6 days ยท Classic
6-day Tanzania safari
The northern circuit done properly: Tarangire, Manyara, Serengeti and the crater.
Six days is the sweet spot for a first Tanzania safari. You see the four great parks of the north without a single rushed day, with two nights in the Serengeti and a first-light descent into Ngorongoro Crater to finish.
- Elephant herds among Tarangire baobabs
- Tree-climbing lions and flamingos at Lake Manyara
- Two full days in the central Serengeti
- Ngorongoro Crater at dawn, before the day-trip traffic
- Optional balloon flight over the plains
Day by day
The itinerary
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Day 1
Arusha to Tarangire National Park
Your guide collects you after breakfast for the two-hour drive to Tarangire, a park known for its ancient baobabs and some of the largest elephant herds in Tanzania. Game drive through the afternoon with a picnic lunch inside the park, watching for lion, giraffe, zebra and the park's remarkable birdlife.
Overnight Tarangire area lodge
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Day 2
Tarangire to Lake Manyara
An early start for the short drive to Lake Manyara, a compact park between the Rift Valley wall and a soda lake. Look for tree-climbing lions, hippos in the pools, elephants in the groundwater forest and flamingos along the shore. Picnic lunch, then a relaxed afternoon at the lodge.
Overnight Lake Manyara or Karatu lodge
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Day 3
Lake Manyara to central Serengeti
Climb through the Ngorongoro highlands and drop onto the Serengeti plains. The drive itself is a game drive: wildebeest and zebra on the short grass, and often the first predator sighting before you reach camp. Afternoon game drive around Seronera.
Overnight Central Serengeti camp
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Day 4
Full day in the Serengeti
Morning and afternoon game drives, or one long day with a picnic if the sightings are far out. Resident lion prides, leopards along the Seronera River and cheetah on the plains. A dawn balloon flight can be added today.
Overnight Central Serengeti camp
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Day 5
Serengeti to Ngorongoro
A last morning drive in the Serengeti, then the scenic road back through the conservation area, with lunch on the way and Maasai herds beside the track. Arrive at the crater rim in time for the evening view.
Overnight Ngorongoro rim lodge
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Day 6
Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha
Descend at first light for a morning on the crater floor: black rhino, lion, elephant, buffalo, hippo and flamingos. Picnic lunch by the hippo pool, then climb out and drive back to Arusha for your onward flight or Zanzibar connection.
Overnight Trip ends in Arusha
Yours, not ours
Make it yours
This is the version we start from. Here is what usually changes. Tell us which one and we will work it through with you.
- How many days Add a night in the Serengeti, or drop one and go straight for the crater.
- The camps Simple and comfortable, mid-range lodges, or canvas with a view and a bath.
- Add-ons A balloon at first light, a walking safari, an afternoon in a village.
- Pace for children Later starts, shorter drives, and a pool at the end of the day.
- Zanzibar extension Three or four nights on the coast once the last game drive is done.
Included
- Airport and lodge transfers
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Professional English-speaking woman guide
- All park entrance and conservation fees
- Full-board accommodation on safari
- Picnic lunches on game-drive days
- Bottled drinking water in the vehicle
- Government taxes and levies
Not included
- International and domestic flights
- Visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance
- Alcoholic drinks and personal expenses
- Tips for your guide and camp staff
- Optional activities such as balloon safaris
Parks on this trip
Worth adding
Optional, priced separately, and easy to slot in when we build your itinerary.
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Balloon safari over the Serengeti
An hour above the plains at dawn, then a bush breakfast where you land.
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Maasai village visit
An afternoon in a boma, with someone who can actually translate.
Questions about this kind of trip
Is Tanzania safe for a woman travelling alone?
Yes, with a licensed operator. You are with your guide from arrival to departure, lodges and camps are staffed around the clock, and we brief you on the few things worth knowing about towns and markets.
Can I request a woman guide?
Every Savanna Soul safari is led by a woman guide unless you ask otherwise. Tell us in the inquiry if you have a preference for a particular guide.
What does the single supplement cost?
It varies by lodge and by season, and it is the one figure people are most often surprised by, so we quote it as a separate line on your itinerary rather than burying it in the total.
Will I be put in a vehicle with strangers?
Not unless you ask to be. Every trip is private by default. Your vehicle holds your group and your guide, and nobody else joins it. The one exception is a group departure, which shares the cost, so if you would like us to look for one, say so and we will tell you what is running.
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