Tanzania Wildlife Safari Tour: Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Maasai

Three national parks game drives and village visits with a school stop and social enterprise tour

This 7-day tour combines wildlife safaris across Tanzania's northern parks with immersive cultural encounters in local communities. You start at Kilimanjaro International Airport with private transport to Arusha, then move through Tarangire National Park, the Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater on game drives, with stops at a Maasai village, Mto wa Mbu market, and a home-hosted lunch. The itinerary pairs wildlife viewing with direct engagement in Tanzanian daily life and traditions.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Arusha

• Meet driver at Kilimanjaro Airport
• Transfer to hotel in Arusha
• Stop for exploration along the way
• Check in and rest at lodge
• Dinner at lodge

Day 2: Safari at Tarangire National Park

• Breakfast at lodge
• Travel to Tarangire National Park
• Enjoy game drives in park
• Picnic lunch in park
• Return to lodge before sunset
• Dinner and overnight stay

Day 3: Maasai village and market visit

• Breakfast at lodge
• Visit Maasai village and interact
• Travel to Mto wa Mbu market
• Explore market and meet artisans
• Home-hosted lunch with local dishes
• Return to lodge for dinner

Day 4: Travel and game drive to Serengeti

• Early breakfast at lodge
• Depart for Serengeti National Park
• Game viewing enroute through Ngorongoro area
• Check in and lunch at camp
• Afternoon game drive in Serengeti
• Dinner and overnight at camp

Day 5: Full day Serengeti exploration

• Breakfast at camp
• Morning game drive in Serengeti
• Optional balloon safari with champagne breakfast
• Lunch at camp
• Afternoon game drive
• Dinner and overnight at camp

Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater game drive

• Breakfast at camp
• Depart for Ngorongoro Crater with picnic lunch
• Descend into crater for game drive
• Picnic lunch in crater
• Continue game viewing in crater
• Ascend crater and drive to lodge
• Dinner and overnight at lodge

Day 7: Return to Arusha and departure

• Breakfast at lodge
• Drive back to Arusha
• Visit local school
• Lunch at Arusha Coffee Lodge
• Tour SHANGA social enterprise
• Transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport

The experience

The route moves through three protected areas over five days of game drives. Tarangire National Park, known for its elephant herds, comes first. The Serengeti follows with two full days to watch the savannah's ungulates and predators across its open grasslands. Ngorongoro Crater, a self-contained ecosystem 600 meters deep, closes the safari portion with a descent to search for black rhinos, lions, flamingos and other wildlife in a landscape where wild animals and pastoral communities coexist. Each park has its own character: Tarangire's river draws concentrated wildlife, the Serengeti's scale is what stays with you, and Ngorongoro's crater walls frame the animals below.

Between the parks, the tour builds in cultural stops that are not add-ons. Day three takes you to a Maasai village where you participate in daily tasks like milking cows and try on traditional dress, then moves to Mto wa Mbu, a market village representing over 120 ethnic groups. You explore the market with artisans, taste fresh local fruit, and prepare and eat lunch in a local home. The final day includes a school visit on the drive back to Arusha, then a tour of Shanga, a social enterprise employing people with disabilities to make handcrafted jewelry and glassware from recycled materials. Lunch happens at Arusha Coffee Lodge before your airport transfer.

Private transportation with an English-speaking driver-guide is included throughout, and your guide can stop the vehicle whenever you spot something worth exploring more closely. Accommodations move with you: Arusha Planet Lodge for arrival, Tarangire Osupuko Lodge after the first game drive, Kudu Lodge for the Maasai and Ngorongoro nights, and Moyo Tented Camp during the Serengeti days. All park fees and taxes are covered. You arrange your own international flights and pay separately for drinks at the lodges and any gratuities.

What’s included

• Private transportation with driver-guide.
• accommodation at five lodges across the route.
• all national park fees and taxes.
• picnic lunches on game drive days.
• home-hosted lunch in Mto wa Mbu.
• Maasai village visit.
• Mto wa Mbu market exploration.
• school visit on the return journey.
• Shanga social enterprise tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (12 to 85 years) · Child (under 12)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Nature In spirit Travel

Is this one for you?The tour departs from Kilimanjaro International Airport with pickup included, so you don't need a rental car or separate transport arrangements if you're arriving there. The private guide stays with you for all seven days, which means you can ask to stop whenever something catches your eye along the roads between parks.

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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 (under 12).

What animals am I most likely to see in Tarangire National Park?

Tarangire is Tanzania's elephant sanctuary, and the Tarangire River concentrates wildlife year-round. You'll see giraffes, hippos, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeests and lions on game drives through the park.

How much time do I spend in the Serengeti on this tour?

You have two full days in Serengeti National Park. The first day includes an afternoon game drive after arrival. The second is a complete day of exploration with an early morning drive, lunch at camp, and an afternoon drive starting around 3pm. An optional hot air balloon safari with champagne breakfast is available at additional cost.

What happens during the Maasai village visit?

You spend time in a Maasai community where you participate in their daily activities, including milking cows, and wear traditional attire. The visit is designed to immerse you in their traditions and way of life rather than as a staged performance.

Is lunch included in the tour?

Picnic lunches are provided during game drive days in the parks. On day three, you prepare and eat lunch in a local home in Mto wa Mbu as part of the cultural experience. The final day includes lunch at Arusha Coffee Lodge before your airport transfer. Drinks at the lodges are not included.

What is Mto wa Mbu and why do we visit it?

Mto wa Mbu is a bustling village representing over 120 ethnic groups, making it one of Tanzania's most culturally diverse communities. You explore the local market, interact with artisans, taste fresh fruits, and experience the daily life of the village.

Do I need to arrange my own transport from the airport?

No. Your driver-guide meets you at Kilimanjaro International Airport and provides private transport throughout the seven days, including the final transfer back to the airport after the Shanga tour in Arusha.