Beginning with a scenic game drive in Lake Manyara, the journey takes you deep into the Serengeti for three nights, then on to the legendary Ngorongoro Crater and the wildlife-rich Tarangire National Park. Midway, a stop at the historic Olduvai Gorge adds a fascinating layer to this remarkable adventure.
A Tour That Stays With You Forever
Explore Tanzania’s most iconic wildlife destinations on this comprehensive 8-day safari.
Highlights
- Spot diverse wildlife on a late afternoon game drive in Lake Manyara.
- Visit the historic Olduvai Gorge archaeological site.
- Spend three nights in the Serengeti for maximum wildlife immersion.
- Encounter rare black rhinos in Ngorongoro Crater.
- Explore Tarangire's diverse landscapes and elephant herds.
8-day Northern Tanzania Safari
Tanzania has a way of getting under your skin. Let’s explore your 8-day Northern Tanzania safari itinerary.
Arrive at Kilimanjaro Airport, where a La Pisada representative will meet you and assist with your transfer to Springlands Hotel for a comfortable stay.
Overnight stay at Springlands Hotel (bed and breakfast).
Stay: Springlands Hotel
After breakfast, set out on a 3-hour drive to Lake Manyara National Park for an exciting game drive. Stop for a picnic lunch before heading out on a late afternoon game drive, the best time to observe wildlife.
As you approach from the east, the Rift Valley escarpment creates a stunning backdrop to the lake. In the groundwater forest, monkeys leap between branches, while elephants find shade along the escarpment. Other commonly seen animals include zebras, impalas, giraffes, buffalo, and hippos.
Overnight stay at Highview Hotel or a similar hotel.
Stay: Highview Hotel
Depart for Serengeti National Park, with a 3 to 4-hour drive passing through Olduvai Gorge, a renowned archaeological site in the eastern Serengeti plains. This site is where early human fossils were discovered, and its dramatic landscape was shaped by the same tectonic forces that formed the Great Rift Valley millions of years ago.
Overnight stay at Serengeti Wild Camp or similar.
Stay: Serengeti Wild Camp
After breakfast, set off to explore the remote wilderness of Serengeti on a full-day game drive. With a picnic lunch beside you, take your time discovering this UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to the largest concentration of plains game on earth.
Overnight stay at Serengeti Wild Camp or similar.
Stay: Serengeti Wild Camp
After breakfast, continue exploring the Serengeti’s remote wilderness with a full-day game drive. With a picnic lunch beside you, enjoy the vast plains of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to the largest concentration of plains game on earth.
Overnight stay at Serengeti Wild Camp or similar.
Stay: Serengeti Wild Camp
After breakfast, drive to Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive inside the crater. This is the best place in Tanzania to see black rhinos and lion pride, including the magnificent black-maned males. The crater also hosts colourful flamingos and a variety of waterbirds. Other wildlife includes leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, antelopes, and small mammals.
Overnight stay at Highview Hotel or a similar hotel.
Stay: Highview Hotel
After breakfast, drive to Tarangire National Park, a diverse and scenic wildlife sanctuary. The park features stunning landscapes, including riverine forests, acacia woodlands, ancient baobab trees, and rolling hills.
Game drives here reveal large herds of elephants, giraffes, buffalo, zebras, wildebeests, and various antelope species. Primates such as olive baboons, vervet monkeys, and bush babies are also commonly seen. With some luck, you may spot rare species like lesser kudu, eland, fringe-eared oryx, and African wild dogs. Carnivores in the park include lions, leopards, hyenas, and jackals.
Overnight stay at Springlands Hotel (bed and breakfast).
Stay: Springlands Hotel
INCLUDED/EXCLUDED
INCLUDED
- Full board accommodation on safari
- All game drives in a 4x4 Safari Land Cruiser
- All park and entrance fees
- Professional English-speaking driver/guide
- Bottled water – 1 litre per person per day
- Ngorongoro Crater car supplement fee
- Airport transfers (arrival and departure)
- 2 nights bed & breakfast at Springlands Hotel
EXCLUDED
- International flights and visa fees
- Personal & baggage insurance
- Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
- Laundry, beverages, and drinks
- Tips and gratuities
- Balloon safaris, canoeing, or special excursions
- Medical and trip cancellation insurance
- Health requirements (malaria area)
- Personal toiletries and items of a personal nature
- Excess baggage charges
Frequently Asked Questions
A group joining safari combines individual travellers into a shared safari vehicle. This is a cost-effective way to explore Tanzania’s parks without the expense of a private charter. La Pisada Africa Safaris ensures all group members follow the same itinerary, with a professional guide leading every game drive.
Group joining safaris typically accommodate up to 6 travellers in a Land Cruiser. The group composition varies based on bookings, and fellow travellers from around the world may join you.
Tanzania is a malaria zone. It is strongly recommended to consult your doctor before travel and take anti-malaria medication. Apply insect repellent and wear long-sleeved clothing, especially at dawn and dusk.
Pack light-coloured (khaki, olive, brown), lightweight, breathable clothes for game drives and warm layers for cool morning drives. Bring a sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, sturdy walking shoes, and a camera with a backup power source.
All three parks on this itinerary give you a genuine shot at the Big Five. Tarangire is hard to beat for elephants, the Serengeti for lion activity and leopard sightings, and Ngorongoro Crater is one of the more reliable places in Africa to see black rhino; they’re rare and shy, but the crater’s contained environment works in your favour.
