7 DAYS THE CRATER, SERENGETI & CULTURAL SAFARI

7 Days

Guide
Guided
Tour Availability
Available
Price
From US$ 2,582 per person sharing

Inclusions / Exclusions

Overview

Itinerary

Inclusions / Exclusions

Tour Introduction

This 7-day expedition offers a diverse and enriching perspective of Northern Tanzania. Uniquely, the journey dives straight into the action with a visit to the Ngorongoro Crater on the very first full day, ensuring you see the Big Five early in your trip. You then continue to the Central Serengeti for a relaxed three-night stay, allowing ample time to track predators in the famous Seronera Valley. The adventure concludes with a detour to the rugged Lake Eyasi basin. Here, you will step away from the safari vehicle to engage with the Hadzabe and Datoga tribes, gaining insight into ancient hunter-gatherer traditions before your departure.

Day 01 :

Arrival Day: Kilimanjaro International Airport – Arusha (1 hour)

Your Tanzanian adventure begins as you touch down at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), the gateway to the safari circuit. On a clear day, you may catch a glimpse of Mount Kilimanjaro’s snow-capped peak from the tarmac. You will be welcomed by a representative and transferred to your hotel in Arusha, a vibrant city nestled at the foot of Mount Meru. Depending on your arrival time, you safari briefing may take place today or early tomorrow meaning.

Meal: Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Arusha

Day 02 :

Arusha – Ngorongoro Crater (3 hours)

You will start your safari with an early breakfast before driving to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Today is dedicated to the "Eighth Wonder of the World." You will descend 600 meters into the Ngorongoro Crater floor for a full game drive. This ancient volcanic caldera is a self-contained ecosystem teeming with wildlife, including the Big Five. You will have high chances of spotting lions, hyenas, and the critically endangered Black Rhino. After a picnic lunch near the hippo pool, you will ascend the steep walls in the late afternoon and head to your lodge on the crater rim or in nearby Karatu for the evening.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Lodge/Camp in Ngorongoro

Day 03 :

Ngorongoro – Central Serengeti (3 hours)

After breakfast, you will depart the cool highlands and descend towards the Great Rift Valley, heading for the Serengeti. You will stop at the Naabi Hill Gate for lunch before entering the vast, short-grass plains. As you drive further north into the Central Serengeti (Seronera), the landscape changes to savannah woodlands dotted with kopjes (rocky outcrops). This drive serves as your first game drive in the Serengeti, offering opportunities to spot herds of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles before arriving at your camp in the late afternoon.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Lodge/Camp in Central Serengeti

Day 04 :

Central Serengeti

You have a full day dedicated to exploring the Seronera Valley, the vibrant heart of the Serengeti. This region is renowned for its year-round wildlife abundance, largely due to the permanent waters of the Seronera River. Your guide will help you track the Big Five, with a special focus on leopards, which are frequently spotted lounging in the branches of sausage trees along the riverbanks. You might also encounter cheetahs using termite mounds as vantage points to scout for prey, or massive prides of lions resting in the shade of kopjes (rocky outcrops). A picnic lunch in the bush allows you to maximize your time viewing the complex interactions of this ancient ecosystem.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Lodge/Camp in Central Serengeti

Day 05 :

Central Serengeti

With a second full day in the Serengeti, you have the luxury of exploring further afield without the rush. You might head to the eastern plains to look for cheetahs on the Gol Kopjes or visit the Retima Hippo Pool to watch dozens of hippos wallowing and fighting for dominance. The extended time allows you to observe animal behavior more closely—perhaps witnessing a hunt or seeing lion cubs playing. You can return to camp for a hot lunch and a siesta during the heat of the day, heading back out in the golden afternoon light when the animals become active again.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Lodge/Camp in Central Serengeti

Day 06 :

Central Serengeti – Lake Eyasi (4.5 hours)

After a final morning game drive in the Serengeti, you will bid farewell to the plains and begin the journey to Lake Eyasi. You will retrace your steps through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, enjoying the scenic drive back up the crater highlands and down the escarpment into the Eyasi basin. The landscape shifts dramatically here, becoming drier and more rugged, dominated by ancient baobabs and acacia scrub. You will arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon, witnessing the sunset over the soda lake, a starkly beautiful contrast to the green savannahs you just left.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Lodge/Camp in Lake Eyasi

Day 07 :

Lake Eyasi – Kilimanjaro International Airport ( hours)

You will wake before dawn for a cultural highlight: a visit to the Hadzabe bushmen, one of the last hunter-gatherer tribes in Africa. You will have the unique opportunity to join them on a morning hunt, witnessing their traditional skills in archery and tracking, as well as their click language. Afterward, you may visit the Datoga tribe, skilled blacksmiths who forge tools from scrap metal. Following this rich cultural experience and an early lunch, you will begin the drive back to Arusha and onward to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your departure flight.

Meal: Breakfast & Lunch

Important Flight Note: Please note that your safari ends at around 18:00 hours at Kilimanjaro International Airport. Please plan your outbound flight to depart after 20:00 hours for domestic flight and 21:00 hours for International Flight. If you have an earlier flight please consider adding an extra night in Arusha.