Tour Overview
This 7-day safari is a perfect introduction to Tanzania’s Northern Safari Circuit, offering a rich combination of wildlife, scenery, and cultural landscapes. Starting and ending in Moshi or Arusha, this journey takes you through four of the most iconic parks in East Africa, each with its own unique ecosystem and wildlife encounters.
Your adventure begins with Lake Manyara National Park, a beautiful park nestled below the Rift Valley escarpment and known for its vibrant birdlife, tree-climbing lions, and lush groundwater forest. From there, you'll journey into the endless plains of the Serengeti, where game drives unfold across open savannahs teeming with predators and herds.
Next, descend into the ancient Ngorongoro Crater, one of the most wildlife-rich places on earth and home to a high concentration of the Big Five. You’ll wrap up your safari with a visit to Tarangire National Park, where giant baobabs, seasonal swamps, and massive elephant herds provide the perfect conclusion to your safari story.
This itinerary is ideal for travelers looking for a complete and immersive safari experience that fits within a reasonable timeframe and budget, while still delivering the magic of Tanzania’s best parks.
🐘 Safari Highlights
Explore the lush forests and flamingo-lined lake of Lake Manyara National Park
Experience two full days of unforgettable game drives in the Serengeti, home to the Great Migration and big cats
Visit the legendary Ngorongoro Crater, a natural amphitheater filled with wildlife
End your safari in the stunning and less-crowded Tarangire, known for elephants and baobabs
Travel in a 4x4 safari vehicle with a professional guide
Stay in budget-friendly campsites or basic lodges, all within nature
Enjoy the simplicity and adventure of camping beneath African skies
Tour Itinerary
🗓️ Day 1: Arrival – Moshi/Arusha
The day will begin with your arrival in Moshi or Arusha, either from the airport or another location. You’ll be met by your guide and transferred to your accommodation for a safari briefing and time to relax after your journey. Depending on your arrival time, you may have an optional town tour or cultural experience.
Overnight at: Green Mountain Hotel / Outpost Lodge (Budget)
🗓️ Day 2: Moshi/Arusha – Lake Manyara National Park
The day will begin with breakfast and a drive to Lake Manyara National Park, a lush and compact park famous for its tree-climbing lions, forested scenery, and flocks of flamingos that line the lakeshore. The groundwater forest hides elephants and monkeys, while open plains host buffaloes, zebras, and giraffes.
You’ll enjoy a picnic lunch inside the park, followed by a relaxed afternoon game drive. In the evening, we’ll head to a nearby camp or lodge in Mto wa Mbu or Karatu for dinner and overnight rest.
Start: Arusha or Moshi
End: Mto wa Mbu / Karatu
Overnight at: Migombani Campsite / Haven Nature Camp
🗓️ Day 3: Lake Manyara – Serengeti National Park
The day will begin with breakfast and a scenic drive through the Ngorongoro Highlands, with rolling green hills and Maasai villages along the way. After stopping at a viewpoint over the Ngorongoro Crater, we’ll continue into the Serengeti National Park, entering through Naabi Hill Gate.
Game viewing begins immediately as we cross the endless plains—with opportunities to see wildebeest, zebras, lions, elephants, and possibly cheetahs or leopards. We’ll enjoy lunch in the park and a full afternoon game drive before settling in at camp.
Start: Karatu
End: Central Serengeti (Seronera)
Overnight at: Nyani / Pimbi Public Campsite
🗓️ Day 4: Full Day in Serengeti National Park
The day will begin with a sunrise game drive, when predators are most active and the landscape is bathed in golden light. After breakfast, we’ll spend the entire day exploring the central Serengeti and its wildlife-rich valleys and savannahs.
You’ll see prides of lions, herds of elephants, hippos in pools, and perhaps a leopard lounging on a branch. Lunch will be a picnic in the wild, and the afternoon will be spent tracking animals and soaking in the Serengeti’s iconic beauty.
Start & End: Central Serengeti
Overnight at: Nyani / Pimbi Public Campsite
🗓️ Day 5: Serengeti – Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The day will begin with a morning game drive in the Serengeti, with more chances to spot elusive wildlife. After breakfast, we’ll continue through the park and head east toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Along the way, we may visit a Maasai village (optional) and see wildlife crossing into Ngorongoro. Lunch will be provided en route, and in the afternoon, we’ll arrive at the crater rim for breathtaking views.
Start: Serengeti
End: Ngorongoro Crater Rim
Overnight at: Simba Public Campsite
🗓️ Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater – Karatu
The day will begin with an early morning descent into the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a natural wonder packed with wildlife. With luck, you’ll spot the Big Five—lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard—as well as flamingos, warthogs, jackals, and hippos.
We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch near the hippo pool, then ascend the crater wall and drive to nearby Karatu for a relaxed evening and overnight rest.
Start: Ngorongoro Crater Rim
End: Karatu
Overnight at: Panorama Campsite / Budget Lodge
🗓️ Day 7: Karatu – Tarangire National Park – Moshi/Arusha
The day will begin with an early drive to Tarangire National Park, known for its massive elephant herds and majestic baobab trees. The park’s permanent river attracts a wide range of animals including giraffes, impalas, lions, and birds of prey.
You’ll enjoy a final game drive and lunch inside the park before we head back to Moshi or Arusha, where your safari adventure comes to an end in the late afternoon or evening.
Start: Karatu
End: Moshi / Arusha
Included/Excluded
- All entrance park fees
- 4X4 Safari jeep
- All accommodation while on safari
- Airport Transfer (Pickup & Dropoff)
- Private safari guide
- Tanzania Visa
- Travel Insurance
- Optional tours
- Tips/Gratuities
- Flights

