Kenya, Tanzania · Safari

7-Day Tanzania Safari from Arusha with Serengeti and Ngorongoro

7 Days Round trip from Arusha Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Game drives across Lake Manyara, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater
  • 02 Chance to witness the Great Wildebeest Migration in the Serengeti
  • 03 Look for Mara River crossings in the Kogatende area
  • 04 Admire birdlife and search for tree-climbing lions at Lake Manyara
  • 05 Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, the world's largest unflooded caldera

Explore three of Tanzania's most popular wildlife destinations on this 7-day safari from Arusha, with game drives in Lake Manyara, Serengeti National Park, and the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater. Look out for elephants, hippos, giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes, big cats, rich birdlife, and the critically endangered black rhino in their natural habitat. Depending on the season, you may also get a chance to witness the Great Wildebeest Migration and Mara River crossings. This journey combines African savannah plains, the Great Rift Valley, and one of the world's largest unflooded calderas.

Explore three of Tanzania's most popular wildlife destinations on this 7-day safari from Arusha, with game drives in Lake Manyara, Serengeti National Park, and the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

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

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park

  • Leave Arusha town in the company of your guide and travel along the Arusha - Dodoma highway on a scenic drive toward Lake Manyara National Park, one of the main safari gateways in northern Tanzania.
  • Stop by a supermarket for any last-minute shopping of personal effects you may need, then continue the drive and arrive at Lake Manyara in about 2 hours. Your driver will take care of the paperwork at the park gate before you embark on your first game drive.
  • Explore Lake Manyara and admire wildlife such as elephants, hippos, giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes, and some of the largest baboon troops in Africa. Drive along the lakeshore, which is teeming with birdlife, and while looking for birds, you may also spot one of the elusive tree-climbing lions.
  • Drive back to Manyara or Karatu for an overnight stay.

Overnight stay in Karatu/Manyara. Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

2
Day 02

Lake Manyara to Serengeti via Ngorongoro

  • Depart early from Lake Manyara after breakfast and head across the floor of the Great Rift Valley, up the escarpment, and through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area on a pleasant and scenic drive toward Serengeti National Park. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and breathtaking views along the way.
  • Proceed to the Lobo area, located just north of the Seronera area in central Serengeti National Park. The wildebeest migration normally passes through the Lobo area around July/August en route to Kenya's Masai Mara Game Reserve, and again in late October/November on its way back to the southern Serengeti.
  • Arrive in the Serengeti in the late afternoon and enjoy an evening game drive before checking in at your camp or lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Dinner and overnight at Serengeti. Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

3
Day 03

Full-Day Game Drive in Serengeti National Park

  • Enjoy a full-day game drive in the park. See migrating animals such as elephant, buffalo, gazelle, zebra, lion, leopard, and cheetah. The game viewing is excellent, and you can follow the wildlife for long periods without seeing other vehicles - truly one of the forgotten corners of the Serengeti Plains. Magnificent riverine trees line the rivers, and bird species such as kingfishers and fish eagles can also be found here.

Overnight in Serengeti.

4
Day 04

Central Serengeti to Northern Serengeti Kogatende

  • Head toward the far northern reach of Serengeti National Park, also known as the Wagakuria area.
  • Enjoy a game drive en route from the Lobo area to Wagakuria. As you travel north, look out for giraffe, plains game, herds of buffalo, and elephants.
  • Arrive in time for lunch at the lodge, then head out again for an afternoon game drive in the area. You may get a chance to witness the frantic herds of wildebeest crossing the Mara River.

Overnight in Serengeti.

5
Day 05

Northern Serengeti Game Drive and Return to Central Serengeti

  • Enjoy a full-day game drive in the Wagakuria area. Resident wildlife numbers are exceptionally high in this part of the park, with lion prides reaching up to 30 strong. From mid-July to October, the area turns into a wildlife paradise.
  • See the key feature of the region - the Great Migration.
  • Admire the beauty of this stunning region, with kopjes, woodland, riverine vegetation, and open plains similar to Kenya's Masai Mara Game Reserve.

Explore an option of doing a Hot Air Balloon ride.

Overnight stay in Serengeti. Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

6
Day 06

Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater Rim

  • Proceed with morning and afternoon game drives in the Serengeti, with a lunch and leisure break at the lodge in the mid-afternoon.
  • Have lunch and continue with game viewing in the Serengeti, heading toward the park gate to check out of Serengeti National Park.
  • Continue with a game drive en route as you head toward the Ngorongoro Crater.
  • Dinner and overnight at a camp or lodge on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater.

Overnight stay in Ngorongoro. Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

7
Day 07

Ngorongoro Crater Safari to Arusha

  • Descend into the crater with a lunch box and enjoy a game drive for more than 7 hours. Admire Ngorongoro Crater, the largest unflooded caldera in the world. Now inactive and filled with wildlife, the crater is a natural playground where you can enjoy game drives in search of the Big Five. You may also spot the critically endangered black rhino.
  • See the huge population of predators, including lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs, and the ever-elusive leopard. After a picnic lunch, continue your game drive before returning to Arusha.

Overnight stay in Arusha. Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Lake Manyara, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Mara River crossings

Where this trip takes you

Lake Manyara, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Mara River crossings

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Arusha 4 cities · 7 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Park fees
  • All activities (unless labelled as optional)
  • English-speaking Tanzanian tour guide
  • All accommodation
  • All transportation
  • All taxes/VAT
  • Roundtrip airport transfer
  • All meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)
  • Drinking water on all days

What's Not Included

  • International flights (from/to home)
  • Balloon tour
  • Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Personal expenses
  • Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
  • The government imposed an increase in taxes and/or park fees
  • Alcohol drinks

Know before you go

  • Accommodations:
  • Budget Tented Camping -

Sunbright | Lilac | Savanna | Kizumba | Nyani (Seronera) Public Campsite | Pimbi Public Campsite | Robo Campsite | Simba Public Campsite | Mrimba Palm Hotel | Arusha Tourist Inn Hotel

  • Mid-range Lodges -

Twiga Lodge | Eileen's Trees Inn | Fanaka | Katikati Tented Lodge | Kenzan Tented Camp | Kiota Tented Camp | Serengeti Wilderness Camp | Chaka Tented Camp | Kenzan Mara Tented Camp | Mara River Kati Kati | Rhino Hotel | Natron Palace Hotel | City Link Hotel | Charity International

  • Luxury Lodges -

Manyara Serena Safari Lodge | Manyara Wildlife Lodge | Serengeti Serena Lodge | Serengeti Wildlife Lodge | Angata Serengeti | Asanja Moru | Dunia Camp (ASILIA AFRICA) | Kiota Camp | Serengeti Sopa Lodge | Lobo Wildlife Lodge | Angata Bologonja Tented Camp | &Beyond Klein's Camp | Bologonya Under Canvas | Lemala Kuria Hills | Singita Mara River Tented Camp | Mara Mara Lodge | Orakira Migration Camp | Under Canvas | Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge | Ngorongoro Wildlife | Ngorongoro SopaEntamanu Camp | Kirurumu Ngorongoro | Lemala Ngorongoro Camp | Mount Meru Hotel | Tulia Hotel & Spa | Kibo Paris | Arusha Serena Lodge

  • Super Luxury Lodges -

Lake Manyara Tree Lodge | Four Season Safari Lodge | Melia Serengeti Lodge | Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas | Ngorongoro Crater Lodge | Gran Melia

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Arusha, Tanzania
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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