7-Day Big Five Safari in Tanzania: Lake Manyara to Serengeti

The Ngorongoro Crater holds 20,000 large animals inside a space 16 kilometers across.

A 7-day safari across Tanzania's Northern Circuit parks—Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara—with game drives in open-roof 4×4 vehicles, a professional English-speaking guide, all meals and accommodation included. Small groups of up to six travelers mean every seat has a window. Airport transfers, park entry fees and bottled water during drives are arranged; a Maasai village visit and Olduvai Gorge tour are available at additional cost.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival and transfer to Moshi

• Arrive at Kilimanjaro Airport
• Clear customs and meet driver
• Transfer to Springlands Hotel in Moshi
• Overnight at Springlands Hotel

Day 2 — Tarangire National Park safari

• Drive to Tarangire National Park
• Game and bird viewing in park
• Overnight at Highview Hotel

Day 3 — Travel to Serengeti with cultural visit

• Drive to Serengeti National Park
• Visit Maasai village
• Optional visit to Olduvai Gorge
• Game drive en route to camp
• Overnight at Serengeti Safari Lodge or Wildebeest Camp

Day 4 — Full day Serengeti game drives

• Full day game drives in Serengeti
• Overnight at Serengeti Safari Lodge or Wildebeest Camp

Day 5 — Ngorongoro Crater exploration

• Morning game drive to Ngorongoro Crater
• Descend and explore crater
• Afternoon drive to lodge
• Overnight at Highview Hotel

Day 6 — Lake Manyara National Park visit

• Drive to Lake Manyara National Park
• Game viewing in diverse ecosystems
• Overnight at Springlands Hotel

Day 7 — Departure from Kilimanjaro Airport

• Morning leisure time
• Transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport

The Experience

Seven days means time to move through four parks without rushing the game drives. You travel in custom 4×4 safari vehicles with open roofs—the setup that lets you stand, turn and photograph without the vehicle moving. A professional driver-guide leads the route and narrates what you are seeing; the guide speaks English, and French, German or Spanish on request. Groups stay small, capped at six travelers per vehicle, all with window seats, so the vehicle itself does not become the obstacle between you and the wildlife.

The route starts at Tarangire National Park, where the Tarangire River is the only water source in the dry season and draws hundreds of animals to drink and graze. From there you move to the Serengeti—the name means "endless plain" in Maasai—where two full days of game drives let you track the herds of wildebeest, zebra and antelope that dominate the park, and the predators that follow them. The Ngorongoro Crater, 600 meters deep and 16 kilometers across, holds an enclosed ecosystem where you descend to the crater floor to drive among buffalo, lion, cheetah, zebra and some of Tanzania's last remaining black rhinos. Lake Manyara, set against the Rift Valley escarpment, is home to rare tree-climbing lions and draws elephants, hippos, giraffes and monkeys to its evergreen forest and shoreline.

Meals and accommodation are included throughout—you stay in lodges and camps chosen for each park, and eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at the hotels and during game drives. Bottled water is provided in the vehicles. Airport transfers from Kilimanjaro are arranged, and park entry fees are paid upfront, so you arrive at each gate without stopping to negotiate. A Maasai village visit and the Olduvai Gorge Museum—known as the Cradle of Humanity—are optional add-ons you can book at checkout.

What’s included

• A professional English-speaking driver-guide (French, German or Spanish available on request).
• all meals and accommodation across the seven nights.
• park entry fees for Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara.
• airport transfers to and from Kilimanjaro.
• bottled water in the safari vehicles.
• travel in open-roof 4×4 vehicles with window seats for all passengers.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by World Adventure Tours

Is this one for you?Book this safari if you want the four parks of Tanzania's Northern Circuit without arranging each one separately—the route, the guide, the lodges and the timing are set, so you focus on the wildlife instead of logistics. The small group size and open-roof vehicles mean every seat has a view, and the seven days give you enough time in each park to track the animals rather than rush through them.

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Top questions

What animals will I actually see on this safari?

The Big Five—lion, elephant, black rhino, leopard and Cape buffalo—are the target, and the route through four parks maximizes the chance of sighting them. Tarangire draws hundreds of animals to its river during dry season; the Serengeti holds huge herds of wildebeest, zebra and antelope with attendant predators; Ngorongoro Crater is home to 20,000 large animals including the rhinos, lions and cheetahs; Lake Manyara is known for tree-climbing lions, elephants and hippos. Sightings depend on season and animal movement, but the diversity of parks and the full days of driving give you multiple chances.

How much time do we actually spend on game drives each day?

Game drives happen in the morning and afternoon on most days. The itinerary includes a full day in the Serengeti dedicated to driving, a morning drive en route to Ngorongoro Crater with an afternoon descent into the crater itself, and full days in Tarangire and Lake Manyara. Exact timing depends on the lodge schedule and animal activity, but the structure is built around maximizing drive time rather than other activities.

Is this a private tour or will I be with other travelers?

This is a small group safari. You travel with up to five other travelers in the same 4×4 vehicle, and all six seats have window access. The vehicle is shared, not private, but the group size keeps it small enough that the vehicle does not become crowded or block sightlines.

What is included in the price and what costs extra?

Included are all meals, accommodation, park entry fees, airport transfers, bottled water during drives and the professional guide. A Maasai village visit and entry to Olduvai Gorge Museum are optional and cost extra; gratuities to the guide, hotel staff and porters are not included in the base price.

Do I need any visas or vaccinations before I go?

You will need an entry visa to Tanzania, which is not included and must be arranged before travel. Travel and health insurance are also your responsibility. Check current requirements with your government and a travel clinic; malaria is present in the region and precautions are recommended.

What happens on the first and last days?

Day one is arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, where your driver meets you with a sign and drives you to Moshi for overnight at Springlands Hotel. Day seven is a morning of leisure at the hotel before your transfer back to the airport for your flight home, so you are not rushed on the final morning.