Serengeti · Ngorongoro Crater · Tarangire National Park
Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire in Seven Days
Baobab elephants, a pair of Serengeti days and a full morning-to-evening descent into the crater.
- Duration
- 7 days
- Destinations
- Serengeti · Ngorongoro Crater · Tarangire National Park
- Best months
- Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
- Group size
- 1 to 8 guests
- From
- $1,891 per person
Overview
Baobab elephants, a pair of Serengeti days and a full morning-to-evening descent into the crater.
Most first-time visitors to Tanzania end up here, and for good reason. A week lets you pass through three very different landscapes at an easy pace, and it still slides neatly into a two-week holiday with room at either end for something else.
The route runs the classic northern loop. You start among Tarangire's elephant herds and its old baobabs, spend two whole days on the Serengeti plains, then give an entire day to the floor of Ngorongoro Crater, where wildlife is packed into a single enclosed bowl. On the final drive to Arusha you stop in Mto wa Mbu, a lively village where daily life carries on around you.
Every night is available at three levels of comfort. The route, the parks and the game drives stay identical; only the camp or lodge changes.
- Three parks linked by one road journey, so the changing scenery between them becomes part of the trip
- Two full Serengeti days, long enough to follow predators and, in the right months, pick up the Great Migration
- A complete day on the floor of Ngorongoro Crater, with some of the most dependable black rhino sightings in the region
- Tarangire at the start: giant baobabs and big elephant families that shorter itineraries tend to skip
- Time to wander Mto wa Mbu village on the return leg, not just a hurried roadside snapshot
- Works on its own or as one chapter of a longer East Africa holiday
- Choose any of three comfort levels without touching a single day of the route
Best forCouplesHoneymoonersFamiliesSolo travellers
Wildlife radar
What you can expect to see
This safari works all year, and the best time depends on what you most want to see. June to October is the dry season, with the best game viewing around waterholes and rivers and the Mara River crossings in the north from July to September. January to March brings the calving season and newborn predators on the southern plains, while April and May are green, quiet and good value.
- LionHigh
- African elephantHigh
- Cape buffaloHigh
- Black rhinoHigh
- WildebeestSeasonal
The Great Migration; where the herds are depends on the month
- Maasai giraffeHigh
The difference
Why this week works so well
Plenty of seven-day plans squeeze in the Serengeti and crater and drop Tarangire. This one keeps all three, and still leaves the Serengeti two nights so you are not simply passing through.
Ending in Mto wa Mbu rather than racing for the airport road also gives the trip a human finish after several days of animals.
Day by day
Your itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Arusha
Arusha
Land, meet your driver and settle into a hotel in Arusha, ready for the road in the morning.
Arusha sits at about 1,400 m, a gentle first night before the parks, and it is where safari vehicles are serviced and restocked between trips.
- 1,400 m / 4,593 ft
- Trail
- Kahawa House
- Ridge
- Gran Melia, Arusha
- Summit
- Arusha Coffee Lodge
- Meals
- Bed and breakfast
Day 2
Into Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park
Drive to Tarangire and spend the day with its elephant herds among the baobabs.
Outside the wet season Tarangire has one of the densest elephant populations in Africa, as herds crowd along the river.
- Ridge
- Kitela Lodge
- Summit
- Gibb's Farm
- Meals
- Full board
Day 3
On to the Serengeti
Central Serengeti
Head west through Karatu and into the Serengeti, arriving in time for an afternoon game drive.
Karatu is the final belt of fields before the road climbs into the crater highlands, just outside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area boundary.
- Summit
- Siringiti Serengeti Camp
- Meals
- Full board
Day 4
A full day in the Central Serengeti
Central Serengeti
Game drives across the central plains and around Seronera, tracking big cats at their most active.
Seronera's water lasts all year, which keeps resident cats close by, including the famous lions that rest in trees around the kopjes.
- Summit
- Siringiti Serengeti Camp
- Meals
- Full board
Day 5
Down into Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Descend the crater wall for a game drive that fills the whole day, then return to the highlands for the night.
The crater is a closed bowl about 260 km² across, and most of the animals living in it stay put for life.
- Ridge
- Kitela Lodge
- Summit
- Gibb's Farm
- Meals
- Full board
Day 6
Mto wa Mbu and back to Arusha
Mto wa Mbu and Arusha
Walk through the cultural village of Mto wa Mbu, then drive on to Arusha for the last night.
Most evening departures from Kilimanjaro airport leave late, so a final night in town keeps this last day relaxed.
- Trail
- Kahawa House
- Ridge
- Gran Melia, Arusha
- Summit
- Arusha Coffee Lodge
- Meals
- Bed and breakfast
Day 7
Departure
Arusha
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Kilimanjaro International Airport is roughly 45 to 60 minutes from Arusha by road.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Gallery
Along the route
Where you stay
Choose your style of stay
Trail
Comfortable and great value
From$1,891per person
- Kahawa House
- Ngorongoro Farm House
- Serengeti Katikati Camp
Ridge
Character, comfort and standout settings
From$2,483per person
- Gran Melia, Arusha
- Kitela Lodge
- Kubukubu Tented Lodge
Summit
Exclusive, refined and luxurious
From$3,955per person
- Arusha Coffee Lodge
- Gibb's Farm
- Siringiti Serengeti Camp
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 | $3,501 |
| 3 travellers | $2,896 |
| 4 travellers | $2,843 |
| 5 travellers | $2,585 |
| 6 travellers | $2,649 |
- Prices are in US dollars, per person sharing a double or twin room. Vehicle and guide costs are shared, so the price per person changes with group size and does not always fall in a straight line.
- High season runs from June to September and from December to February; low season covers the other months.
- 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 safari vehicle
- A local professional guide for the whole trip
- Meals as listed in the daily plan
- Lodging as listed in the itinerary
- Private transfers from the airport and between camps
Not included
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities
- Optional activities
Good to know
- Rates are per person sharing a double or twin room; single supplements are available on request.
- Availability and rates can shift with the exact dates within a season.
- Government authorities fix the park and conservation charges, so these can shift at short notice.
Questions
Good to know
All three levels cover identical destinations and offer identical game viewing. What changes is where you sleep and how much space and service surround you: the first level is comfortable and straightforward, the second adds room to relax, and the third makes each night a highlight in itself.
That depends on the month and on where the herds have moved, so we do not promise a particular sighting. What the route does guarantee is two full days in country where lions and leopards live all year. If catching the migration is your priority, tell us before you book and we will help pick dates.
Yes. The vehicle, guide and some transfers are shared, so each person pays less as the group grows. We will give you the exact figure for your party size when you enquire.
The price covers entry and conservation charges, your guide, a private 4x4 for every drive, accommodation, meals, bottled water while out in the vehicle and airport pick-ups and drop-offs. You arrange your own long-haul flights, visas, insurance, gratuities and personal extras such as drinks from the bar.
Easily. Many travellers add a few days on the coast right after the last game drive. Let us know while you plan and we will build the full journey around it.
Yes. It covers the three parks that anchor most northern trips, without cramming them into a shorter, rushed schedule.
Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire in Seven Days
Tell us your dates and group size and we will confirm availability and a personal quote.