Tarangire National Park · Lake Manyara National Park · Ngorongoro Crater · Serengeti
Signature Circuit with Balloon and Night Drive
Tarangire after dark, a Manyara canoe, the crater floor and a Serengeti sunrise balloon, in one week.
- Duration
- 7 days
- Destinations
- Tarangire National Park · Lake Manyara National Park · Ngorongoro Crater · Serengeti
- Best months
- Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Dec, Jan, Feb
- Group size
- 1 to 8 guests
- From
- $4,624 per person
Overview
Tarangire after dark, a Manyara canoe, the crater floor and a Serengeti sunrise balloon, in one week.
If you can only manage one Tanzania safari, this is the one built to cover the essentials. Seven days, four ecosystems, and two experiences that most trips of this length leave out: a night drive in Tarangire, when nocturnal hunters replace the daytime elephant herds, and a sunrise balloon flight over the Serengeti.
We designed the route by asking what the northern circuit would look like if each stop had to earn its place. Tarangire offers elephants among baobabs. Between the larger parks, time with a Maasai community and a mokoro canoe outing on Lake Manyara let the rhythm ease. A full day in Ngorongoro Crater gives some of Africa's best odds of the Big Five, and two nights in the Serengeti finish with the view from above.
Every departure is tailored to your dates and pace, with one guide throughout and support on hand from the airport pickup to the last drop-off.
- A night drive in Tarangire, revealing nocturnal predators and small species that daytime drives miss
- A sunrise balloon flight over the Serengeti, with a champagne breakfast after landing
- A full day in Ngorongoro Crater, including Tanzania's best chance of seeing the endangered black rhino
- A Maasai community visit and a Lake Manyara canoe safari built into the transfer day, not squeezed in as filler
- Two full days in the Serengeti, so the balloon and ordinary game drives each get proper time
Best forCouplesHoneymoonersFamiliesFirst-time visitors
Wildlife radar
What you can expect to see
The route works in every month, because the crater holds wildlife all year and Tarangire's elephants are resident. June to October and late December to February give the driest conditions for viewing.
- African elephantHigh
- LionHigh
- Black rhinoHigh
- LeopardRare
- GenetRare
Seen on the Tarangire night drive
- HippopotamusHigh
From the Lake Manyara canoe safari
The difference
What sets this circuit apart
The night drive and the balloon flight are part of the standard plan, not optional extras that raise the bill later.
The route moves between very different settings: baobab savanna, lake and water level, crater walls, then open plains seen from the air.
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 3KaratuDrive from Tarangire National Park
- Day 4Ngorongoro CraterDrive from Karatu
- Day 5-6Central SerengetiDrive from Ngorongoro Crater
- End · Day 7ArushaFlight from Central Serengeti
Day by day
Your itinerary
Day 1
Arrival in Arusha
Arusha
Your arrival is at Kilimanjaro International Airport, and the guide who will accompany you throughout greets you there. Once you have settled in, a safari briefing follows, then an early night.
Arusha sits near 1,400 m (4,600 ft), so evenings are cooler than on the plains. Pack a light layer.
- 1,400 m / 4,593 ft
- Ridge
- Kahawa House
- Summit
- Arusha Coffee Lodge
- Meals
- Dinner
Day 2
Arusha to Tarangire, and a night drive
Tarangire National Park
A scenic drive south brings you onto Tarangire's baobab plains, home to Tanzania's largest elephant herds. After sunset a night drive shows another park: genets, civets, bush babies and the hunters that keep out of sight by day.
The night drive is one of the few chances on a standard itinerary to see Tarangire's small nocturnal species.
- Meals
- All meals
Day 3
Maasai village, Lake Manyara and Karatu
Lake Manyara, Karatu
On the way to Karatu you stop at a Maasai community for real conversation, not a staged show. Next you glide out on Lake Manyara in a mokoro canoe, seeing flamingos and hippos from just above the waterline, with the area's famed tree-climbing lions in the background.
Lake Manyara's lions are among the few populations in Africa known to rest in tree branches on a regular basis.
- Summit
- Gibb's Farm
- Meals
- All meals
Day 4
Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro Crater
A full day on the crater floor, an enclosed ecosystem said to hold roughly 20,000 to 30,000 animals. Expect lion prides on open grass, hyena clans along the margins and the best odds anywhere in Tanzania of spotting a black rhino.
It stays several degrees cooler on the floor than on the rim. Bring a jacket even on a clear morning.
- Summit
- Gibb's Farm
- Meals
- All meals
Day 5
Karatu to the Serengeti
Serengeti National Park
The road drops onto the great plains, and an afternoon game drive reveals how vast this park is, with big cats resting in the shade and zebra reaching to the horizon.
The transfer from Karatu is itself a game drive, so keep your camera within reach.
- Summit
- Lemala Nanyukie
- Meals
- All meals
Day 6
Sunrise balloon and a full Serengeti day
Serengeti National Park
Rise before dawn for a balloon flight, floating silently above wildlife that never hears you arrive, then enjoy a champagne breakfast in the bush. The rest of the day is game driving, timed to the best light and animal activity.
Flights depart at first light, when the air is stillest. Pack something warm for the chilly pre-dawn wait, even outside the rains.
- Summit
- Lemala Nanyukie
- Meals
- All meals
Day 7
Last drive and flight to Arusha
Seronera, Arusha
A last game drive at dawn, followed by a brief hop from Seronera airstrip to Arusha, where your onward journey begins.
- 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 | $5,434 |
| 3 travellers | $5,029 |
| 4 travellers | $4,827 |
| 5 travellers | $4,705 |
| 6 travellers | $4,624 |
- 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.
- 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 concession entry fees
- Every game drive, with the night drive in Tarangire among them
- The sunrise balloon safari
- A private guide for the whole trip
- Meals while on safari, plus drinking water and packed lunches
- The flight from Seronera to Arusha, and airport transfers
- Emergency medical evacuation cover
Not included
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities
Good to know
- Prices are quoted per person on a twin-share basis.
- Third-tier lodge choices depend on availability and are confirmed at booking.
- Availability and rates depend on your exact dates.
- Government park and conservation fees can change without notice.
Questions
Good to know
Because each trip is tailored rather than sold as a fixed group departure, the price depends on your dates, party size and accommodation tier. Ask us for a personal quote.
It adds two signature experiences that most trips of this length skip: a night drive in Tarangire and a sunrise balloon flight in the Serengeti. Both are part of the plan from the start.
Balloon flights are run by licensed operators following international safety standards. They last around an hour at sunrise, when winds are lightest, and finish with a champagne breakfast in the bush.
Any month works, because the crater holds wildlife all year and Tarangire has resident elephants. The driest conditions are June to October and late December to February.
Ngorongoro Crater gives among the strongest chances in Tanzania of finding lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo together with the endangered black rhino, at times all in one day, thanks to its enclosed ecosystem and high animal density.
Park and concession fees, every game drive (the night drive too), the balloon safari, your guide, meals on safari, water and packed lunches, the flight from Seronera, airport transfers and emergency evacuation cover. International flights, visas, insurance and gratuities are extra.
Most visitors do, among them citizens of the US, UK, Canada and many European countries. You can apply for an e-visa online in advance or get one on arrival. Applying beforehand avoids queues.
One night in Arusha, one in Tarangire, two in Karatu (covering the Lake Manyara transfer day and the crater day) and two in the Serengeti.
Yes. Strong wildlife viewing plus two rare experiences suits both newcomers to safari and couples after a full itinerary. Since it is tailored, small personal touches can be added on request.
It is private and for small parties, with your own vehicle and guide, not a seat on a shared bus with fixed departure dates.
Layers. The night drive and crater mornings are cool while midday is hot. Choose muted colours, and carry sunscreen, repellent and something warm for the chilly start before the balloon takes off.
Signature Circuit with Balloon and Night Drive
Tell us your dates and group size and we will confirm availability and a personal quote.