8-Day Tanzania Midrange Safari with Serengeti and Lake Eyasi

8 Days Round trip from Arusha Moderate pace

View all 10 photos

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Full-day safari in Tarangire National Park, famed for elephants and an authentic wilderness atmosphere
02 Game drive in Lake Manyara National Park, a birdwatcher's haven with chances to spot tree-climbing lions
03 Scenic journey to Lake Natron with stops at Engaruka Ruins, waterfalls, lakeside walks, and a village visit
04 Extensive wildlife viewing in Central Serengeti (Seronera) with multiple game drives across the iconic savannah
05 Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a full-day safari, including Lake Magadi's flamingos and hippos

Set off on an unforgettable 8-day midrange safari adventure in Northern Tanzania, combining classic wildlife destinations with striking landscapes and cultural encounters. From elephant-rich Tarangire and bird-filled Lake Manyara to the endless plains of the Serengeti and the dramatic Ngorongoro Crater, each day brings new scenery and exceptional game viewing. Enjoy guided game drives with hot lunches in the bush, comfortable lodge and camp stays, and a unique extension to Lake Natron and Lake Eyasi, where you'll explore waterfalls, village life, and join the Hadzabe bushmen for an early-morning hunting experience before returning to Arusha for your onward flight.

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 8 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Yes

Cities Arusha, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara, Tarangire National Park, Lake Eyasi, Lake Natron

Languages English, French, Italian, Spanish, Swahili

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arusha to Tarangire National Park Safari

Pickup: We will pick you up from your accommodation in Arusha.
Safari: Proceed on a day-long safari to Tarangire National Park.
Lunch: Your knowledgeable guide will prepare a hot lunch amidst the wilderness.
Game drive: Enjoy an afternoon game drive.
Dinner & Overnight: Head to the lodge for dinner and your overnight stay.
Transfer: After a whole day game drive, you will be transferred to the lodge in the evening for dinner, a warm shower, and an overnight stay.

This tranquil park in Northern Tanzania is renowned for its elephant migration, birdlife, and genuine safari ambiance, and is often overlooked by most travelers on the typical safari route.

Day 02

Lake Manyara National Park Game Drive

Breakfast: After breakfast.
Game drive: Proceed with a game drive in Lake Manyara National Park.
Lunch: Your guide will prepare a delicious lunch with refreshing beverages.
Dinner & Overnight: In the evening, head to the lodge for dinner and your overnight stay.
Transfer: After a whole day game drive, you will be transferred to the lodge in the evening for dinner, a warm shower, and an overnight stay.

Manyara is a birdwatcher's paradise with over 400 species, and you may even spot tree-climbing lions and majestic elephants in the acacia woodland.

Day 03

Lake Natron and Great Rift Valley Landscapes

Breakfast: After breakfast.
Depart: Depart for Lake Natron.
Stops: Engaruka Ruins, lakeside walks, waterfalls, and a village visit.
Lunch: Lunch will be served.
Overnight: Overnight stay at Lake Natron.

These Tanzanian saline lakes in the Great Rift Valley, known as the East African Halophytics, are harsh for most life due to extreme salinity, heat, and rapid salinity fluctuations after rain. Nonetheless, they host vast flamingo colonies breeding on the surrounding mud flats.

Day 04

Central Serengeti Game Drive in Seronera

Breakfast: After breakfast.
Game drive: Proceed with a full game drive to Serengeti National Park.
Lunch: Enjoy a hot lunch in the afternoon.
Game drive: Embark on a Central Serengeti game drive.

The Serengeti offers captivating game viewing year-round, showcasing buffalo, elephants, giraffes, and diverse wildlife across varied habitats. In February, wildebeest calving takes place for about three weeks, when the vulnerable young become prey, although they quickly gain strength and agility.

Day 05

Serengeti Central Wildlife Encounters

Breakfast: After breakfast.
Game drive: Embark on a morning game drive in Serengeti Central.
Lunch: Enjoy a hot lunch prepared by your guide amidst the wilderness.
Dinner & Overnight: In the evening, return to the camp for dinner and your overnight stay.

Witness a mesmerizing spectacle as a million wildebeest, guided by ancient instincts, engage in a frenzied three-week cycle of territorial conquest, mating, and survival, crossing crocodile-infested waters in their annual 1,000 km pilgrimage. This results in a rapid population boom of over 8,000 calves daily.

Day 06

Ngorongoro Crater Full-Day Safari

Breakfast: After breakfast.
Depart: Depart Serengeti for a full-day game drive in Ngorongoro Crater.
Lunch: Your guide will arrange a delightful lunch served at a fully set table.
Safari: Enjoy an afternoon safari.
Dinner & Overnight: Head to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Ngorongoro Crater, the world's largest unflooded caldera, spans 20 km, plunges 600 m deep, and covers 300 sq km. Visit Lake Magadi, a shallow alkaline lake in the southwest, home to flamingos, hippos, and diverse waterfowl.

Day 07

Lake Eyasi and Hadzabe Bushmen Tour

Breakfast: After breakfast.
Depart: Depart for Lake Eyasi.
Tour: Embark on a bushmen tour.
Lunch: Enjoy a hot lunch during the day.
Hotel: Later, check into a lodge.
Dinner & Overnight: Dinner and your overnight stay.

Lake Eyasi hosts small groups of Hadzabe bushmen whose language shares similarities with the Kalahari's click languages. Their population faced threats, especially during the implementation of Julius Nyerere's Ujamaa policy in Tanzania.

Day 08

Lake Eyasi Hunting Experience and Return to Arusha

Activity: You will wake up early in the morning and go hunting with the bushmen.
Breakfast: Then, you will return to the lodge for breakfast.
Drive: Afterwards, you will depart and drive back to Arusha, where lunch will be served en route.
Transfer: Your trip will come to an end, and you will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Arusha 7 cities · 8 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Park entry fees.
Transportation: 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for better wildlife viewing.
Accommodation: Lodges or camps.
Meals: Full board (FB): breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day.
Drinking water throughout the safari.

What's Not Included

Tanzania visa.
International and domestic flights.
Tips and gratuities.
Travel insurance.
Personal expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, etc.).
Meals not listed in the itinerary.
Liquors, beers, and bottled beverages.

What to bring

Light, neutral-colored clothing (avoid bright colors).
Warm jacket or fleece (mornings and evenings can be cold).
Comfortable walking shoes.
Hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
Camera with extra batteries and memory cards.
Binoculars.
Personal toiletries and medications.
Small backpack for daily essentials.
Insect repellent.

Know before you go

All safaris are conducted in a 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for the best wildlife viewing.
Roads inside the parks are dusty and sometimes bumpy.
Wildlife sightings cannot be 100% guaranteed, but our guides are highly experienced.
Tanzania uses Type D and G plugs (230V). Bring a universal adapter.
Local currency is Tanzanian shillings (TZS), but USD (new notes printed after 2009) is widely accepted.
ATMs are available in Arusha, with limited access inside the parks.
Travel insurance is highly recommended.
A yellow fever certificate may be required if arriving from certain countries.
The best wildlife viewing times are early morning and late afternoon.

Logistics