Tanzania Safari: Serengeti & Ngorongoro Big Five Tour

The Ngorongoro Crater holds Africa's densest concentration of predators and the big five in an area smaller than many cities.

A 7-day safari tour departing from Arusha that moves through four major parks (Tarangire, Lake Manyara, the Serengeti, and Ngorongoro) with two full days in the Serengeti and a descent 610 meters into Ngorongoro Crater to game-view on the crater floor itself. Private transportation and all national park fees are included. Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or German. Children from age 5 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire National Park

• Leave Arusha after breakfast
• Drive to Tarangire National Park
• Game viewing in Tarangire
• Overnight at Tarangire Tortillis camp

Day 2: Tarangire to Lake Manyara National Park

• Breakfast at camp
• Morning game viewing in Tarangire
• Drive to Lake Manyara National Park
• Explore Lake Manyara National Park
• Dinner and overnight at Lake Manyara Tortillis Tented camp

Day 3: Lake Manyara to Serengeti National Park

• Breakfast at camp
• Drive to Serengeti National Park
• Picnic lunch on arrival
• Game drive in Serengeti
• Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Heritage Camp

Day 4: Serengeti Central to Serengeti North

• Breakfast at camp
• Drive to northern Serengeti
• Game drive along Mara River
• Enjoy lunch near hippos
• Overnight at Savanah Tented Camp

Day 5: Full day exploring Serengeti

• Early morning game drive along Mara River
• Afternoon game drive
• Dinner and overnight at Savanah Tortillis tented camp

Day 6: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation

• Early breakfast
• Morning game drive in Serengeti
• Drive to Ngorongoro Crater
• Evening at Ngorongoro Rhino lodge

Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater tour to Arusha

• Early morning leave camp
• Descend to Ngorongoro Crater floor
• Explore crater and picnic lunch
• Drive back to Arusha
• Drop off at Kilimanjaro Airport

The experience

The route starts in Arusha and heads south to Tarangire National Park, where Tanzania's largest elephant population congregates at the Tarangire River, especially during the dry season (June–October). From there you move to Lake Manyara, a park compressed into diverse habitats (underground forests, acacia woodlands, grasslands, swamps) that hold over 400 bird species, tree-climbing lions, and Africa's largest baboon troops. The Serengeti comes next: two full days exploring the central and northern sections, where the Mara River crossings (timing depends on rainfall, typically June through August) bring wildebeest and zebras face-to-face with Nile crocodiles and waiting predators.

The final days pivot to Ngorongoro Conservation Area. You descend into the crater itself: a caldera formed by volcanic eruption, 265 square kilometers across, holding roughly 25,000 large mammals year-round. The terrain is open grassland, which means sightings come easily: black rhino, wildebeest, zebra, hyena, lions, leopards, jackals, hippos, flamingos, and elephants sheltered in the crater's forests. You picnic on the crater floor among grazing herds, then return to Arusha and drop-off at Kilimanjaro Airport on the final afternoon.

Accommodation moves with you each night (Tortillis camps at Tarangire and Lake Manyara, Heritage and Savanah camps in the Serengeti, Rhino Lodge at Ngorongoro) with all meals included at the lodges. Your guide handles the route, the timing, and the stops. You bring binoculars and a camera. Early starts are built into the schedule to catch animals at their most active, and the driving days are long, but the payoff is unbroken game viewing across reserves that remain unfenced and wild.

What’s included

• Private transportation throughout the seven days.
• all national park fees for Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro.
• accommodation at mid-range tented camps with all meals included.
• a live guide fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, French or German.
• picnic lunches on the crater floor and in the Serengeti grasslands.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:30 and 08:30

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Child (5 to 15 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Enticing Journeys

Is this one for you?The schedule demands early starts and long driving days, so it suits travelers who are comfortable with an active pace and want to maximize game viewing across multiple parks rather than stay in one place. Two full days in the Serengeti and a full day inside Ngorongoro Crater mean you're not rushing between stops: the time spent in each reserve is what makes the sightings possible.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 15 years). Under 5: they can't be included in the booking.

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

The big five (lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard) appear regularly, especially in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Tarangire is known for its elephant herds; Lake Manyara for tree-climbing lions and monkeys; the Serengeti for cheetahs and hyenas; Ngorongoro for Africa's densest concentration of predators and year-round residents that number around 25,000 large mammals.

When do the wildebeest cross the Mara River in the Serengeti?

The Mara River crossings depend on rainfall and typically occur between June and August. The timing shifts year to year, so your guide will position the northern Serengeti days to align with the migration when conditions allow.

How much time do I spend inside Ngorongoro Crater itself?

You descend into the crater floor on day seven and spend the full day exploring it by vehicle, stopping to picnic on the grasslands. The crater is 265 square kilometers across and holds the big five plus hyena, hippos, flamingos, and other wildlife in open terrain that makes sightings straightforward.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to budget separately?

Private transportation, all national park entry fees, and all meals at the lodges are included. Visa fees, tips, travel insurance, and personal items are not covered and should be budgeted separately.