7-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari through Serengeti and Ngorongoro

7 Days Round trip from Arusha Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Game drives in Tarangire National Park, famous for large elephant herds and ancient baobab trees
  • 02 Early safari in Lake Manyara National Park, known for flamingos and tree-climbing lions
  • 03 Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a chance to spot the Big 5, including endangered black rhino
  • 04 Full-day Serengeti game drive in the Seronera region, renowned for lion, cheetah, and leopard sightings
  • 05 Cultural and shopping stop in Mto-wa-Mbu, plus a visit to Olduvai Gorge in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Discover the very best of Northern Tanzania on this 7-day safari, combining classic game drives with comfortable boutique-style stays. Travel through iconic landscapes, from baobab-dotted Tarangire and flamingo-fringed Lake Manyara to the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater and the legendary open plains of the Serengeti. Enjoy picnic lunches in the bush, a full-day safari in the wildlife-rich Seronera area, and memorable stops at Olduvai Gorge and the colourful town of Mto-wa-Mbu.

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 7 Days
Tour type Private
Activity level Moderate
Accommodation Included · Standard
Transport Included
Wheelchair access No
Cities Arusha, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara, Tarangire National Park
Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Arrival in Arusha and Transfer to Your Boutique Hotel

  • You will be collected from the airport and transferred to your boutique hotel in the heart of Arusha.

  • Depending on your arrival time, you may have the opportunity to explore the lodge grounds, take a dip in the swimming pool, or partake in any additional activities available.

  • Distance: 50 km

  • Driving time: 1 hour

  • Accommodation: African Tulip Hotel or similar

  • Dinner: At African Tulip Hotel or similar

2
Day 02

Tarangire Safari Among Elephants and Baobabs

  • Your safari begins after breakfast this morning.

  • Stop in Arusha town for any last-minute purchases before heading off on an exciting safari experience.

  • Continue to Tarangire National Park for lunch and an afternoon game drive.

  • Tarangire is well known for its huge elephant population and baobab trees.

  • It forms the centre of the annual migratory cycle that includes up to 3,000 elephant, 25,000 wildebeest, and 30,000 zebra.

  • Distance: 250 km

  • Driving time: 4-5 hours

  • Accommodation: Tarangire Simba Lodge or similar

  • Breakfast: At African Tulip Hotel or similar

  • Lunch: Picnic lunch

  • Dinner: At Tarangire Simba Lodge or similar

3
Day 03

Lake Manyara Game Drive and Rift Valley Scenery

  • We head towards Lake Manyara National Park for an early morning game drive.

  • This spectacular national park is located at the north-western corner of Lake Manyara, a shallow soda lake that lies at the foot of the Great Rift Valley's western escarpment.

  • Manyara National Park is known not only for its large flocks of flamingos, but also for the elusive tree-climbing lions.

  • Distance: 120 km

  • Driving time: 3-4 hours

  • Accommodation: Karatu Simba Lodge or similar

  • Breakfast: At Tarangire Simba Lodge or similar

  • Lunch: Picnic lunch from Tarangire Simba Lodge or similar

  • Dinner: At Karatu Simba Lodge or similar

4
Day 04

Ngorongoro Crater Safari and Journey to the Serengeti

  • After breakfast, we drive up the Rift Valley escarpment towards the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater.

  • For many, this wildlife spectacle is the pinnacle of their safari experience.

  • The Ngorongoro Crater boasts all of the "Big 5", including a small population of endangered black rhino.

  • After a picnic lunch, we head towards the Serengeti through the stunning Southern Plains.

  • This is the area that the Serengeti is best known for - endless, undulating grass savannah with rocky outcrops that serve as isolated wildlife refuges.

  • Distance: 400 km (including the Crater)

  • Driving time: 6-7 hours

  • Accommodation: Kisura Serengeti Camp or similar

  • Breakfast: At Karatu Simba Lodge or similar

  • Lunch: Picnic lunch from Karatu Simba Lodge or similar

  • Dinner: At Kisura Serengeti Camp or similar

5
Day 05

Full-Day Game Drive in the Serengeti's Seronera Area

  • Today you will spend a full day game driving around the Seronera area of the Serengeti.

  • The Serengeti is divided into three main areas: Seronera is the most central and accessible region, and this is where the Park HQ is based, as well as most of the larger lodges and communal campsites.

  • This part of the Serengeti is characterised by open plains of grassland, packed with animals.

  • The Seronera River is the lifeblood of the Serengeti, and this area is renowned for great game viewing all year round.

  • It is also particularly good for lion and cheetah sightings, as well as the most elusive of all big cats, the leopard.

  • Accommodation: Kisura Serengeti Camp or similar

  • Breakfast: At Kisura Serengeti Camp or similar

  • Lunch: Picnic lunch from Kisura Serengeti Camp or similar

  • Dinner: At Kisura Serengeti Camp or similar

6
Day 06

Morning Serengeti Game Drive via Olduvai Gorge

  • Today we retrace our steps with a morning game drive through the Serengeti, followed by a picnic lunch, before continuing through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

  • Visit Olduvai Gorge.

  • Distance: 200 km

  • Driving time: 5-6 hours

  • Accommodation: Karatu Simba Lodge or similar

  • Breakfast: At Kisura Serengeti Camp or similar

  • Lunch: Picnic lunch from Kisura Serengeti Camp or similar

  • Dinner: At Karatu Simba Lodge or similar

7
Day 07

Mto-wa-Mbu Visit and Return to Arusha

  • After breakfast, we explore the colourful town of Mto-wa-Mbu for some last-minute pictures and curio shopping.

  • Afterwards, we head to Arusha, where the tour will end.

  • Distance: 250 km

  • Driving time: 3-4 hours

  • Breakfast: At Karatu Simba Lodge or similar

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Arusha 5 cities · 7 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Accommodation: 6 nights in mid-range lodges and permanent tented camps.

  • Meals: All breakfast, lunch, and dinner services (excluding lunch on Day 1).

  • Transport: Custom-built 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for optimal viewing.

  • Guiding: Services of a professional, English-speaking local safari guide.

  • Fees: All national park fees, conservation levies, and transit taxes.

  • Transfers: Arrival and departure airport transfers in Arusha.

  • Water: Mineral water provided inside the safari vehicle.

What's Not Included

  • Flights: International flights to and from Tanzania.

  • Visas: Tanzania tourist visa fees (typically $50 - $100 USD depending on nationality).

  • Tips: Gratuities for your safari guide and lodge staff.

  • Drinks: Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks at the lodges.

  • Insurance: Mandatory travel, medical, and evacuation insurance.

What to bring

  • Flights: International airfares to and from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK).

  • Visas: Tanzanian tourist entry visa fees (typically $50 to $100 USD depending on your nationality).

  • Insurance: Mandatory comprehensive travel insurance covering medical evacuation and trip cancellation.

  • Tips: Gratuities for your professional safari guide, camp staff, and trackers (recommended $10 to $15 USD per person, per day for guides).

  • Drinks: All premium alcoholic beverages, spirits, and soft drinks outside of standard water/coffee/tea provided at meals.

  • Personal items: Laundry services, souvenirs, phone cards, and items of a personal nature.

  • Optional activities: Any extra excursions not explicitly written into the daily itinerary.

Know before you go

  • Departure: The Tanzania Wildlife Breakaway departs from the African Tulip Hotel in Arusha.

  • When arriving in Arusha on day one, you will be picked up from the airport and transferred to your lodge.

  • Should you arrive prior to day one, pre-tour accommodation can be arranged, and you will be picked up from your hotel on the morning of day one.

  • After breakfast on day 2, there will be a pre-departure meeting presented by your guide at your accommodation. It is imperative that all clients attend this meeting so as not to miss out on any critical information.

  • Whilst it is our every intention to adhere to the above-mentioned itinerary, there may occasionally be a need to make alterations in order to make the tour more enjoyable or practical. Therefore, please treat the itinerary as a guide only.

  • Transport: There is the use of fully equipped, customized 4x4 safari vehicles, Toyota Land Cruisers, or other appropriate vehicles with comfortable seating, all window seats for game viewing, and a music system.

  • These non-air-conditioned vehicles are equipped with pop-up roofs to facilitate the best game viewing.

  • All luggage, besides hand luggage and photo equipment, is carried on the vehicle roof rack or trailer to ensure maximum comfort in the vehicle.

  • Travelling times and distances: All travelling times are affected by road conditions, detours, and weather conditions. Therefore, on certain days, travelling times may be longer than anticipated, especially where there is a lot of distance to be covered.

  • Please keep in mind that the time it takes to travel 100 km in your home country is not equivalent to the time it takes to travel 100 km on African roads. Therefore, we encourage you to sit back and enjoy the spectacular scenery Africa has to offer.

  • Where possible, additional stops will be made to ensure your travelling comfort at all times.

  • Accommodation: For this accommodated safari, we make use of mid-range lodge accommodation.

  • Your accommodation is situated either in National Parks, on the banks of a river, or in other places of interest.

  • The accommodation will be a mix of lodges, chalets, and permanent tented chalets with en-suite facilities.

  • Some properties are equipped with swimming pools and/or bar areas.

  • Meals: Breakfast and dinner will be prepared by the lodge where you are staying. They will also prepare lunch or a lunch pack depending on the itinerary for the day.

  • Please advise us of any special dietary requirements in advance.

  • Tipping guidelines for guides: It is recommended that you tip between $5 - $10 per person per day.

  • Visas: The onus is on the client to organize all visas required to visit Tanzania before departure.

  • Travel insurance: Please note that travel and cancellation insurance is mandatory for every guest travelling with us. All insurance is solely the responsibility of our guests.

  • Please ensure you arrange your own insurance with protection for the full duration of your journey to cover personal injury, damage, and loss of personal items including, but not limited to, camera equipment and other electronic items, medical expenses, repatriation expenses, and loss of luggage.

  • Please speak to your travel agent if you require assistance.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
African Tulip Hotel in Arusha
Tour start
Arusha, Tanzania
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 7 days finish where they began, in Arusha.

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Starting from

USD 1,300 /person
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Estimated room rates

Single Room $2,689.00
Double Sharing $1,300.00

When

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