· Golden Memories Safaris
If this is your first safari, seven days is the ideal length. It is long enough to cover the four great parks of the Northern Circuit, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, without the exhaustion of a rushed trip. This guide sets out a day by day plan we use from Arusha, explains what you will see and how long you will drive each day, gives the official park fees behind the price, and shows how to shorten, lengthen or upgrade the trip.
Why seven days works for a first safari
A first safari needs three things: variety, time to settle in, and time to get lucky. Seven days gives you four different landscapes, the open plains of the Serengeti, the elephant country of Tarangire, the forests and lake of Manyara and the volcanic crater at Ngorongoro, and it lets you spend two full nights in the Serengeti, where the big sightings happen. Shorter trips can still be excellent, but they force you to choose between parks. Longer trips add depth and are better for people who have already been once.
The Northern Circuit is also practical. The parks are close to Arusha, the roads between them are good, and a wide range of lodges and camps is available at every budget level. You can do the whole route in a private 4x4 with a pop up roof, with a driver guide who stays with you for the entire trip.
Day by day: the 7 day itinerary
Day 1: arrive in Arusha
You land at Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport, where our team meets you and takes you to your hotel in Arusha. Spend the afternoon resting after the flight, or join an optional city visit to the local markets and cultural sites. In the evening your guide will brief you on the week, check your luggage and answer questions. It is a gentle start, and it matters, because it means you set off on day 2 rested.
Day 2: Arusha to Tarangire National Park
After breakfast you leave at about 7:30 or 7:45 and drive for roughly two hours to Tarangire National Park. The park covers about 2,850 square kilometres and is known for its large elephant herds, ancient baobab trees and the Tarangire River, which draws wildlife during the dry season. You spend the day on game drive with a picnic lunch, looking for elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, wildebeest, lions and a rich variety of birds. At the end of the day you drive to your lodge near Lake Manyara. The official 2023/24 TANAPA tariff charges non resident adults USD 50 for the day.
Day 3: Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara sits beneath the Great Rift Valley escarpment and is far more varied than its size suggests. Groundwater forest, open grassland, acacia woodland and the seasonal soda lake support elephants, giraffes, hippos, baboons, monkeys and a large number of bird species. The park is famous for its tree climbing lions, although sightings are never guaranteed. The day can be relaxed, with a morning game drive and a lazy lunch, or you can add a cultural visit to a local farm or village. The TANAPA fee is again USD 50 per adult.
Day 4: Karatu and the road to the Serengeti
Today is a travel day with views. You climb through the Ngorongoro Highlands and, weather permitting, stop at the Ngorongoro viewpoint for a first look at the crater. You then continue across the plains towards the Serengeti, with a picnic lunch on the way. The TANAPA visitor guide gives the road distance from Arusha to the Serengeti as about seven to eight hours, which is why we break it up. Once inside the park, you begin an afternoon game drive towards the Seronera area, the central heart of the Serengeti, with its lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, buffalo and enormous herds of zebra and wildebeest depending on the season. You overnight in a tented camp or lodge.
Day 5: a full day in the Serengeti
This is the day most guests remember. You rise early, because the first light is when predators are most active, and spend the day exploring the plains, rocky kopjes and river valleys with your guide. The Serengeti was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981 and covers about 1.48 million hectares, so there is always more to see. The conservation fee is USD 70 per adult per day in the peak season and USD 60 between 15 March and 15 May. You can stay out all day with a picnic lunch or return to camp for a rest and head out again in the afternoon. Where the migration is depends on the month, so check the timing with us.
Read our month by month migration guide
Day 6: Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Crater
After breakfast and a last morning game drive, you leave the Serengeti and travel to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Many itineraries descend into the crater the next morning, while on a seven day plan you can drive up to the crater rim lodge in the afternoon, enjoy the view and descend early the following day. Because the Conservation Area was inscribed by UNESCO in 1979, it is protected both for its wildlife and for the Maasai pastoralists who live there. The crater is described as the largest inactive, intact and unfilled volcanic caldera in the world, about 610 metres deep, with a floor of about 260 square kilometres and roughly 25,000 large animals.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority charges non East African adults USD 70.80 per 24 hours and a crater service fee of USD 295 per vehicle. Because the crater fee is per vehicle, the cost per person drops as the group grows.
Day 7: back to Arusha
You enjoy a final breakfast, check out, and drive back to Arusha, where we take you to your hotel or onward to the airport. If your flight is later in the day, an Arusha city experience can be arranged at extra cost. For travellers who want to continue, this is also the day to roll on to the coast, with a flight to Zanzibar.
What it costs, and what is included
The price of a 7 day Northern Circuit safari depends mostly on where you sleep. Our current prices, per person for two travellers sharing, are:
- Midrange 7 day Northern Circuit safari: from USD 2,800 per person, with comfortable lodges and tented camps, a private 4x4 with a pop up roof, a professional guide, park fees and meals as listed.
- Luxury 7 day Northern Circuit safari, driving in and flying out of the Serengeti: from USD 5,300 per person.
- Shorter midrange option, 5 days in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro: from USD 1,950 per person.
A quote should include park and conservation fees, accommodation, meals as listed, drinking water, the 4x4 and guide, and airport transfers. It should not surprise you with extras later. International flights, visa fees, insurance, tips and drinks are normally separate.
See what a safari costs and why
How to adjust the itinerary
If you only have five days
Cut Tarangire and Manyara and spend two nights in the Serengeti and one near the crater. It is the most efficient way to see the two highlights, and it is the idea behind our 5 day Serengeti and Ngorongoro safari.
If you have ten days or more
Add a second Serengeti area, such as the northern Serengeti in the dry season or the Ndutu plains in the calving season, and a night at Lake Eyasi to meet the Hadzabe and Datoga communities. You can also finish with a few days on Zanzibar.
If you want more comfort
Upgrade to a luxury lodge in the Serengeti and fly out from the Seronera airstrip instead of driving back. This saves a full day and is the plan behind our luxury 7 day itinerary.
If you travel with children
Replace the long Serengeti drive with a flight, choose lodges with family rooms, and plan a shorter game drive each day. Our family guide has more detail.
A typical safari day, hour by hour
New visitors are often surprised by how the day is structured. Understanding the rhythm helps you pace yourself and get the most from every drive.
- Around 6:00: a hot drink and an early start. The first hour of light is when many predators are still active and the temperature is cool.
- Until 10:00 or 11:00: the morning game drive, with stops for photographs and for any sightings your guide spots or hears about on the radio.
- Midday: a picnic lunch in the park or a return to camp for lunch and a rest, which is the best option in the hottest hours when many animals sleep.
- Around 15:30: the afternoon game drive, when the light turns golden and animals become active again.
- Around 18:00: back at the lodge or camp for a shower, dinner and an early night.
Most national parks close their gates at dusk, so the schedule depends on sunrise and sunset. On transfer days, the same pattern applies, but a part of the day is spent travelling, which is why we always include a game drive on arrival.
Choosing where to sleep on a first safari
The type of accommodation changes both the price and the feel of your trip. Midrange lodges and tented camps have private bathrooms, good food and comfortable beds, and most first time visitors find them the best balance. Luxury camps add larger tents, better views and more personal service. Budget safaris use simpler lodges or camping, which lowers the cost and puts you close to the sounds of the bush. Whatever you choose, ask for the exact names of the properties, and check how far each is from the park gate, because location affects how much time you spend in the park.
For the Serengeti, the position of your camp matters more than almost anything else, because the herds move through the year. A camp in the right area can put wildlife at your door, while one in the wrong area can add two hours of driving each way. This is one reason to book with a local team that knows where the herds are likely to be on your dates.
Practical tips for your first week
- Pack light, soft bags, because luggage space in a 4x4 is limited and light aircraft have weight limits.
- Bring neutral clothing, a warm layer for early mornings, a hat, sunscreen and binoculars.
- Arrive a day early if you can, because a missed flight connection is the most common cause of a lost day.
- Ask your guide about the sighting plan each morning and listen to the radio chatter, because good guides share information.
- Take it slowly. Most first time visitors see more by staying longer at each sighting than by chasing the next one.
Frequently asked questions
Is seven days too long for a first safari?
No. It is the length most guests tell us they would choose again. You see the main parks without rushing, and your body adjusts to the early starts and the long days in the vehicle.
How much driving is involved?
Most days include between two and four hours in the vehicle, split into game drives and transfers. The longest day is the drive to the Serengeti, which we break up with stops and a game drive on arrival.
Can I see the Big Five on this route?
Lions, leopards, elephants and buffalo are seen across the circuit, and the Ngorongoro Crater gives you a chance of the endangered black rhino. No sighting is guaranteed, but the route gives you the best odds in the country.
What is the best time of year for this itinerary?
It works year round. The dry season from June to October is the easiest for wildlife, while January to March suits calving. See our month by month guide to choose.
Can I add Zanzibar to this itinerary?
Yes. A scheduled flight takes you from Arusha or the Serengeti to Zanzibar, and many of our guests finish with three to five beach nights.
Ready to plan your 7 days?
Tell us your dates, your group size and your budget. We will build the itinerary, confirm the lodges and send a clear price.
Keep planning your Tanzania trip
These guides cover the next questions most travellers ask.
Best time to visit Tanzania, month by month
Serengeti or Ngorongoro: how to choose
More guides and pages for this trip
Tanzania mandatory travel insurance
Sources and further reading
Facts and figures in this guide come from the sources below. Fees, schedules and entry rules change, so confirm current details before you book.
- Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA), Tariffs from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024, tanzaniaparks.go.tz.
- Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority, Tariffs, ncaa.go.tz.
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre, whc.unesco.org.
- Tanzania Tourism Board, destination and Great Migration pages, tanzaniatourism.com.
- TANAPA, Serengeti National Park visitor guide, tanzaniaparks.go.tz.
- Golden Memories Safaris package prices, per person for two travellers sharing, October 2026.