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Giraffe browsing among acacias as the sun sets over the Serengeti

Tanzania · 7 days · MidrangeTop Pick

7 Days Northern Tanzania Circuit Midrange Safari

The classic northern Tanzania circuit at an easier pace: Tarangire, Lake Manyara, two nights in the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, starting with a night in Arusha to recover from your flight.

Duration
7 days · 6 nights
Countries
Tanzania
Starts
Arusha
Ends
Arusha
Tier
Midrange
Format
Private safari

01 / Overview

The journey in brief.

The classic northern Tanzania circuit at an easier pace: Tarangire, Lake Manyara, two nights in the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, starting with a night in Arusha to recover from your flight.

This 7-day midrange itinerary starts in Arusha and ends in Arusha. Accommodation: Overnight at the lodge.

Ideal for
First safaris · Families · Photographers
Safari style
Midrange · Private · Family · Photography

Destination guides: Tarangire · Lake Manyara · Serengeti · Ngorongoro

Route

  1. Arusha

    Start

  2. Tarangire

    Stop 1

  3. Lake Manyara

    Stop 2

  4. Serengeti

    Stop 3

  5. Ngorongoro Crater

    Stop 4

  6. Arusha

    Finish

02 / Highlights

What stays with you.

  1. 01

    Two nights in the Serengeti

  2. 02

    Tarangire's elephant herds

  3. 03

    Lake Manyara's forest and lake shore

  4. 04

    Ngorongoro Crater

03 / Day by day

Travel it day by day.

7 days · driving times are approximate

  1. Day 1

    Arrival in Arusha

    Meet your driver-guide at Kilimanjaro International Airport or in Arusha and transfer to your lodge to rest before the safari.

    Meals
    Dinner
    Overnight
    Arusha — Overnight at the lodge
  2. Day 2 · Approx. 2 hours by road

    Arusha to Tarangire

    Drive to Tarangire National Park for a full afternoon among baobabs, elephants and the park's rich birdlife.

    Meals
    Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
    Overnight
    Tarangire — Overnight at the lodge
    Elephants drinking in a shallow sandy river
  3. Day 3

    Tarangire to Lake Manyara and Karatu

    Morning game drive in Lake Manyara National Park, then continue up the escarpment to the Karatu highlands.

    Meals
    Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
    Overnight
    Ngorongoro — Overnight at the lodge
    Storks and pelicans on the shore of a Rift Valley lake
  4. Day 4 · Approx. 5 hours with game viewing

    To the Serengeti

    Cross the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, stopping at the Olduvai Gorge viewpoint (museum optional), and enter the Serengeti with game viewing to your lodge.

    Meals
    Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
    Overnight
    Serengeti — Overnight at the lodge
    Wildebeest leaping into the river during a migration crossing
  5. Day 5

    Full day in the Serengeti

    A full day on the Serengeti plains with a picnic lunch. The central Seronera valley is known for its resident lions, leopards in the sausage trees along the rivers, and cheetahs hunting on the open grassland; the position of the migration herds depends on the month.

    Meals
    Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
    Overnight
    Serengeti — Overnight at the lodge
    Zebras standing close together on golden grassland
    Wildebeest and zebra among woodland in the southern Serengeti
  6. Day 6 · Approx. 3–4 hours

    Serengeti to the Ngorongoro rim

    A morning game drive, then return across the plains to the Ngorongoro crater rim.

    Meals
    Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
    Overnight
    Ngorongoro — Overnight at the lodge
    Lions resting on the crater floor with the crater wall behind
  7. Day 7

    Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha

    Descend about 600 metres to the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater, an enclosed caldera with its own resident wildlife: lions, buffalo, elephants, hyenas, large herds of zebra and wildebeest and one of Tanzania's few populations of black rhino. Lunch is taken at a picnic site on the crater floor. Drive back to Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport for evening departures.

    Meals
    Breakfast · Lunch
    Overnight
    End of safari
    Zebras in shafts of light on the Ngorongoro Crater floor

04 / Where you stay

Comfortable lodges.

Where the itinerary says “overnight at the lodge”, we propose specific lodges with your quotation, based on your dates, preferences and availability.

  • Arusha1 night

    Overnight at the lodge

  • Tarangire1 night

    Overnight at the lodge

  • Ngorongoro1 night

    Overnight at the lodge

  • Serengeti2 nights

    Overnight at the lodge

  • Ngorongoro1 night

    Overnight at the lodge

Quick planning facts

Duration
7 days · 6 nights
Countries
Tanzania
Starts
Arusha
Ends
Arusha
Tier
Midrange
Format
Private safari
Accommodation
Overnight at the lodge
Best for
First safaris · Families

05 / What’s included

Clear from the start.

Included

  • Arrival and departure transfers in Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport
  • Transport in a 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof
  • Services of a professional English-speaking driver-guide
  • Accommodation as described in the itinerary
  • Meals as listed day by day
  • Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area fees, including the crater service fee where the crater is visited
  • Game drives as listed in the itinerary
  • Drinking water in the vehicle

Not included

  • International flights and visa fees
  • Travel and medical insurance (strongly recommended)
  • Tips and gratuities for guides and camp staff
  • Alcoholic and soft drinks unless stated
  • Items of a personal nature such as laundry and phone calls
  • Optional activities not listed as included

06 / Pricing

Honest, complete pricing.

This safari is priced on request. Your quotation covers the complete 7-day package, with the inclusions and exclusions shown on this page.

Price on request

Pricing depends on your dates, group size and accommodation. We will send a clear quote for the complete package.

Optional extras (not included)

  • Olduvai Gorge museum visitEntrance paid on the day; price confirmed when you book.
  • Maasai village visitQuoted on request
  • Serengeti hot-air balloon safariQuoted on request, subject to availability.

07 / Good to know

Questions, answered.

Important notes

  • Lodges are proposed with your quotation, based on your dates, budget and availability.
  • Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed. Your guide will adapt the day to recent sightings, weather and road conditions.
  • Driving times are approximate and depend on road conditions, stops and wildlife encountered along the way.
  • Park and conservancy fees are set by the authorities and may change; any change is passed on at cost.
How much does this safari cost?

This 7-day safari is priced on request because rates depend on your dates, group size and accommodation. Send us your details and we will reply with a full quotation for the complete package.

Where does the safari start and finish?

It starts in Arusha and finishes in Arusha.

Is this a private or group-joining safari?

This itinerary is quoted as a private safari with your own vehicle and driver-guide.

What accommodation is used?

The itinerary shows where you stay each night. Lodges are proposed with your quotation, based on your dates, preferences and availability.

Can this itinerary be changed?

Yes. Dates, pace, accommodation level and the order of stops can usually be adjusted. Tell us what you have in mind when you enquire.

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Ready to make this journey yours?

Tell us your dates, group size and travel style and our Nairobi team will tailor the safari.

7 days · Tanzania

Price on request

Request
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