7-Day Tanzania Safari
Tarangire • Serengeti • Ngorongoro Crater
7-Day Safari Itinerary
Three iconic parks, Big Five encounters, and the world's greatest wildlife concentration — at a pace that lets you actually experience it all.
Arrival in Arusha
Your driver-guide meets you at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and transfers you to your Arusha hotel. Check in on a bed-and-breakfast basis. The rest of the day is at your leisure — rest after your flight, take a walk around the hotel grounds, or visit Arusha's lively market area. Your guide will brief you on the days ahead and answer any questions. Dinner at the hotel.
Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, drive southwest to Tarangire National Park — Tanzania's most underrated park. Dry season transforms it into East Africa's greatest elephant spectacle: herds of 200–300 elephants congregate on the Tarangire River, the only permanent water source in a vast semi-arid landscape. Ancient baobab trees — some over 1,000 years old — frame game drive scenes that are unique to this park. Also keep watch for greater kudu, fringe-eared oryx, gerenuk, and the extraordinary ground hornbill. Picnic lunch in the park. Late afternoon drive to Karatu for dinner and overnight.
Ngorongoro Highlands to Serengeti
After breakfast, drive through the spectacular Ngorongoro Conservation Area highlands. At the crater rim viewpoint, stop for photographs of the 19-km wide caldera below — this is where you will return on Day 6. Continue the descent west onto the Serengeti plains, arriving in the central Seronera area in the early afternoon. Afternoon game drive: this area has some of the highest lion density in Africa, with multiple resident prides, cheetahs hunting on the open plains, and hippos in the Seronera River. Dinner and overnight at your Serengeti camp or lodge.
Full Day in the Serengeti
A full day exploring the Serengeti — Africa's most famous wildlife stage. Depart at first light for the dawn game drive, when predators are most active and light is at its most photographic. Your guide will use real-time radio intelligence to locate the best sightings: a lion kill in progress, a cheetah family on a hunt, a leopard draped in a fig tree with its kill. The Serengeti never disappoints those willing to be patient and present. Afternoon game drive continues until sunset, returning to camp as the African sky turns crimson.
Serengeti — Optional Balloon Safari & Departure
Today offers the option of an unforgettable hot air balloon safari over the Serengeti ($500 per person — book in advance). Pre-dawn departure, floating above the vast plains as the sun rises, spotting herds and predators from a bird's-eye perspective. A champagne bush breakfast follows the flight. After the balloon (or a final morning game drive), depart the Serengeti eastward, driving through the Ngorongoro highlands toward the crater rim where you will spend the night.
Ngorongoro Crater — Big Five
An early descent into the Ngorongoro Crater — the single greatest wildlife arena on Earth. The 19-km wide caldera holds approximately 25,000 large mammals permanently, including Africa's highest density of lions, Tanzania's primary black rhino population, massive elephant bulls with enormous tusks, enormous buffalo herds, and pods of hippos in the swamp areas. The crater is the best single location in Africa to see all Big Five in one day. Picnic lunch on the crater floor. Afternoon ascent back to Arusha for dinner and overnight — your final night in Tanzania.
Departure from Arusha
Enjoy a final breakfast in Arusha. Depending on your flight time, there may be time for a last walk through Arusha town, a visit to the Cultural Heritage Centre (Tanzania's finest gallery of Makonde sculpture and Tingatinga art), or simply coffee and reflections on 6 extraordinary days. Your driver-guide transfers you to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your international departure. Safari njema — safe travels.
Inclusions & Exclusions
✓ Included
- ✓All national park and conservation area entrance fees
- ✓Ngorongoro Crater vehicle descent fee
- ✓Private 4WD pop-top Land Cruiser
- ✓Experienced English-speaking driver-guide
- ✓All accommodation as per selected tier
- ✓All meals (fullboard on safari; B&B in Arusha)
- ✓Airport transfers (arrival and departure)
- ✓Bottled water in the safari vehicle (daily)
- ✓All government taxes and service charges
✗ Not Included
- ✗International flights to/from Tanzania
- ✗Tanzania tourist e-visa ($50 USD)
- ✗Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- ✗Hot air balloon safari (optional, $500 per person)
- ✗Guide gratuity (~$15pp/day — customary)
- ✗Lodge staff gratuity (~$5pp/day — customary)
- ✗Personal items, laundry, souvenirs
- ✗Alcoholic beverages (at some properties)
- ✗Peak season supplement (16–31 Dec, 1 Jan)
7-Day Safari Rates 2026
All prices are per person (USD) based on double-room sharing. Pick your accommodation tier below.
Price notes: Prices are per person in USD, based on double occupancy sharing. Solo travellers pay a single supplement. A holiday surcharge applies for 16–31 December and 1 January departures. Balloon safari ($500pp), visa, international flights, and gratuities are not included. Prices are subject to availability and confirmation.
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7-Day Safari FAQ
Prices start from $1,876 per person (budget tier, low season, 6 passengers). Budget peak-season rates start at $2,034pp. Mid-range from $2,203pp. High-end (Serena) from $2,353pp. Premium lodges from $2,563pp. All prices per person based on double occupancy and include all park fees, meals, private vehicle, and guide.
Included: all park fees (including Ngorongoro Crater vehicle descent fee), private 4WD Land Cruiser, professional English-speaking driver-guide, all accommodation, all meals as per itinerary, and airport transfers. Not included: international flights, Tanzania e-visa ($50), travel insurance, balloon safari (optional, $500pp), tips, and holiday surcharges.
Seven days is an excellent length for a first Tanzania safari. You will visit all three core Northern Circuit parks (Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater), spend 2 full nights in the Serengeti, and descend into the crater. For those wanting more time in the Serengeti or adding Zanzibar beach, the 10-day itinerary is recommended.
This safari runs year-round. The dry season (June–October) is peak for wildlife viewing with short grass, easy predator sightings, and Great Migration river crossings (August–October). January–February is excellent for the wildebeest calving season in the southern Serengeti. April–May (low season) offers the lowest prices with good wildlife and lush green scenery.
Yes — Zanzibar is a very popular 3–5 night addition after the safari. A short domestic flight (about 1 hour, $100–200pp) connects Kilimanjaro Airport to Zanzibar. Combined, a 7-day safari + 4 nights Zanzibar creates an 11-day Tanzania experience. Ask us to add Zanzibar to your quote.
