Tanzania Safari: Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Tarangire 7-Day Tour

Summary

Serengeti plains at dawn, crater lions and baobab valleys with local guides

You’ll cross Tanzania’s wild heart from Arusha to Serengeti’s endless plains, wake up to animal calls in tented camps, descend into Ngorongoro Crater searching for lions or rhino, and wander Tarangire’s baobab valleys with your guide. Expect real moments: roadside fruit, laughter over place names, quiet lunches under giant trees — these are what stay with you long after.

What’s the experience like?

We were halfway through a bumpy stretch near Lake Manyara when our guide, Daniel, suddenly braked — not for the elephants (though they’d been everywhere), but for a pair of kids selling tiny bananas by the road. He bought some and handed them back to us with a grin. They tasted different — sweeter, maybe just because of where we were. I could still smell the dust from the drive and hear birds I didn’t recognize calling from somewhere in the acacias. The day had started early in Arusha, and honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect from a “Tanzania classic” safari, but it already felt like more than just ticking off animals.

The Serengeti was next — five hours on the road that felt both endless and hypnotic. Daniel kept pointing out things I would’ve missed: “See that shadow? Cheetah.” Sometimes he’d laugh at my attempts to pronounce place names (“Ngorongoro” is harder than it looks). Waking up in a tented camp there is something else; you hear hyenas yipping before dawn, then step outside into this pale gold light that makes everything look unreal. We spent hours just watching wildebeest move like a river across the grass. Lunch was always out of a box — sandwiches with slightly squashed fruit — but somehow it tasted right with all that space around us.

I didn’t expect to feel nervous descending into Ngorongoro Crater (it’s so steep!), but Daniel made jokes about his old Land Cruiser’s brakes and soon we were surrounded by zebra herds so close you could see their breath in the morning chill. There was this quiet moment by the water where we watched hippos surface one by one — just ears and eyes poking out. It’s funny how silent it can get out there except for insects buzzing or someone quietly pointing: “Rhino.” That word still gives me goosebumps.

Tarangire was our last stop. By then I’d learned to spot buffalo from far off (the horns look like old helmets) and could almost predict when Daniel would slow down for something special. The baobabs looked ancient against the sky; sometimes you’d see giraffes moving between them so slowly it felt like time stretched out. Our final lunch under one of those trees was quiet — nobody said much, just listening to wind and distant animal calls. I keep thinking about that silence even now.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival and transfer to Arusha

• Arrive at Arusha Airport
• Meet driver guide
• Transfer to hotel in Arusha
• Introduction to city and country
• Dinner and overnight in Arusha

Day 2 — Drive to Lake Manyara National Park

• Collect picnic lunchbox
• Drive west to Lake Manyara
• Explore park wildlife and landscape
• Return to lodge
• Dinner and overnight at Lake Manyara

Day 3 — Travel to Serengeti National Park

• Breakfast at lodge
• Collect picnic lunchbox
• Leave Lake Manyara
• Drive 5 hours to Serengeti
• Enjoy Serengeti terrain views
• Dinner and overnight in Serengeti

Day 4 — Full day game drive in Serengeti

• Breakfast at lodge
• Morning game drive in Serengeti
• Picnic lunch in park
• Afternoon game drive
• Return to lodge
• Dinner and overnight in Serengeti

Day 5 — Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

• Breakfast at lodge
• Morning game drive in Serengeti
• Picnic lunch
• Drive east to Ngorongoro
• Settle in at lodge
• Dinner and overnight in Ngorongoro

Day 6 — Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Park

• Early breakfast
• Drive to Ngorongoro crater rim
• Descend and game drive in crater
• Lunch
• Drive 4.5 hours to Tarangire
• Dinner and overnight in Tarangire

Day 7 — Tarangire game drive and departure

• Morning game drive in Tarangire
• Lunch
• Drive 3 hours to Arusha Airport

Top questions

How long is the Tanzania Classic safari?

The tour lasts 7 days, starting in Arusha and visiting Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire before returning to Arusha Airport.

What kind of accommodation is included?

The tour includes a mix of hotel stays in Arusha plus tented lodges and tented camps during safari nights; all have private bathrooms.

Is pickup from my hotel or airport included?

Yes, pickup from Arusha Airport is included at the start of your trip.

Are meals provided during the safari?

Yes—dinner is included every night; on safari days you’ll have picnic lunches provided as well as breakfast each morning.

Which parks are visited on this tour?

You’ll visit Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Conservation Area (including the crater), and Tarangire.

Is this tour suitable for families with children?

Yes—infants can ride in prams or strollers; specialized infant seats are available if needed.

How far is it from Arusha to Serengeti?

The drive from Lake Manyara area to Serengeti covers about 222 km (about 5 hours).

Will I have a private guide during game drives?

Yes—you travel with your own driver-guide throughout the trip in a private 4x4 vehicle.

What’s included

Your seven-day journey includes private vehicle transport with an experienced driver-guide throughout; accommodation each night ranging from hotels in Arusha to tented camps near wildlife areas; all park entry fees; daily breakfast and dinner plus picnic lunches on safari days; soft drinks, coffee/tea & water during game drives; airport pickup at arrival; and plenty of time spent exploring Tanzania’s iconic landscapes with local insight along the way.