Skip to content
Emnel Adventures Africa

A journey shaped around you

Tanzania Day Safaris

One free day. One unforgettable safari.

Private one-day safaris from Arusha to the Ngorongoro Crater or Tarangire, and from Dar es Salaam to Mikumi, with your own vehicle and guide, back the same evening.

  • Your own vehicle and guide
  • Hotel pick-up and return the same day
  • Park fees and lunch included
  • Run by our own team

Designed around you

Everything this trip is built around

What travellers like you tell us matters most, and what every itinerary in this style is planned to deliver.

  • A real safari experience in a single day
  • Our own vehicle and guide, not a shared tour
  • Pick-up from our hotel
  • Lunch in the park
  • Back in time for dinner
  • Something special before or after a Kilimanjaro climb

Overview

A Full Safari Experience in a Single Day

Not every trip has room for a week on safari. If you are in Arusha before or after a Kilimanjaro climb, between meetings, or on your way to the coast, a private day safari lets you experience Tanzania's wildlife properly in one well-planned day.

You travel in your own 4x4 with a pop-up roof and one of our own guides. We collect you early from your hotel, so you reach the park in good morning light, take lunch inside the park, and bring you back the same evening. There is no group and no fixed schedule: if you want to stay longer with a lion pride, you can.

From Arusha, the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Park are the two outstanding choices. From Dar es Salaam, Mikumi National Park is the most accessible wildlife park.

Which park?

Comparing the Three Day Safaris

Ngorongoro Crater from Arusha

Best forthe greatest variety of wildlife in one day, including black rhino, lion, elephant and buffalo.

From US$337 per person.

The day
about three hours each way from Arusha, with several hours on the crater floor.

Tarangire from Arusha

Best forbig elephant herds, ancient baobabs and a gentler, shorter drive.

From US$280 per person.

The day
about two hours each way from Arusha, with a full day of game drives.

Mikumi from Dar es Salaam

Best fora first safari from Dar es Salaam, with elephant, giraffe, zebra and lion on open plains.

From US$205 per person.

The day
an early start and a long drive, rewarded with a full afternoon in the park.

Is a day enough?

When a Day Safari Makes Sense

01

Before or after Kilimanjaro

A gentle, rewarding day either side of your climb, without committing to a longer safari.

02

Business travellers

A free day in Arusha or Dar es Salaam becomes an experience to remember.

03

A first taste

Unsure whether safari is for you? A single day is the perfect introduction.

04

When you have more time

With two or more days, you will see far more for less time on the road. See our classic Tanzania safaris.

Have More Than One Day?

A day safari is a wonderful taste, but the parks reward time. With even two or three days you can combine Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater without the long return drives, and with five days you can reach the Serengeti. Explore our classic Tanzania safaris, or if you are staying on Zanzibar, our safaris from Zanzibar start at two days. Travelling with children? See our Tanzania family safaris.

What's Included in Your Day Safari?

Included

  • Private safari vehicle with pop-up roof
  • Professional English-speaking safari guide
  • Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Arusha or Dar es Salaam
  • National park and conservation fees
  • Lunch and drinking water
  • Government taxes

Not included

  • Tips and gratuities
  • Alcohol and premium drinks
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Optional activities not specified in the itinerary

Questions

Tanzania Day Safari FAQs

11 questions answered

Something we haven't covered? Ask us directly — a member of the team replies personally.

Ask a question

Is a one-day safari worth it?

Yes, if one day is what you have. A private day in the Ngorongoro Crater or Tarangire can be remarkable. With more time, a two or three day safari lets you see much more with less driving.

What time do we leave?

Usually early in the morning, so you reach the park in the best light. We confirm the exact pick-up time when you book.

Which is better for a day trip, Ngorongoro or Tarangire?

The Ngorongoro Crater offers the greatest variety, including black rhino, but involves a longer drive. Tarangire is closer and superb for elephants, especially from June to October.

Can children join a day safari?

Yes. Because the safari is private, we can adjust the pace and breaks to suit younger travellers.

Are prices per person?

Yes. All our prices are per person unless stated otherwise, and they include park fees, your vehicle and guide, and lunch.

What does a private Tanzania safari cost?

It depends mainly on the season, the number of days and the lodges you choose. Our private northern-circuit itineraries start from about US$3,100 per person for five days in Classic comfort, and rise with Mid-Luxury and Luxury camps. Park and conservation fees are set by the government and make up a significant share of every safari, and they are included in our prices. Every itinerary page shows a starting price per person, and we quote exactly for your dates.

Is every Emnel safari private?

Yes. You have your own vehicle and your own guide for the whole safari, and the daily pace, start times and stops are set around you, never around a group.

Who will our guide be?

One of Emnel's own guides. The team that plans your safari is the team that runs it. About two weeks before you arrive, we send your trip companion, with your guide's details and everything else you need for the journey.

When is the best time to go on safari in Tanzania?

Tanzania offers excellent game viewing all year. June to October is the classic dry season, with easy game viewing and the migration in the north. January to March brings the calving season in the southern Serengeti. The long rains of April and May are quieter and greener, and some camps close. We will recommend the best timing and route for what you most want to see.

How does booking work?

Tell us your dates and ideas, and we will design an itinerary and send a detailed proposal. To confirm, we ask for a 30% deposit plus any domestic flights, which are issued on confirmation. You then receive your official confirmation, and about two weeks before you travel, your trip companion with every final detail.

Can we add Zanzibar to our safari?

Yes. A short flight from the Serengeti or Arusha takes you to Zanzibar's beaches. We recommend at least one night in Stone Town alongside your beach stay.

Let's Plan Your Day Safari

Tell us your date, where you are staying and which park you would like to visit, and we will confirm everything for you.

  • Your own vehicle and guide
  • Park fees and lunch included
  • Run by our own team
  • Reply from Nelson within 24 hours