Lion family at Serengeti National Park | Ian Williams

Lying low in the Serengetti Plains of Tanzania | David Lazar

A place to rest your head | Ian Williams

Young gazelle's in the Serengeti National Park | Peter Brooke

Elephant in the Serengeti National Park | Kylie Turner

The Great Migration | Ian Williams

Serengeti Explorer

A safari through Tanzania’s most iconic parks in just seven days on an efficient drive-fly journey.

Tanzania



8 reviews

7 Days from

$3790 USD

Trip Code: SFD

View dates to Book

Essential Information

Extra trip options & supplements

*Prices listed are per person

Single Supplement

$290 USD

4 Star Lodge - single supplement

$380 USD

Solo Traveller Supplement

$1290 USD

Duration

7 Days

Activities

Wildlife Safari

Accommodation

4 nights permanent camp
2 nights hotel

Meals

4 Dinners
4 Lunches
6 Breakfasts

Difficulty Grading

2 / 10

Adventure touring

Carbon Footprint

64kg of CO₂-e PP per day

(386kg of CO₂-e PP entire trip)

Trip highlights

Explore Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, northern Tanzania’s most iconic wildlife regions
Multiple game drives across savannah, crater floor and river systems in search of elephant, lion, plains game and diverse birdlife
Fly from the Serengeti back to Arusha, maximising time on safari and reducing long road transfers
Stay in permanent ensuite tented camps that combine comfort with an authentic wilderness setting

Overview

This compact yet comprehensive safari showcases the finest wildlife regions of northern Tanzania in just seven days. Beginning and ending in Arusha, it is ideally suited as a standalone wildlife journey or as an extension to a Kilimanjaro climb.

Travelling in a custom 4WD safari vehicle with expert local guides, you explore three of Africa’s most celebrated landscapes: Tarangire National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater and the vast Serengeti.

Tarangire is defined by sweeping savannah, ancient baobab trees and the winding Tarangire River, a lifeline during the dry season when large herds of elephant gather along its banks. From there, the journey climbs to the Ngorongoro Highlands before descending into the Crater, a collapsed volcanic caldera that forms a natural amphitheatre for wildlife. Permanent water sources support high concentrations of animals, including lion, hyena, buffalo and, with luck, the endangered black rhino.

The Serengeti needs little introduction. Endless grasslands stretch to the horizon, punctuated by granite kopjes and acacia woodland. Large herds of plains game move across the open country, closely followed by predators.

Accommodation includes four nights in 3 star permanent tented safari camps. These permanent camps feature individual fixed tents with private ensuite bathrooms including flush toilet, shower and hand basin, along with a communal dining and lounge area. They are comfortable and well appointed, while still retaining the atmosphere of being immersed in the wilderness. For those wanting more luxury, there is an option to upgrade to 4 star safari lodges at the time of booking.

A scheduled light aircraft flight from the Serengeti back to Arusha maximises time on safari and reduces long overland transit, making this an efficient and rewarding wildlife experience.

Itinerary

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Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Accommodation: Moivaro Coffee Plantation, or Rivertrees Country Inn (upgrade), or similar.

Meals: Nil

After breakfast, we will drive to Tarangire National Park (approx 2- 3 hours) where we will have lunch on arrival. Later in the afternoon we will spend time game viewing within the park. This area has the largest population of elephants in northern Tanzania, with approximately 2000 sighted along the river at certain times of the year. In the dry season, (July–November) most of the wildlife in the Tarangire ecosystem migrates to the permanent water of the Tarangire River. The lush green shores of the river are a big attraction to many varieties of wildlife, so they offer fantastic game viewing. Dry baobab and acacia trees are scattered widely throughout Tarangire National Park and these provide an ideal home to over 500 species of birds. Most people who have visited East Africa give fabulous accounts of their safaris in this national park, which is famous for both its flora and fauna. Accommodation: Migunga Tented Camp, or Tarangire Sopa Lodge (4 star upgrade), or similar.

Meals: B,L,D

Today is a long but rewarding day, filled with scenic driving and fabulous wildlife viewing. We leave early this morning for a 3 - 3.5hr drive up the Rift Valley escarpment to Ngorongoro Crater. At nearly 2300m on the Crater rim, the mornings are brisk and low cloud sometimes covers the area. Please bring some warm clothing as it can be cold here. We drop down into the Crater for a day of game viewing, including a picnic lunch. The World Heritage listed Ngorongoro Crater is one of the last refuges for the endangered black rhino in northern Tanzania; the rhino population here is carefully protected and they are quite commonly seen. With over 30,000 animals, the 100 sq km caldera of the Ngorongoro Crater is a natural amphitheatre for wildlife with its permanent water source and varied habitats. We drive to our accommodation back up on the rim of the Crater in the late afternoon. Accommodation: Crater Forest Tented Camp, or Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge (4 star upgrade), or similar.

Meals: B,L,D

On our way to the Serengeti National Park we visit the world famous Olduvai Gorge, where our earliest ancestors were discovered by Professor Richard Leakey. We will also visit a Masai boma (village) to learn about Masai traditions and way of life.The hills and plains en route are home to wildlife as well as the Masai people and we are likely to see both on our journey. After passing through the Serengeti park gate we have opportunity to see a variety of wildlife as we game drive our way to our accommodation. We begin to get an idea of the vastness and remoteness of this incredible park as we travel across the savannah to our base for the next two nights. Accommodation: Kati Kati Tented Camp, or Serengeti Serena Lodge (4 star upgrade) , or similar. (NOTE: Kati Kati is a semi-permanent tented camp operating from December - March and from June - October. Outside of these months, an alternative property will be used which may attract a small surcharge)

Meals: B,L,D

We spend a full day in the Serengeti National Park, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage area for its wildlife and natural beauty. Mornings and late afternoons are the best times for wildlife spotting, as the animals retreat to the shade of trees to escape the heat of the day. We will follow this pattern to make the most of the time when wildlife is most active. We will wake with the sun and generally return to our camp or lodge after sunset, with time in the middle of the day to relax. Depending where we find most game, we may take a picnic lunch and stay out all day or return to our accommodation over lunch for a siesta before going out again in our 4WD safari vehicle to explore the different habitats found within the park. Famed for its annual migration, the Serengeti offers amazing game viewing at any time of the year: herds of buffalo, groups of elephant and giraffe, zebra, eland, topi, kongoni, impala and gazelle, among other wildlife. We hope to experience a blazing Serengeti sunset, with silhouetted acacia trees, to top off a magical day. Accommodation: Kati Kati Tented Camp, or Serengeti Serena Lodge (4 star upgrade), or similar.

Meals: B,L,D

We will enjoy one last early morning game drive in the Serengeti before transferring to the Seronera airstrip for a 10:30 flight back to Arusha. (Please note that flight schedules are subject to change and availability.) On arrival in Arusha we will be met at the airport and transferred to our accommodation. There is time for an optional visit to a cultural market en route if you wish. Accommodation: Moivaro Coffee Plantation, or Rivertrees Country Inn (upgrade), or similar.

Meals: B

Trip arrangements end after breakfast with a transfer to the airport.

Meals: B

Map

Elevation

The map and elevation chart are for illustrative purposes only and meant to provide general guidelines.

Ready to start your adventure?

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What's included?

Included

6 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 4 dinners
Airport transfers (day 1 and 7 only)
4 nights in 3 star permanent safari camps on a twinshare basis (option to upgrade accommodation to 4 star safari lodges)
2 nights in 3 star hotel on a twinshare basis
English speaking local driver-guide
Game drives and excursions as listed in itinerary
National park fees valued at US$403
One way flight from Serengeti to Arusha valued at US$245
Private transport in 4WD safari vehicle

Not included

Flights
Travel Insurance (compulsory)
Visa costs
Bottled water, aerated and alcoholic drinks
Airport transfers if not arriving / departing on Days 1 & 7
Items of a personal nature
Tips and gratuities