7-Day Northern Tanzania Safari – Lake Manyara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater Tour

Welcome to Tanzania! Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), your friendly Pita Safaris driver-guide will greet you with a warm smile and cheerful “Karibu sana!”—Swahili for “you’re most welcome.”
Enjoy a scenic 1-hour transfer to Arusha, the safari hub of Northern Tanzania, passing Mount Meru, lush hillsides, and bustling local markets along the way.
Check in at Kibo Palace Hotel, a trusted midrange lodge with ensuite rooms, lush gardens, and a refreshing pool—perfect for unwinding after your flight. Depending on your arrival time, you may explore Arusha’s craft markets or simply relax with a drink by the pool. Dinner at the hotel blends Swahili flavors with international cuisine, your first taste of Tanzanian hospitality.
Travel Tip: Arriving early? Ask your guide about visiting a Maasai cultural center or sampling Tanzania’s world-famous coffee.

Distance: ~55 km | Drive Time: ~1 hour

After breakfast, set off for Lake Manyara National Park (~2.5 hours), passing banana plantations, coffee farms, and vibrant local villages.
Arrive at Kirurumu Manyara Lodge, perched dramatically on the Great Rift Valley escarpment. After lunch with sweeping valley views, enjoy your first thrilling Lake Manyara game drive. Explore soda lakes lined with pink flamingos, lush acacia forests where elephants roam, and grassy plains filled with giraffes, hippos, and baboons. Keep your eyes peeled for the park’s famous tree-climbing lions—a rare and magical sight.
Return to the lodge for sunset views and a delicious dinner.
Safari Highlight: Photograph lions lounging in fig trees—a sight unique to Lake Manyara.

Distance: ~130 km | Drive Time: ~2.5 hours

After breakfast, journey through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area en route to the legendary Serengeti National Park (~6 hours with stops). Pause at the crater rim for breathtaking views before continuing into the endless golden plains.
The Seronera region offers some of the best year-round wildlife encounters in Africa—expect lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, and vast herds of wildebeest and zebra.
Arrive at Serengeti Heritage Camp, a classic tented camp blending comfort with the raw beauty of the wild. Enjoy dinner under the stars by the campfire.
Safari Moment: Witness the sun sink over Serengeti’s plains, painting the horizon in unforgettable colors.

Distance: ~250 km | Drive Time: ~6 hours (with stops)

Rise early for a sunrise Serengeti game drive, the best time to see predators in action. Watch lions with playful cubs, cheetahs scanning the horizon, and elephants grazing in the morning light.
Enjoy a bush breakfast or return to camp before continuing your exploration of Seronera’s rivers, kopjes, and savannahs. Pause for a picnic lunch beneath shady acacias while wildlife roams nearby.
Unwind in the evening at Serengeti Heritage Camp with dinner and starlit skies.
Photography Tip: Golden-hour light creates stunning wildlife portraits.

Another unforgettable day in the Serengeti! Depending on the season, track the Great Migration herds or follow resident big cats with your expert guide.
Start with a sunrise game drive, returning for brunch, or enjoy a bush breakfast in the wild. In the afternoon, explore predator-rich valleys before heading back to camp.
Tonight, celebrate with a special bush dinner beneath the stars.
Optional Upgrade: Pre-book a sunrise hot-air balloon safari over Serengeti for breathtaking aerial views of wildebeest herds and predator action.

After breakfast, depart Serengeti for the Ngorongoro Highlands (~4 hours). The scenery shifts from wide savannahs to lush highlands with dramatic viewpoints.
Arrive at Ang’ata Ngorongoro Camp, near the crater rim. Relax with a cup of chai, enjoy guided nature walks, or engage with your guide about Maasai traditions. Dinner is served in the cozy mess tent.
Did You Know? The Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, home to 25,000 animals—including the rare black rhino.

Distance: ~150 km | Drive Time: ~4 hours

Your grand finale! Descend 600 meters into the Ngorongoro Crater, often called Africa’s Eden. Encounter the Big Five, hippos wallowing in pools, flamingos on shimmering lakes, and—if lucky—black rhinos grazing in the distance.
Enjoy a scenic picnic lunch before ascending the crater rim and beginning your journey back to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) (~6–7 hours). Guests extending their safari may overnight in Arusha or continue to Zanzibar for a beach extension.
Safari Reflection: From Lake Manyara’s flamingos to Serengeti’s predators and Ngorongoro’s wonder, this itinerary captures the essence of Northern Tanzania.

Distance: ~290 km | Drive Time: ~6–7 hours (including crater game drive)