Tanzania is East Africa's premier safari destination. The Serengeti with the Great Migration, Ngorongoro Crater with the highest density of large mammals in the world, Tarangire with thousands of elephants. All three in a single 7-day road trip. This route is our baseline — replicated by dozens of operators: it covers the top parks in optimal time and requires no domestic flights.
When to go
Safari is year-round, but the Great Migration (1.5 million wildebeest and zebra moving across the Serengeti) shifts by season:
| Period | Migration location | What you see |
|---|---|---|
| December – March | Southern Serengeti (Ndutu) | Calving season. Thousands of newborns, active predators. |
| April – May | Long rains | Not recommended. Roads washed out, many lodges closed. |
| June – July | Central / western Serengeti | Movement toward the Mara. Good odds for big herds. |
| August – October | Northern Serengeti (Mara River) | Famous Mara River crossings with crocodiles. The most dramatic window. |
| November | Short rains | Green, fewer people, migration returning south. |
Best months for classic safari — June, July, August–September, October. Dry season, animals at waterholes, roads passable, lodges open.
Logistics: vehicle and guide
Tanzania safari = a 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof. Otherwise you can't watch game properly. Self-driving is a pain: driver's permit, park rules, permissions, insurance — in practice 95% of tourists go with a local operator or guide.
Pricing varies a lot:
- Budget safari (camping) — €1 500-2 200 per person for 7 days. Tents in camps, shared mess, minimal comfort.
- Mid-range (lodge) — €2 500-3 800 per person. Permanent lodges with hot showers, buffet, pool.
- Luxury — €4 500+. Private camps in Serengeti with champagne at sunset.
Prices include: vehicle with guide, fuel, park fees (significant), food, lodging. Not included: international flight, visa ($50 e-visa), tips ($10-15/day to driver and $5/day to camp staff).
Park fees (2026 figures)
A significant chunk of tour cost. Tanzania has some of the priciest park fees in Africa:
| Park | Adult fee |
|---|---|
| Serengeti | $70-83 per 24 hours |
| Ngorongoro (conservation area entry) | $70.80 per 24 hours |
| Ngorongoro crater descent fee (per vehicle) | $295 for 6 hours in the crater |
| Tarangire | $50 per 24 hours |
| Lake Manyara | $50 per 24 hours |
A 7-day safari on this route = $500-700 in park fees alone. Operator bakes them into the price.
Day 1 — Arrival, transfer to Arusha
Fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) — the main northern Tanzania safari airport. Not Dar es Salaam (coast). From Europe / Middle East — usually via Dubai (Emirates / Qatar), 12-15 hours total flight.
JRO → Arusha is an hour by car. Arusha is the starting town for all northern safaris — a busy safari hub. First night in a lodge or town hotel, dinner, guide briefing.
Day 2 — Tarangire National Park
The "elephant park". Tarangire holds around 3 000 elephants plus 550+ bird species and giant baobabs. Route: Arusha → Tarangire — 2 hours by car, full-day game drive inside.
Beyond elephants: lions, leopards (rarer), impalas, gazelles, zebras, giraffes. In dry season animals concentrate along the Tarangire River — very high density.
Overnight at a lodge by the park boundary or back in Karatu (the base before Serengeti).
Days 3–4 — Serengeti
The main event. Serengeti — 14 700 km² (bigger than Switzerland), one of the most biodiverse parks in the world. Route: Karatu → central Serengeti via Naabi Hill gate — 4-5 hours with the driver.
Day 3: Entry, afternoon game drive, overnight in central Serengeti (Seronera).
Day 4: Full-day game drive. Where the vehicle heads depends on the season:
- June-July — central and west (migration moving toward the Mara)
- August-September — north (Mara River crossings)
- December-March — south (Ndutu, calving)
The Big Five in Serengeti: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino (rarest — few rhinos in Serengeti, Ngorongoro is better). Cheetahs and servals as a bonus.
Overnight again in Seronera or in a tented camp closer to the migration.
Day 5 — Ngorongoro Crater
A 19 km wide crater formed by a collapsed volcano 2.5 million years ago. Inside — a stable ecosystem with the highest large-mammal density in Africa: 25 000+ animals on 260 km².
Route: early departure from Serengeti (5:30), descent into the crater via the northern gate by 8-9 am. Full-day game drive inside. This is the one place on the route where you have a real chance of seeing black rhinos.
Ranger field reports often point to specific spots — cheetahs, lion prides, hyena dens. Overnight in a lodge on the crater rim — views of the crater from your balcony.
Day 6 — Lake Manyara and transfer
A smaller park on the way back to Arusha. Famous for tree-climbing lions (unusual behaviour) and flamingoes on the lake.
Half-day game drive in Manyara, then transfer to Arusha (3 hours). Farewell dinner with the guide.
Day 7 — Departure
Transfer to JRO. If your flight is in the evening you can fit in a half-day at Materuni waterfall (foot of Kilimanjaro, 40 min from Arusha) or the Arusha Cultural Heritage Centre.
What to pack
- Neutral colours (khaki, beige, grey, dark green). No bright colours and NO blue (tsetse flies are attracted to blue). Black and white are visible to game.
- Layers: mornings in the crater +5 °C, midday +28 °C. A light fleece is mandatory.
- Wide-brim hat + sunglasses + SPF 50.
- Binoculars 8x42 or 10x42. The guide often spots animals first — binoculars let you see what they're pointing at.
- Camera with zoom. Minimum 200 mm, ideally 400 mm. Long telephotos (600 mm+) are the gold standard but heavy.
- Power bank + Type G adapter (Tanzania uses British sockets).
- Malaria prophylaxis (Malarone or Doxycycline) — prescribed a month before travel.
- Yellow fever — vaccination required for entry from countries at risk.
- US dollar cash — for tips and souvenirs. Notes from 2013 onwards, no tears.
Booking checklist
- Tanzania e-visa ($50, online, 10 days lead time)
- Yellow fever certificate (if applicable)
- Malaria prophylaxis — start 1-2 days before arrival
- Travel insurance with medical evacuation cover (key — regular insurance often doesn't cover evac from Serengeti)
- Tour operator — book 3-6 months ahead in high season
- Flights via DXB / IST / DOH to JRO
- USD cash for tipping and park souvenirs
Tanzania is one of the most expensive safari destinations in Africa — and the most impressive. 7 days is the minimum; 10-12 is ideal, allowing Zanzibar or Selous further south.