Experience the ultimate private safari Tanzania has to offer on this intimate 7-day journey, limited to just six guests. Journey through four premier national parks - from the elephant-rich Tarangire to the iconic Serengeti plains. Our signature 'glamping' experience combines authentic safari adventure with comfortable luxury, as our professional team handles everything while you focus on creating unforgettable wildlife memories.
Your private safari in Tanzania begins with an early morning briefing in Arusha, followed by a southwest journey to Tarangire National Park. Known as Tanzania's elephant paradise, this hidden gem is home to over 3,000 elephants during the peak season (June to September).
After an exciting day on safari in Tarangire, head to camp to relax and unwind. Your dedicated Tanzania safari crew travels ahead to set up the mobile-tented camp. You arrive to enjoy the comfort of spacious tents equipped with en-suite showers and toilets, as well as cosy beds with premium linen. Your chef will serve up a hearty dinner while the attentive camp staff cater to your every need.
Day 2 of your Private Safari Tanzania is another leisurely day exploring Tarangire National Park. During the dry season, thousands of animals migrate to the life-giving Tarangire River, creating spectacular opportunities for game viewing. Watch elephants, buffalo, and giraffes gather at the waterways, while lions and leopards follow in pursuit.
As dusk settles, head back to the camp to enjoy a delicious dinner and an evening spent by the warmth of the campfire.
An early start to visit the scenic Lake Manyara National Park with its breathtaking landscapes set against the dramatic backdrop of the Great Rift Valley escarpment. This 330 sq km park surrounds the shallow, alkaline Lake Manyara and boasts diverse habitats, including grassy floodplains, acacia woodlands, forests, and rocky escarpments. It is home to its renowned tree-climbing lions, and large mammals like elephants, buffalo, wildebeests, and giraffes, while bird enthusiasts can spot nearly 400 recorded species.
Journey onward towards the lush rolling hills of the Ngorongoro Highlands, covered in verdant coffee plantations and dense forests. Next our Private Tanzania Safari overnights on the outskirts of Karatu. This area is known for its stunning views and cool, temperate climate.
Bougainvillea Lodge provides a peaceful retreat for safari travellers with spacious, mosquito-netted rooms featuring king or twin beds, fireplaces, and spacious ensuite bathrooms. Verandas overlook the lush tropical gardens with a pool and a coffee garden. Guests can relax in the cosy lounge and bar and enjoy warm Tanzanian hospitality. Delicious, fresh country cuisine is prepared by the resident chef.
Today, our Private Tanzania Safari heads to the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater, one of the world’s natural wonders. This vast caldera of an extinct volcano forms a natural amphitheatre often referred to as the "Garden of Eden" due to its exceptional biodiversity. Surrounded by lush, forested crater walls, it is home to an astonishing density and variety of wildlife, including four of Africa's Big Five.
Enjoy some of the best game viewing in Africa as we descend into the caldera for a safari drive in search of spectacular game sightings, all set against the stunning backdrop of the thickly forested crater walls. The crater's diverse landscapes, from forests and grasslands to both freshwater and soda lakes, make it a truly awe-inspiring experience. Savour a picnic lunch amidst this breathtaking natural spectacle.
After ascending the crater walls once more, we head to the Serengeti National Park, where the camp staff have set up your next mobile tented camp. En route, there is ample time for an optional visit to Olduvai Gorge or a Masai Village. Olduvai Gorge offers a fascinating glimpse into human prehistory, as this world-renowned archaeological site is where some of the oldest hominid fossils and tools were discovered. Learn about the Gorge's significance in understanding human evolution and the lives of early ancestors.
Alternatively, you may opt to visit a Maasai village to gain an insight into the traditions, lifestyle, and customs of one of Africa's most iconic tribes. You’ll be welcomed by the Maasai people, who will share insights into their daily lives, including their distinctive clothing, ceremonies, and cattle-keeping practices.
The next two days of your Private Tanzania Safari are devoted to exploring the stunning Serengeti National Park. This world-renowned park is home to over three million large mammals spread across its vast plains. Go in search of the wildlife of this incredible place, then retreat to the comfort of our tented camp with your attentive camp staff before the next game drive.
Throughout the year, the park is home to large herds of wildebeest and zebra, as well as buffalo, giraffes, and warthogs. While elephants are more common in the northern and western areas, the Serengeti National Park is best known for its abundance of big cats, including lions, cheetahs, leopards, and various other predators such as hyenas, jackals, and servals.
At certain times of the year, you may witness the awe-inspiring wildebeest migration, with up to 1.25 million wildebeest travelling in columns up to 40 kilometres long in search of grazing, and attracting predators and other game. This migration is seasonal and occurs over a vast area of Tanzania and neighboring Kenya. The wildebeest are spotted in different places, depending on the time of the year and the stage of the migration.
You may choose to embark on an optional Hot Air Balloon Safari over this iconic landscape. The excursion promises an experience like no other. Float above the vast plains, taking in the sweeping views of the wildlife-filled wilderness below. The adventure starts at dawn and culminates in a delightful champagne breakfast in the bush, making it a truly unforgettable African experience.
After breakfast, bid farewell to the mobile camp staff and the stunning Serengeti wilderness as you embark on the journey back to Arusha by road. This is a long day's drive, with the travel time varying based on your camp's location and game viewing along the route.
We highly recommend a scenic flight from the Serengeti back to Arusha or Kilimanjaro today. This breathtaking flight offers stunning views of the Ngorongoro Highlands, the vast Great Rift Valley escarpments, and the lush coffee plantations surrounding Arusha airport. On a clear day, you’ll be treated to magnificent views of Mount Meru towering over the town, with Kilimanjaro sometimes visible in the distance.
The lodge accommodation listed on Day 3 of this Tanzania itinerary is subject to availability. If the listed establishment is not available, a similar lodge of the same standard will be booked. This will be conveyed to you at the time of booking.
This excellent value Private Safari Tanzania is a fully serviced private departure safari with daily departures for a minimum of 2 clients.
Enjoy an exclusive and customised Tanzania safari, where every detail is tailored to your preferences. You’ll travel in the comfort of a specially customised Land Cruiser with plenty of room to stretch your legs. It features enlarged windows and a raised roof height for ease of photography and game viewing through the 360-degree view hatches. They come with a selection of reference books on Tanzania’s parks, flora, and fauna, a cooler box for drinks, and inverters for charging cameras/phones.
In the parks, your dedicated Tanzania safari crew sets up a mobile camp. Spacious 3.5 x 6.5m dome tents with en-suite facilities and comfortable beds with quality linens are set up ahead of your arrival, while a safari chef prepares gourmet meals. Meals are either served in the mess tent or, if you prefer, alfresco “under the stars”. These tented camps offer a serene and immersive African bush experience, allowing for personalised routes to explore the best wildlife areas, and are free from the noise of lodges or crowded safari camps.
Upgrade your Serengeti safari experience: If you would like to stay in one of our intimate Serengeti Safari Camps instead, this can be easily arranged. Choose Central Camp (permanent), North Camp (seasonal), or Ndutu Camp (seasonal). These camps are all located within the national park and conservation areas and are designed in the classic safari style, offering simplicity and comfort with a focus on quality.
Each camp features a maximum of 12 tents furnished with attention to detail, including quality linens, solar lighting, and eco-friendly en-suite facilities. Central Camp offers exceptional year-round game viewing, while the seasonal camps are designed to take full advantage of the great migration, moving from Ndutu Camp in the south during the calving season to North Camp in the northern Serengeti for the dramatic river crossings.
Serengeti Central Camp is a luxurious yet intimate safari camp in the heart of the Serengeti, east of the famous Seronera region. The Seronera region is considered the "big cat capital" of the Serengeti, renowned for its high concentrations of predators. It features a mix of open savannahs, acacia woodlands, and the Seronera River, providing an excellent year-round water source. The camp offers exceptional year-round game viewing, including sightings of lions, leopards, cheetahs, and the resident herds of grazers.
Central Camp features just ten spacious safari tents, including a family tent. Each tent is en suite with flushing toilets and bush showers, complemented by a private verandah for relaxation. Enjoy gourmet meals in the central dining tent, unwind in the cosy lounge tent with a small library and games, and savour sundowners around the evening campfire. All meals and local drinks are included. Central Camp offers optional balloon safaris, bush breakfasts, and fly-in packages for those seeking a seamless safari adventure. The camp’s prime location allows easy access to the Seronera airstrip, just a 30-minute drive away.
Ndutu Camp is a charming seasonal tented camp situated in the southern Ndutu area of the Serengeti ecosystem It is open from December to March to align with the spectacular wildebeest calving season. Set under shady acacia trees on a private site, the camp offers an intimate safari experience with ten well-spaced tents, including a 4-bed family tent. Each tent features en-suite facilities and solar-powered lighting. The Ndutu area’s short-grass plains and seasonal lakes draw the Great Migration during this time, making it an unparalleled destination for witnessing the birth of thousands of wildebeest, along with an abundance of predators on the prowl and a diverse array of birdlife. The area also features some unique ecosystems, ranging from soda lakes to woodlands.
Ndutu Camp offers warm hospitality and delicious, homely meals—often served al fresco beneath the starlit African skies. Unwind in the central lounge and bar area, share stories around the campfire, or simply revel in the tranquil ambience. All meals and local drinks are included. Whether arriving by road from Arusha or flying into the nearby Ndutu airstrip, Ndutu Camp provides a perfect base for experiencing the magic of the Serengeti during its most dynamic season.
Serengeti North Camp is a seasonal safari camp in the northern Kogatende area of the Serengeti, near the famed Mara River. This location is prime for witnessing the vast herds of wildebeest and zebras cross the crocodile-infested waters of the Mara River during the Great Migration, between July and October. Set amidst beautiful rolling hills, open plains, and lush riverine woodlands, the camp provides an unparalleled wildlife experience.
North Camp offers ten spacious tents, including a 4-bed family tent, with comfortable beds, en suite facilities, and a private verandah for relaxation. Powered by solar energy, the camp offers modern conveniences, including a central dining tent, a lounge with a small library, and a charging station for electronic devices. All meals and local drinks are included. Its proximity to the Kogatende airstrip ensures convenience for fly-in safaris, making it an excellent choice for travellers seeking adventure and seclusion.
Talk to one of our travel experts to discuss accommodation options for your Tanzania Safari.
This budget-friendly Private Tanzania safari complements our 4-Day Zanzibar Beach Resort Package.
Zanzibar Island, located off the coast of Tanzania, is renowned for its stunning white-sand beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, rich cultural heritage, and historic Stone Town, making it a paradise for both relaxation and exploration. For this tour, you decide how much or how little you wish to do in this tropical paradise. The Zanzibar beach resort caters to all tastes, offering watersports, land-based activities, spa treatments, three beautiful restaurants, numerous bars, and a variety of facilities. A white-sand beach surrounds it and features one of Zanzibar's largest swimming pools, complete with a pool bar.
To learn more about Zanzibar Island, arrange excursions at the beach resort, which include spice tours and a visit to Stone Town. Speak to your travel advisor to add this Zanzibar Tour to your Tanzania safari package.
Choose your preferred dates and customize your private safari experience.
Plan Your SafariPlease note that the Wildebeest Great Migration is a seasonal event. As a natural wildlife phenomenon, it is fluid and unpredictable. For this reason, seeing the Great Migration of East Africa cannot be guaranteed.
The wildebeest and other wild herbivores migrate between the Masai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti in Tanzania. These herds move in a massive circular route covering some 1,200 miles (1,931km). It is a continuous movement of wildlife that can be seen in different areas at different times of the year.
From January to March, the herds are typically found in the southern Serengeti plains, where calving occurs, attracting predators. From June to August, the wildebeest begin their migration north and west toward the Mara River, with dramatic river crossings in the Grumeti and Mara regions. In September and October, many wildebeest have reached the Masai Mara in Kenya. By November and December, the herds begin their return to the southern plains, completing the migration cycle.
During certain phases of this annual trek, the animals disperse or slow down, whilst at other times the migration picks up speed, with the herds becoming larger and denser. Not only does the Wildebeest Great Migration vary from place to place and season to season, but the movement of these large wildlife herds also varies from year to year.
To learn more, please speak with a travel expert at African Budget Safaris about experiencing the Great Migration on your safari.
This tour does take children.
This itinerary may have some long travelling days, and we would therefore not recommend this trip for children under the age of 6 years.
Families with younger children who are confident and comfortable with travelling long distances are of course welcome.
All Arusha Departures | All Tanzania Tours |
The Tanzania Safari to Serengeti & Beyond is an affordable wildlife lodge safari tour offering the ultimate African safari experience. Explore Serengeti National Park, Tarangire, Lake Manyara Park & Ngorongoro Crater, staying at comfortable safari lodges.
More on this 7 Day Budget Lodge Safari
Maximize your Great Migration experience with a private 7-day fly-in safari in Tanzania. Explore Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, and Northern Serengeti for peak river crossings (July–Oct). Customizable & exclusive.
More on this 7 Day Budget Lodge Safari
This 7-Day Tanzania Safari stays at luxury camps and lodges exploring Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara and Tanzanian culture.
More on this 7 Day Budget Lodge Safari
A Deluxe Tanzania Lodge Safari in Tanzania staying at affordable luxury lodges to explore Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater & Lake Manyara on a fantastic budget!
More on this 7 Day Budget Lodge Safari
An affordable Tanzania Lodge Safari to Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, & Tarangire. The ideal budget African safari to enjoy the best Tanzania safari highlights.
More on this 7 Day Budget Lodge Safari
This 6-day Tanzania Hiking Tour is a private guided hike that climbs Mount Meru in Tanzania. This budget hike is an ideal add-on to Tanzania Safaris or to train for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
More on this 6 Day Hiking Tour
An affordable Tanzania wildlife safari, the Northern Tanzania Safari visits Serengeti Park, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire with a private tour driver/guide.
More on this 6 Day Budget Lodge Safari
Experience Tanzania's premier national parks on this 7-day safari. Visit Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater & Tarangire. Expert guides & luxury lodges included.
More on this 7 Day Budget Lodge Safari
One of the most affordable Zanzibar vacation packages, this short Zanzibar Beach Resort Package is a perfect quick beach holiday on Zanzibar Island.
Our team has the destination knowledge to help you plan an unforgettable African adventure. We're based in Cape Town and ready to help.
We can also plan you an affordable private group or tailor-made tour. We built our business on turning luxury travel into affordable travel.
