7 Day Camping Safari
A complete northern circuit camping safari through Tarangire, Lake Manyara, three nights in the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, with a stop at Olduvai Gorge.
- Duration
- 7 days
- Route
- Arusha – Tarangire – Lake Manyara – Serengeti – Ngorongoro Crater – Arusha
- Start / end
- Starts and ends in Arusha/Moshi, with arrival and departure via Kilimanjaro International Airport.
- Best time
- The northern circuit can be visited year-round; the dry season from June to October is generally best for game viewing in Tarangire, while the migration's location in the Serengeti varies with the rains.
- Trip style
- A camping safari in a 4x4 safari vehicle with a professional English-speaking guide and safari cook, sleeping in tents at public campsites.
Tour overview
This 7 Day Camping Safari visits Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. The itinerary is designed for visitors with more time on hand for a longer safari.
It offers a complete Tanzanian northern circuit safari experience while keeping your non-game-viewing travel time to a minimum, with nights at campsites inside or close to each park.
Highlights
- Tarangire National Park, known for its huge elephant population and baobab trees
- Lake Manyara, with its tree-climbing lions, large baboon troops and rich bird life
- Three nights at the Seronera campsite in the heart of the Serengeti
- Full-day game drives following the wildebeest migration
- Stop at Olduvai Gorge, a key site in the story of human evolution
- Game drive in the Ngorongoro Crater and a visit to Lake Magadi
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 0Arrival in Arusha
You will be picked up from Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred by private vehicle to Arusha for dinner and an overnight stay. If time allows, you can take a walking tour of a coffee plantation or choose to visit Arusha National Park before your camping safari begins. Your guide will brief you on the days ahead.
Day 1Tarangire National Park
After breakfast the tour departs. Our first stop is Arusha town for any last-minute purchases before we head off on safari. We then drive to Tarangire National Park for a game drive with a picnic lunch in the park. Tarangire is well known for its huge elephant population and baobab trees, and it forms the center of an annual migratory cycle that includes up to 3,000 elephants, 25,000 wildebeest and 30,000 zebras. Dinner and overnight at the campsite.
Day 2Lake Manyara National Park
After breakfast we head to Lake Manyara National Park, which offers breathtaking views and a wide variety of habitats: acacia woodlands, groundwater forests, baobab-strewn cliffs, algae-streaked hot springs, swamps and the lake itself. Thanks to this diversity, the small park supports a large number of animal species and incredible bird life. Manyara has one of the largest concentrations of baboons anywhere, and its lions are renowned for climbing trees. Dinner and overnight at the campsite.
Day 3Serengeti National Park
After breakfast, depart for Serengeti National Park via the beautiful highland farmland of Karatu and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Leaving the highlands behind, we descend into the heart of wild Africa, the Serengeti, with its endless plains rolling as far as the eye can see. We head to the central Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park, where the Seronera River provides a valuable water source that attracts most of the Serengeti's species. We arrive in time for lunch and enjoy an afternoon game drive.
Day 4–5Serengeti National Park
Two full days of game drives in Serengeti National Park, including following the wildebeest migration wherever the herds are grazing at the time of your visit. Your guide plans each day's route across the open plains in search of the park's wildlife, returning to camp in the evening. Dinner and overnight each night at the Serengeti Seronera Campsite.
Day 6Serengeti National Park – Ngorongoro Crater
After an early morning game drive, we depart for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. On the way we stop at Olduvai Gorge, a site with a history dating back to the dawn of humankind. It was here that the anthropologists Drs. Louis and Mary Leakey discovered the skulls of 'Nutcracker Man' and 'Handy Man', both very significant links in the chain of human evolution. In the late afternoon we transfer to the campsite for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 7Ngorongoro Crater – Arusha – Airport
After an early breakfast, descend over 600 meters into the crater to view wildlife. With a year-round supply of water and fodder, the crater supports herds of wildebeest, zebras, buffalo, eland, warthogs, hippos and giant African elephants, as well as a dense population of predators including lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs and the elusive leopard. We also visit Lake Magadi, a large, shallow alkaline lake in the southwestern corner, where flamingos, hippos and other water birds can usually be seen. In the late afternoon, transfer to Arusha or drop-off at the airport, marking the end of your safari.
What is included
- Transportation in a 4x4 safari vehicle
- Professional, English-speaking guide and safari cook
- Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner as per the itinerary
- Mineral water
- Overnight stays in tents
- Tents, mattresses and camping equipment
- All national park fees
Not included
- Sleeping bag
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Visa fees
- Tips
- Personal spending money for souvenirs and similar
- Travel insurance
Good to know
- This tour starts and ends in Arusha/Moshi; fly to and from Kilimanjaro International Airport near Arusha and Moshi.
- Sleeping bags are not included, so bring your own or arrange one before the safari.
- On the final day you can be dropped at the airport or stay overnight in Arusha; accommodation that night can be added on request at extra cost.
- Additional airport transfers and extra hotel nights before or after the tour can be arranged at extra cost.
Frequently asked questions
Which parks does this safari visit?
The safari covers Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, the main parks of Tanzania's northern circuit. It also includes a stop at Olduvai Gorge on the way from the Serengeti to Ngorongoro.
What camping equipment is provided?
Tents, mattresses and camping equipment are included, and a safari cook prepares your meals. You will need to bring your own sleeping bag.
Can I stay in Arusha after the safari?
Yes. On the final afternoon you can be transferred to Arusha for the night or dropped at the airport. A hotel night in Arusha can be included on request at extra cost.
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