7 Day Discover Tanzania Wildlife Safari – Arusha, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti

Day 2 – Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park

After a relaxed breakfast, set off on a scenic drive toward Lake Manyara National Park, one of Tanzania’s most diverse and picturesque wildlife destinations. The park is famously known for its tree-climbing lions, vast flocks of pink flamingos, and the largest baboon troop ever recorded.

Stretching along the base of the dramatic 600-metre-high Great Rift Valley escarpment, Lake Manyara covers nearly two-thirds of the park’s area. The remaining third is an extraordinary mix of habitats—open savannah, acacia woodland, marshes, and rocky outcrops—all supporting an impressive variety of wildlife. Elephants, giraffes, hippos, wildebeest, buffalo, zebras, and a wealth of birdlife can all be spotted here.

Your first day of safari offers a beautiful introduction to Tanzania’s incredible biodiversity and breathtaking landscapes.

Overnight:

• Country Lodge (Comfort)
• Ngorongoro Farm House (Comfort Plus)
• Neptune Ngorongoro Luxury Lodge (Luxury)

Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Travel Time:

• Arusha → Lake Manyara National Park: Approx. 2–2.5 hours

Day 3 – Lake Manyara to Ngorongoro Crater

This morning, depart Lake Manyara and make your way toward the world-renowned Ngorongoro Crater, one of Africa’s most extraordinary wildlife destinations. With an estimated 30,000 mammals thriving within its walls, the crater offers some of the most concentrated game viewing on the continent.

During your morning game drive, you may encounter lions, elephants, buffalo, wildebeest, zebras, hippos, and an impressive array of birdlife. Ngorongoro is also one of the last strongholds for the endangered black rhino, making it one of the few places in East Africa where the Big Five can still be seen in a single location.

After enjoying a scenic picnic lunch beside a hippo pool, ascend the crater walls and continue to a nearby Maasai boma for an insightful cultural visit. Here you will learn about Maasai traditions, daily life, and their unique relationship with the land and wildlife.

At the end of the day, travel to your lodge for a relaxing evening.

Overnight:

• Country Lodge (Comfort)
• Ngorongoro Farm House (Comfort Plus)
• Neptune Ngorongoro Luxury Lodge (Luxury)

Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Travel Time:

• Lake Manyara → Ngorongoro Crater: Approx. 1.5–2 hours

Day 4 – Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Olduvai Gorge & Serengeti National Park

Set off early this morning and travel across the Ngorongoro highlands toward the vast, sweeping plains of the Serengeti National Park. Along the way, stop at the historic Olduvai Gorge, one of the world’s most important paleoanthropological sites. This is where Louis and Mary Leakey made their groundbreaking discoveries, including the fossil remains of Zinjanthropus boisei, offering remarkable insight into early human evolution. Enjoy time to explore the museum and viewpoints overlooking the ancient gorge.

Continue your journey into the Serengeti, a park unmatched in its beauty, ecological significance, and wildlife diversity. Often regarded as the classic image of African wilderness, the Serengeti hosts more than 2 million wildebeest, 500,000 Thomson’s gazelles, and 250,000 zebras, forming the largest concentration of plains game anywhere in Africa. The endless savannah, dramatic skies, and thriving wildlife make today’s journey a highlight of any safari.

Arrive at your lodge or tented camp in time to settle in and enjoy the incredible atmosphere of the Serengeti.

Overnight:

• Tukaone Camp (Comfort)
• The Singing Grass Camp (Comfort Plus)
• Kubu Kubu Tented Camp (Luxury)

Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Travel Time:

• Ngorongoro Area → Olduvai Gorge: Approx. 1 hour
• Olduvai Gorge → Central Serengeti: Approx. 2.5–3 hours (with wildlife viewing en route)

Day 5 – Game Drive in Serengeti National Park

Rise at dawn for an early morning game drive in the Serengeti National Park, one of the most magical times to explore the plains. Sunrise in the Serengeti offers breathtaking beauty—golden light sweeping across the grasslands, predators returning from a night of hunting, and herbivores beginning their morning routines. This is also a prime opportunity for unforgettable photography.

After your morning exploration, you may return to your camp or lodge for a hot lunch, or choose to take a packed lunch and continue your wildlife viewing at one of the park’s designated picnic sites. The afternoon brings more chances to spot lions, elephants, giraffes, cheetahs, and a remarkable variety of plains game as you traverse the diverse habitats of this iconic park.

As the sun sets, return to your accommodation for a relaxing evening surrounded by the sounds of the wilderness.

Overnight:

• Tukaone Camp (Comfort)
• The Singing Grass Camp (Comfort Plus)
• Kubu Kubu Tented Camp (Luxury)

Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Travel Time:

• Full-day game drive within the Serengeti (varies depending on routes taken)

Day 6 – Game Drive in Serengeti National Park

Today offers another full day to discover the wonders of the Serengeti National Park. Spend the morning traversing the vast plains in search of elephants, giraffes, buffalo, antelope, and an incredible variety of birds and predators. The Serengeti’s ever-changing landscapes ensure that no two game drives are ever the same.

As with the previous day, you may choose to return to your camp or lodge for a hot lunch, or enjoy a packed lunch at one of the scenic picnic sites within the park. After lunch, continue your exploration across open savannah, rocky kopjes, and acacia-dotted woodlands.

By late afternoon, keep an eye out for lions, which often become active again as the heat subsides. Cheetahs are most commonly seen during the early morning and late afternoon, when temperatures are cooler, giving them the ideal conditions to use their incredible speed while hunting.

As the day draws to a close, return to your accommodation to relax and enjoy the peaceful Serengeti evening.

Overnight:

• Tukaone Camp (Comfort)
• The Singing Grass Camp (Comfort Plus)
• Kubu Kubu Tented Camp (Luxury)

Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Travel Time:

• Full-day game drive within the Serengeti (routes and duration vary by wildlife movements)

Day 7 – Game Drive in Serengeti National Park → Fly to Arusha

After breakfast, enjoy your final early morning game drive in the Serengeti National Park, watching the sun cast its first light across the plains and observing wildlife as the day begins. This is your last chance to experience the magic and diversity of the Serengeti.

Following this memorable morning, make your way to Seronera Airstrip for your flight back to Arusha, taking in aerial views of the landscape below. Upon arrival in Arusha, your safari comes to a close, leaving you with unforgettable memories of Tanzania’s spectacular wilderness.

Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch

Travel Time:

• Serengeti (Camp/Lodge) → Seronera Airstrip: Approx. 30–60 minutes
• Flight: Seronera → Arusha: Approx. 1 hour