Safari jeeps kick up red dust on a crater-floor road beneath steep green walls.

{ Tour }

Big Five and Baobabs: Seven Days

A full northern circuit loop through Tarangire, the Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara, paced for families and first-time safari travellers.

Enquire about this trip See the day by day

Duration7 Days / 6 Nights

Group size2 – 7 travellers

Best monthsJune – October for the driest roads and best game visibility

From$2,680 per person sharing

{ 01 }

The Trip in Short

Seven days is close to the natural length for a proper northern circuit loop: enough time in each park to settle in rather than tick it off, without the trip sprawling past two weeks. This route runs Tarangire’s elephants and baobabs first, spends two full days in the Serengeti, finishes with a Ngorongoro crater descent, and closes with an afternoon at Lake Manyara on the way back to Arusha.

The driving days are moderate rather than gruelling, which is the main reason this itinerary works as well for families with older children as it does for anyone else.

Park fees and rules on the Tanzanian mainland are set by Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA).

Highlights

Tarangire elephant herds and baobab landscapes
Two full days of game drives in central Serengeti
Ngorongoro Crater floor descent for Big Five including rhino
Lake Manyara's tree-climbing lions to close the loop
Moderate driving days suited to children
Midrange lodges throughout, no camping required

{ 02 }

Where You Go, Stop by Stop

Day 1

Arusha to Tarangire

Day 2

Tarangire to Serengeti

Day 3–4

Serengeti game drives

Day 5

Serengeti to Ngorongoro

Day 6

Ngorongoro crater floor, transfer to Manyara area

Day 7

Lake Manyara, return to Arusha

{ 03 }

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire

A short drive south, checking in with time for an afternoon game drive among Tarangire's baobabs and dry-season elephant concentrations.

Day 2: Tarangire to the Serengeti

A morning game drive, then the drive west through the Ngorongoro highlands with a viewpoint stop, arriving in central Serengeti for a late-afternoon game drive.

Day 3–4: Full Days in the Serengeti

Two full days working Seronera Valley and its surrounding plains, with picnic lunches in the bush and a realistic chance at all three big cats across the two days combined.

Day 5: Serengeti to Ngorongoro

A final morning game drive on the way out, an optional Olduvai Gorge stop, and arrival on the crater rim by late afternoon.

Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater Floor

An early descent onto the crater floor for a full day among dense wildlife, including a good chance of black rhino, before an afternoon transfer toward Lake Manyara.

Day 7: Lake Manyara and Return to Arusha

A final morning game drive for tree-climbing lions and Manyara's rich birdlife, then the drive back to Arusha for onward flights.

From

$2,680

Enquire about this trip

{ 04 }

What the Price Covers

Included

All park entrance and conservation fees
4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
Professional English-speaking guide
6 nights lodge accommodation
All meals as listed
Bottled water during game drives
Airport transfers in Arusha

Not included

International flights and visas
Travel and medical insurance
Tips for guide
Optional balloon safari or Maasai village visit
Alcoholic drinks and sodas

{ 05 }

Before You Book

Is seven days the right length for a first safari?

It is one of the most balanced options: long enough to avoid feeling rushed between parks, short enough to keep costs and travel fatigue manageable.

How many hours a day will we spend driving?

Most days involve two to four hours of transfer driving on top of game drives, with two full stationary days in the Serengeti to break up the movement.

Is this trip suitable for children?

Yes, particularly for children old enough to sit through a few hours of driving: lodges on this route are used to family groups.

Can we upgrade to a private vehicle?

Yes, on request and at an additional cost: the standard price assumes a shared vehicle within your own travelling party.

{ 06 }

Where This Trip Goes

Ruaha National Park

Tanzania · National Park

Tanzania's largest national park, with one of the country's biggest elephant and lion populations along the Great Ruaha River, far from the northern circuit's crowds.

Tarangire National Park

Tanzania · National Park

Ancient baobabs and some of Africa's largest elephant herds, drawn to the Tarangire River through the dry season.

Mahale Mountains National Park

Tanzania · National Park

A roadless park on Lake Tanganyika's shore, reached only by air and boat, combining chimpanzee trekking with a swim in one of the world's deepest lakes.

{ 07 }

Big Five and Baobabs: Seven Days