7-Day Safari – From the Western Serengeti to Tarangire National Park

Day 1 – Flight from Arusha to the Western Serengeti & First Game Drive

Your safari begins in the morning with a private transfer from your hotel in Arusha to Arusha Airport.

From Arusha, you take a direct flight to the Western Serengeti, landing at Fort Ikoma.

Flying directly into the Serengeti is not only a comfortable way of avoiding a long road transfer; it also means that your safari adventure begins almost immediately.

After landing at Fort Ikoma, you will be met by your private safari guide.

Once you have met your guide, you will board your safari vehicle and head straight out for your first game drive in the Western Serengeti.

The Ikoma and Grumeti area is a beautiful and relatively remote part of the Serengeti. The landscape combines open grasslands, woodland and riverine areas, creating excellent habitats for a wide variety of wildlife.

Depending on the time of year and the location of the herds, you may also have the opportunity to encounter the Great Migration in this region.

Huge herds of wildebeest and zebra move across the plains, followed by gazelles and other herbivores – and, of course, the predators that depend on them.

Throughout your first game drive, your guide will look for lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, buffalo and many other species.

As the afternoon progresses, you continue towards your lodge or camp, where you can relax and enjoy your first evening surrounded by the sounds of the African wilderness.

Day 2 – Full Day in the Western Serengeti, Following the Great Migration & Night Game Drive

Today is dedicated to exploring the Western Serengeti and following the movements of the Great Migration.

After an early breakfast, you set out with your private safari guide for a full-day game drive in the Ikoma and Grumeti area. This is one of the most fascinating regions of the Serengeti, with a beautiful combination of open savannah, woodland and riverine landscapes.

Depending on the season and the current location of the herds, you may have the opportunity to witness the movements of the great wildebeest and zebra herds. The Great Migration does not follow a fixed calendar, as the animals respond to rainfall, water availability and fresh grazing. Your guide will closely follow the current conditions and wildlife movements to make the most of your time in the area.

The Western Serengeti is also home to an impressive variety of wildlife. Throughout the day you may encounter lions, elephants, giraffes, buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, gazelles and a remarkable variety of birdlife. With some luck, you may even come across a leopard or cheetah.

Because this is a private safari, you can enjoy the day at your own pace. You can spend longer at particularly special sightings, take time for photography or simply pause to enjoy the incredible landscape surrounding you.

After returning to your accommodation and enjoying an early dinner, another special experience awaits:

A night game drive in the Ikoma area.

Once the sun disappears below the horizon, the Serengeti transforms completely. Accompanied by a specially trained guide, you head back into the wilderness after dark. Using a spotlight, your guide carefully scans the surrounding bush for animals that are rarely seen during the daytime.

The darkness, the sounds of the African night and the anticipation of suddenly discovering a pair of glowing eyes make a night game drive an incredibly atmospheric experience.

With some luck, you may encounter nocturnal species such as genets, porcupines, bushbabies or owls. Larger animals may also still be active after sunset. You might see a lion preparing for its nocturnal activities or elephants moving quietly through the darkness.

A night game drive offers a completely different perspective on the Serengeti and makes this day one of the most varied and memorable experiences of your safari.

After the night drive, you return to your accommodation for the night, surrounded by the sounds of the African wilderness.

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Day 3 – Another Full Day in the Western Serengeti & Private Dinner

Today you enjoy another full day exploring the Western Serengeti.

An early start allows you to experience the Serengeti during the beautiful morning hours, when temperatures are still cool and many animals are particularly active.

Together with your guide, you explore different areas of the Western Serengeti, adapting the route according to wildlife movements and the conditions of the day.

One of the great advantages of a private safari is the flexibility. There is no need to follow a fixed group schedule. If you find an exceptional wildlife encounter, you can take your time and enjoy the moment.

The day may bring encounters with large herds, elephants, giraffes, buffalo, antelope and, with some luck, some of Africa’s great predators.

After returning to your accommodation in the afternoon, you have some time to relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

In the evening, a very special experience awaits:

a private dinner in the African wilderness.

Away from the normal routines of everyday life, you will enjoy a specially prepared dinner in a beautiful private setting. As the sun sets over the Serengeti and darkness gradually settles over the plains, the sounds of the African night become part of the experience.

It is a wonderfully intimate way to celebrate your time in the Western Serengeti.

Day 4 – Into the Central Serengeti & Guided Walking Safari

After breakfast, you leave the Western Serengeti and travel towards the Central Serengeti.

The drive itself becomes part of your safari experience. As you cross the Serengeti, the landscape changes gradually, and wildlife sightings can occur at any point along the route.

The Central Serengeti, particularly the Seronera area, is renowned for its excellent year-round wildlife viewing. Permanent water sources and the diverse habitats attract large numbers of animals throughout the year.

In the afternoon, you experience the Serengeti from a completely different perspective:

a guided walking safari with a ranger.

For approximately 1–2 hours, you will leave the safari vehicle and explore the wilderness on foot, accompanied by an experienced ranger.

Walking allows you to discover details that are easily missed from a vehicle. Instead of concentrating only on the large animals, you begin to notice tracks, footprints, droppings, feathers, plants, insects and subtle signs of animal activity.

Your ranger will explain how to read the landscape and interpret the signs left behind by the wildlife.

You may discover that an animal passed through the area only a short time before, even though you cannot see it anymore. You learn to recognize different tracks and understand how guides and rangers use these clues to understand what is happening around them.

Walking through the Serengeti creates a much deeper connection with the landscape. Sounds, smells, wind and small movements suddenly become much more important.

The exact route and location of the walking safari will be selected by the ranger according to current wildlife activity and safety conditions.

After your walk, you return to your accommodation and have the evening to relax.

Day 5 – Sunrise Departure from the Serengeti & Full Day in the Ngorongoro Crater

Today begins early.

Around sunrise, you leave the Central Serengeti and begin your journey towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Leaving early allows you to enjoy the Serengeti during the cool morning hours and, at the same time, reach the Ngorongoro Crater as early as possible.

Once you arrive at the crater rim, your vehicle begins the descent into the spectacular caldera.

The Ngorongoro Crater is one of Tanzania’s most extraordinary natural landscapes. Within the relatively enclosed crater ecosystem, an exceptional concentration of wildlife can be found.

You spend the entire day inside the crater on game drives with your private guide.

The crater is home to large herds of buffalo, zebra and wildebeest, elephants, hippos, hyenas and numerous species of antelope. Lions are also regularly encountered in the crater.

One of the most exciting possibilities is the chance to see black rhino. The Ngorongoro Crater is one of Tanzania’s best places to look for these magnificent and highly endangered animals.

During the day, you will have time for wildlife viewing, photography and a picnic surrounded by the spectacular scenery of the crater.

In the afternoon, you gradually make your way out of the crater and continue towards Karatu, where you check into your accommodation.

The evening is free to relax after a full day of wildlife exploration.

Day 6 – Tarangire National Park & Night Game Drive

After breakfast, you travel to Tarangire National Park, one of northern Tanzania’s most distinctive wildlife areas.

Tarangire offers a completely different atmosphere from the Serengeti. The landscape is characterised by enormous baobab trees, open grasslands, seasonal wetlands and the Tarangire River.

The park is particularly famous for its large elephant herds, but it is also home to giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffalo, numerous antelope species and an impressive variety of birds.

With some luck, you may also encounter lions and other predators.

You spend the day on an extensive game drive, exploring different parts of the park and following the wildlife activity of the day.

In the late afternoon, you return to your accommodation for some time to relax and freshen up.

But the safari is not over yet.

After darkness falls, you head out once again for a night game drive in Tarangire.

With a specially trained guide and a spotlight, you explore the park after sunset and discover a completely different side of the African wilderness.

Many animals change their behaviour once the sun goes down. Some nocturnal species become active, while others disappear into the darkness.

With some luck, you may spot nocturnal wildlife such as genets, bushbabies, porcupines or owls. And there is something uniquely exciting about scanning the darkness with a spotlight and suddenly seeing a pair of glowing eyes watching from the bush.

A night game drive provides a completely different perspective from a traditional daytime safari and is a memorable way to end your time in the national parks.

Day 7 – Return to Arusha or Moshi

After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye to the Tanzanian wilderness.

Depending on your onward travel plans, your private driver will take you back to Arusha or Moshi.

As you leave the national parks behind, there is time to reflect on the experiences of the past week – the endless Serengeti plains, the movements of the Great Migration, encounters with Africa’s wildlife, the dramatic Ngorongoro Crater and the completely different atmosphere of Tarangire after dark.

Your private safari ends upon arrival in Arusha or Moshi, leaving you with seven days of unforgettable memories from northern Tanzania.

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