7 Day Adventure Camping – Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater & Tarangire
Price Per Person (USD)
Overview
7-Day Adventure Camping Safari in Tanzania | Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater & Tarangire
If you’ve ever dreamed of falling asleep to the sounds of the wild and waking up to sunrise over the African bush, this 7-day Tanzania adventure camping safari delivers the perfect blend of wilderness, wildlife, and true outdoor exploration. Designed for travellers who love nature, adventure, and authentic experiences, this journey takes you through four of Tanzania’s most iconic national parks.
Begin in Lake Manyara National Park, known for its lush groundwater forest, shimmering lakeshore, and famous tree-climbing lions. Watch for elephants pushing through the trees, vast baboon troops, and flamingos painting the lake’s edge pink.
Continue to the legendary Serengeti National Park, where endless plains stretch to the horizon and predators rule. This is big-cat country, and depending on the season, you may also witness the drama of the Great Migration, the largest wildlife movement on Earth.
Next, descend into the awe-inspiring Ngorongoro Crater, a natural amphitheatre packed with wildlife. Nowhere else offers such a high density of animals in one place, including all members of the Big Five, with an especially good chance of spotting the rare black rhino.
Round off your adventure in Tarangire National Park, famous for its ancient baobab trees, sweeping valleys, and huge herds of elephants. Its river system attracts wildlife from across the region, making it one of Tanzania’s most rewarding safari destinations.
Throughout the safari, you’ll stay at comfortable public campsites, enjoying hearty meals and evenings under the stars. All camping equipment is provided, allowing you to fully enjoy the simplicity, freshness, and excitement of life in the wild.
This is Tanzania at its most real, most beautiful, and most unforgettable — the perfect choice for travellers who want to experience the true heart of Africa.
Key Highlights
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Visit Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater & Tarangire
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See tree-climbing lions, flamingos, and large elephant herds
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Witness big cats and the Great Migration (seasonal)
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Explore one of the best places to see the Big Five: the Ngorongoro Crater
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Camp under the stars with all equipment provided
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Ideal for adventurous travellers seeking an authentic safari experience
Included/Excluded
- Guide & chef tips
- 4×4 private vehicle
- English speaking guide
- Chef for duration of safari
- Camping equipment
- All meals
- Bottled water daily
- Airport transfer
- Guide and Chef Tips
- Night before or after in accommodation – This can be arranged
- Flights
- Travel insurance compulsory
- Tanzania visa
- Personal health insurance
- Any other items of a personal nature
Tour Plan
Day 1
Day 1: Lake Manyara National Park Safari – Day 1 | Tree-Climbing Lions, Flamingos & Tanzania’s Largest Baboon Troop
After breakfast, depart for Lake Manyara National Park, arriving mid-morning to begin your game viewing. This compact yet wildlife-rich park is famous for hosting Tanzania’s largest troop of baboons and its remarkable tree-climbing lions, a behaviour seen in only a few places in Africa.
Along the shimmering lakeshore, vast flocks of lesser and greater flamingos create a striking pink band across the water, while pelicans, storks, and herons add to the spectacle. In the forested areas, you may encounter large elephant families moving gracefully beneath towering acacia and fig trees. The park is also home to zebras, wildebeest, waterbuck, impala, and more than 400 species of birds, making it a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts.
Enjoy a packed lunch at one of the scenic picnic spots before continuing your afternoon game drive through the park’s varied habitats — groundwater forest, open plains, hot springs, and lakeshore flats.
As evening approaches, travel to your accommodation to unwind and enjoy a well-deserved dinner.
Accommodation: Twiga Campsite & Lodge
Board Basis: Full Board
Approx. Drive Time: 4–5 hours from Arusha to Lake Manyara (depending on traffic and stopovers)
Day 2
Day 2: Journey to Serengeti National Park via Maasai Boma
After an early breakfast, depart for the world-famous Serengeti National Park, travelling through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area with a memorable stop at a traditional Maasai Boma. Here, the village chief provides an insightful introduction to Maasai culture, traditions, and daily life — a meaningful cultural encounter that adds depth to your safari experience.
Continue toward the Serengeti, arriving in the early afternoon. Spend the remainder of the day on game drives across the park’s iconic plains, soaking in the vast open grasslands and exceptional wildlife densities that make the Serengeti Africa’s most celebrated national park.
The Serengeti supports the highest concentration of large predators on the continent, including lions, cheetahs, and leopards. Its endless plains are home to abundant herds of wildebeest, zebra, elephants, buffalo, and numerous antelope species. Depending on the season, you may witness the energy and drama of the Great Migration, the largest land-based wildlife movement on Earth.
By evening, arrive at your campsite to unwind after an inspiring day in one of the world’s greatest wildlife reserves.
Accommodation: Seronera Campsite
Board Basis: Full Board
Approx. Drive Time: 6–7 hours including Maasai Boma visit and game-viewing stops
Day 3
Full Day in Serengeti National Park
Day 3: Spend a full day exploring the vast and legendary Serengeti National Park, one of the world’s greatest wildlife sanctuaries. The park’s sweeping plains are home to the highest concentration of large predators in Africa, offering exceptional opportunities to observe lions, leopards, and cheetahs in their natural habitat.
Across the open savannah, witness immense herds of wildebeest and zebra, especially during the Great Migration season, when millions of animals move in search of fresh grazing. Elephants, buffalo, giraffes, hyenas, and a rich variety of antelope species are commonly seen throughout the park, while over 500 bird species add colour and movement to the landscape.
Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives through the Serengeti’s diverse ecosystems—from vast grasslands to rocky outcrops, woodlands, and riverine forests—providing endless opportunities for remarkable sightings and photography. A picnic lunch in the heart of the park ensures maximum time spent immersed in this extraordinary wilderness.
Return to camp in the evening to relax, enjoy dinner, and fall asleep to the sounds of the Serengeti under star-filled skies.
Accommodation: Seronera Campsite (or chosen Serengeti lodge/camp)
Board Basis: Full Board
Approx. Drive Time: Flexible, with full-day game viewing in the park
Day 4
Day 4 – Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater
Begin the morning with a sunrise game drive through the Serengeti, one of the most active and atmospheric times of day on the plains. Predators are often still on the move, grazers gather in the cool light, and the landscape glows golden as the sun breaks the horizon. Return to Seronera Campsite mid-morning for breakfast before packing up and departing.
Continue with an extended en-route game drive through the southern Serengeti, gradually making your way into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The changing scenery—from vast grasslands to highland slopes—offers excellent game-viewing opportunities throughout the journey.
En route, stop at the renowned Olduvai Gorge Archaeological Museum, one of the most significant paleoanthropological sites on the planet. Discover remarkable fossil evidence of early human ancestors dating back nearly two million years, along with stone tools and exhibits that shed light on the origins of humankind.
By late afternoon, arrive at Simba Campsite, spectacularly perched on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The crater is the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera and shelters around 25,000 large animals, including all members of the Big Five and a healthy population of endangered black rhino.
Settle in and enjoy the extraordinary views from the crater’s edge. As night falls, savour dinner under a sky full of stars while the distant calls of wildlife echo up from the crater floor—an unforgettable highlight of any Tanzania safari.
Accommodation: Simba Campsite
Board Basis: Full Board
Approx. Drive Time: 4–6 hours including game viewing and Olduvai Gorge stop
Day 5
Day 5 – Ngorongoro Crater Tour & Onward to Tarangire
Rise early at 05:00 hrs for breakfast before descending into the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater, one of the world’s most remarkable wildlife sanctuaries. Often called the Eighth Wonder of the Natural World, this vast volcanic caldera is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and supports over 25,000 large animals, including some of the highest densities of lions and hyenas in Africa, impressive bull elephants, buffalo, and the critically endangered black rhino.
Spend the morning exploring the crater floor’s rich mosaic of habitats — open grasslands, freshwater swamps, acacia woodlands, and the shores of Lake Magadi. These varied environments offer exceptional opportunities to observe the Big Five and many other species at close range.
Enjoy a packed lunch at the Hippo Pool, a peaceful spot where hippos wallow in the water while birds flit along the marshy edges — a classic safari scene.
After lunch, ascend the crater wall and continue your journey to Tarangire National Park. Arrive at the Public Campsite in time for dinner and settle in for an overnight stay beneath the expansive African night sky.
Accommodation: Tarangire Public Campsite
Board Basis: Full Board
Approx. Drive Time: 3–4 hours (Ngorongoro to Tarangire, excluding crater tour)
Day 6
Day 6 – Full Day in Tarangire National Park
Spend the entire day exploring the remarkable landscapes and rich wildlife of Tarangire National Park, a sanctuary famous for its impressive elephant herds and dramatic scenery lined with towering baobab trees. Tarangire hosts one of the highest densities of elephants in East Africa, and during the dry season, the Tarangire River becomes a vital water source that attracts wildlife from miles around. Large herds of zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, giraffes, and numerous antelope species gather here, creating exceptional game-viewing opportunities.
Tarangire is also a paradise for bird enthusiasts, boasting over 500 recorded species, including colourful rollers, hornbills, fish eagles, and migratory birds depending on the season. Predators such as lions, leopards, and cheetahs are often encountered resting in the shade or scanning the plains for prey.
After a rewarding day of wildlife exploration, return to your campsite in the late afternoon. Enjoy dinner and your final night under the stars, surrounded by the peaceful sounds of the African bush.
Accommodation: Tarangire Public Campsite
Board Basis: Full Board
Approx. Drive Time: Flexible, based on wildlife sightings and game-drive routes
Day 7
Day 7 – Tarangire National Park to Meserani Snake Park & Kilimanjaro Airport
Begin your final morning with a last game drive in Tarangire National Park, taking in the sweeping views of its baobab-dotted landscape and enjoying any final sightings of the elephants, zebras, giraffes, and birdlife that make this park such a highlight of northern Tanzania. Return to camp for a relaxed lunch, followed by a short afternoon game drive as you make your way toward the park exit.
Leaving Tarangire behind, continue your journey toward Arusha with a stop at Meserani Snake Park, a unique conservation and education centre. Here, learn about some of East Africa’s most notable and venomous snakes, as well as crocodiles, tortoises, and birds of prey. It’s an engaging final stop that adds another dimension to your understanding of Tanzania’s diverse wildlife.
After your visit, continue to Kilimanjaro International Airport, arriving in time for your onward flight. This marks the end of your memorable 7-day camping safari through Tanzania’s most iconic national parks — a journey filled with outstanding wildlife encounters, varied landscapes, and unforgettable experiences.
Accommodation: —
Board Basis: Breakfast & Lunch
Approx. Drive Time: 3–4 hours (Tarangire to Meserani); 1–1.5 hours (Meserani to Kilimanjaro Airport)
