7-Day Tanzania Safari - Manyara · Serengeti · Ngorongoro · Tarangire

Day by day

7 days in East Africa.

1. Day 1

   Arusha – Manyara

   Leave Arusha in the morning and drive west across the Maasai steppe, arriving in the Lake Manyara area by lunchtime. The afternoon game drive in Lake Manyara National Park follows the groundwater forest and the lakeshore in the 4x4 Land Cruiser, looking for elephant, hippo, giraffe, buffalo, baboon and the flamingo and pelican that gather on the soda lake, with a chance of the park's tree-climbing lions. Return after the afternoon game drive for dinner and the night.

   Overnight

   Fanaka Campsite, Lake ManyaraLake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge

   Meals

   Lunch and dinner

2. Day 2

   Manyara – Serengeti

   After breakfast, depart for the Serengeti over the Ngorongoro highlands, stopping at Olduvai Gorge, the archaeological site made famous by the Leakey family's discoveries of early hominid remains. Descend onto the plains with game viewing as you go: great herds of buffalo, groups of elephant and giraffe, and thousands of eland, topi, kongoni, impala and gazelle, with lion prides, leopard along the Seronera River and cheetah on the open ground. All meals are included, and the day ends with an unhurried evening.

   Overnight

   Seronera Camp, SerengetiSerengeti Serena Safari Lodge

   Meals

   Breakfast, lunch and dinner

3. Day 3

   Serengeti National Park

   A full day with morning and afternoon game drives to explore the plains around your lodge. The Serengeti is the heart of a much larger ecosystem that includes the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the Maswa, Loliondo, Grumeti and Ikorongo reserves and Kenya's Maasai Mara, so animals move freely over an enormous area; your guide follows recent sightings and the movements of the herds. Hyena, jackal, aardwolf and serval are among the smaller predators to look for. Return after the day's game viewing for dinner and your overnight stay.

   Overnight

   Seronera Camp, SerengetiSerengeti Serena Safari Lodge

   Meals

   Breakfast, lunch and dinner

4. Day 4

   Serengeti – Ngorongoro

   After breakfast, depart the Serengeti for Ngorongoro, one of the natural wonders of the world, with game viewing on the way out of the park and across the short-grass plains. The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest unflooded and unbroken caldera on earth: about 20 kilometres across, 600 metres deep and 300 square kilometres in area. Arrive on the rim in the afternoon with time to take in the view. Meals are provided, and there is time to unwind before the night.

   Overnight

   Simba Campsite, NgorongoroNgorongoro Serena Safari Lodge

   Meals

   Breakfast, lunch and dinner

   

5. Day 5

   Ngorongoro Conservation Area

   After an early breakfast, leave with picnic lunches for a full-day crater tour, descending 2,000 feet to the floor in the 4x4 Land Cruiser. The enclosed grassland, swamps and forest hold lion, elephant, buffalo, hyena, large herds of zebra and wildebeest and, with luck, black rhino, while flamingo feed on the soda lake. Explore the floor through the day before ascending back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

   Overnight

   Simba Campsite, NgorongoroNgorongoro Serena Safari Lodge

   Meals

   Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner

6. Day 6

   Ngorongoro – Tarangire National Park

   After breakfast, drive south-east from the Ngorongoro highlands, through Karatu and Mto wa Mbu, to Tarangire National Park, arriving around lunchtime. The afternoon game drive explores a landscape of giant baobabs and acacia woodland along the Tarangire River, which draws elephant herds, buffalo, zebra and wildebeest in the dry season, with lion and leopard following them. Come back for dinner and a quiet evening.

   Overnight

   Fanaka Campsite, TarangireTarangire Simba Lodge

   Meals

   Breakfast, lunch and dinner

   

7. Day 7

   Tarangire – Arusha

   A morning game drive in Tarangire National Park gives a final opportunity for sightings as the elephant herds move down to the river and the light is at its best among the baobabs. Then leave the park and drive back to Arusha, about two hours away, arriving around midday. Drop-off is at your hotel or at Kilimanjaro or Arusha airport; tell us your onward plans when booking so the departure time from Tarangire suits them.

   Meals

   Breakfast

Your questions, answered.