11 Of The Best Big Five Safaris in Tanzania: Affordable African Safari Tours

With the famous Big 5 Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park, Big Five safaris in Tanzania are hard to beat. We believe Kenya's rival, Tanzania, is the best destination for African safari tours to see the Big Five.

Why Tanzania Beats Kenya:

Tanzania offers the best odds of seeing all five Big 5 animals on one affordable East Africa safari. You also get to explore some of the best national parks in Africa in the process.

Better yet:

The top Big 5 parks in Tanzania are close together, making them easy and cost-effective to combine. This further maximises your chances of checking off all five of Africa's Big 5 on one trip. So get ready to see rhino, lion, elephant, buffalo, and leopard on one affordable African safari tour!

Budget-Friendly Big Five Safaris in Tanzania

Our recommended Tanzania safari tours visit the celebrated Northern Safari Circuit - the country's best region for seeing the Big 5. More specifically, they all explore Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater - the best parks for Big Five Tanzania safaris. These trips also take you through the scenic Great Rift Valley, one of the most beautiful areas of East Africa.

• All start and end in Arusha, the safari capital in northern Tanzania.
• The group size on these African safari tours is 6 or 7 guests, max (depending on the tour).
• Transport is in 4x4 safari vehicles and/or game-viewing vehicles.

1. 4-Day Private Tanzania Safari - Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire National Park (Tented Lodges)
2. 4 Day Fly-In Serengeti Safari in Tanzania - Serengeti National Park (Luxury Camping) 
3. 4-Day Budget Tanzania Safari - Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara (Standard Camping)
4. 5-Day Tanzania Safari - Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire (Hotel / Luxury Camping / Safari Lodge)
5. 6-Day Northern Tanzania Safari - Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire National Park (Lodge / Safari Lodge / Luxury Camping)
6. 7-Day Deluxe Tanzania Lodge Safari - Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Lake Manyara (Lodge / Safari Lodge)
7. 7-Day African Safari in Tanzania - Serengeti Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire National Park (Safari Lodge / Tented Lodge)
8. 7-Day Best of Tanzania Lodge Safari to Serengeti & More - Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, and Lake Manyara (Safari Lodge / Luxury Camping)
9. 7-Day Tanzania Camping Safari - Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Park (Standard Camping)
10. 8-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari - Serengeti, Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara (Safari Lodge / Mobile Camping)
11. 10-Day Private Tanzania Safari - Best Northern Parks - Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Park (Luxury Camping)

Our top Tanzania safari companies - Wild Frontiers, Tanzania Experience, Predator Safari Club, and Classic Journeys Africa- conduct these affordable guided tours.

BONUS: Zanzibar Beach & Big 5 Safari in Tanzania

• 10-Day Zanzibar & Tanzania Lodge Safari - an Africa Overland Tour to the Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, and Zanzibar Island.

Best Parks for Big Five Tanzania Safaris

The two best parks for Big Five safaris in Tanzania are the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Serengeti National Park.

Discover other top places to see the Big Five in 6 Best Parks for Big Five Tanzania Safaris.

Or take a step back and compare The Best Places to See The Big 5 in Africa and browse all of our well-priced African safari tours.

Ngorongoro Crater

Ngorongoro Crater is home to all five of the Big Five of Africa and hands-down the best place to spot these iconic animals in Tanzania, if not East Africa.

• Lions: It hosts the densest population of lions in Africa, with sightings of these big cats being common. 
• Rhinos: The Ngorongoro Crater is considered the best wildlife park for seeing rhinos in Tanzania, with frequent sightings of these endangered members of the Big Five.
• Buffalos: There are also sizeable populations of buffalo, which are regularly spotted.
• Elephants: Common in the crater, especially old bull elephants with big tusks.
• Leopards: The crater also boasts a healthy leopard population, but seeing a leopard anywhere in the wild takes luck.

Start planning with the Best Time to Visit Ngorongoro Crater.

Serengeti Park

• Lions: Home to the largest population of lions in Africa, these felines are commonly sighted in Serengeti National Park.
• Rhinos: Serengeti is home to a small rhino population, so chances of spotting them are low except in the central region, where your chances are better.
• Buffalos: Large buffalo herds roam the park, and buffalo sightings are common.
• Elephants: Elephants are frequently seen, especially in the northern region of the Serengeti.
• Leopards: The central (Seronera Valley) region of Serengeti is renowned for its excellent leopard sightings, and leopards are present in other areas of the park, where they are sometimes sighted.  

Start Planning with the Best Time to Visit Serengeti in Tanzania.

Lake Manyara: Big 4 African Safari Tours

Although Lake Manyara is not a Big 5 safari destination, it gets a special mention for its tree-climbing lions. It is home to 4 of the Big Five animals, with rhinos absent. Lions are often sighted, elephants and buffalo are common, and leopards are rare.

Big Five Safaris in Tanzania's South

Southern Tanzania doesn't come close to the Northern Safari Circuit regarding the Big Five. If you want to see the Big Five on safari in Tanzania, the northern parks are the way to go. The Southern Tanzania parks are ideal for avoiding crowds and immersing yourself in the untamed wilderness of Africa. They are more remote and out of the way, vast and undeveloped.

The best option for a long shot at seeing the Big Five in Tanzania's south is Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve). Your chances of seeing all five Big Five animals are slim, however. Lions and buffalo are commonly sighted in Nyerere. Elephants are seen occasionally, leopards are rarely sighted, and rhinos are rare and only found in certain areas.

See The Great Migration on Your Big Five Safari in Tanzania

If you get the timing of your Big Five Safari in Tanzania right, you can also catch the breathtaking Great Migration of Africa.

The best time to see the famous wildlife migration in the Serengeti is from late June to August. For the calving season, book from January to March. For more details, visit When Is the Great Migration in Tanzania?

For help planning your Tanzania safari, migration safari, or African safari tours in other countries, contact African Budget Safaris.

Landia Davies Content Manager

Landia is a nature and animal lover. This South African woman avoids crowds and has worked in the African safari industry for over 16 years!