7-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari through Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater

Your adventure begins with a morning departure from Arusha, followed by a drive of about two hours to Lake Manyara. This park is small but incredibly diverse, with lush forests, open plains, and the shimmering lake itself. Enjoy a game drive where you might spot tree-climbing lions, troops of baboons, hippos wallowing in the water, and flamingos painting the lake pink. Bird enthusiasts will be delighted by the hundreds of species found here. After a picnic lunch, continue exploring until evening. Overnight at a lodge or camp near Manyara, surrounded by the sounds of nature.

Meals: Lunch & Dinner.

Accommodations: Octagon Lodge.

Activities: Game drive.

Overnight: Octagon Lodge Karatu.

After breakfast, head out toward the Serengeti, passing through the dramatic Ngorongoro Highlands. The drive itself is scenic, with rolling hills and Maasai villages along the way. By early afternoon, arrive in Central Serengeti, the beating heart of the park. An afternoon game drive introduces you to lions lounging in the grass, cheetahs scanning the horizon, and herds of wildebeest and zebras grazing. Dinner and overnight are at a Serengeti lodge or tented camp, where the vast plains stretch endlessly around you.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Accommodations: Tukaone Campsite.

Activities: Game drive, wildlife viewing.

Overnight: Tukaone Campsite.

Wake up early for a sunrise game drive, when predators are most active. The Serengeti is renowned for its abundance of wildlife, and today you will spend the entire day exploring different areas. You might witness a cheetah sprint, elephants moving in family groups, or hyenas scavenging. Picnic lunch is enjoyed under the shade of an acacia tree. In the afternoon, continue your drive, perhaps following the migration herds if the season is right. Overnight again in Serengeti.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Accommodations: Tukaone Campsite.

Activities: Game drive.

Overnight: Tukaone Campsite.

A second full day in Serengeti allows you to go deeper into the park. You can explore river valleys, kopjes (rock outcrops), and open plains. Optional activities like a balloon safari at dawn give you a bird's-eye view of the wildlife below. Spend the day tracking different species, from giraffes and buffalo to elusive leopards. Return to camp for dinner and storytelling around the fire.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Accommodations: Tukaone Campsite.

Activities: Game drive.

Overnight: Tukaone Campsite.

Begin with an early morning game drive to catch the last action in Serengeti. After brunch, start the journey toward Ngorongoro. The drive takes you through varied landscapes, and you may spot wildlife along the way. By late afternoon, reach the crater rim. Your lodge offers sweeping views into the caldera, a natural amphitheater teeming with animals. Overnight at Ngorongoro lodge, with cool highland air and dramatic scenery.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Accommodations:

Activities: Game drive.

Overnight:

Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater at dawn for a full-day game drive. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is often called the "Eighth Wonder of the World" because of its extraordinary density of wildlife. You will see elephants, buffalo, hippos, flamingos, and possibly the rare black rhino. Lions are common here, and the crater floor offers unmatched opportunities for close encounters. Enjoy a picnic lunch by a hippo pool before continuing your exploration. Overnight again at Ngorongoro lodge.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Accommodations: Octagon Lodge.

Activities: Game drive.

Overnight: Octagon Lodge Karatu.

After breakfast, drive to Tarangire National Park, about three hours away. Spend the morning and early afternoon on game drives in this park, famous for its massive elephant herds and iconic baobab trees.

You will also see zebras, wildebeest, and predators like lions and leopards.

Birdlife is abundant, with colorful species filling the skies. After lunch, begin the return journey to Arusha, arriving in the late afternoon, where your safari concludes.

Upon arrival in Arusha, you will be transferred according to your travel arrangements, either to your preferred hotel for an overnight stay or to the airport for your onward flight. Meals: Breakfast and Lunch.

Activities: Tarangire game drive, transfer to Arusha, hotel drop-off or airport transfer.

End of safari.