A Tanzania self-drive itinerary of 14 days covering the northern parks is the classic East Africa hire vehicle circuit — Tarangire, Ngorongoro, the Serengeti, and Lake Manyara, all accessed from an Arusha hire vehicle base. The 14-day Tanzania self-drive itinerary is the optimal duration for the northern circuit: enough nights in the Serengeti to experience the migration patterns (in season), enough time in Tarangire to see the dry season elephant concentrations, and enough days in Ngorongoro to make the costly USD 295 crater vehicle fee worthwhile across at least 2 crater game drives. This guide gives a day-by-day Tanzania self-drive itinerary 14-day structure, the distances between parks, the eCitizen fee total, and the campsite sequence.
The 14-Day Tanzania Self-Drive Itinerary: Day-by-Day
- Day 1: Arrive Arusha, collect hire vehicle, provision for camp cooking, evening at Arusha campsite (Meserani Snake Park or Arusha town campsite)
- Day 2: Arusha to Tarangire gate (120km, 1.5 hours). Full afternoon game drive, camp at Oliver’s Camp public site or TANAPA campsite. Tarangire entry: USD 59/adult/day.
- Day 3: Full day Tarangire: morning game drive (elephant at swamp), afternoon drive to the south (quieter area, predator activity). Night 2 at Tarangire campsite.
- Day 4: Tarangire to Lake Manyara (95km, 1.5 hours). Afternoon Lake Manyara game drive: tree-climbing lion area, hippo pool, flamingo lake shore. Night at Manyara campsite. Entry: USD 59/adult.
- Day 5: Lake Manyara to Ngorongoro (75km, 1.5 hours via Mto wa Mbu). Afternoon at the crater rim, Ngorongoro campsite (Simba or Public campsite at crater rim). No crater entry today — rest day and acclimatisation. Entry fee: Ngorongoro Conservation Area USD 70.4/adult/day.
- Day 6: Full day Ngorongoro Crater descent. 6:30am descent, full crater circuit, ascent by 3pm. Night 2 at Ngorongoro campsite. Crater vehicle fee USD 295.
- Day 7: Optional second crater descent (highly recommended — two crater days doubles the value of the expensive USD 295 crater vehicle fee). Afternoon exit from Ngorongoro toward Serengeti.
- Day 8: Ngorongoro to Seronera, Serengeti (160km from crater rim, 3 hours). Entry: USD 70/adult. Afternoon Seronera game drive, camp at Seronera public campsite.
- Day 9: Full day Serengeti Seronera circuit. Morning big cat focus (cheetah at Gol Kopjes, leopard at Seronera River).
- Day 10: Serengeti Seronera to Lobo or Kogatende (north, 100km, 2 hours). Afternoon game drive north — this is the migration route July-October. Camp at Lobo Wildlife Lodge public campsite or Kogatende TANAPA camp.
- Day 11: Full day northern Serengeti: Mara River crossing zone (July-October), or lion and cheetah focus on the northern plain.
- Day 12: North Serengeti back to Seronera (100km south, 2 hours). Full afternoon Seronera area, camp.
- Day 13: Serengeti Naabi Hill exit to Arusha (300km, 5 hours via Ngorongoro conservation area exit). Arrive Arusha evening.
- Day 14: Arusha: vehicle return, debrief with hire company, depart.
Total Tanzania Self-Drive 14-Day Park Fee Cost (2 Adults)
- Tarangire 2 days x 2 adults x USD 59: USD 236
- Lake Manyara 1 day x 2 adults x USD 59: USD 118
- Ngorongoro 3 days x 2 adults x USD 70.4: USD 422
- Ngorongoro Crater vehicle fee 2 descents: USD 590
- Serengeti 6 days x 2 adults x USD 70: USD 840
- Vehicle entry fees (all parks, estimate): USD 400
- Total park and vehicle fees (2 adults, 14 days): approximately USD 2,606
- Plus vehicle hire (14 days, Prado 150, USD 145/day): USD 2,030
- Plus fuel (est. 2,200km, 13L/100km, 286L, USD 1.45/L): USD 415
- Estimated total Tanzania self-drive 14 days (2 adults, excluding accommodation food, and flights): USD 5,051 — or USD 2,526 per person
