Day 1 – Arrival in Arusha

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you’ll be warmly greeted by your safari guide and transferred to your lodge in Arusha. The city rests at the foot of Mount Meru and serves as the perfect gateway to Tanzania’s northern parks. Depending on your arrival time, you can relax at the lodge, enjoy a nature walk in the surrounding area, or explore Arusha’s local markets and craft shops.

Dinner and overnight at your lodge, preparing for the adventure ahead.

Day 2 – Arusha to Tarangire National Park

After breakfast, your safari begins as you drive south to Tarangire National Park, a land of giant baobabs, sweeping plains, and vast herds of elephants. The Tarangire River, which runs through the park, draws countless animals — especially during the dry season — creating one of the most rewarding wildlife viewing experiences in northern Tanzania.

Game drives here reveal an astonishing variety of wildlife: lions resting under acacias, giraffes browsing on tall branches, and herds of wildebeest and zebras migrating across the plains. The park’s birdlife is exceptional too, with over 500 recorded species.

After an afternoon of exploration, you settle into your lodge or tented camp within or near the park. As night falls, the sounds of Africa — the distant roar of lions and the soft rustle of wind through the baobabs — fill the air.

Dinner and overnight at Tarangire.

Day 3 – Tarangire to Lake Manyara National Park

After breakfast, you head north toward the Great Rift Valley and arrive at the lush, green paradise of Lake Manyara National Park. This compact but incredibly diverse park is famed for its beautiful groundwater forests, hot springs, and the shimmering alkaline lake that attracts thousands of flamingos.

On your game drive, you may spot tree-climbing lions resting in the fig trees, elephants wandering through the woodlands, and hippos cooling off in the shallows. The birdlife here is magnificent — pelicans, storks, and bright kingfishers decorate the shores of the lake.

You’ll enjoy a picnic lunch with views of the escarpment before continuing your exploration. Later in the afternoon, you drive to the Karatu Highlands for dinner and overnight, surrounded by coffee farms and sweeping valley views.

Day 4 – Karatu to Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, you embark on a scenic journey toward Serengeti National Park, passing through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area along the way. You’ll stop at the crater viewpoint for a breathtaking panorama before descending toward the endless plains of the Serengeti.

By midday, you’ll begin your first game drive in the park — a land of golden grasses, dotted acacias, and abundant wildlife. This is the realm of the Great Migration, a timeless spectacle where over two million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles move in search of fresh pastures, followed closely by lions, leopards, and cheetahs.

You arrive at your camp or lodge deep in the Serengeti for dinner and overnight, surrounded by the vast silence and mystery of the savanna.

Day 5 – Full-Day Game Drive in Serengeti National Park

Today is dedicated to exploring the wonders of the Serengeti. The park’s size and diversity mean every game drive reveals something new — perhaps a pride of lions with cubs, a solitary leopard draped across a branch, or elephants moving gracefully through the grasslands.

You’ll follow the rhythm of the day, with morning and afternoon game drives centered around the Seronera River Valley, known for its year-round wildlife. During the Great Migration season (December to June in the south/central Serengeti and July to October in the north), the plains erupt with the thunder of hooves and the drama of predator-prey interaction.

Enjoy a picnic lunch in the bush, then continue your drive until sunset. Return to your camp in time for a warm dinner beneath a canopy of stars.

Day 6 – Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

After breakfast, you depart the Serengeti, enjoying a final game drive as you make your way back toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Along the way, you can visit the Olduvai Gorge, known as the “Cradle of Mankind,” where fossils and tools of early humans were discovered — a fascinating stop for history lovers.

In the afternoon, you reach the Ngorongoro Crater rim, where you’ll settle into your lodge with stunning views of the crater floor below. The cool highland air and breathtaking scenery make this one of Tanzania’s most picturesque overnight stays.

Dinner and overnight at a lodge on or near the crater rim.

Day 7 – Ngorongoro Crater Tour & Return to Arusha

After an early breakfast, you descend 600 meters into the Ngorongoro Crater, one of Africa’s greatest natural wonders. The crater’s enclosed ecosystem supports an incredible diversity of wildlife — from black rhinos and elephants to lions, zebras, and flamingos shimmering across the lake.

You’ll spend the morning exploring this natural amphitheater, taking in the incredible density of wildlife and the serene beauty of its landscapes. A picnic lunch is enjoyed beside the hippo pool, surrounded by the sights and sounds of this living Eden.

In the afternoon, you ascend the crater wall and begin your drive back to Arusha, arriving by early evening.

This marks the end of your 7-day safari — a journey through the very heart of Tanzania’s wild frontier, filled with unforgettable encounters, colors, and moments that will stay with you forever.