7-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari

All four Northern Circuit parks in one week: Tarangire, Lake Manyara, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater.

7 days / 6 nightsTanzaniaMid-range · Private Guided

Photo: Giles Laurent / CC BY-SA 4.0

Overview

Our Tanzania Wildlife Safari visits every park on the Northern Circuit. Each has a different character: Tarangire’s baobabs and elephants, Manyara’s forest and birdlife, the Serengeti’s endless plains and predators, and the Ngorongoro Crater’s extraordinary concentration of game.

A visit to the village of Mto wa Mbu adds a cultural element, and three nights in the Serengeti ensure plenty of time for the main event.

Route

ArushaTarangireLake ManyaraSerengetiNgorongoroArusha

Highlights

  • Four national parks and conservation areas
  • Three nights in the Serengeti
  • Black rhino in the Ngorongoro Crater
  • Over 400 bird species at Lake Manyara
  • Mto wa Mbu village visit

Activities

  • Game drives
  • Walking safaris (outside the park)
  • Night drives in adjoining conservancies
  • Treetop walkway
  • Canoeing (seasonal)
  • Hot-air balloon safari
  • Walking safaris in concession areas
  • Crater floor game drive
  • Crater rim walk

Day-by-day itinerary

  1. Day 1:

    Tarangire National Park

    Tarangire

    Your guide collects you from your hotel in Arusha in the morning for the drive to Tarangire (about 2 hours). Game drive along the Tarangire River, where elephant families gather beneath giant baobab trees, and look for lions resting in the shade and colourful lovebirds in the acacias.

    Overnight: Tented lodge on the park boundary Meals: L, D
  2. Day 2:

    Lake Manyara

    Lake Manyara

    After breakfast, continue by road from Tarangire to Lake Manyara (about 1.5 hours). Game drive through Lake Manyara's groundwater forest, where baboons and blue monkeys move through the fig trees, and out onto the floodplain to see hippos, elephants and waterbirds along the lake shore.

    Overnight: Lodge with escarpment views above Lake Manyara Meals: B, L, D
  3. Day 3:

    Into the Serengeti

    Serengeti

    After breakfast, continue by road from Lake Manyara to Serengeti (4–5 hours via the Ngorongoro highlands). Cross the Ngorongoro highlands and descend onto the Serengeti plains, passing Maasai herders and gazelle as the grassland opens out to the horizon. Game drive through the park to your camp, arriving for a sundowner and dinner beneath the stars.

    Overnight: Permanent tented camp in the central Serengeti Meals: B, L, D
  4. Day 4:

    Serengeti Big Cat Country

    Serengeti

    Spend the day exploring the Seronera valley, where the river attracts resident wildlife all year. Your guide will search the sausage trees for leopards and the granite kopjes for lion prides, and you may see cheetah hunting on the open plains.

    Overnight: Permanent tented camp in the central Serengeti Meals: B, L, D
  5. Day 5:

    Following the Migration

    Serengeti

    Head out with a picnic lunch to wherever the herds are grazing — on the southern plains during calving season, or towards the Grumeti and Mara rivers in the dry months. Watching thousands of wildebeest and zebra moving across the landscape is unforgettable.

    Overnight: Permanent tented camp in the central Serengeti Meals: B, L, D
  6. Day 6:

    Ngorongoro Crater Descent

    Ngorongoro Crater

    After breakfast, continue by road from Serengeti to Ngorongoro (3–4 hours). Descend 600 m into the Ngorongoro Crater for a half-day game drive on the caldera floor. Look for black rhino in the open grassland, lions resting near the Lerai forest and flamingos on Lake Magadi, with a picnic lunch beside the hippo pool before climbing back to the rim.

    Overnight: Farm lodge set among coffee gardens in Karatu Meals: B, L, D
  7. Day 7:

    Ngorongoro to Arusha

    Ngorongoro Crater

    After an early game drive or a relaxed breakfast, travel back to Arusha (about 3.5 hours), with a lunch stop on the way. On arrival you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport or your hotel.

    Overnight: End of services Meals: B, L

Meals: B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner.

Accommodation

This itinerary is priced with mid-range accommodation. Every property is chosen for its location, guiding and service; final properties are confirmed at booking and we can upgrade or adjust any night.

  • TarangireTented lodge on the park boundary1 night
  • Lake ManyaraLodge with escarpment views above Lake Manyara1 night
  • SerengetiPermanent tented camp in the central Serengeti3 nights
  • Ngorongoro CraterFarm lodge set among coffee gardens in Karatu1 night

Meals: Full board on safari; breakfast and dinner in cities and at the beach

What's included

Included

  • Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof and a professional English-speaking driver-guide
  • Accommodation as listed (or similar, subject to availability)
  • Meals as listed in the day-by-day itinerary
  • All national park, reserve and conservation fees
  • Arrival and departure airport transfers
  • Bottled drinking water during the safari
  • All government taxes and levies
  • 24-hour in-country support from our Nairobi office

Not included

  • International flights
  • Visa fees
  • Comprehensive travel insurance (required)
  • Tips and gratuities for guides and lodge staff
  • Drinks other than drinking water, unless stated
  • Personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls and souvenirs
  • Optional hot-air balloon flight (currently from around USD 450–600 per person)

Travel information

Best time to travel

Year-round, with location chosen by season: December–March in the south for calving; June–July in the west; July–October in the north for river crossings; Seronera is good at any time.

What to pack

  • Neutral-coloured, lightweight clothing (khaki, olive, beige)
  • A warm fleece or jacket for early mornings and evenings
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Sun hat, sunglasses and high-SPF sunscreen
  • Binoculars and a camera with spare batteries and memory cards
  • Insect repellent and personal medication
  • A soft-sided bag rather than a hard suitcase

Experiences on this safari

Frequently asked questions

Is this a private safari?

Yes. This itinerary runs privately for your own group, with your own vehicle and guide. It can start on any date, and we can adjust the route, pace and accommodation to suit you.

What does the price include?

The guide price from USD 2,600 per person is based on two people sharing mid-range accommodation in the low season. It includes accommodation, the meals and activities listed, park fees and transfers. Prices vary by season and group size; we confirm an exact quote when you enquire.

How many nights do I need in the Serengeti?

At least two, ideally three or more. The park is vast, and more time lets you explore different areas and follow the herds.

Gallery

Baobab trees in Tarangire National ParkOpen image: Baobab trees in Tarangire National ParkAfrican elephants in the Maasai MaraOpen image: African elephants in the Maasai MaraMasai giraffes in Arusha National ParkOpen image: Masai giraffes in Arusha National ParkLake Manyara seen from the Rift Valley escarpmentOpen image: Lake Manyara seen from the Rift Valley escarpmentEndless plains of Serengeti National Park, TanzaniaOpen image: Endless plains of Serengeti National Park, TanzaniaAcacia-dotted grassland in the SerengetiOpen image: Acacia-dotted grassland in the SerengetiZebra and wildebeest during the Serengeti migrationOpen image: Zebra and wildebeest during the Serengeti migrationThe rim of the Ngorongoro CraterOpen image: The rim of the Ngorongoro Crater

Enquire about this safari

Every date is available on request. Tell us when you would like to travel and we will send a tailored quote — adjustments welcome.

Countries of interest
Interests

We reply within one working day. Prefer to chat? WhatsApp us or call +254 724 241 818.

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