7 Day Tanzania Safari: Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Lake Manyara

A 7 day Tanzania safari is the best way to see the northern circuit without rushing it. You get elephants and baobabs in Tarangire, tree climbing lions at Lake Manyara, the Ngorongoro Crater and three nights on the Serengeti plains.

You travel in a private 4×4 with a pop up roof and one driver guide from start to finish. Most guests start in Arusha. We can also arrange a shuttle from Nairobi, so you cross at Namanga and join the trip on Day 1.

This page covers the day by day plan, what each tier gets you, the park fees inside the price and the best months. Send your dates on WhatsApp and we reply with a written quote.

Highlights

• Four parks in seven days: Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro
• Three nights in the Serengeti, so you are not just passing through
• A full morning on the Ngorongoro Crater floor for rhino, lion and hippo
• Private 4×4 with a pop up roof and a driver guide who stays with you
• Budget camping, mid range lodge or luxury tented camp options
• Park fees shown openly, with no hidden gate costs

Day by day plan

1. Day 1

   Arusha to Tarangire

   You leave Arusha at about 8 am and drive 2 hours to Tarangire National Park. After a picnic lunch you start a game drive among baobabs and the Tarangire River. Elephant herds are the star here, with buffalo, giraffe and plenty of birds. You sleep at a camp or lodge inside or beside the park.

2. Day 2

   Tarangire to Lake Manyara and Karatu

   You spend the early morning in Tarangire, then drive about 2 hours to Lake Manyara National Park. The park has forest, a soda lake and troops of baboons. Tree climbing lions appear now and then, though you should not count on them. You sleep in the Karatu highlands, close to the crater.

3. Day 3

   Karatu to the Central Serengeti

   Today is a long and rewarding drive. You climb to the Ngorongoro rim, pass the Maasai bomas and stop at Olduvai Gorge for a short visit. The road then opens onto the Serengeti plains. You reach the Seronera area for a late afternoon game drive and sleep in the park.

4. Day 4

   Full day in the Serengeti

   You leave at first light, because the cats are most active early. Your guide follows the Seronera River, the kopjes and the open grassland. Lions, leopards and cheetahs live here with huge herds of zebra and wildebeest. You eat a packed lunch in the bush and return to camp at sunset.

5. Day 5

   Serengeti, second day

   You choose the pace today. Some guests go north or west to follow the migration. Others stay near Seronera for the big cats. Your guide reads the herd reports and picks the best area for the month. A balloon flight at dawn is an optional extra. You sleep in the Serengeti again.

6. Day 6

   Serengeti to the Ngorongoro rim

   You have a short morning game drive and then drive south, about 4 hours, to the crater highlands. The road passes Maasai grazing land and the Lemagrut hills. You reach your lodge on or near the rim by late afternoon. Cold air and misty views make this a good evening to rest.

7. Day 7

   Ngorongoro Crater and back to Arusha

   You descend into the crater at about 6.30 am. The floor is a self contained wildlife park with black rhino, lion, hyena and flamingos on the soda lake. You picnic at the hippo pool, then climb out around midday. The drive back to Arusha takes about 3.5 hours and ends at your hotel or the airport.

7 Day Tanzania Safari, guide price per person sharing, USD, low season

• Guide price per person sharing, confirmed in writing on WhatsApp before any payment
• Low season (Apr to Jun and Nov) shown, with fees included
• Jul to Oct and the Christmas period add about USD 250 to 600 per person
• Single travellers pay a supplement, which we quote on request
• Short on time? See our Serengeti and Ngorongoro adventure safari

Get my exact price on WhatsApp

What a 7 day Tanzania safari Really Covers

Seven days gives each park the time it deserves on a 7 day Tanzania safari. Many shorter trips skip Manyara or give the Serengeti a single night. That feels rushed.

Here you get one night in Tarangire, one in Karatu, three in the Serengeti and one on the Ngorongoro rim. The pace of this 7 day Tanzania safari stays steady. You still have a spare morning to adjust to weather or animal movements.

A 7 day Tanzania safari also suits families, couples and small groups of friends who want one big trip rather than several short ones.

If you prefer a lighter plan, see our 6 day Serengeti and Ngorongoro safari or the wider Tanzania safaris from Nairobi page.

How Much Is a 7 Day Tanzania Safari?

Our guide prices start at USD 2,320 per person for six people sharing, in budget camps and lodges. Two people in a mid range lodge pay about USD 3,790 each. Two people in a luxury tented camp pay about USD 5,780 each.

On any 7 day Tanzania safari, group size matters because the vehicle and guide cost is shared. A couple pays more per head than a family of six.

Park fees make up roughly a quarter of the budget price of a 7 day Tanzania safari. See our Tanzania safari packages and prices page for the wider range, or use the safari price calculator for a quick estimate.

Park Fees on a 7 Day Tanzania Safari

Fees are charged per person for each 24 hours inside a park. The Serengeti costs about USD 82.60 per day including VAT. Tarangire and Manyara cost about USD 59 per day.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area adds a conservation fee. The crater descent carries a service fee of about USD 295 per vehicle. These figures are all non resident rates.

Fees change, so we confirm the current tariff at booking. Our Serengeti park fees guide explains each line.

Budget, Mid Range or Luxury

The wildlife is the same in every tier. What changes is the bed, the food and how close you sleep to the action.

• Budget: camping and simple lodges, shared bathrooms in some camps, good hot meals
• Mid range: private bathrooms, a restaurant, often a view over the plains or the rim
• Luxury: tented suites in or near the Serengeti, a pool in some and a short walk to the dining tent

The Best Months for a 7 Day Tanzania Safari

The dry season from Jun to Oct is the classic window. Roads are firm, grass is short and animals gather at water. Tarangire is at its best from Jul to Oct.

Jan and Feb bring the calving season in the south of the Serengeti. Nov and Dec offer green scenery and fewer vehicles. Mar to May is the long rains, with the lowest prices and the quietest roads.

Use our Great Migration calendar to match the herds to your month. The best time to visit Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda guide adds weather detail.

Serengeti or Ngorongoro Crater: Which Matters More?

Both are worth the trip. This 7 day Tanzania safari includes both. The Serengeti gives you space, big cats and the migration. The crater gives you density, with rhino and lion in a small area.

If you can only choose one, pick the Serengeti. If you have kids or limited time, the crater is easier. Our Maasai Mara vs Serengeti guide helps you compare.

Getting to Arusha from Nairobi

The shuttle from Nairobi to Arusha takes about 6 to 7 hours including the border at Namanga. Kenyans need a valid passport and may need to pay a visa fee, which we confirm at booking.

You can also fly from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro Airport in about an hour. We can pair this with a 6 day Kenya Tanzania safari if you want to see the Maasai Mara first.

What to Pack for Northern Tanzania

Pack for two climates on a 7 day Tanzania safari. The crater rim is cold at dawn, often under 10 degrees Celsius. The Serengeti is hot by noon. Layers are the answer.

Pack neutral clothes, a warm fleece, a rain jacket, sunscreen, a hat and binoculars. Our safari packing checklist works for Tanzania too. Bring cash in USD for tips.

Who a 7 day Tanzania safari Suits

This 7 day Tanzania safari suits travellers who want depth. You spend long days in the vehicle, so it works best if you enjoy early starts and open landscapes. Children over 6 do well. Teenagers usually love the crater.

Honeymooners can swap the budget camps for luxury tented camps and finish at the coast. See our honeymoon safari packages for ideas.

Why Book Your 7 Day Tanzania Safari with Us

We are a Nairobi based operator with a 5.0 rating on Google from 46 reviews. We hold your trip with a deposit and you pay the balance in instalments before you travel.

You can pay by card on a secure Pesapal checkout, by Mpesa or by bank. Start on the book and pay page or message us on WhatsApp at +254 720 731957.

Health, Insurance and Tipping

Malaria is present in the lowlands, so ask your doctor about tablets. See the vaccinations and malaria guide. A yellow fever certificate may be needed if you arrive from a risk country.

Before a 7 day Tanzania safari we recommend medical evacuation cover. Our travel insurance and AMREF guide explains options. A fair tip for your driver guide is about USD 15 to 25 per day per vehicle group. Our tipping guide adds detail.

How to book your 7 day Tanzania safari

Booking your 7 day Tanzania safari with us takes about five minutes of your time. The rest is our job. Here is exactly what happens, step by step, so there are no surprises along the way.

1. Send your dates. Message us on WhatsApp with your travel dates, how many people are coming and the ages of any children. Tell us if you have a budget in mind. We plan with it, not around it.
2. Get a written quote. We reply with a clear price per person, what it includes and what it does not. No hidden park fees and no vague extras. If a cheaper camp or a shorter route makes more sense, we say so.
3. Tweak it until it fits. Change a camp, add a night or swap a park. Ask as many questions as you like. Changes cost nothing until you confirm.
4. Confirm with a deposit. A deposit holds your vehicle, guide and rooms. You get a written confirmation with every detail and the date the balance is due.
5. Travel day. Your driver guide meets you at your hotel or the airport with a name board. You have their number and ours for the whole trip.

What every trip with us includes

Every 7 day Tanzania safari plan we put together comes with the basics done properly. You ride in a safari vehicle with a pop up roof, with a professional driver guide who knows the parks. Water is in the cooler box and park fees are sorted in advance so you do not stand in a queue at the gate.

We also stay reachable. If something changes on the road, a flat tyre, a closed route or a sudden storm, we sort it and keep you posted on WhatsApp.

Paying safely

We share payment details in writing only and every payment gets a receipt. The payment options and the balance date sit on your written quote, so nothing is left to memory or a phone call.

Why book with a Nairobi team

We live here. We drive these roads all year, we know which camps are honest about their photos and we know when a park is too busy to enjoy. That local knowledge is what turns a good 7 day Tanzania safari into a great one. Our Google rating sits at 5.0 from 46 reviews and we plan to keep it that way.

Ready when you are. Send us a message and we will put a plan together for you shortly.

Questions people ask

Official information: Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA).

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