7-Day Tanzania Safari

Manyara, Ngorongoro & Serengeti

The ultimate 7-day Tanzania safari itinerary. Spend 1 night in Lake Manyara, 2 in Ngorongoro, and 3 nights in the Serengeti for the Big Five and Great Migration.

The reason this specific 7 Day Tanzania Safari works so well is the progression of landscapes. You start with the intimate, forested Lake Manyara, move to the dramatic enclosed theater of the Ngorongoro Crater, and finish with the infinite horizons of the Serengeti. It builds momentum, ensuring that every day feels bigger and more “African” than the last.

PEAK SEASON

JULY – OCT

IDEAL TRIP LENGTH

7 DAYS

Trip Highlights

The Tree-Climbing Lions: Spot the legendary lions of Lake Manyara lounging in acacia branches.
Ngorongoro Crater Floor: Descend 600 meters into a “Garden of Eden” teeming with over 30,000 animals.
Rare Black Rhinos: Increase your chances of seeing the rarest member of the Big Five in the Ngorongoro sanctuary.
Endless Serengeti Plains: Experience the vastness of the park that inspired The Lion King.
The Great Migration: Witness millions of wildebeest and zebras (season dependent) thundering across the savannah.

Pink Flamingo Carpets: See the alkaline shores of Lake Manyara transformed by thousands of vibrant birds.
Leopard Tracking: Use the expertise of local guides to find these solitary cats draped over sausage trees in the Seronera Valley.
Maasai Cultural Interaction: Learn the traditions and jump with the iconic Maasai warriors.

7-Day Tanzania Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park

Your 7 Day Tanzania Safari begins with a scenic drive from Arusha toward Lake Manyara National Park. While smaller than its famous neighbors, Manyara is a botanical wonderland. As you enter, you are immediately enveloped by a dense groundwater forest—a lush, green canopy that feels more like a jungle than a savannah.

Keep your binoculars ready for the baboons; Manyara hosts some of the largest troops in Africa. However, the real prize here is the tree-climbing lions. While researchers still debate why they do it (likely to escape bugs or catch a breeze), seeing a 400-pound cat napping on a branch is a sight you won’t soon forget. You’ll spend your first night at a lodge overlooking the Rift Valley escarpment, watching the sun dip below the horizon.
Day 2–3: The Ngorongoro Conservation Area

On the second morning of your 7 Day Tanzania Safari, you’ll head toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This is a unique geographical marvel where humans (the Maasai) and wildlife coexist.

The Ngorongoro Crater is a self-contained ecosystem. Because the walls are so steep, many animals stay within the caldera year-round. This makes for some of the densest wildlife viewing on the planet. Spending two nights here allows you to be at the crater floor gate by dawn. Watching the mist lift off the grass as a pride of lions stalks a group of zebras in the early light is a spiritual experience. It is also your absolute best shot at spotting the elusive Black Rhino, which finds sanctuary within these natural walls.
Day 4–6: The Heart of the Serengeti

The climax of your 7 Day Tanzania Safari is the three-night stay in the Serengeti. The name comes from the Maasai word Siringet, meaning “endless plains,” and the scale is truly humbling.

With three nights, you aren’t tethered to the main roads. Your guide can take you deep into the Seronera Valley or toward the Western Corridor, depending on where the herds are moving. This is the land of the predators. Leopard sightings are common along the acacia-lined rivers, and cheetahs utilize the vast flatlands to hit their record-breaking speeds.

Whether it’s the Great Migration river crossings (July–October) or the calving season (January–February), the Serengeti never sleeps. Your days will be filled with “African massages” (the bumpy, exciting ride of the 4×4) and your evenings with “Sundowners”—a drink in hand as the wild world settles into the shadows.
Day 7: Serengeti to Arusha (The Fly-Out)

As your 7 Day Tanzania Safari comes to a close, you’ll enjoy one last morning game drive. The early hours are often the most productive, catching the big cats as they finish their nightly hunts. After a bush breakfast, you’ll begin the journey back to Arusha.

The drive back is a time for reflection. You’ll find that your camera roll is full, but the memories of the silence, the smell of the rain on the dry earth, and the raw power of nature are what truly stick with you.

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Trip Highlights

Each journey is tailored to your specific needs and desires, and so our prices vary depending on the number of people
traveling, level of accommodations desired, and activities included, among other factors.

Our travel designers will curate a journey specifically for you. If you have a budget you want us to work with, please let
us know, and we will do our best to achieve it.