7 Day Tanzania Safari Trip

Tarangire, Manyara, Ngorongoro and Serengeti

7 Day Tanzania Safari Trip

Tarangire, Manyara, Ngorongoro and Serengeti

Price

Duration

7 days

Max People

16

Min Age

2+

Overview

This 7-day Tanzania safari trip highlights the iconic Northern Safari Circuit, offering you an unforgettable African wildlife experience. Explore diverse landscapes where lions rest in trees, elephants roam among acacia trees, and a vast array of wildlife thrives in the Ngorongoro Crater. A visit to the world-famous Serengeti National Park brings you close to the Great Wildebeest Migration, whether during the thrilling Mara River crossings or the calving season in Ndutu, you will surely be on a front seat row on your private 4x4 witnessing this year-round spectacle. Guided by our professional driver guide, this 7 days Tanzania Lodge safari promises memories that will last a lifetime.

Enjoy this 7 days Tanzania lodge safari experience as hand-picked by our team of Tanzania travel experts or tailor it to create the best Tanzania safari trip that suits your preferences, opt for a Budget Camping Safari Itinerary or 7 days budget safari Tanzania to accommodate any seasonal changes or animal movements.


Tour Highlights

  • Departure and Return Place: We can start/end this tour from Arusha, Moshi, Kilimanjaro International Airport, Fly in from Zanzibar or Dar es Salaam - (Google Maps)
  • Departure Time: Please be ready by 6:45 AM for a prompt departure at 7:15 AM.
  • Return Time: Approximately 4:30 PM.
  • Dress Code: Casual. comfortable athletic clothing, hat, layers for cooler mornings/evenings, and spare clothing
  • Customizations: Can be amended/customized upon request, to suit your requirements
  • Extensions: Trip Extensions are available on request
  • Season: The Dry season (from late June to October) offers the best wildlife viewing in general – with the wildebeest migration as its absolute highlight. The timing of the migration varies every year (the best chance of seeing it is during June, July, and August) while the wildebeest calving is from late January to February.
  • Your own private guide and driver for in-depth wildlife touring based on your interests
  • Firsthand, sophisticated destination knowledge and recommendations from our locally-born travel specialists
  • Around-the-clock support from your travel designer and concierge before, during, and after your trip

What to Expect on Tour

  • You will experience the excitement of game viewing in some of the most spectacular national wildlife game parks in Africa
  • Look out over incredible views of the Ngorongoro Crater
  • Witness the annual great migration of a million wildebeest and zebra crossing the open plains of the Serengeti

Costs Includeds/Excludes

  • All accommodations
  • All activities - unless indicated as optional
  • Airport Pick-up and Drop-off Transfers
  • All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
  • Accommodation and Meals (Half Board - First & Last day, Full board - All other days)
  • Taxes / VAT
  • Bottled water, onboard snacks, wines, beer, coffee and soft drinks throughout the tour
  • Binocular (1 per Vehicle)
  • Medical kit
  • AMREF Flying Doctors Evacuation
  • Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
  • International flights
  • Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
  • Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
  • Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
  • Any other personal expenses

Day 1 Arrival In Tanzania, overnight at Arusha - Kahawa House.

You will be picked up by our driver at Kilimanjaro Airport and taken to a hotel in Arusha. The drive takes about an hour, during which you may get a glimpse of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru.

Upon your arrival at the hotel and after checking in, a representative from our office and your guide will brief you about your trip. You will review the itinerary together to ensure everything is prepared for your safari adventure.

You will have the rest of the day free to explore at your leisure. In the evening, your guide will join you for a welcoming dinner. This dinner on the first day of your Tanzania Safari Trip is more than just a delicious meal; it provides an opportunity for deeper connections, storytelling, and conversation. It's the perfect setting to find common interests and to set the stage for an unforgettable journey. The welcome dinner serves as a heartfelt introduction, helping to create the bonds that will make your experience truly special.

Accommodation: Kahawa House

Day 2 Arusha to Tarangire National Park, Full day game drive of the park.

In the morning, you will be collected from your accommodation in Arusha by your personal Safari Guide. The drive to Tarangire is on a good tarmac road, crossing the gently rolling Masai plains dotted with scattered acacia trees. Along the route, you will pass many Masai in colorful attire, walking along the roadside, riding bicycles, herding cattle, and driving donkey carts.

Tarangire National Park is renowned for its large elephant herds. From the open roof of your vehicle, you’ll have the chance to spot seasonal swamps, savanna, and the Tarangire River, where many animals—zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, elephant, and giraffe—gather. You might even glimpse a lion stalking its prey or a leopard lounging in the trees above. At midday, you’ll enjoy a picnic hot lunch (hamper) within the park, taking in the surrounding wildlife and landscapes. After an extensive game drive, immersed in the sights and sounds of the wilderness, you will leave the park and head to your booked hotel, where you’ll have dinner and stay overnight

Accommodation: Burunge Tented Lodge

Day 3 Morning walk, transfer with game drive en route to Serengeti National Park

At 6:00 AM, start your day with a fascinating guided nature walk around Lake Burunge as the sun rises. After the walk, return to the lodge for breakfast before heading toward the fertile highlands of Ngorongoro, where the Iraqw and Mbulu people cultivate wheat, coffee, and corn.

En route, you’ll have the chance to visit a Maasai village in Ngorongoro, where you can experience their unique traditions, vibrant culture, and way of life. Continuing through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, take in breathtaking views of the Ngorongoro Crater before stopping for a picnic lunch and heading to Serengeti National Park, arriving by midday

Serengeti National Park is Tanzania’s largest park, featuring diverse landscapes and habitats, including grassy plains, swamps, lakes, savannahs, and mountains. Known for the vast wildebeest and zebra migration, this park offers, depending on the season, the chance to witness thousands of animals migrating in massive herds in search of food and water.

After an extensive game drive, you will return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Lahia Tented Lodge

Day 4 Full day tour of Serengeti National Park

The entire day is set aside for a full day of game drives in Serengeti National Park. The Serengeti is home to an abundance of wildlife, including impalas, buffalo, crocodiles, and hippos, but is best known for its great migrating herds of zebras and wildebeest. The animals’ journey is guided by the seasonal rains, which vary each year.

From December to March, the animals move south to the lush grassy plains for calving season. By April to June, during the long rainy season, they begin their journey northward. As they move through the park, predators such as leopards, cheetahs, and lions are often nearby, drawn by the herds.

After an unforgettable day, you will return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Lahia Tented Lodge

Day 5 Serengeti National Park overnight Ngorongoro

After an early breakfast, you’ll start your day with another exciting morning game drive in the Serengeti. Here, you’ll have the chance to see the “Big Five”—lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard—roaming freely in their natural habitat. After this thrilling experience, you’ll return to the lodge for check-out.

Your journey continues with a scenic drive toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, offering even more wildlife sightings along the way. As you approach the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater, you’ll get your first glimpse of the stunning scenery awaiting you—glistening streams, open grasslands, and an abundance of wildlife.

For the night, you’ll stay at a lodge either inside the Ngorongoro Crater or just outside, near the gate surrounded by the warm, orange glow of sunset, you’ll drift off to sleep, ready for more exploration the next day.

This experience combines the thrill of the Serengeti with the unique beauty of Ngorongoro, giving you the best of Tanzania’s wildlife adventure.

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Farm House Lodge

Day 6 Ngorongoro Crater

Start your day with a beautiful sunrise and breakfast at your lodge on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. From here, you'll descend into one of the world’s most stunning natural wonders. The Ngorongoro Crater, a vast, unbroken caldera covering 260 square kilometers (100 square miles), is home to about 25,000 to 30,000 animals and is one of Tanzania’s best locations for diverse wildlife viewing.

Inside the crater, you'll experience up-close encounters with various wildlife, including wildebeest, zebras, elephants, buffalo, and hippos. The crater is also one of the few places in East Africa where you might spot the rare black rhino. Ngorongoro is a bird lover's paradise, with over 500 species to observe, from colorful starlings to majestic eagles and flocks of flamingos around Lake Magadi.

Midday brings a picnic lunch by the lake, where you can relax and take in the serene views. After lunch, continue with more game drives across the crater floor, watching lions, hyenas, and other predators in action. By late afternoon, you'll ascend back up to the crater rim, where you'll head to your lodge for a restful night.

This experience, from sunrise to sunset in the Ngorongoro Crater, makes for an unforgettable part of your one-week Tanzania safari.

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Farm House Lodge

Day 7 Lake Manyara National Park

After breakfast, you will drive to your final destination on this epic 7-day Tanzania safari trip – Lake Manyara National Park. This relatively small but diverse park, located 120km west of Arusha, is famous for its tree-climbing lions. The park’s namesake is a shallow, salt lake covering a large area, which floods and dries with the seasons and is home to thousands of flamingos and over 500 other bird species. While exploring the park, you’ll see monkeys, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, elephant, and, with luck, lions lounging in the trees. Lake Manyara is known for its diverse landscapes, from open grassy plains to primate-filled woodlands and baobab-dotted cliffs.

After an extensive game drive through the park, you will head back to Arusha, where you’ll have a short tour for shopping before transferring to Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport for your flight home, marking the end of this incredible 7-day Tanzania safari trip.

Tour Accommodations

Tour Day Budget Camping Package
(Please contact us to request rates.)
Standard Package
Day 1 Kika Resort Hotel Kahawa House
Day 2 Migombani Campsite Burunge Tented Lodge
Day 3 Serengeti Public Campsite Lahia Tented Lodge
Day 4 Serengeti Public Campsite Lahia Tented Lodge
Day 5 Simba Campsite Ngorongoro Farm House Lodge
Day 6 Migombani Campsite Ngorongoro Farm House Lodge

Are safaris suitable for children?

We often get asked about family safaris and most children absolutely love their safari experience. If they are old enough to fully benefit from what is a holiday of a lifetime. There is nothing better for children than to be so close to our amazing wildlife, so much better than watching it on TV or merely reading a book about it. We advise on child-friendly accommodations and ensure that you get a family-friendly room. It is essential to be realistic, however. A safari involves a lot of driving over rough terrain, and we would not recommend a safari trip for children under 3 years old.

What if I have special dietary requirements?

Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, celiac, lactose-free, or if you have any allergies, just give us a heads up and you will be catered to.

What is the maximum group size per vehicle?

The maximum group size is Six (6) guests per vehicle.

What travel documents do I need?

You will need a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond your dates of travel with an entry or re-entry visa, duly endorsed.

Who are your operators in Tanzania?

We are. We are not agents for anybody, but run the treks ourselves through our own Tanzanian company. So you can rest assured that whoever you speak to in our company has climbed Kilimanjaro – and probably many times.

Will I see wildlife?

Prior to the climb, you’ll enjoy an acclimatization day with wildlife viewing and nature walks. Trekking through the rain forest, you’re likely to spot black-and-white Colobus monkeys, tropical birds and more.

Will the safari be dusty?

Definitely! What’s the point of a safari if you don’t kick up the dust. And there will be plenty to kick in the dry months. Some of the trails on the safari route are bumpy and dusty, especially between Ngorongoro and Serengeti. So roll up the window and turn the AC on. Use sunglasses and a hat, and protect your electronic equipment from the dust storms

Will there be wildlife roaming at the camps and lodges?

Yes. Bear in mind they are wild and unpredictable. The thought restrains you from getting too adventurous on hands-on when you cross paths with a wild animal. Attacks are rare but discretion is a better part of valor. Exercise caution. Remember it’s their territory and you are the intruder.

Will I see the famous ‘Big 5’?

There are never any guarantees with wildlife, but our driver-guides work hard to find you the ‘Big 5’ and so much more. But you will certainly have a good chance of seeing the Big 5, depending on which parks you choose to visit as part of your itinerary. If your goal is to see a black rhino, you should include Ngorongoro on your schedule.

Where are the best places in Tanzania for bird-spotting?

Tanzania is truly a phenomenal place for birds, which of course makes it a remarkable place for bird-spotters, too! One thing is certain, you will not leave Tanzania without witnessing some incredible avian species.

What happens if I get sick or injured on safari?

Any health or medical emergency will be attended to. If the condition requires hospitalization, you will be evacuated to the nearest hospital immediately. Make sure you have travel and health insurance coverage. It’s highly recommended

What do you mean by game drives?

The opportunity to explore the thriving wildlife of Tanzania in a safari vehicle by going deep into the secluded zones for an up-close and personal experience of Tanzania’s biggest and meanest

How far in advance do I need to book a Safari?

Book your trip early. Ideally, 6 months in advance and 10-12 months in advance if you want to witness the Wildebeest migration in Serengeti.

How much does a safari cost?

Safaris are costly. Tanzania Wildlife Safaris prices depend on the number of people on the trip, how many days of safari, and the level of comfort or luxury.

What about bathrooms in the bush?

The safari trips have public bathroom facilities. In case you have to go and there isn’t one in sight. Relieving behind the vehicle is a good option. of course with the concurrence of your guide. They are sympathetic to nature calls

What about snakes and insects?

They are pretty common. Though sighting one is not a pretty thought. But on safaris atop a vehicle, they are not an issue. While on a walking safari, wear boots when venturing into bushes or woodlands. Use full trousers and long sleeve shirts to protect yourself from mosquitoes and other fly bites. In the bushes, they are a pestilence. Use insect repellent to keep them at bay

What about solar protection?

Tanzania is very near to the equator. So the sun is always at its acme for most of the day. The sun can be fierce and cause sunburns and sunstroke. Wear a hat, shades, and use SPF sunblock lotion

What about the roads on safari?

Bumpy on the safari circuits and on the game drives. If you have a back condition then take precautions with back braces, pillows, or whatever works for you.

What about tipping the safari driver guides?

Tipping for services is not obligatory, but very common in Tanzania. Your tip is highly appreciated and can make a big difference to your guide and lodge staff. Tipping is a good courtesy. Tip generously. And always keep their counsel for that optimum and safe safari experience. On safari, this is US$15-20 per person per day, handed directly to the guide at the end of your stay. Of course, you should only give a tip if you are satisfied with the quality of the service.

What can I expect on a typical safari day?

Depends on which park you have chosen in your itinerary. Every park has a distinct character, topography, and animals with attitude. If it’s Serengeti then enjoy the endless savannahs and Big 5. Tarangire’s offerings are a semi-arid landscape with majestic baobabs with no shortage of wildlife. Including the Big 5 in a day

Am I allowed to walk around the national parks?

Stay in the vehicle unless you have clearance from the guide to walk or stretch your legs. If you are keen on hiking, there are guided walks that are available in Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro.

Are drinks provided in the safari vehicle?

Big yes! You can also carry your drinking water bottle in your backpack. The safari vehicles are equipped with a small refrigerator to keep the drinks of your choice chilled for you to enjoy during your safari. Beverages, beer, and soft drinks are also available

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Nihapa Tours is a sustainable, family-owned Boutique Tour Operator based in Arusha, Tanzania.

Proudly Tanzanian-owned and deeply rooted in local expertise, our multicultural team combines the passion of our primarily Tanzanian staff with fresh global perspectives from our expatriate collaborators who share an unwavering dedication to showcasing the wild beauty of our homeland.

We’re dedicated to delivering personalized, world-class safari experiences infused with genuine African hospitality & Sustainability. We offer Luxury safari and Beach vacation trips to Tanzania and Zanzibar, Camping safari, and Adventure trips to Serengeti, Kilimanjaro, and the whole of East Africa.

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Meru Spring Plaza, Box 13287, Arusha Tanzania, Plot 690 Block D, 23106.

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