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
Classic Safari · Private safariMade to feel personal from the first night to the last drive
8 Days Best of Tanzania Safari
Five parks plus a morning with the Hadzabe bushmen at Lake Eyasi – wildlife and culture in one well-paced week.
Duration8 days / 7 nights
PriceOn request
StyleClassic Safari
Best timeYear-round
Crafted safari story
A more thoughtful way to experience Tanzania
Everything a first trip to Tanzania should hold. Tarangire, Lake Manyara, two days in the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, then a day at Lake Eyasi with the Hadzabe and Datoga peoples – one of the last hunter-gatherer communities in Africa. Choose your level from our 3★, 4★ and 5★ lodge collections.
- Five parks in one route
- Hadzabe and Datoga cultural morning
- Two full days in the Serengeti
- 3★, 4★ or 5★ lodges
Safari at a glance
- Category
- Classic Safari
- Duration
- 8 days / 7 nights
- Starting from
- Price on request
- Key places
- Arusha, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Eyasi
- Guiding
- Private vehicle and driver-guide
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.
Day by day
A journey that builds with rhythm, not rush
Day 1
Arrival in Tanzania
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.
Day 2
Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, check out and drive to Tarangire National Park for a full day of game viewing. Tarangire is home to large herds of elephant and other game, including the elusive leopard and over 400 bird species. The park's picturesque landscape is dotted with large baobab trees and takes its name from the Tarangire River that crosses it. During the dry season (around August to October) the river is the only source of water for the animals.
Day 3
Lake Manyara National Park
After breakfast at the lodge, head to Lake Manyara National Park for a game drive. The park sits at the base of the Great Rift Valley and is famous for its tree-climbing lions. The large shallow lake and the surrounding landscape are extremely scenic: large fig and mahogany trees grow in the forest around the park gates, with acacia woodland to the south. The lake and surrounding area are home to over 300 bird species, including flocks of migratory flamingo. Overnight in the Karatu area.
Day 4
Serengeti National Park
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.
Day 5
Tracing the Big Five in the Serengeti
Today we enjoy morning and afternoon game drives on the vast Serengeti plains. In the early morning and evening light, the landscape is stunningly beautiful. The Serengeti ecosystem supports the greatest remaining concentration of plains game in Africa – more than three million large mammals – and never disappoints. Depending on wildlife movement, we serve a picnic lunch at a scenic site or return to the lodge for a hot lunch.
Day 6
Ngorongoro Crater
After breakfast, drive down to the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater for a full day of game viewing. The crater is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with several ecosystems – grassland, swamp, forest and even a soda lake – and a wide variety of game: rhino, buffalo, wildebeest, zebra and an amazing variety of birdlife, including thousands of migrating flamingos. In the late afternoon you ascend to the rim and return to your lodge in time to freshen up before dinner. Overnight in the Karatu area.
Day 7
Lake Eyasi – the bushmen
An early departure to Lake Eyasi for a hunting experience with the Hadzabe and Datoga peoples. This is not a performance: the Hadzabe rely on these techniques to survive, so you will need to be attentive and at times quiet as they demonstrate tracking and their use of locally made poisons. You will visit their homesteads and learn about their way of life, animal tracking, medicinal plants and much more. Walks around the lake reveal some wildlife and a wide range of birds. Overnight in the Karatu area.
Day 8
Departure
After breakfast, drive to Kilimanjaro Airport for your flight home or onward plans.
Where you stay
Choose your comfort level
3★
- Kibo Palace Hotel
- Lake Burunge Tented Lodge
- Marera Valley Lodge
- Land of Nature
4★
- Four Points by Sheraton
- Mbali Mbali Tarangire River Camp
- Arukore Simba Camp
- Ngorongoro Coffee Lodge
5★
- Gran Meliá Arusha
- Tarangire Kuro Treetops Lodge
- Four Seasons Safari Lodge
- Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge
Price on request
Prices depend on your dates, group size and lodge level. Send us your dates and we will reply with a clear per-person price.
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
- Lake Eyasi excursion
- 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
Route map
Open in Google MapsWhere this safari takes shape
The journey moves place by place in a calm sequence, ordered to reduce fatigue and protect the best sightings.
- 1Arusha
- 2Tarangire National Park
- 3Lake Manyara National Park
- 4Serengeti National Park
- 5Ngorongoro Crater
- 6Lake Eyasi
Best windows: Year-round
Reviews
★★★★★ 5.0/5 · 8 verified reviews on SafariBookingsWhat travellers say
Knowledgeable and very respectful with animals.
The safari with Antony was amazing. We trusted him our itinerary and it was worth it. In my opinion, the best thing about it was his knowledge and how respectful he is with wildlife. It is amazing finding people that really love their job and show it.
Cristian PintoUnited Kingdom · Visited October 2024Excellent
Was an interesting trip, a wonderful place and a perfect experience
Moisés RodríguezPeru · Visited January 2023Personal 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.
- Share dates, travellers and the feeling you want the journey to hold.
- We shape an itinerary with routing logic, lodge fit and a calmer sense of luxury.
- You receive a clear proposal with prices per person, inclusions and lodge options.
WhatsApp+255 653 110 463
Emailinfo@bigfivetrails.com
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 cancel | Cancellation charge |
|---|---|
| More than 60 days before arrival | Deposit retained, or moved to new dates within 12 months |
| 59 to 30 days before arrival | 50% of the total trip price |
| 29 to 15 days before arrival | 75% of the total trip price |
| Less than 15 days before arrival | 100% 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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