7-Day Tanzania Safari: Big Five across Serengeti & Ngorongoro

Seven days of game drives, walking safaris and crater exploration across four parks

A 7-day group safari from Arusha through Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara national parks with expert local guides, all park entry fees, accommodation in budget lodges and campsites, camping gear, meals and airport pickup included. The itinerary pairs full-day and half-day game drives with early starts to catch wildlife at dawn, a six-hour descent into Ngorongoro Crater, and optional walking safaris and canoeing in Arusha National Park on the final day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Pickup and Arusha City Tour

• Pickup from airport
• Arusha city tour

Day 2: Tarangire National Park Safari

• Breakfast and depart to Tarangire
• Game drive in Tarangire National Park
• Lunch at picnic site
• Continue game drive
• Drive to lodge

Day 3: Serengeti National Park Safari

• Breakfast and depart to Serengeti
• Lunch at Serengeti Gate
• Half day game drive in Serengeti
• Dinner and overnight at campsite

Day 4: Serengeti Sunrise and Ngorongoro

• Breakfast and sunrise game drive in Serengeti
• Lunch
• Game drive en route to Ngorongoro
• Dinner and overnight at Simba campsite

Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara

• Early breakfast at Simba campsite
• Game drive descending Ngorongoro Crater
• Lunch at picnic site
• Exit crater and drive to Fig Big Tree
• Dinner and overnight at lodge

Day 6: Lake Manyara National Park Safari

• Breakfast and depart to Lake Manyara
• Game drive in Lake Manyara National Park
• Lunch at picnic site
• Continue game drive
• Drive back to Arusha

Day 7: Arusha National Park and Departure

• Breakfast and game drive in Arusha National Park
• Lunch at picnic site
• Continue game drive
• Drive to airport for departure

The experience

The safari opens with airport pickup and a city tour of Arusha (the Kilombero vegetable market, Maasai Market, Clock Tower) before heading to Tarangire National Park the next morning. A 2.5-hour drive gets you to the park gate by 10am for a full day of game drives tracking elephants, wildebeest, giraffes and cheetahs through acacia woodlands and baobab forest. Tarangire's dry-season mini-migration brings 2,500 to 3,000 animals into the park to drink from the river, concentrating wildlife in a compact area. Lunch happens at a picnic site inside the park. You exit by 4pm and overnight at a lodge.

Days three and four center on the Serengeti and the approach to Ngorongoro. After breakfast you drive via Ngorongoro to reach Serengeti by early afternoon, then run a half-day game drive before sunset. The next morning starts with a sunrise game drive, the moment predators hunt, followed by lunch and a full drive out toward Ngorongoro as you leave the park. Day five is the crater itself: a 7am breakfast, 8:30am pickup, then six hours of game driving inside Ngorongoro's volcanic basin, where the fertile soil supports dense wildlife and you have a genuine chance of spotting all five of the Big Five in a single day. The crater also holds Maasai bomas (circular homesteads) and the sites where Mary and Louis Leakey studied early human evolution. Lunch comes at a picnic site. You exit by 4pm.

Lake Manyara on day six is known for tree-climbing lions and stays green year-round because water covers two-thirds of the park. You'll spot elephants, zebras, buffalo and massed birds around the lake itself, with game drive and lunch following the same rhythm as earlier days. The final morning takes you to Arusha National Park. Only 552 square kilometers but dense with sites: Serengeti Ndogo (Little Serengeti), Buffalo Glade, Ngurdoto and Meru Craters, and a fig-arch tree. You can choose game drive, walking safari, cycling, canoeing or horse riding. The guide will route you through the best spots before lunch and a 4pm exit to the airport. All park entry, camping gear (tent, sleeping mattress, sleeping bag), drinking water, wine and meals are included. Tips for the guide and driver are optional.

What’s included

• All park entry to Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara and Arusha National Park.
• accommodation in two budget lodges and two budget campsites.
• all camping gear including tent, sleeping mattress and sleeping bag.
• game drives and walking safaris as described in the itinerary.
• drinking water and wine throughout.
• all meals.
• airport pickup and drop-off from Arusha.
• a free city tour of Arusha on request.
• an Arusha Village Experience visit.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 to 60 years) · Senior (61 and older) · Youth (14 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 13 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 9 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Serengeti Safari Booking

Is this one for you?Book this if you're ready for early starts (7:30am breakfasts, 7:40am departures) and full days in a shared jeep. The schedule packs game drives and a six-hour crater descent into each day, so you'll need stamina for the pace.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (14 to 17 years); Child (5 to 13 years); Infant (under 5).

What animals am I most likely to see on this 7-day safari?

Tarangire is famous for elephants and mini-migration herds of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles; Serengeti holds cheetahs, lions, wildebeest and giraffes; Ngorongoro Crater offers the best chance to spot all five of the Big Five in one day, plus hippos and golden jackals; Lake Manyara is known for tree-climbing lions, elephants and concentrations of water birds.

How early do the game drives start each day?

Most days begin with breakfast at 7:30am, with the jeep ready by 7:40am or 8:30am depending on the park. Sunrise game drives on days three and four start before dawn to catch predators hunting. Afternoon drives typically run until 4pm when you exit the park.

What kind of accommodation will I have during the safari?

You stay two nights in budget lodges (Karibu Heritage House in Arusha, Ngedere/Fig Big Tree Lodge near Tarangire) and two nights in budget campsites (Seronera in Serengeti, Simba near Ngorongoro). All camping gear (tent, sleeping mattress and sleeping bag) is provided.

Is the Ngorongoro Crater descent difficult?

The descent is a six-hour game drive inside the crater, not a hike. You stay in the four-wheel-drive jeep the entire time. The road is rough and the terrain steep, so it is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health, but it is suitable for all fitness levels who can handle the vehicle motion and early start.

What is included in the price and what do I need to pay separately?

All park entry fees, accommodation, camping gear, meals, drinking water, wine, game drives, walking safaris and airport pickup and drop-off are included. Tips for the guide and driver are optional. International flights, visas, travel insurance and personal items are not included. Bath towels and soap during camping are available on request.

Can I do activities other than game drives in Arusha National Park?

Yes. On the final morning you can choose from game drive, walking safari, cycling, canoeing or horse riding, or select two activities from the list. The guide will route you to the best spots (Serengeti Ndogo, Buffalo Glade, Ngurdoto Crater, Meru Crater and the fig-arch tree) before lunch and the 4pm exit to the airport.