10-Day Serengeti Safari: Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro & Serengeti
tour features
Serengeti safari: ten unhurried days through Northern Tanzania, finishing with three full nights on the endless plains of the Serengeti. Begin among the baobabs and elephant herds of Tarangire, see Lake Manyara’s tree-climbing lions, spend two nights at the Ngorongoro Crater, then fly back to Arusha instead of making the long drive.
About This 10-Day Serengeti Safari
Quick Answer
This Serengeti safari lasts 10 days and 9 nights with The Out Of Africa Experience: 1 night at the Arusha Serena Hotel, 1 night at Tarangire Sopa Lodge, 1 night at Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge, 2 nights at the Ngorongoro Crater, 3 nights in the central Serengeti and a final night in Arusha. It includes a one-way flight from the Serengeti to Arusha, game drives in a 4×4 Land Cruiser, park fees, an Olduvai Gorge visit, full-board meals on safari, an English-speaking driver-guide and Amref evacuation cover.
Most Tanzania itineraries give the Serengeti two nights. This one gives it three, so you have time for full-day game drives, a sunrise balloon flight or simply waiting at a sighting for as long as you like. The return flight saves a full day on the road, making it a comfortable choice for couples, families and photographers.
Duration
10 Days / 9 Nights
Start / End
Kilimanjaro Airport
Serengeti
3 Nights
Travel
4×4 + Flight to Arusha
10-Day Serengeti Safari Highlights
🦁 Three nights in the Serengeti, with full days for big cats and plains game
🌋 Two nights at the Ngorongoro Crater and a full crater game drive
🐘 Elephant herds and giant baobabs in Tarangire National Park
🌳 Tree-climbing lions and flamingos at Lake Manyara
🦴 Olduvai Gorge, the “Cradle of Mankind”
✈️ A scenic flight from the Serengeti back to Arusha
10-Day Serengeti Safari Itinerary: Day by Day
Tap each day to see the details.
Day 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro – Arusha
🛏 Overnight: Arusha Serena Hotel, Lake Duluti · Bed & Breakfast
Your Serengeti safari begins at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where our representative meets you and transfers you to the Arusha Serena Hotel on the shores of Lake Duluti, a peaceful crater lake in the shadow of Mount Meru.
Day 2: Arusha – Tarangire National Park
🛏 Overnight: Tarangire Sopa Lodge · Full Board
After breakfast, drive to Tarangire National Park, known for its huge elephant herds, giraffes and a remarkable variety of birds. In the dry season, the Tarangire River is the area’s only permanent water source, drawing great numbers of wildlife. On your afternoon game drive, look out for the park’s giant baobab trees silhouetted against the sky.
Day 3: Tarangire – Lake Manyara National Park
🛏 Overnight: Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge · Full Board
Drive to your lodge on the Rift Valley escarpment, arriving in time for lunch, followed by an afternoon game drive in Lake Manyara National Park. Its groundwater forest, woodland, grassland and swamps support elephants, buffalo, hippos, baboons and the famous tree-climbing lions, along with more than 350 bird species, including flamingos, pelicans and storks.
Day 4: Lake Manyara – Ngorongoro Highlands
🛏 Overnight: Lodge at the Ngorongoro Crater · Full Board
A short drive takes you up into the cool, green highlands of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Check in at your lodge for lunch, then spend the afternoon relaxing or take an optional excursion, such as a Maasai village visit.
Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive
🛏 Overnight: Lodge at the Ngorongoro Crater · Full Board
After breakfast, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, for a game drive with a picnic lunch at a designated site. The crater floor is home to lions, buffalo, elephants, hyenas, flamingos and the endangered black rhino, giving you one of the best chances in Tanzania to see the Big Five in a single day.
Day 6: Olduvai Gorge – Serengeti National Park
🛏 Overnight: Lodge or tented camp in the central Serengeti · Full Board
Drive west towards the Serengeti, stopping at Olduvai Gorge, one of the world’s most important sites for the study of human origins, where a small museum tells the story of the fossils found here.
Continue onto the Serengeti plains, arriving at your lodge for lunch, followed by an afternoon game drive until sunset.
Days 7–8: Exploring the Serengeti
🛏 Overnight: Lodge or tented camp in the central Serengeti · Full Board
Two full days on the “endless plains”, the heart of your Serengeti safari. Head out on full-day game drives with packed lunches, or split each day into morning and afternoon drives with time to relax at the lodge in between.
The central Serengeti is one of the best places in Africa for big cats, with large lion prides, cheetahs on the open plains and leopards in the acacia trees, alongside elephants, buffalo, giraffes, gazelles and eland. Depending on the season, you may also see the herds of the Great Migration. For an unforgettable start to one of these days, add a sunrise hot-air balloon flight.
Day 9: Serengeti – Flight to Arusha
🛏 Overnight: Arusha Serena Hotel, Lake Duluti · Bed & Breakfast
After breakfast, transfer to the nearest airstrip for your scenic flight back to Arusha (baggage limit 15 kg per person, in soft bags). On arrival, transfer to your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 10: Arusha – Departure
After breakfast, transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home or your onward journey to Zanzibar.
End of your 10-day Serengeti safari.
What’s Included
✓ Accommodation as stated in the itinerary
✓ Meals as per the itinerary (full board on safari)
✓ One-way flight from the Serengeti to Arusha (15 kg baggage)
✓ All game drives in a 4×4 Land Cruiser
✓ All park entrance fees as per the itinerary
✓ Olduvai Gorge visit
✓ Qualified English-speaking driver-guide
✓ All transfers as per the itinerary
✓ Mineral drinking water
✓ Amref Flying Doctors evacuation cover
✓ A complimentary gift
Not Included
✗ International flights and any domestic flights not listed above
✗ Alcoholic and soft drinks
✗ Visas and travel or personal accident insurance
✗ Laundry, massages and personal expenses
✗ Optional activities and excursions
✗ Tips and porterage
✗ Anything not listed under “What’s Included”
Optional Extras
🎈 Sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the Serengeti
🔥 Bush dinner under the stars
🛖 Maasai cultural village visit
🍽 Lunch or dinner in Arusha
🏨 An extra night in Arusha before or after your safari (bed & breakfast)
Prices for extras are confirmed when you book.
Good to Know
• The light-aircraft flight has a 15 kg baggage limit per person, including hand luggage, in soft-sided bags.
• Rates are based on standard rooms, with a maximum of 2 adults and 1 child under 12 per room.
• Lodges of a similar standard may be offered, depending on availability at the time of booking.
• Amref evacuation cover is for emergency evacuation to Nairobi only; hospital bills are paid by the traveller or their insurer.
• Every traveller entering Tanzania must complete the online Traveler’s Health Surveillance Form.
• We may adjust the programme in line with weather and road conditions.
Serengeti Safari: Frequently Asked Questions
How many nights do I spend in the Serengeti?
Three nights, with two full days of game drives, which gives you far more time than a typical two-night stay for big cat sightings and photography.
Is the flight from the Serengeti included?
Yes. A one-way light-aircraft flight from the Serengeti to Arusha is included, with a 15 kg baggage limit per person. It saves a full day of driving at the end of your safari.
Will I see the Great Migration on this Serengeti safari?
It depends on the season. The herds move in a yearly cycle: calving in the southern Serengeti around December to March, the western corridor around May to July, and the northern Serengeti from about July to October. The central Serengeti offers excellent big cat sightings all year. Ask us about choosing a camp closer to the herds for your travel dates.
Can I see the Big Five?
The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the best places in Tanzania to see all of the Big Five in a single day, including the endangered black rhino, although sightings are never guaranteed.
What is the difference between this and the 8-day Northern Tanzania safari?
This safari adds a third night in the Serengeti, a second night in Arusha and a flight back from the Serengeti, so it is slower-paced, with less time on the road. For a shorter trip, see our 8-Day Northern Tanzania Safari.
Can I add Zanzibar after the safari?
Yes. Flights from Kilimanjaro or Arusha to Zanzibar take about an hour and a half. See our 14-Day Tanzania Safari and Zanzibar Holiday for a ready-made combination.
Looking for something different? Try our active 10-Day Tanzania Adventure Safari, or follow the migration across two countries on our 12-Day Kenya and Tanzania Safari.
Book Your 10-Day Serengeti Safari
Serengeti camps and flights fill quickly in peak season, so get in touch early to check availability and secure your dates.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.