7-Day Ultimate Tanzania Safari | Tarangire, Manyara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro
Expedition Overview
Experience the ultimate Northern Tanzania wildlife adventure on a 7-day safari combining Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro. The longer duration allows you to slow down, enjoy more game drives and spend multiple nights in the Serengeti.
This is the recommended option for travelers who want a more complete first Tanzania safari.
Destinations Explored on This Route
3 Iconic Parks & ReservesClick any destination to read our comprehensive wildlife guide, best travel seasons, and conservation details:
Tarangire National Park
Famed for ancient thousand-year-old baobabs and the highest concentration of elephant...
Serengeti National Park
Spanning nearly 15,000 square kilometers, the Serengeti is the epicenter of the Great...
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, home to over 25,000 large mammals living...
Safari Expedition Route Map
GPS Trail & PacingInteractive route map detailing the journey through Tanzania's northern circuit wilderness and travel stops:
Key Safari Highlights
- Tarangire National Park
- Lake Manyara National Park
- Two full Serengeti safari days
- Ngorongoro Crater
- Big Five opportunities
- Elephant and baobab landscapes
- Great Migration viewing opportunities depending on season
- Multiple sunrise and sunset safari opportunities
- Professional private safari guide
- Comfortable accommodation
- Optional luxury upgrades
Daily Itinerary
Arusha – Tarangire National Park
Enter Tarangire National Park and enjoy a game drive among baobabs, grasslands and seasonal wetlands.
Tarangire is particularly well known for elephants and spectacular baobab scenery.
Activities:
Game drive, wildlife viewing, bird watching and photography.
Tarangire – Lake Manyara – Karatu
Enjoy a game drive through forest, woodland and wetland habitats. Search for elephants, giraffes, buffalo, zebras, baboons, hippos and birdlife.
Later continue to Karatu.
Karatu – Serengeti National Park
After entering Serengeti, begin your afternoon game drive. Your guide will select the best wildlife-viewing routes based on seasonal conditions and recent sightings.
Activities:
Scenic drive, game drive and photography.
Full-Day Serengeti Safari
Spend the day exploring the Serengeti plains, searching for predators and large herbivore herds.
Enjoy a picnic lunch in a designated area before continuing the safari
Activities:
Full-day game drive, wildlife tracking and photography.
Full-Day Serengeti Safari
Having another full day gives you more flexibility to explore different habitats and respond to current wildlife activity. Depending on the season, your guide can focus on areas associated with the Great Migration.
Activities:
Morning game drive, full-day safari, bird watching and photography.
Serengeti – Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Travel toward the Ngorongoro highlands and arrive at your lodge or camp.
Spend the afternoon relaxing and enjoying the spectacular highland scenery.
Activities:
Morning game drive, scenic transfer and relaxation.
Ngorongoro Crater – Arusha
Enjoy an extended crater game drive. The crater is one of Tanzania's most remarkable wildlife areas and offers opportunities to see a wide range of species in a relatively compact ecosystem.
Enjoy a picnic lunch before ascending and continuing to Arusha.
Activities:
Ngorongoro Crater game drive, wildlife photography and scenic viewing.
Expedition Photo Gallery
4 Wilderness MomentsPhotographs captured on recent expeditions across this route. Click any image to view high-resolution photos:
✓ What is Included
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle
- Professional English-speaking safari guide
- All game drives in the itinerary
- Park entrance and applicable conservation fees
- Ngorongoro crater/conservation fees
- Accommodation for 6 nights
- Meals according to itinerary
- Drinking water during safari
- Arusha pickup and drop-off
- Government taxes and applicable tourism fees
× What is Excluded
- International flights
- Tanzania visa
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
- Alcoholic and premium beverages
- Laundry
- Personal purchases
- Optional activities
- Balloon safari
- Additional accommodation
- Medical expenses
- Anything not specifically listed under Includes
Frequently Asked Questions
Need to Know InfoHave questions about game drives, packing, or booking this route? Here are essential answers:
For travelers with enough time, the 7-day itinerary provides a more comprehensive Northern Circuit experience than a short safari.
Yes. Luxury lodges and tented camps can be substituted throughout the itinerary
Yes. The Serengeti section can be adjusted according to travel dates and the seasonal location of the herds. The migration is a dynamic natural phenomenon, so sightings cannot be guaranteed.
Yes. The safari can be followed by a Zanzibar beach holiday, with flights arranged as part of a customized itinerary
The recommended version is a private safari, meaning you have your own safari vehicle and professional guide. Shared departures can also be offered
Ready to Customize This Safari?
Want to add extra days in the Serengeti, include a hot air balloon flight, or finish with relaxing beaches in Zanzibar? Let our expert naturalists customize this route for you.