Tanzania Safari: Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Tarangire Tour

Three parks, seven days, one driver who knows where the lions hunt

A 7-day safari tour from Arusha covering Tarangire National Park, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area with private 4×4 vehicle, English-speaking guide, six nights in luxury camps and all park fees included. The itinerary chains three wildlife zones into one continuous journey: elephant herds and baobabs at Tarangire, predator territory in the Serengeti's central plains, and the Big Five in the Ngorongoro Crater. Hot meals are prepared in the field. Optional activities (hot-air balloon, Maasai village visit) are available at extra cost.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Arusha

• Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport
• Meet driver-guide and safari briefing
• Transfer to retreat in Arusha
• Relax and prepare for adventure
• Optional city or coffee plantation tour

Day 2: Tarangire National Park

• Breakfast at retreat
• Drive to Tarangire National Park
• Full-day game drive along Tarangire River
• Settle into luxury tented camp
• Dinner under the stars

Day 3: Serengeti National Park

• Breakfast at camp
• Drive through Ngorongoro highlands
• Game drive en route to Serengeti
• Arrive at Seronera wilderness camp
• Dinner and relaxation at camp

Day 4: Full Day in Serengeti

• Explore Central Serengeti wildlife
• Witness predator-prey encounters
• Spot leopards in acacia trees
• Hot bush lunch in the wild
• Sunset photography and campfire dinner

Day 5: Serengeti Wildlife and Leisure

• Early sunrise game drive
• Optional hot-air balloon safari
• Afternoon leisure at camp
• Pre-dawn nocturnal game drive to balloon site

Day 6: Serengeti to Ngorongoro

• Breakfast at camp
• Final Serengeti game drive
• Visit Maasai village
• Arrive at camp near crater rim
• Dinner overlooking crater highlands

Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater Tour and Return

• Early breakfast
• Descend into Ngorongoro Crater
• Game drive spotting Big Five
• Picnic lunch by hippo pool
• Drive back to Arusha
• Drop-off or onward flight

The experience

You arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport and your driver-guide meets you at the gate. After a brief safari briefing, the transfer to Arusha takes the afternoon: time to rest, or to visit a coffee plantation if your flight lands early. The next morning you drive south into Tarangire National Park, where the Tarangire River runs year-round and draws massive elephant herds, tree-climbing lions, and the park's signature baobab forests. A full day of game drives follows, then a night under the stars at a luxury tented camp.

Day three takes you through the Ngorongoro highlands into the Serengeti, the world's largest intact ecosystem. The drive itself is a game drive: gazelles, wildebeests, and the Big Five appear en route. You spend the next two full days in the Central Serengeti, the park's most wildlife-rich region, where predator-prey encounters happen in daylight and your guide positions the vehicle for leopards in acacia trees and vast herds moving across the plains. A sunrise game drive catches hunting in the golden hour. A hot lunch is prepared in the field during the day. A hot-air balloon safari is optional on the morning of day five (extra cost), departing before dawn. On day six you drive west toward Ngorongoro, stopping at a Maasai village for a cultural visit if you choose, and camp near the crater rim.

The final day descends 600 meters into the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the Big Five (lion, elephant, rhino, leopard, buffalo) live within a single enclosed ecosystem. A crater-floor game drive and a picnic lunch beside the hippo pool finish the safari before the drive back to Arusha for your onward flight. Throughout the seven days, your guide speaks English and handles all logistics. Bottled water is provided during drives, and dietary needs are accommodated if you mention them at booking.

What’s included

• Six nights' accommodation in luxury camps (Acacia Retreat in Arusha, Serian Tarangire Camp, Enkirari Wilderness Camp in the Serengeti, and Naserian Safari Camp near Ngorongoro).
• private 4×4 safari vehicle with English-speaking guide.
• all national park entry fees and Ngorongoro Crater fees.
• meals at camps and hot lunches prepared in the field during game drives.
• bottled water during game drives.
• airport transfers from Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha and return.

Information

Lasts 7d, runs every day at 08:30, from US$ 4,229.49 per person, with live guides in 5 languages, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30Another time? ›

GroupPrivate6 group tours ›

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and ItalianOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.You can choose from 13 pickup points.

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Child (2 to 17 years)

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats availableNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Gosheni Safaris (T) Limited

Is this one for you?The itinerary runs dawn-to-dusk game drives for five consecutive days, with early starts (often before sunrise) to catch predators hunting and animals grazing in golden light. If you want to see the Big Five and the Serengeti's predator territory without building the route yourself, the fixed schedule and expert guide handle the timing and positioning. If you prefer a slower pace or fewer driving hours, a shorter park visit or a private custom itinerary may suit you better.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

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

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 17 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What wildlife can I expect to see on this 7-day safari?

The Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater are home to the Big Five (lion, elephant, rhino, leopard and buffalo) plus vast herds of wildebeest and gazelle, tree-climbing lions at Tarangire, and leopards in acacia trees. Sightings depend on season and animal movement, but the parks' year-round water sources and prey populations make wildlife viewing consistent throughout the year.

Is the hot-air balloon safari included, or does it cost extra?

The hot-air balloon safari is optional and available on day five in the Serengeti at an additional cost. It departs before dawn from your camp and offers an aerial view of the plains and wildlife below. If you choose not to do it, a sunrise game drive is included instead.

What are the accommodations like during the safari?

You stay in six nights of luxury camps: Serian Tarangire Camp at Tarangire, Enkirari Wilderness Camp in the Serengeti (two nights), and Naserian Safari Camp near the Ngorongoro Crater. Each camp includes meals, and your first night is at Acacia Retreat in Arusha. Hot meals are also prepared in the field during full-day game drives.

Does this tour include airport pickup and drop-off?

Yes, airport transfers are included. Your driver-guide meets you at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfers you to Arusha on arrival. On the final day, after the Ngorongoro Crater game drive and lunch, you are driven back to Arusha for your onward flight or accommodation.