9 Day Ruaha Serengeti And Ngorongoro Safari

Destinations: Tanzania, Ruaha National Park, Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater

This 9-day trip strings together Ruaha, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, spreading the days across the best of the region. The park holds around ten percent of the world’s lions in prides that can top twenty animals. Dawn balloon flights drift over the herds where operators offer them. The rim sits at 2,300 metres and mornings are cold before the sun clears the wall.

Day By Day

Day 1 Arrival At Ruaha

You fly in from Dar es Salaam, the flight lifts off from Dar es Salaam and turns inland over the coast, and land near Ruaha National Park, where your guide meets you and the transfer to camp works as your first afternoon out in the park. As the dry season bites, the shrinking Great Ruaha River pulls elephant, buffalo and antelope down to drink. Greater and lesser kudu, sable and roan show themselves here in ways they rarely do up north. Ruaha is one of Africa’s last strongholds for the endangered African wild dog.

You settle into camp as the light goes. On most drives you will not pass another vehicle. Ancient baobabs stand over the sand rivers, glowing gold in the low afternoon light. The park list runs to more than 570 bird species so the river fringe stays busy through the day. Ruaha is the largest national park in Tanzania at over 20,000 square kilometres and it sees a fraction of the vehicles the northern parks do.

Light aircraft wing at the bush airstrip in Ruaha National Park — Day 1 flies in to Ruaha; the transfer to camp is the first afternoon in the park.

Day 2 Game Drives In Ruaha

A full day in Ruaha National Park. You are out on game drives, out early while the light is low and the country is at its best, with the guide working the ground slowly and time to stop for whatever the day turns up. Ruaha is one of Africa’s last strongholds for the endangered African wild dog. Ancient baobabs stand over the sand rivers, glowing gold in the low afternoon light. The park list runs to more than 570 bird species so the river fringe stays busy through the day. You rest through the midday heat and head out again as it cools.

Ruaha is the largest national park in Tanzania at over 20,000 square kilometres and it sees a fraction of the vehicles the northern parks do. The park holds around ten percent of the world’s lions in prides that can top twenty animals. As the dry season bites, the shrinking Great Ruaha River pulls elephant, buffalo and antelope down to drink. Greater and lesser kudu, sable and roan show themselves here in ways they rarely do up north.

Three elephants walking across a dry sand riverbed in Ruaha National Park — Elephant on the sand rivers, where they dig for water below the surface through the dry months.

Day 3 Game Drives In Ruaha

A full day in Ruaha National Park. You are out on game drives, out early while the light is low and the country is at its best, with the guide working the ground slowly and time to stop for whatever the day turns up. Ancient baobabs stand over the sand rivers, glowing gold in the low afternoon light. The park list runs to more than 570 bird species so the river fringe stays busy through the day. Ruaha is the largest national park in Tanzania at over 20,000 square kilometres and it sees a fraction of the vehicles the northern parks do. On most drives you will not pass another vehicle.

The park holds around ten percent of the world’s lions in prides that can top twenty animals. As the dry season bites, the shrinking Great Ruaha River pulls elephant, buffalo and antelope down to drink. Greater and lesser kudu, sable and roan show themselves here in ways they rarely do up north. Ruaha is one of Africa’s last strongholds for the endangered African wild dog.

Lioness lying in dappled shade beside her pride in Ruaha National Park — Ruaha prides run large. This is the quiet half of the trip, before the northern parks and their vehicles.

Day 4 Transfer To Serengeti

A short morning out on game drives at first light in Ruaha, then to the airstrip and a light aircraft for the move to Serengeti National Park. The country changes on the way, and you reach the Serengeti in the afternoon. You head out on game drives as the light softens, a first look at the new ground. Big cats are the draw, lion on the kopjes, cheetah on the plains, leopard in the riverine trees. The Grumeti and Mara rivers hold crocodile and stage the migration’s river crossings in season. Back at camp after dark, dinner is under the stars.

The Serengeti runs to nearly 15,000 square kilometres of open plains and scattered kopjes. It carries the great wildebeest migration, well over a million animals moving in a yearly loop. Dawn balloon flights drift over the herds where operators offer them. Nothing is promised in the wild, which is what makes a good sighting count. The country is quiet here, and on most outings you have it to yourselves.

Day 5 Game Drives In Serengeti

A full day in Serengeti National Park. You are out on game drives, out early while the light is low and the country is at its best, with the guide working the ground slowly and time to stop for whatever the day turns up. The Grumeti and Mara rivers hold crocodile and stage the migration’s river crossings in season. Dawn balloon flights drift over the herds where operators offer them. The Serengeti runs to nearly 15,000 square kilometres of open plains and scattered kopjes. You rest through the midday heat and head out again as it cools.

It carries the great wildebeest migration, well over a million animals moving in a yearly loop. Big cats are the draw, lion on the kopjes, cheetah on the plains, leopard in the riverine trees. The country is quiet here, and on most outings you have it to yourselves. Your guide has the ground worked out, and knows where the day is likely to lead. The morning is cool and the animals are moving, so the first hours out are the busiest.

Day 6 Game Drives In Serengeti

A full day in Serengeti National Park. You are out on game drives, out early while the light is low and the country is at its best, with the guide working the ground slowly and time to stop for whatever the day turns up. Dawn balloon flights drift over the herds where operators offer them. The Serengeti runs to nearly 15,000 square kilometres of open plains and scattered kopjes. It carries the great wildebeest migration, well over a million animals moving in a yearly loop. On most drives you will not pass another vehicle.

Big cats are the draw, lion on the kopjes, cheetah on the plains, leopard in the riverine trees. The Grumeti and Mara rivers hold crocodile and stage the migration’s river crossings in season. Your guide has the ground worked out, and knows where the day is likely to lead. The morning is cool and the animals are moving, so the first hours out are the busiest. You carry a packed breakfast and stay out while the going is good.

Day 7 Transfer To Ngorongoro Crater

A short morning out on game drives at first light in the Serengeti, then to the road for the move to Ngorongoro Crater. The country changes on the way, and you reach the Ngorongoro Crater in the afternoon. You head out on game drives as the light softens, a first look at the new ground. The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact volcanic caldera in the world, about 260 square kilometres of floor. Its walls hold around 25,000 large animals so game viewing is concentrated and reliable. Back at camp after dark, dinner is under the stars.

Lion, elephant, buffalo and flamingo-lined soda lakes share the crater floor. The rim sits at 2,300 metres and mornings are cold before the sun clears the wall. It is one of the best places in Africa to see black rhino completing the Big Five in a day. The morning is cool and the animals are moving, so the first hours out are the busiest. You carry a packed breakfast and stay out while the going is good.

Day 8 Game Drives In Ngorongoro Crater

A full day in Ngorongoro Crater. You are out on game drives, out early while the light is low and the country is at its best, with the guide working the ground slowly and time to stop for whatever the day turns up. Its walls hold around 25,000 large animals so game viewing is concentrated and reliable. It is one of the best places in Africa to see black rhino completing the Big Five in a day. Lion, elephant, buffalo and flamingo-lined soda lakes share the crater floor. You rest through the midday heat and head out again as it cools.

The rim sits at 2,300 metres and mornings are cold before the sun clears the wall. The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact volcanic caldera in the world, about 260 square kilometres of floor. You carry a packed breakfast and stay out while the going is good. Around midday the heat sits heavy, and you rest in the shade before heading out again as it cools.

Day 9 Departure

A final morning out on game drives before you leave, the best window of the trip for anything still on your list. You make the most of the early light, then you drive back toward Dar es Salaam. Lion, elephant, buffalo and flamingo-lined soda lakes share the crater floor. The rim sits at 2,300 metres and mornings are cold before the sun clears the wall. This 9-day trip links Ruaha, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, with the travelling done between the wildlife so your days stay on the ground that matters. The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact volcanic caldera in the world, about 260 square kilometres of floor.

Its walls hold around 25,000 large animals so game viewing is concentrated and reliable. It is one of the best places in Africa to see black rhino completing the Big Five in a day. Around midday the heat sits heavy, and you rest in the shade before heading out again as it cools. The guide reads the tracks and the birds, and there is no rush to be anywhere.

What’s Included

All internal flights and road transfers on the route
Full-board accommodation on safari as shown
Game drives and the activities named in the day plan
Park entry fees for the days shown
Airport and airstrip transfers, drinking water in the vehicle

What’s Not Included

International flights and any visa
Travel insurance
Drinks, tips for guides and staff
Activities not listed and items of a personal nature

Why Is This Tanzania Safari Worth the Trip?

This trip earns its place because the stops are nothing alike, and seeing them together makes each one land harder. As the dry season bites, the shrinking Great Ruaha River pulls elephant, buffalo and antelope down to drink. Greater and lesser kudu, sable and roan show themselves here in ways they rarely do up north. The rim sits at 2,300 metres and mornings are cold before the sun clears the wall. Linking Ruaha, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater in one route means you cover more of Tanzania than a single park allows, and the travelling between them is short. On 9 days you get range without the trip feeling rushed, the set-piece wildlife, the quieter corners, and the change of country from one stop to the next. For a traveller who wants variety over a single famous name, this is a strong, well-balanced way to see the region, and it works whether it is a first trip or a return.

Is a Nine Day Tanzania Safari Long Enough?

9 days across Ruaha, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater is a well-judged length, though it is a read of each stop rather than a deep stay. You get a full day or more at the main parks, enough to see the headline wildlife and still catch the quieter moments. It suits travellers who value breadth and do not mind moving every couple of days. What this length cannot do is exhaust any one park, the biggest of them could fill a week on their own, so the remote corners stay for another trip. If a single place is your priority, spend the nights there instead. And if you have longer, the route takes an easy add-on, whether that is more time with the wildlife or a stretch on the coast to finish. As it stands, this 9-day trip is balanced and full.

How Much Does a Tanzania Safari Usually Cost?

What you pay turns mostly on the camps and the season. In Tanzania, park fees run from about USD 35 per adult per day at Ruaha to roughly USD 70 to 85 in the northern parks, all of those with 18% VAT counted in; Ruaha’s is a USD 30 gate rate before the tax is added, and the Ngorongoro Crater sits at the top of the range. The park authorities review these rates each fiscal year, so treat them as indicative. As a rough guide, most trips of this length run from around USD 2,700 to 5,850 per person sharing, higher in the peak dry months and cheaper in the green season. Camp and lodge level is the big lever, from simple tented camps to the smarter river and bush camps, and a shared vehicle between four brings the per-person cost down. Tell an operator your dates, group size and the standard you want and it can be quoted to the figure.

South and North, Side by Side

The reason to open in Ruaha is contrast, and How Does Ruaha Compare to the Serengeti? is the honest version of that comparison. Before you go, read Best Time to Visit Ruaha National Park and Which Animals Can You See in Ruaha National Park?, which sets out what the south has that the north does not, and what it lacks.

Related routes: the 10 Day Tanzania South And North Safari adds Tarangire, and the 12 Day Grand Tanzania Safari folds in Nyerere as well. Everything about the Ruaha leg is in the Ruaha National Park: Complete Safari Guide.

This is an independent guide with nothing to sell. When the dates and camps are settled, the operators who run Ruaha safaris will quote it, and the enquiry form on the homepage is the quickest way to reach them.