Tanzania travel landscape
8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS · SAMPLE ITINERARY

8-Day Serengeti Explorer

Extra time on the plains, with the chance to explore beyond the central Serengeti.

Overview

Extra time on the plains, with the chance to explore beyond the central Serengeti. 8-day route through Arusha, Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, with your own guide and vehicle and accommodation chosen for location and atmosphere.

This is an inspirational sample itinerary. Every journey is tailor-made — route, pace and accommodation can all be adjusted to suit you.

Duration
8 days / 7 nights
Destinations
Arusha, Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro
Ideal for
Travelers who want to go deeper into the Serengeti.
When to travel
Good year-round. June to October is the classic dry season with easier wildlife viewing; November to May brings green landscapes, fewer vehicles and, from January to March, calving in the south. The long rains of April and May can affect some roads and camps.
DAY BY DAY

The journey.

Wildlife sightings, migration movements and river crossings depend on nature and are never guaranteed.

  1. Day1
    Arusha

    Arrival in Tanzania

    You are met at Kilimanjaro International Airport by a Bush Guides Safaris representative and transferred to your accommodation on the outskirts of Arusha, set among gardens with views toward Mount Meru on a clear day.

    The afternoon is yours to rest. In the evening your guide meets you for a short briefing on the journey ahead.

    Stay: Comfortable garden lodge near ArushaMeals: Dinner
  2. Day2
    Tarangire

    Tarangire National Park

    After breakfast, drive west to Tarangire, a landscape of ancient baobabs and the seasonal Tarangire River. The park is known for large elephant herds, especially in the drier months, along with giraffe, zebra and a rich variety of birdlife.

    Your guide balances time between sightings so the day feels full but never rushed. Picnic lunch is taken in the park, and you continue exploring until late afternoon before reaching your accommodation.

    Stay: Comfortable mid-range lodge or tented campMeals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  3. Day3
    Serengeti

    Into the Serengeti

    Cross the Ngorongoro highlands and descend to the plains, with an optional stop at Olduvai Gorge, one of the world’s most significant paleoanthropological sites. The landscape opens out as you enter the Serengeti.

    Game drive on the way to your camp, arriving in time for sundowners.

    Stay: Comfortable mid-range lodge or tented campMeals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  4. Day4
    Central Serengeti

    Serengeti Plains

    Spend the day exploring the central Serengeti around the Seronera River, an area with resident wildlife year-round. Rocky kopjes, river woodland and open grassland support lion, leopard, cheetah and great herds of plains game.

    Your guide balances time between sightings so the day feels full but never rushed. Choose between a full day out with a picnic lunch or returning to camp for a midday rest.

    Stay: Comfortable mid-range lodge or tented campMeals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  5. Day5
    Serengeti

    Serengeti Kopjes & Rivers

    Head out early to explore further afield: granite kopjes such as the Moru or Gol areas, and the river valleys where predators often rest in the heat of the day.

    Your guide balances time between sightings so the day feels full but never rushed. An afternoon drive brings you back as the light softens across the plains.

    Stay: Comfortable mid-range lodge or tented campMeals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  6. Day6
    Western Serengeti

    Western Corridor

    Explore the Western Corridor and the Grumeti River area. Around May to July the migration often passes through, though timing changes with rainfall each year.

    Your guide balances time between sightings so the day feels full but never rushed. River woodland here can also hold resident wildlife throughout the year.

    Stay: Comfortable mid-range lodge or tented campMeals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  7. Day7
    Ngorongoro

    Ngorongoro Crater

    Descend early into Ngorongoro Crater, a vast caldera with grassland, swamp and a seasonal soda lake. Its permanent water supports buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, hippo and lion, and black rhino are occasionally seen, though no sighting is ever guaranteed.

    Your guide balances time between sightings so the day feels full but never rushed. A picnic lunch is enjoyed in the crater before you ascend in the afternoon.

    Stay: Comfortable mid-range lodge or tented campMeals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  8. Day8
    Arusha

    Return to Arusha & Departure

    After breakfast, a last game drive on the way out of the park before returning to Arusha, with time for lunch and a little shopping for local crafts.

    Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward flight.

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Included

  • Private safari vehicle with pop-up roof and professional guide
  • Accommodation as described
  • Meals as indicated and drinking water on safari
  • Park entrance, crater and conservation fees
  • Airport transfers
  • 24/7 in-country support

Not included

  • International flights
  • Tanzania visa
  • Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
  • Optional activities such as balloon flights unless agreed
  • Gratuities for guides and lodge staff
  • Personal expenses and premium drinks

Customization note

Change the length, swap a park or upgrade a stay. We will shape this journey around you.

Explore the places on this route
TarangireSerengetiNgorongoro CraterMigration by Month
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LET'S MAKE IT YOURS

Every remarkable journey begins somewhere.

Tell us what you have in mind. We’ll take it from there.

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THE JOURNEY BEGINS WITH A CONVERSATION

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Starts Here.

Tell us what moves you. We’ll help shape the journey around it.