Tanzania safari itineraries: 3, 5, 7 and 10-day routes we recommend

The best Tanzania safari itinerary starts with one honest question: how many days do you have? Northern Tanzania's parks sit in a line west of Arusha, with Tarangire closest and the Serengeti furthest away. With three days you can see Tarangire, Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater. With five you reach the Serengeti. With seven you can slow down there, and with ten you can add Zanzibar.

Below are the routes we recommend from our office in Arusha, with driving times, where you sleep and who each plan suits. Each one links to the full day-by-day itinerary and price.

How the northern circuit fits together

Every northern safari starts in Arusha, about an hour from Kilimanjaro International Airport. Approximate driving times between the parks:

The drive into the Serengeti passes the Ngorongoro rim and the Olduvai area, so it is a game drive in itself. The drive out is long, which is why many guests fly back from the Serengeti on the last day.

3 days: Tarangire, Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater

Best for: travellers short on time, or as a short safari after a Kilimanjaro climb.

1. Day 1, Tarangire. Leave Arusha after breakfast. Afternoon game drive among baobabs and, in the dry season, big elephant herds. Night in Karatu.
2. Day 2, Ngorongoro Crater. Descend to the crater floor at first light for a full day with lion, buffalo, hippo and a chance of black rhino.
3. Day 3, Lake Manyara. A morning in the groundwater forest and along the lake, then back to Arusha by mid-afternoon.

See the 3-day Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Lake Manyara safari (from US$860 per person).

4 or 5 days: adding the Serengeti

Best for: a first safari with the Serengeti included.

1. Day 1, Tarangire. Game drive, night near Karatu.
2. Day 2, to the Serengeti. Drive over the Ngorongoro highlands and down to the plains, game viewing on the way to your camp.
3. Day 3, the Serengeti. A full day, following the guide's knowledge of where the cats and the herds are.
4. Day 4, the Ngorongoro Crater. Drive back to the rim and descend into the crater.
5. Day 5, return to Arusha. Optional stop at a Maasai village or Lake Manyara.

For four days, drop Tarangire and spend two nights in the Serengeti: see the 4-day Serengeti & Ngorongoro safari (from US$1,350). For five, the 5-day Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro safari (from US$1,720). On a tight budget, the 4-day camping safari covers the same parks from US$920.

7 days: the classic northern circuit

Best for: anyone who can give it a week. This is the itinerary we recommend most.

1. Day 1, arrival in Arusha. Rest after the flight.
2. Day 2, Tarangire.
3. Day 3, Lake Manyara and on to Karatu.
4. Days 4 and 5, the Serengeti. Two full days, so there is time to wait at a sighting and to explore a second area.
5. Day 6, the Ngorongoro Crater.
6. Day 7, return to Arusha or fly on to Zanzibar.

Full details: 7-Day Classic Northern Circuit Safari (from US$2,330).

6 to 8 days: following the migration

The wildebeest move through the year, so a migration safari changes where you stay in the Serengeti.

• January to March: base yourself at Ndutu in the southern Serengeti for the calving season. See the 6-day calving safari.
• July to October: head north to the Mara River for the crossings, usually with a flight back. See the 8-day Mara River crossing safari.

Our migration calendar shows where the herds usually are each month.

10 days: safari and Zanzibar

Best for: honeymooners, families and anyone who wants to rest after early game drives.

Spend six days on the northern circuit, then take a short flight from Arusha or the Serengeti to Zanzibar for four nights: a day in Stone Town, then the beaches of the north or east coast. See the 10-day safari & Zanzibar beach holiday (from US$3,070) or our Zanzibar holidays.

14 days or more: Kilimanjaro, safari and beach

The full Tanzania trip. Climb first, while you are fresh, then rest your legs in a safari vehicle and finish at the beach.

• 7 or 8 days on Kilimanjaro: Machame or Lemosho
• 4 or 5 days on safari
• 3 or 4 days on Zanzibar

Read how hard Kilimanjaro is and how to train before you decide.

Mistakes we help people avoid

• Too many parks in too few days. Every new park means hours on the road. Two nights in the Serengeti beats one night in four different places.
• One night in the Serengeti. You spend most of the first day arriving and most of the second leaving.
• Ignoring the season. The herds are in the south in February and in the north in August. Your itinerary should follow them.
• No buffer before an international flight. Finish the safari the day before you fly home, or fly back from the Serengeti in the morning.
• Booking the crater on your first morning. Give yourself a day to adjust to safari rhythm before the early start the crater rewards.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need for a safari in Tanzania?

Five to seven days is ideal for the northern circuit with the Serengeti. Three days is enough for Tarangire, Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater.

Should I drive or fly between the parks?

Drive in, because the road is part of the safari, and consider flying back from the Serengeti to save a long day on the road.

Can I change these itineraries?

Yes. Every safari is private, so we change the parks, lodges and number of days to fit your dates and budget. Tell us what you have in mind and we will send a tailor-made route with a clear price.