7-Day Ultimate Northern Tanzania Safari

Day 1 — Arusha/Moshi → Tarangire National Park

Begin your safari with a scenic drive to Tarangire, famous for its enormous elephant herds, ancient baobab trees and diverse wildlife. Enjoy a full-day game drive before heading to your lodge or tented camp for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Midrange lodge/tented camp

Meals: Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation

Motto Cottages Cottage Mid-range

+3 +2

Day 2 — Tarangire → Lake Manyara National Park → Karatu

After breakfast, continue to Lake Manyara National Park. Explore the park’s forests, wetlands and lakeshore areas while searching for elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, hippos, monkeys and abundant birdlife. Later, drive to Karatu for a relaxing evening.

Accommodation: Midrange lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation

Marera Valley Lodge Lodge Mid-range

+5 +4

Day 3 — Karatu → Serengeti National Park

Travel toward the legendary Serengeti, enjoying spectacular scenery and wildlife along the way. Enter the park and begin your game drive as you explore the endless plains, searching for lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and other wildlife.

Accommodation: Serengeti midrange lodge/tented camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation

Serengeti Heritage Luxury Tented Camp (Central Serengeti) Tented Camp Luxury

Inside Park Serengeti National Park

+6 +5

Day 4 — Full-Day Serengeti Safari

Spend the entire day exploring the Serengeti. Follow wildlife movements and search for the Big Five and Africa’s famous predators, including lions, cheetahs, leopards and hyenas. Depending on the season and location, you may also witness parts of the Great Migration.

Accommodation: Serengeti midrange lodge/tented camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation

Serengeti Heritage Luxury Tented Camp (Central Serengeti) Tented Camp Luxury

Inside Park Serengeti National Park

+6 +5

Day 5 — Serengeti → Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Enjoy a morning game drive in the Serengeti before continuing toward the Ngorongoro Highlands. Take in breathtaking landscapes as you approach the crater area and settle into your accommodation.

Accommodation: Ngorongoro/Karatu midrange lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation

Ngorongoro Lion's Paw Lodge Mid-range

+6 +5

Day 6 — Ngorongoro Crater → Karatu

Descend into the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater for an unforgettable game drive. Search for lions, elephants, buffaloes, hippos, zebras, wildebeest and, with luck, the endangered black rhino. After the crater tour, return to Karatu for your final safari evening.

Accommodation

Marera Valley Lodge Lodge Mid-range

+5 +4

Wake up to the crisp, refreshing highland air for your final morning in Karatu. Enjoy a leisurely, hearty breakfast at your lodge while reflecting on the incredible memories, sweeping landscapes, and unforgettable wildlife encounters you’ve experienced throughout your Tanzanian adventure.

After checking out, begin your scenic journey back toward Arusha or Moshi, winding down the picturesque Great Rift Valley escarpment and passing vibrant local villages, bustling roadside markets, and lush green hillsides.

Depending on your departure time and schedule, take advantage of an opportunity for a brief, enriching cultural or local experience along the way. You might visit a vibrant local market to interact with friendly residents, stop by a community craft center to support local artisans, or enjoy a short walk through a nearby coffee farm to learn about the region's rich agricultural heritage.