7 Days Tanzania Big Five and Wildlife Safari

Day 1: Arrival in Arusha and Transfer to Tarangire National Park

Your Big Five safari begins with your arrival in Arusha, where you will be warmly welcomed by an Verdant Safaris representative and introduced to your professional safari guide. After a short briefing about your itinerary, you will depart Arusha and travel towards Tarangire National Park through the beautiful countryside of northern Tanzania. Along the way, you will see rural communities, farms and changing landscapes before reaching the park. Once inside Tarangire, you will begin your first game drive, searching for elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and various antelope species. Tarangire is particularly famous for its large elephant herds and magnificent baobab trees, which create an impressive setting for wildlife photography. After your afternoon game drive, you will continue to your accommodation, enjoy dinner and settle in for your first night in the Tanzanian wilderness.

Accommodation Options: Tarangire Simba Lodge, Sangaiwe Tented Lodge, Tarangire Sopa Lodge

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 2: Full-Day Tarangire National Park Safari

After breakfast, you will spend a full day exploring Tarangire National Park on an exciting wildlife safari. The park’s diverse habitats include open grasslands, acacia woodland, seasonal wetlands and the Tarangire River, which provides an important source of water for wildlife. You will search for elephants, lions, leopards and buffaloes, giving you your first major opportunity to look for members of the Big Five. The park also supports giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, warthogs, impalas and numerous bird species, providing plenty of variety throughout the day. You will enjoy a picnic lunch at a suitable location before continuing your afternoon game drive through different areas of the park. Your guide will monitor wildlife activity and choose suitable routes to maximise your opportunities for viewing and photography while maintaining a respectful distance from the animals. In the late afternoon, you will return to your accommodation for dinner and a relaxing evening.

Accommodation Options: Tarangire Simba Lodge, Sangaiwe Tented Lodge, Tarangire Sopa Lodge

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3: Tarangire to Ngorongoro Crater and Karatu

After breakfast, you will leave Tarangire and travel towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, enjoying scenic views of the northern Tanzanian highlands. Upon reaching the Ngorongoro Crater, you will descend into this spectacular natural amphitheatre for a memorable game drive. The crater floor contains grasslands, wetlands, woodland and permanent water sources, supporting an impressive concentration of wildlife. You will search for lions, elephants, buffaloes and rhinoceros, giving you an excellent opportunity to encounter several members of the Big Five in one remarkable setting. You may also see zebras, wildebeest, hippos, hyenas and various antelope species as you explore the crater. After a picnic lunch in the crater, you will continue your wildlife drive before ascending the crater walls and travelling towards Karatu. You will check into your accommodation, enjoy dinner and relax in the beautiful highland surroundings.

Accommodation Options: The Manor at Ngorongoro, Gibbs Farm, Ngorongoro Farm House

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 4: Karatu to Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, you will depart the Karatu area and travel towards Serengeti National Park, one of Africa’s most celebrated wildlife destinations. The journey takes you through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area before the landscape gradually opens into the vast grasslands of the Serengeti. As you approach the park, you may begin spotting wildlife along the route, providing an exciting introduction to the ecosystem. Once inside Serengeti, you will enjoy a game drive while travelling towards your accommodation, searching for elephants, buffaloes, lions, giraffes, zebras and wildebeest. The Serengeti is also an excellent place to search for elusive leopards and other predators, although sightings depend on wildlife movements. Your guide will select routes based on the season, recent sightings and road conditions to give you the best possible opportunities for game viewing. You will arrive at your lodge or tented camp in the evening, enjoy dinner and spend the night surrounded by the spectacular Serengeti wilderness.

Accommodation Options: Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge, Serengeti Simba Lodge, Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 5: Full-Day Serengeti Big Five Wildlife Safari

Today you will enjoy a full-day safari through the magnificent Serengeti National Park, with a particular focus on searching for the Big Five and other iconic African wildlife. After breakfast, you will head into the plains with your guide to explore areas where wildlife activity is likely to be high. You will search for lions resting beneath trees or moving across the grasslands, elephants travelling in family groups and buffaloes gathering in large herds. Your guide will also carefully scan suitable habitats for leopards, which are known for their elusive nature, while rhinoceros sightings are less common but possible in appropriate areas. Beyond the Big Five, you may encounter cheetahs, hyenas, giraffes, hippos, wildebeest, zebras and numerous antelope species. You will enjoy a picnic lunch during the safari before continuing your exploration through the afternoon. Later, you will return to your accommodation for dinner and a relaxing evening, reflecting on the day’s memorable wildlife encounters.

Accommodation Options: Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge, Serengeti Simba Lodge, Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 6: Serengeti Morning Game Drive and Return to Arusha

You will wake early for a final morning game drive in Serengeti National Park, providing another opportunity to search for wildlife before leaving the area. The early morning is often a productive time for game viewing, as predators may still be active and herds begin moving across the plains. You may encounter lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and other animals as the landscape comes alive with the rising sun. Your guide will also keep watch for any final sightings of leopards, cheetahs and other predators that inhabit the Serengeti. After the game drive, you will return to your accommodation for breakfast before beginning your journey towards Arusha. The drive allows you to enjoy the changing scenery and observe local communities as you travel through northern Tanzania. Upon arrival in Arusha, you will check into your accommodation, enjoy dinner and have a comfortable final evening before your departure.

Accommodation Options: Arusha Serena Hotel, Mount Meru Hotel, Gran Melia Arusha

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 7: Departure

After breakfast, you will have some final time to relax at your hotel before beginning your journey home. Depending on your departure schedule, you may enjoy a leisurely morning, take a short walk or purchase a few Tanzanian souvenirs. Your Verdant Safaris representative will arrange your transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport according to your onward flight arrangements. The transfer will be carefully timed to allow sufficient time for check-in and airport procedures. As you leave Tanzania, you will take with you memories of extraordinary encounters with elephants, lions, buffaloes and other remarkable wildlife across the northern safari circuit. You will also remember the spectacular landscapes of Tarangire, the wildlife-rich Ngorongoro Crater and the endless plains of Serengeti. Your 7 Days Tanzania Big Five and Wildlife Safari officially concludes at the airport, marking the end of your unforgettable adventure with Verdant Safaris.

Meals: (Breakfast)