Tarangire National Park · Lake Manyara National Park · Serengeti · Ngorongoro Crater
Four Parks in a Week: Tarangire to Ngorongoro
Elephants, climbing lions, open plains and a crater floor, stitched into one tight northern loop.
- Duration
- 7 days
- Destinations
- Tarangire National Park · Lake Manyara National Park · Serengeti · Ngorongoro Crater
- Best months
- Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
- Group size
- 1 to 8 guests
- From
- $3,400 per person
Overview
Elephants, climbing lions, open plains and a crater floor, stitched into one tight northern loop.
Not everyone has two weeks, and the north of Tanzania does not need them. In seven days this private route links four very different landscapes: a river valley dotted with baobabs, a lakeshore forest, the Serengeti's open grassland and the walled bowl of Ngorongoro.
The week starts among Tarangire's elephant families, moves on to Lake Manyara and its famously arboreal lions, then spends two full days in the Serengeti. It ends on the floor of the crater, where all of the Big Five share a single caldera, before a drive back to Kilimanjaro International Airport.
- Elephant herds beneath ancient baobabs in Tarangire
- Lake Manyara's lions that rest up in the trees
- Two nights on the Serengeti plains, with a full day of game drives between them
- Leopard country around the Seronera river junction
- A day on the Ngorongoro crater floor, where black rhino are part of the cast
- The whole northern circuit without a single rushed day
Best forCouplesSolo travellersFamilies
Wildlife radar
What you can expect to see
June to October is the dry season and the best time for this circuit, with clear game viewing in Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti. Mara River crossings in the north peak from July to September. Outside these months the parks are greener and quieter, and January to March suits the calving season in the south.
- LionHigh
- ElephantHigh
- WildebeestSeasonal
- LeopardRare
- Black rhinoRare
- CheetahRare
The difference
A short trip that still feels complete
Most one-week northern safaris drop a park or squeeze the Serengeti into a single afternoon. This one keeps all four parks and gives the Serengeti two nights, so there is time for a proper full-day drive rather than a hurried pass-through.
The one compromise is the Ngorongoro night, which is spent in the farming highlands of Karatu rather than on the crater rim itself.
Along the way
What each park adds
Tarangire
The river pulls elephants, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe and impala to its banks, while crocodiles and hippos share the water. The old baobabs give the valley a strangely prehistoric skyline.
Lake Manyara
A groundwater forest holds baboon troops and colobus monkeys, the shallow alkaline lake blushes pink with flamingos, and hot springs steam along the shore. Its lions are known for climbing into trees.
Serengeti
The Seronera area has sausage-tree groves that leopards favour, termite mounds that cheetahs use as lookouts, and wildebeest columns that run to the horizon.
Ngorongoro Crater
Lions hunt in the open, black rhino graze at a distance, and the sheer concentration of animals inside the old caldera makes it the climax of the loop.
On the map
Your route
Follow the trip from the first night to the last, by road and by air.
- Start · Day 1Arusha
- Day 2Tarangire National ParkDrive from Arusha
- Day 3Lake ManyaraDrive from Tarangire National Park
- Day 4-5Central SerengetiDrive from Lake Manyara
- Day 6KaratuDrive from Central Serengeti
- End · Day 7Kilimanjaro AirportDrive from Karatu
Day by day
Your itinerary
Day 1
Arrival in Arusha
Arusha
You land at Kilimanjaro International Airport and are driven to Arusha for a quiet evening, with a briefing on the week ahead.
- Ridge
- Arusha Coffee Lodge
- Meals
- Dinner
Day 2
Into Tarangire
Tarangire National Park
A drive south to Tarangire, where the river draws elephants in numbers, along with zebra, wildebeest, giraffe and impala. Hippos and crocodiles hold the pools, and the baobabs stand over everything.
- Ridge
- Lemala Nanyukie
- Meals
- All meals
Day 3
Lake Manyara and its tree lions
Lake Manyara National Park
Today is for Lake Manyara. Its lions are known for lounging on branches, a habit rare in other populations. Baboons and colobus monkeys work the forest floor, flamingos colour the shallows, and steam rises from hot springs on the water's edge.
- Meals
- All meals
Day 4
Over the highlands to the Serengeti
Central Serengeti (Seronera)
The road climbs across the Ngorongoro highlands and then drops onto the Serengeti plains. An afternoon drive around Seronera searches the sausage trees at the river junction, among the most dependable leopard habitat in Tanzania.
- Meals
- All meals
Day 5
A full day on the plains
Central Serengeti
Morning and afternoon drives give you the whole day on the grass. Cheetahs scan from termite mounds, lions patrol the edges of their territories, and the wildebeest string out in lines that vanish over the horizon.
- Meals
- All meals
Day 6
Down into Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro Crater / Karatu
You leave the Serengeti and descend into the crater, the high point of the circuit. Lions are often seen hunting in the open and black rhino feed far out on the floor. The night is spent in the highland town of Karatu.
- Ridge
- Tloma Lodge
- Meals
- All meals
Day 7
Departure
Kilimanjaro International Airport
A final drive to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward flight, with seven days of northern Tanzania behind you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Gallery
Along the route
Where you stay
Choose your style of stay
Price per person
Choose a level of stay and see what each person pays for your group size.
| Travelling together | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 2 travellers | $3,400 |
- Prices are in US dollars, per person sharing a double or twin room.
- Priced for two travellers sharing. For one traveller, or three or more, we quote on request.
- The Trail price is our published starting rate for this itinerary; Ridge and Summit are indicative estimates for the same route.
- These rates are indicative. We confirm the exact price for your dates and group in your personal quote.
- Park fees are set by the authorities and can change, so the quote you accept is the price that applies.
What's included
- Park and conservation area entry fees
- Game drives in a 4x4 Land Cruiser
- A professional driver-guide
- All meals while on safari
- Accommodation as set out in the itinerary
- Airport transfers
Not included
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities
Good to know
- Rates are quoted per person on a twin or double share basis. Single supplements are available on request.
- The Ngorongoro night is in Karatu, not on the crater rim.
- Lodging and rates depend on availability and can shift with your exact dates.
- Entry charges for parks and conservation areas are fixed by the authorities, who can revise them at short notice.
Questions
Good to know
It covers four parks with two nights in the Serengeti, so you see a good range of habitats. If you want longer on the plains or a migration-focused trip, a longer route is a better fit.
In Karatu, a farming town in the highlands near the crater, rather than on the rim. This keeps the route practical and the descent day relaxed.
Both are classed as rare sightings. Seronera's river groves and the crater floor are the best places on this route to look for them.
Yes, groups can be as small as one traveller. A single supplement applies, so ask us for a solo quote.
Park fees, game drives, guide, meals on safari, lodging and airport transfers are covered. International flights, visas, insurance and tips are not.
Four Parks in a Week: Tarangire to Ngorongoro
Tell us your dates and group size and we will confirm availability and a personal quote.