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Male lion and lioness at golden hour in the Serengeti
Classic Safari · Private safariMade to feel personal from the first night to the last drive

7 Days Ultimate Tanzania Safari

Tarangire, Lake Manyara, two nights in the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater – the complete northern circuit at a comfortable pace.

Duration7 days / 6 nights
From$2,587 pp
StyleClassic Safari
Best timeJun–Oct · Jan–Mar
Request this safari Explore the itinerary
Crafted safari story

A more thoughtful way to experience Tanzania

The northern circuit with room to breathe. One night before the safari in Arusha, then Tarangire, Lake Manyara, two nights in the Serengeti and a full day in the Ngorongoro Crater with a picnic at the hippo pool. Three accommodation levels and transparent seasonal pricing for groups of two, four or six.

  • Two full Serengeti days
  • Picnic lunch at the crater's hippo pool
  • Seasonal prices for 2, 4 or 6 travellers
  • Three lodge levels on the same route
Safari at a glance
Category
Classic Safari
Duration
7 days / 6 nights
Starting from
From $2,587 per person sharing
Key places
Arusha, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater
Guiding
Private vehicle and driver-guide
Speak to a safari specialist
Male lion and lioness at golden hour in the Serengeti
Baobab trees silhouetted at dusk in Tarangire
BigFiveTrails travellers with their guide at the Ngorongoro Crater viewpoint
Two elephant bulls among yellow wildflowers in the Ngorongoro Crater
Cheetah cub peeking around a tree trunk in the Serengeti

This itinerary is a starting point, not a rigid template

We can refine pace, accommodation style, flight logistics, park combinations and beach extensions around your dates, budget and travel rhythm.

Shape this journey with us
Day by day

A journey that builds with rhythm, not rush

Day 1

Kilimanjaro Airport – Arusha

Karibu Tanzania – welcome to Tanzania. On arrival at the airport you will be met by one of our team. After the meet and greet, we escort you to your accommodation in Arusha (approximately 60 km), ready for the safari tomorrow. The lodge is perched on the slopes of Mount Meru with a magnificent view of the mountain.

Meals: Breakfast
Day 2

Tarangire National Park

You will be picked up from your hotel and driven to Tarangire National Park (120 km) with views along the way. The Tarangire River is the centrepiece of this park, famous for some of the largest herds of elephants in Africa. In the dry season, animals congregate along the river. Drive into a landscape dotted with baobab trees and umbrella-thorn acacias, where you are likely to see lion, leopard, cheetah, lesser kudu, buffalo, oryx, eland, giraffe and zebra – in addition to over 300 bird species. Retire to your camp for dinner and overnight rest.

Meals: All meals
Day 3

Lake Manyara National Park

After breakfast, depart for Lake Manyara National Park (approx. 90 km). Nestled at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, Lake Manyara contains a diverse range of habitats – the rift wall, groundwater forest, acacia woodland and open grassland – down to the shores of the lake itself. Spend the afternoon game viewing in search of the park's diverse flora and fauna. Some 350 bird species live here, alongside gazelle, impala, buffalo, wildebeest, hyena, baboon, giraffe, hippo and the famous tree-climbing lions.

Meals: All meals
Day 4

Drive to the Serengeti

The legendary Serengeti Plain is your destination today (210 km), a vast rolling plain whose sparse vegetation allows for some of the best wildlife viewing in the world. The annual migration of wildebeest and zebra is one of the park's great attractions, but throughout the year the Serengeti is excellent for predators such as lion, leopard and cheetah, along with elephant, giraffe, hyena, hippo, rhino and many antelopes and birds. Depending on animal movement we take a packed lunch or return to the lodge for a hot lunch. The evening is free to rest.

Meals: All meals
Day 5

Serengeti National Park

Spend the day exploring the vast Serengeti plains. The name 'Serengeti' comes from the Maasai language and means 'endless place'. The open savannah and wooded grassland are home to lion, leopard, cheetah, buffalo, elephant, giraffe and a host of plains game and birdlife. The Serengeti–Ngorongoro ecosystem hosts the Great Wildebeest Migration: millions of wildebeest and zebra moving year-round between Tanzania and Kenya, and in the early months of each year the short-grass plains become the setting for the calving season. All meals are served at camp today.

Meals: All mealsOptional: Hot-air balloon safari – $546 per person
Day 6

Ngorongoro Crater

After breakfast we descend some 610 metres into the crater – an abundance of wildlife and a photographer's paradise – for a full day of game viewing with a picnic lunch at the hippo pool. Ngorongoro, the largest intact caldera in the world, teems with resident wildlife: prides of lion, herds of Cape buffalo, impala, Thomson's gazelle, rhino, golden and black-backed jackal, zebra, cheetah, leopard and spotted hyena. Hundreds of bird species refresh themselves in the small lakes on the crater floor. In the evening we return to the lodge.

Meals: All meals
Day 7

Departure

Today we drive to Kilimanjaro Airport for your flight.

Meals: Breakfast
Where you stay

Choose your comfort level

Same route, same guide. Pick the lodges that suit your budget.

DayLocationAccommodationMealsActivity
1ArushaKibo Palace HotelBed & breakfastTransfer
2Tarangire NPBurunge Tented LodgeFull boardGame drives
3Lake Manyara NPBougainvillea Safari LodgeFull boardGame drives
4Serengeti NPSueños de África CampFull boardAfternoon drive
5Serengeti NPSueños de África CampFull boardGame drives
6Ngorongoro CraterBougainvillea Safari LodgeFull boardCrater tour
7Departure – JRO—Bed & breakfastTransfer
Prices

Clear prices, per person

Budget

Season2 pax4 pax6 paxSRS
High$2,731$2,340$2,047$205
Low$2,587$2,196$1,863$160

Mid-luxury

Season2 pax4 pax6 paxSRS
High$3,435$3,040$2,765$735
Shoulder$3,268$2,878$2,545$595
Low$3,041$2,591$2,305$480

Luxury

Season2 pax4 pax6 paxSRS
High$4,402$4,011$3,678$1,310
Shoulder$4,402$4,011$3,678$1,285
Low$3,877$3,487$3,154$915

Prices in USD per person. SRS = single room supplement. High season: Jan–Mar, Jun–Oct and 16–31 Dec · Shoulder: Nov and 1–15 Dec · Low: Apr–May. Budget level has two seasons: high (Jan, Feb, Jul–Oct, 16–31 Dec) and low (all other dates).

Included

  • Professional driver-guide (English-speaking; Spanish or German on request)
  • Private 4×4 safari Land Cruiser with pop-up roof for game viewing
  • Airport and Arusha transfers
  • Full-board accommodation while on safari
  • All park entrance fees and government taxes as per the itinerary
  • Driver's salary, allowances and park fees for driver and vehicle
  • Complimentary drinking water in the vehicle
  • One night before the safari in an Arusha hotel

Not included

  • International flights
  • Visas – Tanzania visa applied and paid online
  • Vaccinations and travel insurance
  • Meals not indicated, drinks and room upgrades
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Personal items (telephone, laundry, etc.)
  • Increases in park fees or other charges beyond our control
  • Early check-in or late check-out
  • Festive season supplements
Route map

Where this safari takes shape

The journey moves place by place in a calm sequence, ordered to reduce fatigue and protect the best sightings.

Open in Google Maps
1Arusha2Tarangire3Lake Manyara4Serengeti5Ngorongoro Crater
  1. 1Arusha
  2. 2Tarangire National Park
  3. 3Lake Manyara National Park
  4. 4Serengeti National Park
  5. 5Ngorongoro Crater

Best windows: Jun–Oct · Jan–Mar

Reviews

What travellers say

★★★★★ 5.0/5 · 8 verified reviews on SafariBookings
★★★★★

An unforgettable Tanzania safari with an incredible guide

Our trip to Tanzania with Big Five Trails was absolutely amazing and exceeded our expectations. The itinerary was very well organized and allowed us to experience some of the most beautiful places in the country, with incredible wildlife sightings and unforgettable landscapes. A huge part of what made the trip so special was our guide, Tony. He was simply incredible: professional, friendly, patient and extremely knowledgeable about the animals, nature and Tanzania. He is also an exceptional tracker — it honestly felt as if he had some kind of direct communication with the animals! He had an incredible ability to spot wildlife from a distance, read tracks and signs, and somehow always seemed to know where the animals were going to appear. Thanks to him, we were able to see an amazing variety of wildlife and enjoy some truly unforgettable encounters. He made every safari drive exciting and interesting, and was always attentive to the group, making us feel comfortable and safe throughout the whole trip. Everything was well coordinated, communication was easy, and the overall experience felt very personal rather than like a standard organized tour. Tanzania was already an incredible destination, but Tony and the team made the experience even better. I would absolutely recommend Big Five Trails to anyone planning a safari in Tanzania, and I would especially recommend asking for Tony as your guide. I would travel with them again without hesitation!

Dolores BAndorra · Visited November 2025
★★★★★

Amazing

The safari with Tony as our tour operator and guide was absolutely great in every aspect. The hospitality, the excellent knowledge of the animals, nature, the country and its people, the absolute reliability and care, the superb service and all the details covered, just excellent. I would go with Tony and his company any day again. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Asante sana.

MonicaSwitzerland · Visited July 2026
★★★★★

Incredible

Visiting Tanzania and seeing the parks was a wonderful experience. Tony and Inocent were our guides and they were lovely. A 10/10 trip. (automatic translation from Spanish)

MartaSpain · Visited June 2026
Personal planning

Want this safari shaped around your exact dates and style?

Tell us your timing, travel style and must-have moments. We will turn this itinerary into a bespoke proposal with the right rhythm, camps and route.

  1. Share dates, travellers and the feeling you want the journey to hold.
  2. We shape an itinerary with routing logic, lodge fit and a calmer sense of luxury.
  3. You receive a clear proposal with prices per person, inclusions and lodge options.
WhatsApp+255 653 110 463
Emailinfo@bigfivetrails.com
Favourite animals
We reply within 24 hours, usually much sooner.
Included with every booking

The BigFiveTrails Promise

Six things you can count on, whichever safari you choose.

Free date changes

Move your dates free of charge up to 60 days before arrival.

No hidden costs

Park fees, taxes, private vehicle, guide and drinking water are in your price.

Met at the airport

Airport pickup and drop-off included on every safari.

Lodges we know

Every lodge and camp hand-picked by our team in Arusha.

24/7 on WhatsApp

Our Arusha team answers you every day of your trip, day or night.

Your own guide

Private vehicle and guide – no strangers, no fixed schedule.

Book with confidence

Clear terms, real people, no surprises.

Rated 5.0 out of 5 on SafariBookings by verified travellers. Planned and run from our base in Arusha.

How booking works

  • 30% deposit to confirm your booking
  • Balance due 60 days before arrival
  • Written confirmation of every lodge and park permit
  • Licensed Tanzanian tour operator based in Arusha

Ways to pay

  • Bank transfer (USD)
  • Visa / Mastercard (card fee may apply)
  • Wise transfer

While you travel

  • Your own private vehicle and guide
  • WhatsApp support from our Arusha team every day of your trip
  • Park fees and taxes included and paid in advance
If you cancelCancellation charge
More than 60 days before arrivalDeposit retained, or moved to new dates within 12 months
59 to 30 days before arrival50% of the total trip price
29 to 15 days before arrival75% of the total trip price
Less than 15 days before arrival100% of the total trip price

Park fees and flights already paid to third parties may be non-refundable. We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers cancellation. Full refund policy

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