7-Day Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Lake Manyara Safari
7 daysAdd Lake Manyara to your route for forest-and-lakeshore wildlife and a different landscape finish.
Explore Journey →6 Days Tanzania Wilderness Reconnection
This 6-day wilderness reconnection safari is built for travelers who want to slow down, breathe deeper, and feel Tanzania—not just “tick off” the parks. You’ll journey through the northern circuit’s most iconic ecosystems: Tarangire’s baobab valleys and elephant corridors, the endless Serengeti plains, the wildlife-packed Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara’s lush groundwater forest. The rhythm is intentionally balanced: strong game-drive time, comfortable lodge and tented-camp nights, and enough space in each day to enjoy the wilderness without rushing.
Your safari begins with a warm welcome in Arusha at Aya Sophia Wildlife Lodge—a peaceful base that helps you reset after your flights. From there, each park is approached at the best time of day: Tarangire when wildlife is active around the river, Serengeti with a full “deep dive” day for big cats and classic Serengeti scenes, and Ngorongoro with a complete crater experience focused on density, variety, and rhino searching. Finally, Lake Manyara adds a fresh finish with forest species, birdlife, and a different landscape mood before your departure.
This is a private safari with a professional guide and 4x4 vehicle—meaning you can adapt the pace. Want longer time at lion sightings? Prefer more photography stops? Need a slower rhythm for family travel? Your guide adjusts the day around you. Optional upgrades include a Serengeti sunrise balloon safari and cultural experiences on request.
Day 1: Arrival in Tanzania – Private Transfer to Aya Sophia Wildlife Lodge (Arusha)
On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), you’ll be met by our team and assisted with a smooth private transfer to Arusha. The drive introduces you to Tanzania’s northern landscapes—open farmland, local towns, and (on clear days) beautiful views toward Mount Meru. At Aya Sophia Wildlife Lodge, you’ll check in and have time to settle into the peaceful atmosphere—ideal for recovering from travel and reconnecting with nature.
Depending on your arrival time, you can choose a relaxed afternoon by the pool, a gentle walk around the lodge grounds, or a light Arusha stop for coffee, a craft market, or essentials (optional). In the evening, your guide provides a safari briefing—how game drives work, how to get the best photos, what to pack in the vehicle each day, and how we tailor sightings around real wildlife movement. Dinner is served at the lodge, and you sleep early in preparation for your first park day.
Overnight: Aya Sophia Wildlife Lodge (Arusha) • Meal Plan: Dinner (or as arranged by arrival time)
Day 2: Full-Day Tarangire – Elephants, Baobabs & River Wildlife – Overnight in Karatu/Manyara Area
After breakfast, you drive to Tarangire National Park, famous for its giant baobab trees and some of Tanzania’s strongest elephant concentrations. The park’s heartbeat is the Tarangire River, which draws wildlife—especially in the dry season—creating excellent viewing of elephants, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, and many antelope species.
Your guide explores multiple habitats: riverine woodland, open plains, and seasonal swamps where birds thrive. Tarangire is a beautiful park for “real safari moments”—watching elephant families interact, calves learning to use their trunks, and big bulls moving silently through the bush. Predators are present too, and if luck is on your side you may spot lions resting in shade, leopards near the river line, or cheetahs scanning the plains. A picnic lunch keeps you in the park during prime wildlife hours.
In the late afternoon, you exit Tarangire and continue to the cooler highlands around Karatu/Manyara—an ideal base for Serengeti and Ngorongoro logistics. Settle in, enjoy dinner, and recharge.
Overnight: Ngorongoro Coffee Lodge or Lake Manyara Wildlife Lodge • Meal Plan: Full Board
Day 3: Karatu/Manyara to Serengeti – Scenic Highlands, Optional Olduvai Stop & Game Drive En Route
Today you travel toward the legendary Serengeti National Park. The drive is part of the experience: cultivated hillsides give way to open highland views, then the landscape stretches wider and wilder as you approach Serengeti’s plains. You pass through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where wildlife can appear even outside the national park boundaries.
If timing allows, you can stop at Olduvai Gorge (optional) to learn why this area is known as the “Cradle of Humankind.” Continuing onward, you enter Serengeti at the gate and the safari begins immediately with game viewing en route. Your guide will use this drive to explore productive areas—kopjes (rocky outcrops) where lions love to rest, open plains where cheetahs hunt, and river lines where leopards often hide.
You arrive at your camp with time to settle in and enjoy the first Serengeti sunset. Nights in Serengeti are special: distant hyena calls, the calm hush of the bush, and a sky full of stars.
Overnight: Serengeti Tortilis Camp or Serengeti Signature Luxury Tented Camp • Meal Plan: Full Board
Day 4: Full-Day Serengeti – Big Cats, Kopjes & Wildlife Strategy (Optional Balloon Safari)
This is your deep Serengeti day—no rushing, no shortcuts. If you want a bucket-list upgrade, start with a Sunrise Hot-Air Balloon Safari (optional). Floating quietly above the plains as herds move below is unforgettable, and it typically ends with a bush breakfast.
Whether you choose the balloon or a classic early game drive, your guide plans the day around real wildlife behavior. Serengeti rewards patience and strategy: scanning treelines for leopard silhouettes, reading lion movement around water sources, and positioning for cheetah activity on open hunting ground. You’ll explore different zones—river corridors, kopjes, and plains—so the day feels varied and complete, not repetitive.
With a private vehicle, you can stay longer at sightings: watch a pride dynamic, wait for a leopard to descend, or simply enjoy quiet moments photographing giraffes in golden light. Picnic lunch keeps you inside the park for maximum viewing time. Return to camp for sundowners, dinner, and your final Serengeti night.
Overnight: Serengeti Tortilis Camp or Serengeti Signature Luxury Tented Camp • Meal Plan: Full Board
Day 5: Serengeti to Ngorongoro – Full Crater Day (UNESCO) & Rhino Search
After breakfast, you depart Serengeti and head toward Ngorongoro Crater—one of Africa’s most iconic safari locations. The crater is a vast volcanic caldera with grasslands, swamps, woodland pockets, and a soda lake, all supporting exceptionally high wildlife density. Your guide aims to time the descent well for the best experience on the crater floor.
Once inside, the day becomes a wildlife “concentration showcase”: lion prides, large buffalo herds, zebra and wildebeest, hyena, hippo pools, and impressive elephant bulls. Ngorongoro is also one of the best places in Tanzania to search for the endangered black rhino. Your guide will focus on the most promising areas based on visibility and recent movement reports. A picnic lunch inside the crater keeps you immersed in the environment without breaking the safari rhythm.
In the afternoon you continue exploring different crater habitats rather than making a quick loop, then ascend to the rim and drive to your lodge for a restful evening in the cool highlands.
Overnight: Ngorongoro Coffee Lodge or Lake Manyara Wildlife Lodge • Meal Plan: Full Board
Day 6: Lake Manyara Morning Game Drive – Return to Arusha/JRO for Departure
After breakfast, you visit Lake Manyara National Park for a morning game drive. Manyara is compact but incredibly diverse—its famous groundwater forest feels completely different from Serengeti’s open plains. You’ll look for elephants, baboon troops, forest birdlife, and seasonal flamingos along the lake edge. If conditions allow, you may also search for the park’s well-known tree-climbing lions.
After the drive, you begin the return to Arusha and continue to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your departure. Timing is managed carefully around your flight schedule, with a possible stop for souvenirs or coffee if time permits. If you’re extending to Zanzibar, we can align the logistics with your connection.
End of Safari.
Rates Per Person (USD)
| Group Size | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 Pax - Solo Traveler | $3,950 |
| 2 Pax | $2,748 |
| 3 Pax | $2,436 |
| 4 Pax | $2,280 |
| 5 Pax | $2,184 |
| 6 Pax | $2,100 |
| 7+ Pax | ON REQUEST |
Valid until May 29, 2027
Language Guides
- ✓English-speaking guide (included)
- ✓French / Spanish / German / Italian / Arabic (on request – typically $50–$100 per guide/day)
- ✓Other languages available on request
Included
- ✓All national park fees and conservation charges (as per itinerary)
- ✓Private 4x4 safari vehicle with professional guide
- ✓Accommodation as specified (lodges/tented camps)
- ✓Meals from dinner on Day 1 to lunch on Day 6
- ✓Drinking water in the safari vehicle
- ✓All game drives and activities as per itinerary
- ✓Airport transfers and ground logistics support
Note: Balloon safari is optional (on request).
Excluded
- ✗International flights & visas
- ✗Travel insurance (medical evacuation recommended)
- ✗Optional balloon safari (additional cost)
- ✗Alcoholic beverages and personal purchases
- ✗Tips/gratuities for guide and camp staff
- ✗Laundry, telephone calls, and other personal expenses
