Safari Overview
This 7 Days Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Tanzania Safari brings together three of the country's best-known wildlife areas in one well-paced journey. Start in Tarangire National Park, known for its large elephant herds and towering baobabs, before heading into the Serengeti for two full days of game viewing across the endless plains.
The final part of the safari takes you to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and into the crater itself. With a full-day Ngorongoro Crater descent, there is plenty of time to look for lion, elephant, buffalo, hippo, zebra and, with luck, black rhino.
This route is designed to give you a good mix of game drives, scenic landscapes and relaxed lodge stays without trying to fit too many parks into one week.
Best Time to Visit
June to October is a popular time for this safari. The weather is generally dry and wildlife viewing is strong across Tarangire, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro. January to March is also a great choice for green scenery and the calving season in parts of the Serengeti ecosystem.
November to May can be quieter and greener. Rain varies by area, but the route can still work very well with the right lodge and travel dates.
Animals You Can Expect to See
Tarangire
- ✓ Elephant
- ✓ Giraffe
- ✓ Zebra
- ✓ Wildebeest
- ✓ Buffalo
- ✓ Lion
- ✓ Many bird species
Central Serengeti
- ✓ Lion
- ✓ Leopard
- ✓ Cheetah
- ✓ Elephant
- ✓ Buffalo
- ✓ Zebra & wildebeest
- ✓ Giraffe & hippo
Ngorongoro
- ✓ Lion
- ✓ Elephant
- ✓ Buffalo
- ✓ Hippo
- ✓ Zebra & wildebeest
- ✓ Flamingos
- ✓ Black rhino
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Arusha to Tarangire National Park
Meet your private guide in Arusha after breakfast and drive towards Tarangire National Park. The journey takes around 2 to 3 hours, with the landscape changing from farmland to open savannah as you approach the park.
Enter Tarangire for an afternoon game drive. Look out for elephants, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and large baobab trees, with chances of seeing lion and other predators as well. Continue to your lodge for dinner and your first night in the bush.
Tarangire Full-Day Safari
Spend the day exploring Tarangire with a private game drive. The park is especially known for its elephant herds and the huge baobabs that stand across the landscape.
With a picnic lunch, you can stay out longer and explore different parts of the park instead of returning to the lodge for midday. Keep watching the river and open plains for elephants, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and predators. Return to the lodge in the late afternoon.
Tarangire to Serengeti National Park
After breakfast, leave Tarangire and travel towards the Serengeti. The drive takes you through the Ngorongoro highlands, with changing scenery along the way before the wide Serengeti plains begin to open up.
Enter the Serengeti and enjoy a game drive en route to your lodge. Depending on the season and wildlife movement, your guide will choose the best areas to explore before settling in for the evening.
Central Serengeti Full-Day Safari
Start early for a sunrise game drive in the Central Serengeti. The cooler morning hours are a great time to look for active predators, with lion, cheetah and leopard often found around the plains and rocky kopjes.
Continue with a full day of game viewing, stopping for a picnic lunch in the park. Your guide will follow the wildlife and spend more time around sightings that interest you most. Return to camp in the evening.
Central Serengeti — Another Full Day in the Plains
Enjoy another full day in the Serengeti, giving you more time to explore beyond the main areas visited on your first day. The Serengeti is home to large numbers of lion, cheetah, leopard, elephant, buffalo, giraffe and plains game.
Your route will depend on the season and current wildlife activity. Spend the morning and afternoon on game drives with a relaxed break for lunch, then return to camp as the light starts to soften across the plains.
Serengeti to Ngorongoro
After breakfast, enjoy a final morning game drive in the Serengeti (optional) before travelling towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Leave the open plains behind as you climb into the cooler highlands.
Arrive at your lodge near the crater rim and take time to enjoy the views. The evening is relaxed, with dinner and an early night before tomorrow's full-day crater descent.
Full-Day Ngorongoro Crater Descent & Return to Arusha
Start early and descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a full day of wildlife viewing. The crater floor is home to a remarkable concentration of animals, including lion, elephant, buffalo, hippo, zebra, wildebeest and flamingos. With luck, you may also spot the endangered black rhino.
Enjoy a picnic lunch at a designated area inside the crater before continuing the game drive. In the afternoon, ascend from the crater and begin the journey back to Arusha, arriving later in the day for your onward travel or final overnight stay.
What's Included & Excluded
Included
- Airport pickup and final Arusha transfer
- 6 nights accommodation in safari lodges or tented camps
- Meals as shown in the itinerary
- Private 4×4 safari vehicle and professional driver-guide
- Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro park and conservation fees
- Full-day game drives in Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater
- Picnic lunches during full-day park drives
- Crater service fees and game drive access
Not Included
- International flights
- Tanzania visa or entry fees
- Travel and medical insurance
- Drinks and personal expenses unless stated
- Gratuities for guides and lodge staff
- Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
Frequently Asked Questions
The safari includes 6 nights accommodation, private 4×4 transport and guide, game drives, park and conservation fees, meals as listed and picnic lunches during the full-day drives.
The standard route has 2 nights in Tarangire, 3 nights in the Central Serengeti and 1 night near Ngorongoro. This gives you two full days to explore the Serengeti before the crater.
Tanzania's Northern Circuit gives you a strong chance of seeing lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and black rhino. Wildlife is wild, so sightings are never guaranteed, but your guide will follow current animal activity.
Tarangire is known for its large elephant herds and towering baobab trees. It is a very different landscape from the Serengeti and makes a good start to the safari.
Yes. Day 7 is dedicated to the Ngorongoro Crater, with an early descent, game viewing, a picnic lunch and an afternoon ascent before continuing to Arusha.
June to October is popular for dry weather and strong wildlife viewing. January to March can be excellent for green scenery and the Serengeti calving season. The safari can run year-round.
Yes. We can adjust the accommodation, number of Serengeti nights, travel dates and safari pace to match your plans and budget.
Entry requirements depend on your nationality. We can help you check the current Tanzania entry requirements before your trip.