Big 5 Safari in Tanzania

Meet the Big Five

• Lion: the Serengeti has one of Africa's largest lion populations. Look for prides resting on the granite kopjes or following the migration herds.
• Leopard: shy and mostly active at night, leopards are often found draped over sausage tree and acacia branches along the Seronera River in the central Serengeti.
• African elephant: Tarangire is famous for its large herds, especially in the dry season. Big bulls also roam the Ngorongoro Crater floor.
• Cape buffalo: large herds graze the Crater floor and the Serengeti grasslands. They are one of the easiest of the five to find.
• Black rhino: the rarest of the five. The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the best places in Tanzania to see them, and Kenya's Ol Pejeta and Lake Nakuru are also strongholds.

Where to see the Big Five

Ngorongoro Crater

A collapsed volcano about 20 km across, with permanent water and grazing. The Crater floor is home to lion, elephant, buffalo and a protected population of black rhino, all in one day's game drive.

Serengeti National Park

Big cat country. The central Seronera area is excellent for lion and leopard all year round, and the plains fill with buffalo and elephant.

Tarangire National Park

Huge elephant herds, buffalo and lion among the baobabs. Add Tarangire to round out a Big Five itinerary.

Kenya: Masai Mara and Ol Pejeta

For a cross-border trip, the Masai Mara offers outstanding big cat sightings and Ol Pejeta is a leading rhino sanctuary.

Our Big 5 safari itineraries

• 6daysBig Five Safari in TanzaniaFrom US$2,750 pp
• 3daysSerengeti & Ngorongoro SafariPrice on request
• 4daysTarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro SafariPrice on request
• 5daysNorthern Circuit Mid-Range SafariFrom US$2,250 pp
• 7daysNorthern Circuit Explorer SafariFrom US$3,150 pp
• 5daysSerengeti Great Migration SafariPrice on request
• 9daysGreat Migration Mid-Range Safari: Tarangire, Serengeti & NgorongoroFrom US$4,450 pp
• 8daysKenya Samburu, Ol Pejeta & Masai Mara SafariFrom US$3,550 pp
• 8daysKenya & Tanzania Masai Mara–Serengeti SafariFrom US$3,800 pp
• 6daysMasai Mara & Lamu HoneymoonPrice on request

Tips to improve your Big Five chances

1. Include the Ngorongoro Crater. It's the most reliable place for black rhino on the Northern Circuit.
2. Give yourself at least two full days in the Serengeti. More time means more chances to find leopard.
3. Head out early. Big cats are most active at dawn and dusk.
4. Bring binoculars. Rhino are often seen at a distance on the Crater floor.
5. Travel in the dry season (June to October) when animals gather near water and the grass is short.

Wildlife is wild. No operator can guarantee all five, but a well-planned route and an experienced guide make a real difference.