentral SerengetiBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 3: The Seronera valley: a full day for leopards
Out at first light along the Seronera River, where leopards rest in the trees, then the kopjes where lion prides lie up through the day. A break at the lodge at midday, and a late afternoon drive when the cats move again. A sunrise balloon flight over the Serengeti (US$490 per person) is a fine way to start the day if you add one.
Leopard, lionCentral SerengetiBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 4: Serengeti to the crater rim
A last morning game drive, then back across the plains to your lodge on the Ngorongoro Crater rim, for sunset over the crater floor.
Stay: Ngorongoro Serena Lodge or Lion's Paw, or similar.
Crater viewSerengeti, crater rimBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater at first light: the black rhino
Down to the crater floor as early as the gates allow, when rhinos are most often seen grazing on the open grass, with lions, buffaloes, zebras and hippos around them. After a picnic lunch you climb out and drive back to Arusha.
Black rhinoNgorongoro, ArushaBreakfast, picnic lunch
Where You Stay on the Luxury Big Five Safari
All four nights are inside the parks or on the crater rim, always "or similar":
| Night | Area | Luxury lodges (or similar) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tarangire | Elephant Springs by Karibu Camps, Maramboi Tented Lodge, Lake Burunge Baobab Tented Lodge |
| 2–3 | Central Serengeti | Four Seasons Serengeti, Serengeti Serena Lodge, Nyota Luxury Tented Camp |
| 4 | Ngorongoro Crater rim | Ngorongoro Serena Lodge, Lion's Paw |
How Much Does the Luxury Big Five Safari Cost?
From US$4,675 per person for two travelers; the price per person falls as more travelers share the vehicle:
| Travelers | Luxury, per person | Same route at mid-range |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | US$6,365 | US$4,355 |
| 2 | US$4,675 | US$3,205 |
| 3 | US$4,330 | US$2,775 |
| 4 | US$4,260 | US$2,790 |
| 5 | US$4,135 | US$2,615 |
| 6 | US$4,120 | US$2,655 |
Park fees on the 5-Day Luxury Big Five Safari
The fees for this route are in the price; the 2026 rates for reference:
| Fee | 2026 rate (incl. VAT) |
|---|---|
| Tarangire National Park | About US$59 per person per 24 hours |
| Serengeti National Park | US$82.60 per person per 24 hours |
| Ngorongoro Conservation Area (also charged when you drive through) | US$70.80 per person per 24 hours |
| Concession fee (nights inside the parks and on the crater rim) | Per person per night, by season |
| Ngorongoro crater service fee | US$295 per vehicle per descent |
What the 5-Day Luxury Big Five Safari Includes
What you get for the price:
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof, charging points and a fridge, and your own Mweka-trained driver-guide
- Four nights at luxury lodges inside the parks, with meals as listed
- All park, conservation and concession fees, and the Ngorongoro crater service fee
- Pickup from and drop-off at your Arusha hotel
- Drinking water in the vehicle
Not included in the 5-Day Luxury Big Five Safari price
Pay these yourself:
- International flights and visas (US$100 for US citizens)
- Tanzania's mandatory inbound travel insurance, US$44 per adult from October 1, 2026 (we can help you buy it)
- Travel insurance, including medical evacuation
- Tips for your guide and lodge staff
- Drinks, except where a lodge includes them, and personal items
- Arusha hotel nights and airport transfers, which we can add
- Optional activities, such as a sunrise balloon flight over the Serengeti (US$490 per person) or Tarangire (US$460)
Tips for Seeing More of the Big Five
Patience and timing matter more than luck. A few things that help on this route:
- Go out early: leopards and lions are most active at dawn and in the late afternoon.
- Bring good binoculars: rhinos in the crater are often a few hundred meters away.
- Travel in the dry season: from June to October the bush is thinner and animals gather at water.
- Tell your guide what matters most: if a leopard is your priority, the Serengeti day can be planned the Serengeti day around it.
How to Book the Luxury Big Five Safari
Send your dates, the number of travelers and the animals you most want to see through the form, on WhatsApp +255 678 992 599 or by email to jaynevytours@gmail.com. We reply with a written quotation that names every lodge for your dates. A 30% deposit confirms the safari and the balance is paid on arrival, by Pesapal (card or mobile money) or bank transfer in US dollars; cancellations follow our booking terms.
Common Questions About the Luxury Big Five Safari
Short answers to the questions our guests ask us most often:
Can you see the Big Five in Tanzania in five days?
Often, yes. Lions, elephants and buffaloes are seen on almost every trip on this route, leopards on many and black rhinos in the crater on most, usually at a distance. No one can guarantee all five.
Where is the best place to see black rhinos in Tanzania?
The Ngorongoro Crater floor, which has the most reliable rhino sightings in northern Tanzania.
Where are leopards most often seen?
In the trees along the Seronera River in the central Serengeti, early and late in the day.
How much is the 5-day luxury Big Five safari?
From US$4,675 per person for two travelers and US$4,260 each for four, including park fees, four luxury lodge nights with meals and a private vehicle and guide.
What is the best month for the Big Five?
June to October, the dry season, when the bush is thin and animals stay close to water.
Should You Book the 5-Day Luxury Big Five Safari?
Book it if the Big Five are the heart of your safari: three parks chosen for the five animals, a full Serengeti day for leopards and a first-light crater descent for rhinos, from US$4,675 per person. For the migration as well, look at the 10-day private luxury safari.
See all our luxury Tanzania safaris.