This seven-day Tanzanian safari is your invitation to witness the legendary Big Five across some of East Africa's most breathtaking wilderness areas, from the ancient baobab landscapes of Tarangire to the sweeping plains of the Serengeti and the extraordinary caldera of Ngorongoro. You will travel in a private, pop-up roof 4x4 vehicle accompanied by a dedicated English-speaking guide, ensuring every game drive is personal, unhurried, and deeply immersive. Comfortable mid-range lodges and tented camps place you at the heart of the bush, with full-board meals keeping you well fed throughout your journey. At Africompass, we believe Tanzania is not just a destination but a transformative experience, and this itinerary is crafted to deliver exactly that.
On Day 1 you will be met at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your lodge in Arusha, where your Tanzanian adventure begins. The afternoon will be yours to settle in, freshen up, and meet your guide for a briefing on the days ahead. Dinner at the lodge will round off a relaxed and anticipation-filled first evening.
On Day 2 you will depart Arusha after breakfast and drive to Tarangire National Park, renowned for its enormous elephant herds and ancient baobab trees that dot the savannah in every direction. A full afternoon game drive in the private pop-up roof 4x4 vehicle will give you excellent opportunities to spot lions, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and a remarkable diversity of birdlife. After game viewing you will transfer to your lodge for dinner and a well-earned rest.
On Day 3 you will enjoy an early breakfast before making your way northwest towards the Serengeti, one of the most celebrated wildlife ecosystems on the planet. The drive itself will pass through the scenic Rift Valley highlands, and you will enter the park in time for an afternoon game drive across the open golden plains. The Serengeti's staggering concentrations of predators and prey will make this an unforgettable first day on the great plains.
On Day 4 you will have an entire day devoted to game driving in the Serengeti, giving you the best possible chance of tracking all of the Big Five and witnessing predator action in the wild. Morning and afternoon game drives will cover different areas of the central Serengeti, following your guide's expert knowledge of animal movements and seasonal patterns. Evenings back at the tented camp will offer the magical sounds of the African bush as your soundtrack.
On Day 5 you will leave the Serengeti and descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, the world's largest intact volcanic caldera and a UNESCO World Heritage Site teeming with wildlife. A full crater-floor game drive will take you through grasslands, swamps, and soda lakes where lions, black rhinos, hippos, hyenas, and vast herds of wildebeest and zebra share this extraordinary enclosed ecosystem. After an immersive day of game viewing you will transfer to your lodge near the crater rim for dinner.
On Day 6 you will visit Lake Manyara National Park, a compact but richly diverse park set beneath the dramatic Rift Valley escarpment, famous for its tree-climbing lions and large flocks of flamingos that turn the alkaline lake pink. A morning game drive will reveal elephants, hippos, baboons, and an extraordinary variety of birds before you make your way back towards Arusha for your final safari night. Dinner and an evening of reflection await you at your hotel in the city.
On Day 7 you will enjoy a final breakfast at your hotel before your guide transfers you to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward journey. The morning will offer a little time for last-minute souvenir shopping or a quiet coffee as you savour the memories of seven extraordinary days in Tanzania's wilderness. Your Africompass team will be on hand to assist with any onward arrangements.
Tell us your dates and dream, and a local specialist will craft your trip.
It depends on what you want to see. For the Great Migration river crossings in the Maasai Mara, visit between July and October, when the herds cross the Mara River in search of fresh grazing. For calving season and dense predator activity, January to March is excellent, particularly around the southern Serengeti. Kenya's two dry seasons (June to October and January to February) generally offer the clearest skies and easiest game viewing across Amboseli, Tsavo, and Samburu, since animals gather around limited water sources. The 'green season' (November and April to May) brings lush scenery, migratory birdlife, and lower rates, though some rural roads can be muddy. Tell us your travel dates and priorities, and we will recommend the destinations that fit best.
Most nationalities need a Kenya eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation), applied for online before you fly; Tanzania and Zanzibar require their own separate visa, available online or on arrival depending on your nationality. Entry requirements change from time to time, so confirm the current rules for your passport a few weeks before departure. A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is mandatory if you are arriving from, or have transited through, a Yellow Fever risk country, and we recommend it in general along with being up to date on routine vaccinations (MMR, tetanus, hepatitis A and B). Most safari areas are malaria zones, so antimalarial medication is strongly advised. Always check final requirements with your doctor or a travel health clinic, and ask us for the latest entry rules when you book.
Every itinerary we build is private and tailor-made by default: your own vehicle, driver-guide, and schedule, with no strangers added to your trip. That means you can linger an extra morning at a favourite lodge, adjust the route on the go, or add a visit to the Emmanuel New Hope Rescue Centre we support. If you would rather share costs or travel as a solo guest, we can also arrange a scheduled group departure and match you with other travellers on similar dates. Either way, your safari is planned by our Nairobi-based specialists around your budget, dates, and interests, not a fixed package.
Safari costs vary widely depending on where you stay and how you travel. Budget camping safaris in parks like Amboseli or Lake Nakuru can start from around USD 150 to 250 per person per day, mid-range lodge safaris typically run USD 250 to 450 per day, and luxury tented camps in the Maasai Mara or Serengeti can exceed USD 750 per day. Your quote always includes a private vehicle, driver-guide, park fees, and accommodation as specified in your itinerary. Since every trip we build is tailor-made, tell us your budget and travel dates and we'll show you exactly what it buys, with no hidden extras.
Pack light, neutral-coloured clothing (khaki, olive, beige) for game drives, since bright colours and dark blue can attract tsetse flies in some regions. Bring layers for early morning drives, which can be cold even near the equator, plus a hat, sunglasses, and high-SPF sunscreen. A good pair of binoculars, a camera with a zoom lens, and a portable charger make a real difference to the experience. Comfortable closed shoes are more useful than sandals, and most lodges offer laundry service, so you rarely need more than a week's worth of clothing even on a longer trip. We send a full packing checklist tailored to your specific itinerary and season once you book.
Yes. Alongside our guided safaris, we offer both self-drive car hire and chauffeur-driven vehicles for clients who want more flexibility around Nairobi, the coast, or shorter road trips. Self-drive suits experienced drivers comfortable with Kenyan road conditions, while a chauffeur-driven car is the better choice for game-viewing routes, night driving, or if you'd simply rather relax and let a local expert handle the roads. All our vehicles are well-maintained 4x4s suited to both tarmac and rougher safari tracks. Let us know your route and dates and we'll recommend the right option.
Millions of visitors travel safely to Kenya and Tanzania every year, and the main tourist circuits, national parks, and coastal resorts are well-established and closely monitored. As with any international travel, sensible precautions apply: use a reputable operator (we're KATO-verified), avoid displaying valuables in cities, and follow your guide's advice in wildlife areas, where the real risk is animals, not crime. We stay in regular contact with our clients throughout their trip, and our drivers know the routes and current conditions well. If you have specific safety questions about your itinerary, we're happy to talk them through before you book.
Absolutely, it's one of our most popular combinations. A typical itinerary pairs 4 to 7 days on safari in the Maasai Mara, Amboseli, or Serengeti with 3 to 5 days unwinding on the beach in Zanzibar or Diani Beach, taking advantage of short connecting flights between the two. We handle all the logistics, including domestic flight bookings and airport transfers, so you go straight from game drives to the Indian Ocean without the stress of planning it yourself. Tell us how many days you have and we'll suggest a balance between wildlife and beach time that fits your trip.
