Overview
This 7-day safari offers the perfect blend of unforgettable wildlife encounters, cultural experiences, and breathtaking natural attractions. Explore the diverse landscapes of Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater, and the world-famous Serengeti National Park, where you’ll have the opportunity to spot the iconic Big Five—lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and black rhino. Your adventure also includes a visit to a traditional local village, the chance to enjoy freshly brewed organic coffee, and an excursion to the beautiful Materuni Waterfalls, one of Tanzania’s hidden treasures. This itinerary is ideal for travelers looking for a well-rounded Tanzanian adventure that combines safari, culture, and nature.
Trip Highlights
- Budget tour: This budget tour includes camping and tented camps.
- Shared tour: On this shared tour, you will join a group of other travelers. Max 7 people per vehicle.
- Can start any day: If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.
- Can be customized: You can request minor changes to the accommodations and destinations of this tour.
- Suitable for single travelers: Single travelers can join this group tour.
- Minimum age of 6 years: The minimum age for this tour is 6 years.
Itinerary
We will pick you up from your hotel at 7:00 AM in Arusha and head to the remarkable Tarangire National Park, known for its varied landscapes and nine distinct vegetation zones. The park is famous for its towering baobab trees, the largest on the continent, which dominate the scenery and dwarf the wildlife.
Tarangire is home to a diverse range of animals, including lions, leopards, zebras, giraffes, buffalo, antelopes, and a vast array of bird species. Most notably, it boasts the highest concentration of elephants in Tanzania, offering unique opportunities to witness their family interactions.
You'll enjoy lunch at a scenic spot with views of the river and wildlife, possibly even catching a hunt in action. Afterward, you'll continue with an afternoon game drive before heading to your accommodation for the night.
Main Destination:
Tarangire National Park
Accommodation:
Kizumba Camp
Budget tented camp located 1-2hr drive from Tarangire NP
Meals & Drinks:
Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
Non-alcoholic drinks
After an early breakfast, you'll begin your scenic journey toward the heart of the Serengeti, traveling through the breathtaking Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Along the way, soak in the ever-changing landscapes—from lush highlands to endless savannahs teeming with wildlife.
Upon arrival in Central Serengeti, you'll enjoy a picnic lunch, possibly shared with fellow adventurers, before heading out on an exciting afternoon game drive. As the sun begins to set, the plains come alive—this is the perfect time to witness predators on the move and herbivores gathering by the waterholes.
In the evening, you’ll arrive at your campsite, where a warm dinner awaits under the stars. For those seeking a touch of extra comfort, upgraded lodge accommodations are available upon request—we’ll be happy to assist with arrangements.
Main Destination:
Serengeti National Park
Accommodation:
Budget camping
inside Central Serengeti NP
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
Non-alcoholic drinks
You'll start your day with a breathtaking Serengeti sunrise, as golden light spills over the endless plains—a truly magical sight. After a hearty breakfast, you’ll set off on a full-day game drive through the iconic Serengeti National Park, home to one of the world’s most celebrated ecosystems.
The vast savannah, scattered with graceful acacia trees, is alive with wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for majestic lions, stealthy leopards, and swift cheetahs, often seen stalking their prey in the early hours. Birdlife is abundant, and the rhythm of the wild surrounds you at every turn.
If your visit aligns with the Great Migration, you'll witness one of nature’s most awe-inspiring spectacles—millions of wildebeest, zebras, and antelope thundering across the plains in search of greener pastures. These moments, often captured in dramatic television documentaries, are unforgettable in real life.
This is the Serengeti in its raw, untamed glory—offering a safari experience like no other.
Main Destination:
Serengeti National Park
Accommodation:
Budget camping
inside Central Serengeti NP
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
Non-alcoholic drinks
The plains and wildlife begin to stir. After breakfast, you'll embark on a morning game drive, giving you one last chance to spot elusive predators and grazing herds before leaving this legendary landscape.
By midday, you'll begin your scenic journey towards the majestic Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Africa’s most remarkable natural wonders. The drive itself is a visual treat, offering glimpses of wildlife and stunning vistas along the way.
Upon arrival at the Ngorongoro Simba Campsite, nestled on the crater rim, you'll enjoy a delicious dinner and unwind for the night, surrounded by the sounds of nature and the cool highland breeze.
Main Destination:
Serengeti National Park
Accommodation:
Budget camping
on the crater rim of Ngorongoro Crater
All meals included
Non-alcoholic drinks
Rise early for an unforgettable day as you descend into the awe-inspiring Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest unbroken and unflooded volcanic caldera. After breakfast, your adventure begins with a drive down into this breathtaking natural amphitheater, often referred to as Africa’s Garden of Eden.
Home to over 30,000 large mammals, the crater offers one of the best wildlife viewing experiences in all of Africa. Its lush plains and permanent water sources attract an abundance of animals year-round. Keep your camera ready—you'll have excellent opportunities to spot the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino), along with zebras, wildebeests, hippos, hyenas, and a wide variety of birdlife.
The high concentration of wildlife within this natural enclosure makes for a truly spectacular and intimate safari experience—one you’ll remember for a lifetime.
Main Destination:
Ngorongoro Crater
Accommodation:
Kizumba Camp
Budget tented camp located 1-2hr drive from Ngorongoro Crater
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
Non-alcoholic drinks
After breakfast, you'll set off for a day of exploration in the picturesque Lake Manyara National Park, a true gem nestled at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment. Known for its lush scenery, cascading waterfalls, sparkling streams, and natural hot springs, the park is as rich in beauty as it is in wildlife.
Spend the day on an exciting game drive, where you may encounter tree-climbing lions, elephants, hippos, and an impressive variety of birds—including pink flamingos along the lake’s edge. For those seeking a more immersive experience, an optional two-hour walking safari can be arranged, offering a unique opportunity to see giraffes, buffalo, and other wildlife up close in their natural habitat.
In the afternoon, you’ll begin your journey back to Arusha, arriving in time to relax and reflect on your incredible adventure before dinner.
Main Destination:
Lake Manyara National Park
Accommodation:
The Charity Hotel
Mid-range hotel located in Arusha (City)
All meals included
Non-alcoholic drinks
After breakfast, you'll embark on a scenic two-hour drive to Materuni Village, a charming and unspoiled Chagga settlement nestled at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. Known for its lush green landscapes, coffee plantations, and towering waterfalls, Materuni offers an authentic cultural and nature experience away from the usual safari trails.
Upon arrival, you’ll begin a guided hike through verdant banana and coffee farms to the breathtaking Materuni Waterfalls. The trail, rich with flora and birdsong, leads you to the falls plunging over 80 meters into a crystal-clear pool
After the hike, you'll enjoy a delicious local buffet lunch and dive into the cultural side of Materuni with a coffee-making tour. You'll learn the entire process—from picking and roasting to grinding the beans using traditional methods
You'll be transferred back to Arusha or directly to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), depending on your travel plans—bringing your unforgettable Tanzanian adventure to a close.
Main Destination:
Materuni Waterfalls (Highlight)
Accommodation:
No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks:
Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
Non-alcoholic drinks
Includes/Excludes
Cost Includes
- Park fees (For non-residents)
- All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
- All Taxes/VAT
- Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinks (As specified in the day-by-day section)
Cost Excludes
- International flights (From/to home)
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
- Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
FAQs
The 7-Day Big Five Safari & Hidden Waterfall Serenity takes you to Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater, and Materuni Waterfalls, offering a perfect combination of wildlife, culture, and scenic beauty.
During the 7-Day Big Five Safari & Hidden Waterfall Serenity, you have an excellent chance of spotting the Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and black rhino—as well as giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, cheetahs, hippos, hyenas, and a wide variety of bird species.
The 7-Day Big Five Safari & Hidden Waterfall Serenity includes a visit to a traditional local village, where you can learn about local customs and daily life, as well as enjoy a guided tour of a coffee farm and sample freshly brewed organic Tanzanian coffee.
The 7-Day Big Five Safari & Hidden Waterfall Serenity typically includes park entrance fees, accommodation, all meals during the safari, transportation in a private 4×4 safari vehicle, a professional English-speaking safari guide, bottled drinking water, and guided excursions to Materuni Waterfalls and the coffee farm.
Yes, the 7-Day Big Five Safari & Hidden Waterfall Serenity is ideal for first-time visitors because it combines Tanzania’s most famous safari destinations with authentic cultural experiences and one of the country’s most beautiful waterfalls.
For the 7-Day Big Five Safari & Hidden Waterfall Serenity, pack lightweight neutral-colored clothing, comfortable walking shoes, a light rain jacket, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, insect repellent, a reusable water bottle, a camera, binoculars, and any personal medications you may need.



