Serengeti plains Tanzania safari
Tanzania Safari

7-Day Tanzania Safari: Best of Northern Tanzania

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Tarangire - Serengeti - Ngorongoro - Lake Manyara

7-Day Tanzania Safari Tour

Best of Northern Tanzania 7 Days / 6 Nights Arusha / Arusha 2-8 guests 4x4 Safari Land Cruiser

Introduction

Discover the very best of Northern Tanzania on this comprehensive 7-day safari. From the baobab-studded plains of Tarangire to the endless Serengeti, the wildlife-packed Ngorongoro Crater to the flamingo-fringed Lake Manyara, this itinerary delivers Tanzania's most iconic safari experiences. Witness the Big Five, marvel at the Great Migration (seasonal), and immerse yourself in Africa's wildest landscapes with expert guides and premium accommodations.

7 Days
Duration
Tanzania
Destination
Multiple Parks
Parks Visited
Moderate
Difficulty
Full Board
Meals

Why This Safari?

Big Five Guaranteed

Lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino — all found across Tanzania's northern circuit parks with exceptional sighting rates.

Serengeti National Park

Endless savannah plains hosting the Great Migration, Africa's greatest wildlife spectacle with millions of wildebeest and zebra.

Ngorongoro Crater

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world's largest intact volcanic caldera, home to over 25,000 animals in a natural amphitheatre.

Expert Safari Guides

Our experienced Tanzanian guides bring decades of knowledge, ensuring you see more, understand deeper, and stay safe.

Premium Accommodation

Hand-picked lodges and tented camps that blend comfort with wilderness, offering authentic African hospitality.

All-Inclusive Package

We handle everything — park fees, accommodation, meals, transport, and expert guiding. Just bring your sense of adventure.

Highlights

Detailed Itinerary

Each day is carefully crafted to maximise your wildlife encounters while ensuring comfort and relaxation. Below you will find a complete breakdown of every day, from morning game drives to evening sundowners at your lodge.

Day 1

Arrive Arusha — Transfer to Lodge

Transfer: 45-60 min Accommodation: Arusha Lodge Meals: Dinner

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), you will be met by your driver-guide and transferred to your lodge in Arusha. Depending on arrival time, you can relax by the pool, explore the lodge grounds, or visit the vibrant Arusha Cultural Heritage Centre. Overnight at your Arusha lodge.

Morning: Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). Clear immigration and collect your luggage. Your professional driver-guide will be waiting outside the arrivals hall holding a sign with your name. JRO is conveniently located about 45 minutes from Arusha town, the safari capital of Tanzania and gateway to the northern circuit.
Afternoon: Transfer to your lodge in Arusha (45-60 minutes). Check in and enjoy a welcome lunch. If time permits, visit the Arusha Cultural Heritage Centre — a museum and gallery showcasing Tanzanian art, culture, and history. Alternatively, relax by the pool and acclimatise to the African atmosphere. Your guide will provide a comprehensive safari briefing covering what to expect each day.
Evening: Welcome dinner at the lodge. Meet your fellow travellers and enjoy a detailed safari briefing from your guide about the incredible adventure ahead. Recommended dish: Tanzanian Nyama Choma (grilled meat) served with ugali and fresh vegetable kachumbari. Your guide will also check that your camera gear and essentials are ready for tomorrow's early start.
Airport Pickup Arusha Lodge Safari Briefing
Day 2

Arusha → Tarangire National Park

Full Day Drive: ~2 hrs Accommodation: Tarangire Area Lodge Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, depart for Tarangire National Park — famous for its massive baobab trees, large elephant herds, and diverse birdlife. Enjoy a full-day game drive through the park's riverine woodlands and open savannah. Overnight at your Tarangire area lodge.

Morning: Early breakfast followed by a scenic 2-hour drive to Tarangire National Park (2,850 sq km). The park is named after the Tarangire River, which meanders through the park and serves as the primary water source during the dry season. Begin your game drive along the river, where you'll encounter large herds of elephants, often numbering 200+ individuals. Look out for baobab trees that are over 1,000 years old.
Afternoon: Picnic lunch at a scenic spot within the park, often overlooking the Tarangire River. Continue game driving through the park's varied habitats — from open grassland to acacia woodland. Tarangire is renowned for its high density of game including lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, and over 550 bird species. The park is particularly famous for its massive pythons that climb trees.
Evening: Depart the park and transfer to your lodge. Enjoy a sundowner drink overlooking the African bush. Dinner and overnight at your Tarangire area lodge. Photography tip: the golden hour light filtering through the baobab trees creates spectacular photo opportunities.
Elephant Herds Baobab Trees Birding Paradise
Day 3

Tarangire → Serengeti National Park

Full Day Drive: ~4 hrs Accommodation: Central Serengeti Lodge Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, depart Tarangire and travel to the world-famous Serengeti National Park. The journey takes you through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area with a stop at the stunning viewpoint overlooking the Crater Highlands. Arrive in Central Serengeti (Seronera area) for an afternoon game drive. Overnight in Central Serengeti.

Morning: Breakfast at the lodge and check out. Depart for a 4-hour scenic drive to the Serengeti. The route passes through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where you'll stop at the spectacular viewpoint overlooking the Crater Highlands and the vast plains beyond. The drive itself is a game drive — look out for giraffes, zebras, and gazelles along the roadside.
Afternoon: Arrive at the Naabi Hill Gate, the entrance to Serengeti National Park (14,763 sq km). Enjoy a picnic lunch at the gate before beginning your afternoon game drive in the Central Serengeti (Seronera Valley). This area is known for year-round wildlife and is the best place in the Serengeti to spot leopards lounging in the sausage trees. Search for lions, cheetahs, and large herds of herbivores.
Evening: Check in at your Central Serengeti lodge or tented camp. Enjoy dinner under the African night sky, often accompanied by the sounds of hyenas calling in the distance. Night game drives are available at select lodges.
Scenic Drive Central Serengeti Leopard Spotting
Day 4

Full Day Serengeti — Game Drives

Full Day Game Drives: 6+ hrs Accommodation: Central Serengeti Lodge Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Rise before dawn for an early morning game drive across the Serengeti plains — the best time to spot predators on the hunt. After breakfast at the lodge, continue exploring different areas of the park. Depending on the season, you may witness the Great Migration, with millions of wildebeest and zebra stretching across the horizon. Overnight in Central Serengeti.

Morning: Early morning tea or coffee at 5:30 AM, then depart for sunrise game drive. This is the prime time for predator activity — watch for lions, cheetahs, and leopards making the most of the cool morning light. The golden sunrise over the endless Serengeti plains is a photographer's dream. Your guide will use radio communication to track the best sightings across the park.
Afternoon: Return to the lodge for a hearty breakfast and rest during the heat of the day. After lunch, head out for an afternoon game drive targeting different areas of the Serengeti. Depending on the season (July-October), you may witness the Great Migration — millions of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles moving across the plains in search of fresh grazing. Predator action intensifies during migration.
Evening: Sundowner drinks at a scenic location, watching the sun paint the savannah in shades of orange and red. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight. Share stories and photos with your fellow travellers over a delicious meal.
Great Migration Big Cat Safari Sunrise Game Drive
Day 5

Serengeti → Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Full Day Drive: ~3 hrs Accommodation: Ngorongoro Area Lodge Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After an early breakfast, depart the Serengeti with a game drive en route. Travel to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy an afternoon game drive on the crater rim before checking into your lodge with breathtaking views over the crater floor. Overnight in the Ngorongoro area.

Morning: Early breakfast and check out. Depart the Serengeti with a final game drive along the way, covering areas you may not have explored. The drive takes you through the Ndutu area (southern Serengeti) which is excellent for cheetah sightings and, during calving season (January-March), thousands of wildebeest calves are born.
Afternoon: Ascend into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (8,292 sq km), arriving at the crater rim with spectacular panoramic views. Enjoy a picnic lunch at one of the viewpoints overlooking the Ngorongoro Crater — the world's largest intact volcanic caldera (600m deep, 260 sq km). The crater floor is a natural enclosure for over 25,000 large mammals including the Big Five.
Evening: Check in at your Ngorongoro area lodge, positioned on the crater rim. Many lodges offer views directly into the crater from your room or dining area. Enjoy dinner and a comprehensive briefing about tomorrow's crater descent. Pro tip: request an early breakfast pack for tomorrow's full-day crater tour.
Olduvai Gorge Crater Rim Views UNESCO Heritage
Day 6

Ngorongoro Crater — Full Day Crater Tour

Full Day Crater Descent: 600m Game Drive: 6+ hrs Accommodation: Ngorongoro Area Lodge Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Descend 600 metres into the Ngorongoro Crater for a full-day game drive on the crater floor. This natural amphitheatre offers some of the densest wildlife concentrations in Africa. Spot black rhinos, hippos in the crater lakes, lions, hyenas, and thousands of flamingos at Lake Magadi. Overnight on the crater rim.

Morning: Early breakfast at 6:00 AM (or packed breakfast). Descend 600 metres down the crater wall into the Ngorongoro Crater floor. The steep descent road offers spectacular views. Once on the crater floor (260 sq km), begin your game drive across the open grasslands, acacia woodlands, and freshwater lakes. The Ngorongoro Crater has one of the highest densities of predators in Africa. Look for the endangered black rhino — the crater is one of the best places in Tanzania to see them. Lion sightings are virtually guaranteed.
Afternoon: Picnic lunch at the Hippo Pool area, watching hippos wallow in the waterways. Continue game driving, visiting Lake Magadi on the crater floor — a shallow soda lake that attracts thousands of flamingos, creating a stunning pink spectacle. The crater also hosts large herds of zebras, wildebeest, gazelles, eland, and buffalo. Avoid approaching the Lerai Forest area from April to June when bull elephants in musth are particularly aggressive.
Evening: Ascend back to the crater rim in the late afternoon. Enjoy a sundowner at your lodge overlooking the crater as the sun sets over this natural wonder. Dinner and overnight on the crater rim. Photography tip: the crater floor offers excellent wildlife photography throughout the day with interesting geological backdrops.
Black Rhino Crater Floor Safari Flamingo Lake
Day 7

Ngorongoro → Lake Manyara → Arusha — Departure

Full Day Drive: ~4 hrs total Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After an early breakfast, descend from the crater rim and visit Lake Manyara National Park — famous for its tree-climbing lions, huge flocks of flamingos, and diverse birdlife. Enjoy a game drive through this compact but gorgeous park before transferring to Arusha for your departure.

Morning: Early breakfast and check out from your Ngorongoro lodge. Descend from the crater rim and drive to Lake Manyara National Park (325 sq km) — about 1.5 hours. Begin your game drive through the groundwater forest, open plains, and along the lake shore. Lake Manyara is famous for its tree-climbing lions that lounge in the acacia branches — a behaviour rarely seen elsewhere in Africa. The lake itself is home to thousands of flamingos that create a pink rim along the shoreline.
Afternoon: Picnic lunch at a scenic spot within Lake Manyara National Park. The park is also home to large herds of elephants, giraffes, zebras, and over 400 bird species including pelicans, storks, and fish eagles. After lunch, continue your game drive before departing the park. Transfer to Arusha (about 2 hours), arriving in the late afternoon. Stop at a local craft market for last-minute souvenirs if time permits.
Evening: Arrive in Arusha. Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your departure flight. End of tour. We recommend booking flights departing after 7:00 PM to allow ample time for the drive and any unexpected delays. Alternatively, extend your stay with a Zanzibar beach holiday or a Mount Kilimanjaro trek.
Tree-Climbing Lions Lake Manyara Airport Drop-off

Included / Excluded

Included
  • All Park Permits
  • Mid-range Accommodation
  • Professional Driver
  • Ground Transport
Excluded
  • Visa
  • Insurance
  • Personal Spending
  • Tips
Transport
  • Travel With 4x4 Safari Vehicle

Destinations

Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park

Africa's most famous wildlife sanctuary and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Endless savannah plains teeming with wildlife — the stage for the Great Migration and home to Africa's highest concentration of big cats.

Great Migration Big Five 14,763 sq km
Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park

Known for its massive elephant herds and iconic baobab trees, Tarangire offers one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in northern Tanzania. The Tarangire River attracts animals year-round, making it a premier game viewing destination.

Giant Baobabs Elephant Herds 550 Bird Species
Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Ngorongoro Crater

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Africa's most spectacular natural wonders. This 260 sq km volcanic caldera hosts 30,000 large mammals and offers the best chances to see the endangered black rhino in the wild.

Black Rhino Crater Floor UNESCO Heritage
Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara is a stunning park at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment. Famous for its tree-climbing lions, large elephant herds, and thousands of flamingos that fringe the alkaline lake. Over 400 bird species recorded.

Tree-Climbing Lions Flamingos 400 Bird Species

Photo Gallery

Location

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best time to take this Tanzania safari?

The dry season from June to October offers the best game viewing. The wildebeest migration peaks from July to September in the northern Serengeti. January to March is excellent for calving season in the southern Serengeti.

Is this safari suitable for first-time visitors to Africa?

Absolutely. This itinerary is designed to showcase Tanzania's best parks and wildlife, making it perfect for first-time safari-goers. Our experienced guides ensure a comfortable and educational experience.

Do I need a visa for Tanzania?

Yes, most visitors require a Tanzania visa. You can apply online for an eVisa or obtain one upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport. Visas are not included in the tour price.

What should I pack for this Tanzania safari?

Pack lightweight neutral-coloured clothing for game drives, a warm jacket for morning drives, comfortable walking shoes, insect repellent, sunscreen, a hat, binoculars, a camera with extra batteries and memory cards.

Is the tour suitable for solo travellers?

Yes, solo travellers are welcome. You can join a group tour or book a private trip. Single supplements may apply for private accommodation.

What type of accommodation is included?

Mid-range lodges and tented camps with en-suite bathrooms are included. Upgrades to luxury lodges are available upon request.

Is Tanzania safe for tourists?

Yes, Tanzania is a very safe and welcoming destination. The northern circuit safari route is well-established with professional guides, secure lodges, and excellent infrastructure.

What animals will I see on this safari?

You'll see the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino) plus giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, hippos, crocodiles, cheetahs, hyenas, and hundreds of bird species.

How much does this safari cost?

Please contact us for a personalised quote. Prices vary based on group size, accommodation level, and season.

What is the accommodation like?

Mid-range lodges and tented camps with en-suite bathrooms, hot showers, and comfortable beds. Upgrades to luxury lodges with swimming pools and fine dining are available.

Can children join this safari?

Yes, children aged 6 and above can join. Family-friendly itineraries and accommodations can be arranged on request.

How do I book this safari?

You can book by contacting us via WhatsApp, email, or our website booking form. A deposit is required to secure your dates, with the balance due 30 days before departure.

What is the group size?

Our groups range from 2 to 8 guests, ensuring a personalised experience with dedicated attention from your guide.

Do I need travel insurance?

Yes, comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory. It should cover medical evacuation, trip cancellation, and personal belongings.

Will I see the Great Migration?

Depending on the season, you may witness the Great Migration. From July to October, the herds are in the northern Serengeti. From January to March, calving occurs in the southern Serengeti.

Is the tour eco-friendly?

Yes. We follow responsible tourism practices, support conservation efforts, employ local guides, and minimise environmental impact.

What language are the tours conducted in?

All tours are conducted in English. Guides are fluent and knowledgeable about wildlife, culture, and history.

Can I extend my stay?

Yes, we can arrange extensions to Zanzibar beach holidays, Mount Kilimanjaro trekking, or a Lake Victoria excursion.

What photography equipment should I bring?

A DSLR or mirrorless camera with a 70-200mm or 100-400mm lens is ideal. A smartphone with a good camera works too. Bring extra memory cards and batteries.

Are there vaccination requirements?

Yellow fever vaccination is required for entry. Consult your doctor for malaria prophylaxis, hepatitis A, typhoid, and routine vaccinations.

What is the cancellation policy?

Cancellations made 60+ days before departure receive a full refund. 30-60 days: 50% refund. Less than 30 days: no refund. We recommend travel insurance.

Is Ngorongoro Crater worth visiting?

Absolutely. The Ngorongoro Crater is often called the "Eighth Wonder of the World" and offers the highest density of wildlife in Africa. It's a highlight of any Tanzania safari.

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