7-Day Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire & Walking Safari

Classic game drives plus guided walking safaris with armed rangers.

Duration

7 Days / 6 Nights

From

$1,430 pp

Style

Private journey

Overview

A week combining the classic 4×4 northern circuit with two guided walking-safari mornings, tracking the bush on foot with armed rangers.

Highlights

  • 2 guided walking mornings
  • Tarangire, Serengeti, Crater
  • Armed ranger escort
  • Bush ecology focus

Day-by-day itinerary

Sample programme. Every journey is private and can be paced or extended to suit you.

Arrival, Kilimanjaro Airport

Day 1 · Arrival, Kilimanjaro Airport

Arrival in Arusha

You will be picked up from either Kilimanjaro or Arusha Airport and dropped off at Karibu Heritage House. If time allows (depending on your arrival), you will have the option to do an Arusha city tour, visiting the famous art gallery, the Cultural Heritage Centre, the local market, and the Maasai market. Overnight at Karibu Heritage House • Budget hotel located in or near Arusha.

Your safari begins the moment you walk out of Kilimanjaro International Airport. A Serengeti Wakanda guide is waiting with your name on a board and the words every traveller wants to hear: karibu Tanzania, welcome to Tanzania.

We transfer you to your lodge in the Arusha foothills, where you can shower, change into safari clothes and settle in. Your driver-guide joins you for a relaxed welcome dinner, walks through tomorrow's plan in detail and answers every last question. An early night sets you up for the days ahead.

Dinner~50 km, 1 hr from JRO to Arusha

Today's plan

  • Meet & greet at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
  • Private transfer to your Arusha lodge (about 1 hour)
  • Trip briefing with your driver-guide over dinner
  • Time to rest, swap currency and adjust to the time zone

Where you sleep tonight

Karibu Heritage House

Karibu Heritage House

Guesthouse in Arusha

Warm, owner-run guesthouse in Arusha — the trusted first/last-night base for our camping and trekking guests.

Tarangire National Park

Day 2 · Tarangire National Park

Arusha to Tarangire National Park

After breakfast, at 7:45 am, you will be picked up from your accommodation and drive for approximately 2 hours to Tarangire National Park. The park is famous for its large elephant herds and ancient baobab trees. From our open-roof vehicle, you’ll experience seasonal swamps and savannah. The Tarangire River teems with wildlife, including birds, giraffes, impalas, lions, leopards, and elephants. We’ll have a picnic lunch at a picturesque spot before continuing our game viewing. Finally, we’ll head to Fig Tree Lodge for dinner and an overnight stay. Overnight at Fig Tree Lodge & Camp • Budget hotel located in or near Mto wa Mbu.

Tarangire is the elephant capital of northern Tanzania. In the dry season the Tarangire River is the only permanent water for miles, and herds of up to 250 elephants come down to drink, calves tumbling between their mothers' legs.

You spend the day on a private game drive through baobab-studded floodplains: lions resting in the shade, giraffe browsing acacia tops, fringe-eared oryx and the strange dwarf mongoose colonies. We pack a hot picnic lunch so you can stay in the park while the light is good.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner~150 km from Arusha, ~3 hrs

Today's plan

  • Full-day private 4×4 game drive in Tarangire
  • Picnic lunch overlooking the Tarangire River
  • Photograph the giant baobabs and elephant herds
  • Sundowner back at camp with the sounds of the bush

Where you sleep tonight

Fig Tree Lodge & Camp

Fig Tree Lodge & Camp

Lodge & camp near Tarangire NP

Family-run lodge and camp just outside Tarangire's main gate, with simple chalets, pool and bush dinners under the figs.

Central Serengeti (Seronera)

Day 3 · Central Serengeti (Seronera)

Fig Tree Lodge to Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, you will begin your journey to Serengeti. The route ahead will take you through a long and occasionally bumpy road, providing you with approximately 4-5 hours of captivating game viewing as you ascend the crater highlands towards the vast plains of Serengeti. If the weather conditions allow and visibility is clear, a 10-minute stop will be made at Ngorongoro Viewpoint, offering you a glimpse of the breathtaking caldera before continuing the drive to Serengeti. You will enjoy a delightful picnic lunch along the way, allowing you to refuel and take in the surrounding scenery. Upon reaching the park, an afternoon game drive will be arranged for you to fully immerse yourself in the abundance of wildlife. As the sun begins to set, you will make your way to your campsite, where a delicious dinner will be served, followed by a restful overnight stay in the tranquility of the Serengeti. Overnight at Lala Salama Serengeti Camp • Mid-range tented camp located inside Serengeti NP.

The Seronera valley is the heart of the Serengeti and a year-round game-viewing area. Permanent water, rocky kopjes and short-grass plains create the highest density of big cats in Africa: roughly 1 lion per 10 km², and the best leopard sightings on the circuit.

Mornings start before sunrise to catch the cats while they are still active; midday is a slow picnic in the shade of an acacia. In the afternoon we work the riverine fig trees for leopards and the kopjes for resting prides. Distances are long but every stop is worth it.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner~145 km from Ngorongoro gate, ~3.5 hrs in-park

Today's plan

  • Dawn departure for prime cat activity
  • Picnic lunch on a Seronera kopje
  • Search the fig trees for leopards
  • Optional hot-air balloon safari at sunrise (extra)

Where you sleep tonight

Lala Salama Serengeti Camp

Lala Salama Serengeti Camp

Tented camp, Serengeti

Classic tented camp pitched in the heart of the Serengeti — warm hosting, hearty bush meals and easy access to the plains right from your tent flap.

Central Serengeti (Seronera)

Day 4 · Central Serengeti (Seronera)

Full Day Game Drive in Serengeti

Today, we’re spending the entire day in the Serengeti National Park. We start our exploration at sunrise with a full-day game drive, searching for the Big 5. After returning to the campsite for breakfast, we head out for an afternoon game drive. There is more to Serengeti than large mammals. The Serengeti is also home to over 500 bird species, including ostriches, secretary birds, and black eagles. We’ll continue searching for wildlife until sunset, then return to camp for dinner and an overnight stay. Overnight at Lala Salama Serengeti Camp • Mid-range tented camp located inside Serengeti NP.

The Seronera valley is the heart of the Serengeti and a year-round game-viewing area. Permanent water, rocky kopjes and short-grass plains create the highest density of big cats in Africa: roughly 1 lion per 10 km², and the best leopard sightings on the circuit.

Mornings start before sunrise to catch the cats while they are still active; midday is a slow picnic in the shade of an acacia. In the afternoon we work the riverine fig trees for leopards and the kopjes for resting prides. Distances are long but every stop is worth it.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner~145 km from Ngorongoro gate, ~3.5 hrs in-park

Today's plan

  • Dawn departure for prime cat activity
  • Picnic lunch on a Seronera kopje
  • Search the fig trees for leopards
  • Optional hot-air balloon safari at sunrise (extra)

Where you sleep tonight

Lala Salama Serengeti Camp

Lala Salama Serengeti Camp

Tented camp, Serengeti

Classic tented camp pitched in the heart of the Serengeti — warm hosting, hearty bush meals and easy access to the plains right from your tent flap.

Central Serengeti (Seronera)

Day 5 · Central Serengeti (Seronera)

Walking Safari, followed by game-drive in Serengeti

Following breakfast, your day will kick off with a walking safari on the Serengeti plains, accompanied by an armed park ranger. This adventure allows you to immerse yourself in the sights and scents of the African savannah. Later in the day, your safari guide will join you for an afternoon game drive. The day will conclude back at the campsite with dinner and an overnight stay. Overnight at Lala Salama Serengeti Camp • Mid-range tented camp located inside Serengeti NP.

The Seronera valley is the heart of the Serengeti and a year-round game-viewing area. Permanent water, rocky kopjes and short-grass plains create the highest density of big cats in Africa: roughly 1 lion per 10 km², and the best leopard sightings on the circuit.

Mornings start before sunrise to catch the cats while they are still active; midday is a slow picnic in the shade of an acacia. In the afternoon we work the riverine fig trees for leopards and the kopjes for resting prides. Distances are long but every stop is worth it.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner~145 km from Ngorongoro gate, ~3.5 hrs in-park

Today's plan

  • Dawn departure for prime cat activity
  • Picnic lunch on a Seronera kopje
  • Search the fig trees for leopards
  • Optional hot-air balloon safari at sunrise (extra)

Where you sleep tonight

Lala Salama Serengeti Camp

Lala Salama Serengeti Camp

Tented camp, Serengeti

Classic tented camp pitched in the heart of the Serengeti — warm hosting, hearty bush meals and easy access to the plains right from your tent flap.

Central Serengeti (Seronera)

Day 6 · Central Serengeti (Seronera)

Serengeti to Ngorongoro (Simba Campsite)

Today’s adventure begins early as you depart from the campsite with a packed breakfast for a sunrise game drive, offering the best opportunity to spot animals when they are most active. A stop at a picturesque picnic site allows you to enjoy breakfast in the heart of the wilderness. Following this, the game drive will resume, keeping you captivated until you return to the camp around noon for a satisfying hot lunch. Once you’ve had lunch and loaded up your vehicle, it’s time to bid farewell to the camp and set off for Ngorongoro. The day concludes with dinner and an overnight stay at Simba campsite in Ngorongoro. Overnight at Ngorongoro Simba Campsite • On the crater rim of Ngorongoro Crater.

The Seronera valley is the heart of the Serengeti and a year-round game-viewing area. Permanent water, rocky kopjes and short-grass plains create the highest density of big cats in Africa: roughly 1 lion per 10 km², and the best leopard sightings on the circuit.

Mornings start before sunrise to catch the cats while they are still active; midday is a slow picnic in the shade of an acacia. In the afternoon we work the riverine fig trees for leopards and the kopjes for resting prides. Distances are long but every stop is worth it.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner~145 km from Ngorongoro gate, ~3.5 hrs in-park

Today's plan

  • Dawn departure for prime cat activity
  • Picnic lunch on a Seronera kopje
  • Search the fig trees for leopards
  • Optional hot-air balloon safari at sunrise (extra)

Where you sleep tonight

Ngorongoro Simba Campsite

Ngorongoro Simba Campsite

Public campsite, crater rim

Legendary crater-rim public campsite — dome tents pitched on the very edge of Ngorongoro at 2,400 m.

Ngorongoro Crater

Day 7 · Ngorongoro Crater

Ngorongoro Crater

Today, your game-drive begins early at 6 am as you board the safari vehicle. You’ll descend into the Ngorongoro Crater with your packed breakfast. This remarkable location is home to nearly every species of wildlife native to East Africa, including the elusive black rhino, which, if luck is on our side, we might spot. The crater spans an area of 260 square kilometers and boasts a diameter of around 20 kilometres, so exploring its wonders will take approximately 5 hours. You’ll ascend back to the campsite for a satisfying hot lunch and then begin your return journey to Arusha, concluding your safari adventure. Anticipated arrival time in Arusha is between 5 pm and 6 pm.

The Ngorongoro Crater is a 260 km² collapsed caldera with 600 m walls, and the highest density of large mammals on Earth. Inside the crater floor live around 25,000 large animals, including the densest population of black-maned lions and one of the last strongholds of the eastern black rhino.

We descend at first light when the floor is still in shadow and the cats are working. A picnic breakfast on the rim, a full morning circuit past the soda lake's flamingos and Lerai Forest's elephants, then a climb back up the escarpment in time for a late lunch.

Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerCrater floor circuit ~6 hrs, 4×4 onlyRim 2,400 m, floor 1,800 m

Today's plan

  • Crater descent at first light
  • Search for the Big Five including black rhino
  • Picnic breakfast on the crater floor
  • Lerai Forest elephants and Munge soda flats

Route map

7-Day Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire & Walking Safari, route

  1. 1Kilimanjaro
  2. 2Tarangire
  3. 3Serengeti
  4. 4Ngorongoro

What makes this trip special

Private journey

Your own vehicle, guide and pace, no shared safari.

Local expertise

Designed and led by Tanzanians who grew up beside these parks.

Photo-friendly

Pop-top vehicles, beanbags on request and unrushed stops at every sighting.

Good to know

Everything you need to plan, pack and travel with confidence.

Best time to travel

Year-round. Peak game viewing runs June to October, when the bush is dry and animals concentrate around water. January to March is the dramatic green season, with wildebeest calving in southern Serengeti and excellent predator action. November is a brief shoulder month with low prices and lush landscapes.

Group size

Designed for 2 to 6 guests in a private 4×4 Land Cruiser with a guaranteed window seat for everyone. Families, honeymooners and small friend groups are our sweet spot. Larger parties travel in additional vehicles, never with strangers.

Physical rating

Easy. Days are spent in the vehicle with comfortable lodge or tented camp accommodation. Optional walking safaris are graded separately and require basic fitness.

Getting there

Fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which is served by KLM, Qatar, Turkish, Ethiopian, Kenya Airways and Precision Air. We meet you at the gate and handle every transfer for the rest of the trip.

Visa & entry

USD 50 single-entry e-visa for most nationalities, applied for online at eservices.immigration.go.tz at least two weeks before travel. US passport holders need the USD 100 multiple-entry visa.

Currency & payments

US dollars (post-2009 bills only) are widely accepted; Tanzanian shillings for small purchases. Major lodges accept Visa and Mastercard but a small surcharge may apply.

Electricity

230 V, UK-style three-pin plugs (Type G). Most camps have charging in the main area; bring a universal adapter.

Connectivity

4G coverage across Arusha and Zanzibar, intermittent in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro. Most lodges have Wi-Fi in the main lounge. A local Vodacom or Airtel SIM is cheap and easy to buy at the airport.

Tipping guidance

A guideline, not an obligation. Around USD 25 per guest per day for your driver-guide and USD 10 per day for lodge staff (collective tip box). On Kilimanjaro, USD 20 to 25 per climber per day for the crew is standard.

Responsible travel

We are a Tanzanian-owned company and 100% of our guides, cooks and office staff are Tanzanian. Park fees flow directly to TANAPA and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Our camps follow leave-no-trace principles and we offset every vehicle kilometre through a verified East African reforestation program.

Booking & cancellation

A 20% deposit confirms your dates. Balance due 60 days before travel. If you need to cancel, you receive a credit note for the full amount paid, valid 2 years to rebook — subject to individual accommodation policies which may differ.

What to pack

  • Neutral, layered safari clothes (long sleeves help with sun and mosquitoes)
  • A warm fleece for cold mornings on the Ngorongoro rim
  • Closed walking shoes and a wide-brimmed hat
  • Binoculars (8×42 is the safari standard) and a lightweight camera
  • Reef-safe sunscreen and a refillable water bottle
  • Soft duffel bag if flying between camps (15 kg limit)

Health & safety

  • Yellow fever certificate required only if arriving from a yellow fever country
  • Anti-malarial prophylaxis is strongly recommended, consult your travel clinic
  • Travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is mandatory
  • Tap water is not potable, we provide unlimited bottled water in the vehicle

Photography

  • Pop-up roof and beanbags supplied on every vehicle
  • Bring at least a 100-400 mm zoom; a wide angle for landscapes
  • Extra memory cards and a charger that fits the 220 V UK-style plug
  • Drones are prohibited inside national parks without a written permit

Pricing, per person

Rates in USD, sharing twin/double accommodation. Final quote depends on chosen lodges and exact dates.

2 Pax3 Pax4 Pax5 Pax6 Pax
$2,150$1,850$1,670$1,550$1,430

Single supplement applies for solo travellers. "—" means group size not offered for this itinerary.

What's included

  • Private 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
  • Professional English-speaking driver-guide
  • All park & conservation fees
  • Accommodation as per itinerary
  • All meals on safari (B/L/D)
  • Bottled water in the vehicle
  • Airport transfers
  • Two guided walking safaris with armed ranger

Not included

  • International flights
  • Tanzania entry visa (USD 50)
  • Travel & medical insurance
  • Personal expenses & tips
  • Optional activities (balloon, walking safari)

Frequently asked

When is the best time to go?+

June–October for classic game viewing; January–March for the calving season in southern Serengeti; July–October for the Mara River crossings.

Is it safe?+

Yes, our vehicles are radio-equipped, our guides are licensed, and we operate only in well-managed parks. We've been doing this for over a decade with zero incidents.

Can the itinerary be customised?+

Absolutely. Every tour is private and tailor-made, extend a day, add a balloon flight, or combine with Zanzibar.

Similar journeys

You may also like