An Epic 1-Week Safari Itinerary to Tanzania’s Northern Safari Circuit
Explore Tanzania’s greatest national parks on this 7 day Tanzania Safari tour starting in Lake Manyara National Park and ending from Tarangire National Park through the famous Serengeti National park and Ngorongoro Crater.
This 1-Week Tanzania safari itinerary showcases Tanzania’s best parks and activities and is ideal for covering the core Northern Circuit highlights without feeling rushed since it minimizes extreme driving times and provides the highest chance of seeing the Big Five
When is the best time to visit Tanzania For this Itinerary?
Many travelers ask us when the best time is to visit Tanzania. The answer is that it all depends on what you want to see, where you want to go, your budget and desired experiences. Please find below a detailed guide on when is the best time to visit Tanzania:
Dry Season (June to October & December to February): These months are ideal for safaris due to the pleasant weather and excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. However, you should expect higher hotel rates and more crowded parks and attractions.
Mid Season (March & November): This period offers a balance of moderate hotel rates and fewer tourists. The weather can be variable, and some attractions might have limited availability (due to rains), but you still get great wildlife sightings and a more relaxed safari experience.
Wet Season (April & May): Perfect for budget-conscious travelers, the low season features the lowest hotel rates and the least crowded parks. The heavy rains make the scenery vibrant and lush but travel plans can be affected by the weather.
Will I see the Big Five While on this safari in Tanzania?
Absolutely, Tanzania is renowned as one of the prime destinations to encounter the Big Five. These magnificent creatures—lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros and buffalo—can be observed in their natural habitats making this Itinerary a preferred choice for wildlife enthusiasts.
Is it safe to travel to Tanzania?
Absolutely, Tanzania is a safe and welcoming destination for travelers. The country offers a hospitable environment especially in tourist areas like Arusha and you can explore its beautiful landscapes and wildlife with confidence. Local people are friendly and safety measures such as keeping an eye on your belongings are always advisable just as you would in any other part of the world. Tanzania’s natural beauty and the warmth of its people make it a fantastic place to visit.
Detailed 7 Days Tanzania Safari Itinerary:
Day 1 – Transfer from Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park
Travel time: 2½ hours
Distance: 130 km
Your guide will pick you up from Arusha to start your 7 Days Tanzania Safari and transfer you to Lake Manyara National Park. You arrive in time for lunch at the lodge and after lunch you head into the Lake Manyara National Park for an afternoon game drive. This national park consists of a massive but shallow soda lake (covering two-thirds of the park). The park’s varied habitat attracts a wide variety of animals including one of Africa’s largest concentrations of elephants, the rare tree-climbing lions, as well as large flocks of flamingos attracted by the algae in the lake.
Dinner and overnight as per the standard and type of accommodation option requested. Tonight will mark the beginning of your African safari.
Day 2 – Transfer from Lake Manyara National Park to Serengeti Plains
Travel time: 6 hours
Distance: 205 km
After breakfast you head towards the Serengeti National Park via the beautiful high lying farmland of Karatu and the Ngorongoro Conservation area later descending into the heart of wild Africa the Serengeti National Park. You head to the central park area known as the Seronera area which is one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park. You arrive in time for lunch and enjoy an afternoon game drive in the Serengeti National Park.
Dinner and overnight in the Seronera area as per the standard and type of accommodation option requested.
Day 3 – Full days Serengeti plains games drive.
You can be one of a few fortunate people to glide in a Hot Air Balloon over the Serengeti Plains (available at supplementary cost by pre-arrangement). Floating silently above the awakening bush while viewing wildlife and enjoying the amazing scenery of Tanzania.
After breakfast you will do a full day game drive with lunch at the lodge. You will follow the Kopjes Circuit, which goes anti-clockwise around the Maasai Kopjes and usually attracts a number of lions and some formidably large cobras. Kopjes are weathered granite outcrops scattered around the plains most of which are miniature ecosystems providing shade and drinking water in pools left in the rock after the rains. This attracts wildlife and lions which like to lie in wait for animals coming to drink!
Dinner and overnight in the Seronera area as per the standard and type of accommodation option requested.
Day 4 – Transfer from Serengeti Plains to Ngorongoro Crater
Travel time: 4 hours
Distance: 145 km
After breakfast at the lodge you will depart for Ngorongoro Conservation area. You will stopover at Olduvai Gorge which boasts of a history dating back to the dawn of time. It was here, that the anthropologists Drs. Lois and Mary Leakey discovered the skulls of the ‘Nutcracker Man’ and ‘Handy Man’, both very significant links in the chain of human evolution. You arrive in time for lunch at the lodge and spend the afternoon at leisure.
Dinner and overnight as per the standard and type of accommodation option requested on the crater rim, no accommodation available inside the crater.
Day 5 – Full day Ngorongoro Crater
After breakfast you descend 600m into this magnificent crater for a full-day game drive. The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the most densely crowded African wildlife areas in the world and is home to an estimated 30,000 animals including some of Tanzania’s last remaining black rhino. Supported by a year round water supply and fodder, the Ngorongoro National Park supports a vast variety of animal which include herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo, and giant African elephants. Another big draw card to this picturesque national park is its huge population of predators, which include lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs and the ever-elusive leopard. You will enjoy a picnic lunch on the crater floor.
Dinner and overnight as per the standard and type of accommodation option requested on the crater rim, no accommodation available inside the crater.
Day 6 – Transfer from Ngorongoro Crater to Tarangire National Park
Travel time: 3½ hours
Distance: 155 km
After breakfast you depart for the Tarangire National Park. The park runs along the line of the Tarangire River and is mainly made up of low-lying hills on the Great Rift Valley floor. Its natural vegetation mainly consists of Acacia woodland and giant African Baobab trees with huge swamp areas in the south. Both the river and the swamps attract wild animals during the dry season. The Tarangire National Park is known to have some of the largest elephant herds in Africa not forgetting its home to three rare species of animals i.e. the Greater Kudu, the Fringed-eared Oryx, as well as a few Ashy Starlings. You will have a picnic lunch and there after an afternoon game drive.
Dinner and overnight in the Tarangire National Park area as per the standard and type of accommodation option requested.
Day 7 – Transfer from Tarangire National Park to Arusha
Travel time: 2 hours
Distance: 120 km
You will enjoy an early morning game drive in the Tarangire National Park, followed by breakfast at the lodge. You will then transfer back to Arusha and upon arrival in Arusha you will have lunch and then mark the end of your Tanzania safari adventure.
Contact us for information or a Price Quotation.