One day
All Five in a Single Day
The Ngorongoro Crater gives you the best chance in Tanzania to see all of the Big Five in one game drive.
03°12′S 35°34′E Ngorongoro Crater · 07:30
Lion · Leopard · Elephant · Buffalo · Rhino
Big Five Safari across all of Tanzania.
The Big Five 5 Icons, one country
Plan My Big Five Safari5-Star Rated · 20+ Years in Tanzania · Private Vehicle & Guide
Where can you see the Big Five in Tanzania?
The Big Five are the lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino. The best place to see all five in Tanzania is the Ngorongoro Crater, one of the most reliable places in East Africa for black rhino. The Serengeti is excellent for lions and leopards. Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ruaha, Nyerere and Katavi all have four of the five, often with far fewer vehicles. Yera Journeys plans private Big Five safaris across the whole of Tanzania.
Why Tanzania for the Big Five
The Big Five, From the Crater to the Wild South and West
Few countries give you so many ways to see the Big Five. Spot all five in a single day in the Ngorongoro Crater, follow leopards in the Serengeti, or find lions, elephants and buffalo with almost no other vehicles in Ruaha, Nyerere and Katavi.
Our founder and team have spent more than 20 years learning where each animal lives. We plan your route around the sightings you care about most, across the north, south and west.
The Big Five
Five icons. Many wild places. One private safari.
What you get
Six Benefits of a Big Five Safari With Yera
Rhino
The Best Odds for Black Rhino
Rhino is the hardest of the five. We build your route around the crater, where sightings are most reliable.
Leopard
Time to Find the Leopard
Leopards hide in trees and rocks. A private vehicle and a patient guide give you the time to wait and look.
Guiding
Guides Who Know the Territories
Experienced guides who know where prides, herds and leopards live, in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Chinese and Russian.
Whole country
Quieter Big Five in the South and West
Ruaha, Nyerere and Katavi offer lions, leopards, elephants and buffalo with very few other vehicles.
Beyond
More Than the Big Five
Cheetahs, wild dogs, giraffes, hippos and chimpanzees. Tanzania's wildlife goes far beyond the famous five.
Big Five by park
Where to See the Big Five in Tanzania
What you can usually see in each park. Sightings are never guaranteed, but this is where your chances are best.
| Park | Lion | Leopard | Elephant | Buffalo | Rhino |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ngorongoro Crater | Yes | Rare | Yes | Yes | Best |
| Serengeti | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Rare |
| Tarangire | Yes | Yes | Best | Yes | — |
| Lake Manyara | Yes | Rare | Yes | Yes | — |
| Ruaha | Best | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| Nyerere | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Rare |
| Katavi | Yes | Yes | Yes | Best | — |
"Best" marks the park where that animal is easiest to see. "Rare" means present but seldom seen. "—" means not found there.
Meet the Big Five
The Big Five and Where to Find Them
Lion
Lion
Big prides in the Serengeti and Ruaha, and the tree-climbing lions of Lake Manyara and Tarangire.
Leopard
Leopard
Best in the central Serengeti around Seronera, and in Ruaha, Tarangire and Nyerere.
Elephant
Elephant
Huge herds in Tarangire and Ruaha, big bulls in the Ngorongoro Crater, and family groups in Nyerere.
Buffalo
Buffalo
Found in almost every park, with herds of thousands in Katavi and the Serengeti.
Rhino
Black Rhino
The rarest of the five. The Ngorongoro Crater is the most reliable place in Tanzania to see one.
Bonus
Beyond the Big Five
Cheetahs in the Serengeti, wild dogs in Nyerere and Ruaha, and chimpanzees in Mahale and Gombe.
When to go
Best Time for a Big Five Safari in Tanzania
June to October
Dry season and the best time. Thin bush and animals gathered at water make the Big Five easier to find in every park.
January to March
Calving season in the Serengeti brings lions and leopards close to the herds. A short dry spell in the south too.
All year
The Ngorongoro Crater is excellent in every month, so a Big Five safari works at any time of year.
At a glance
Tanzania Big Five Facts
| The Big Five | Lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino |
|---|---|
| All five in one day | Ngorongoro Crater |
| Northern parks | Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Tarangire, Lake Manyara |
| Southern parks | Ruaha, Nyerere |
| Western parks | Katavi |
| Ideal length | 3 to 10+ days |
| Best time | June to October; the crater all year |
| Styles | Classic, Signature or Bespoke |
Big Five safaris
Big Five Safaris Across Tanzania
Our promise
Plan With Confidence
No cost to start
Your Big Five safari proposal is free, with no obligation.
Revise until it's right
Change parks, days and stays before you confirm.
Clear price in writing
Every inclusion and exclusion stated before you pay.
Questions travellers ask
Big Five Safari FAQs
Where is the best place to see the Big Five in Tanzania?
The Ngorongoro Crater, where all five can be seen in one day and black rhino sightings are the most reliable in Tanzania. The Serengeti is excellent for lions and leopards.
Can you see the Big Five in one day?
Yes, in the Ngorongoro Crater it is possible on a single game drive, although leopard and rhino are never guaranteed.
Can you see the Big Five in southern or western Tanzania?
You can see four of the five, lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo, in Ruaha, Nyerere and Katavi, with far fewer vehicles. Rhinos are present in Nyerere but rarely seen, so combine the south or west with the Ngorongoro Crater for all five.
Which of the Big Five is hardest to see?
The black rhino, followed by the leopard. The Ngorongoro Crater is best for rhino, and the central Serengeti, Ruaha and Tarangire are good for leopards.
When is the best time for a Big Five safari in Tanzania?
June to October, the dry season, when animals gather at water and the bush is thinner. The Ngorongoro Crater is good all year.
How many days do I need for a Big Five safari?
Three days for Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater, six to eight days to add the Serengeti, and ten days or more to add Ruaha, Nyerere or Katavi.
Why are they called the Big Five?
The name comes from hunters. These five were the most prized and most dangerous animals to hunt on foot, and for generations they were hunted for trophies, ivory, rhino horn and skins. Poaching still threatens elephants and rhinos today. On a Yera safari, you shoot them only with a camera, and your visit helps fund their protection.
Begin your journey
Let's Plan Your Big Five Safari in Tanzania
Tell us your dates and which animals matter most. A safari specialist replies within 24 hours.
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