7 Day Adventure: Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater & Tarangire

Northern Circuit Adventure Tanzania

Embark on a 7-day safari adventure through Tanzania’s iconic national parks: Lake Manyara, the vast Serengeti, the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater, and the wildlife-rich Tarangire. This once-in-a-lifetime journey offers diverse landscapes, abundant wildlife, and unforgettable experiences. From game drives to cultural encounters, this itinerary is perfect for nature lovers and thrill-seekers alike.

Day 1: Arusha – Lake Manyara National Park
Non-game-viewing travel time: 2½ hours
Distance: 130 km

You will meet our professional driver and tour guide at your hotel, who will provide a brief overview of the safari. After breakfast, we will drive to Lake Manyara National Park for an exciting game drive. This stunning national park is one of Tanzania’s most dramatically situated wildlife areas, featuring a vast but shallow soda lake that covers two-thirds of the park, located at the foot of the Great Rift Valley’s western escarpment.

The park’s diverse habitats attract a wide variety of wildlife, including one of Africa’s largest concentrations of elephants. Lake Manyara is particularly famous for its tree-climbing lions and large flocks of flamingos drawn to the algae in the lake. In the late afternoon, we will drive to your lodge, tented camp, basic campsite, or luxury accommodation for dinner and an overnight stay.


Day 2: Lake Manyara – Serengeti
Non-game-viewing travel time: 6 hours
Distance: 205 km

After breakfast, we will depart from the camp and drive to Serengeti National Park via the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, arriving on the vast Serengeti plains for a spectacular wildlife viewing experience. Along the way, we will pass by one of the world’s most significant prehistoric archaeological sites, Olduvai Gorge, before continuing through the scrublands. The wooded knolls around Naabi Hill Gate mark the official entrance to the Serengeti, which then descends into the park’s signature wide-open plains. This stretch beautifully embodies the meaning of “Serengeti,” derived from the Maasai word “Siringet,” meaning “the land that flows on forever.”

Serengeti National Park spans 6,000 square miles of pristine wilderness, offering expansive vistas and hosting the largest migration of mammals on Earth, including 1.5 million wildebeest. Dinner and overnight accommodations will be at your choice of a lodge, luxury tented camp, or basic campsite.


Day 3/4: Full Day – Serengeti National Park

Experience the thrill of a hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti Plains (available at an additional cost and with prior arrangements). Float silently above the awakening savannah, spotting wildlife and taking in the breathtaking scenery of Africa as you glide over rivers and small villages.

After breakfast, we will embark on game viewing drives along the Sogore River Circuit, which loops into the plains south of the Seronera River. This route is ideal for spotting lions, Thomson’s gazelles, topis, ostriches, and cheetahs.

We will also visit the Visitor Center near the Serengeti Seronera Lodge and public campsites, which is well worth the trip after our morning game drive. This beautifully designed center features interesting wildlife displays, a gift shop selling informative leaflets and maps, and a shop where cold drinks and snacks are available. Additionally, there’s a picnic area and an informative trail around a nearby kopje. We will enjoy a relaxed picnic lunch at the center, under the shade of the giant acacia trees.

In the afternoon we will follow the Kopjes Circuit, which goes anti-clockwise around the Maasai Kopjes, which usually attracts  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 makes the kopjes particularly good for spotting wildlife in the dry seasons – including lions, which like to lie in wait for animals coming to drink! Dinner and overnight in the Seronera Lodge/Basic Campsite/Tented Camp/Lodge/Luxury.


Day 5: Serengeti – Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Non-game-viewing travel time: 4 hours
Distance: 145 km

Our day begins with a morning game drive in the central Serengeti. This is an active time for wildlife, as the temperatures are still mild, providing excellent opportunities for sightings until around 11:30 AM. Afterward, we will return to the lodge or camp for brunch.

On our way back, we will stop at Olduvai Gorge, a fascinating archaeological site that offers insights into the history of early human ancestors and the Maasai tribes. In the evening, we will enjoy dinner and overnight accommodations at a lodge, tented camp, or campsite set on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. These accommodations offer stunning views of the crater and the surrounding highlands.


Breakfast Crater View Lodge

Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater – Tarangire
Non-game-viewing travel time: 2 hours
Distance: 152 km

Our day begins early in the morning. Equipped with a picnic lunch, we will descend 2,000 feet to the crater floor in our 4×4 vehicle for game viewing. Let’s explore this “Garden of Eden.” Ngorongoro is a vast and deep volcanic crater featuring rich pastures, swamps, forests, and permanent water, which contribute to the diversity and abundance of wildlife. Up to 25,000 large animals inhabit this area, providing the best opportunity to see black rhinos and many other rare species, including black-maned lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs, and the elusive leopard.

We will enjoy a picnic lunch on the crater floor before continuing our adventure. In the evening, we will head to Tarangire for dinner and overnight accommodations at a lodge, tented camp, or basic camp.


Day 7: Tarangire National Park – Arusha
Non-game-viewing travel time: 2½ hours
Distance: 152.7 km

After breakfast, we will drive to Tarangire National Park for a day of game viewing. The park runs along the Tarangire River and features low-lying hills on the Great Rift Valley floor. Its natural vegetation primarily consists of acacia woodlands and giant African baobab trees, along with expansive swamp areas in the south. During Tanzania’s dry season, both the river and the swamps act as magnets for wildlife.

Tarangire National Park is renowned for containing some of the largest elephant herds in Africa. It is also home to three rare species: the greater kudu, the fringed-eared oryx, and a few ashy starlings. In the late afternoon, we will return to Arusha, where you will be dropped off at your hotel.


Price Includes:
– All park entry fees
– Concession fees
– Flying Doctor Service for emergency evacuation
– All park camping fees
– Airport pickup
– Ngorongoro Crater service fees
– Accommodation at hotels, lodges, tented camps, or campsites as per the safari program
– Chef services
– Meals as per the itinerary
– English-speaking driver/guide
– Transport in a 4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof
– Bottled drinking water (1.5 liters per person per day during the safari)
– One-night complimentary hotel accommodation in Arusha upon arrival, including breakfast
– Camping equipment, including tents, sleeping mats, sleeping bags, pillows, chairs and tables


Price Does Not Include:
– International and domestic flights
– Fees for passports, visas, immunizations, and insurance
– Tips for staff, including driver-guides, chefs, and porters
– Personal expenses such as souvenirs

“Please note that these are sample itineraries. We will tailor your safari according to your preferences.”

“Book your trip today and  experience an unforgettable safari adventure”

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