7-Day Emerald Highlands Safari

Welcome to Tanzania! On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), your friendly Pita Safaris driver-guide will greet you with a warm smile and karibu sana—Swahili for “you’re very welcome.” Transfer to Arusha, the safari capital nestled beneath Mount Meru, with distant views of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Check in at Kibo Palace Hotel, a trusted midrange lodge offering ensuite rooms, a sparkling pool, tropical gardens, and excellent service. Depending on your arrival time, unwind with a drink by the pool or explore Arusha’s colorful markets, coffee houses, and art galleries. In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner and safari briefing with your guide.

- Travel Tip: Arrive a day early to adjust to Tanzania’s pace and discover Arusha’s cultural highlights.

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

After breakfast, set out for Tarangire National Park, often called the “Elephant Kingdom” for its vast herds and towering baobab trees. Enjoy a full-day Tarangire game drive, spotting lions, leopards, giraffes, buffalo, and over 400 bird species along the life-giving Tarangire River.

Pause for a picnic lunch under acacia trees, watching elephants gather along the riverbanks—a scene that defines the park’s magic. By evening, arrive at Lake Burunge Tented Lodge, where private decks offer lake views and sunset sundowners lead into a starlit dinner.

Safari Tip: Tarangire’s giant baobabs at sunset create iconic silhouettes—perfect for photography.

Distance: ~120 km | Drive Time: ~2.5–3 hours

Today, journey into Serengeti National Park, Tanzania’s most famous wildlife reserve and home to the Great Wildebeest Migration. Travel via the lush Ngorongoro Highlands, stopping at a scenic viewpoint before descending into Serengeti’s golden plains.

Game drives en route reveal wildebeest, zebras, giraffes, and prides of lions resting on kopjes. By evening, check into Serengeti Heritage Camp, a comfortable tented camp blending bush authenticity with modern comforts.

- Safari Moment: Watch the sun sink behind Serengeti’s endless plains, silhouetting elephants and giraffes against a crimson sky.

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

Rise early for a sunrise Serengeti game drive, the best time to witness predators in action. Spot cheetahs scanning the horizon, hyenas on the move, or elephants glowing in golden light. After breakfast, enjoy another full day of exploration across Serengeti’s rivers, valleys, and predator-rich kopjes.

Your expert guide tailors the drives to maximize wildlife sightings. Pause for a picnic lunch under acacias before returning to camp for a sundowner and a lantern-lit dinner.

Photography Tip: Serengeti’s early morning and late afternoon light delivers unforgettable safari images.

After breakfast, depart Serengeti and drive into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Journey through highland scenery, where Maasai herders share the land with roaming wildlife.

Arrive at the Ngorongoro Crater rim, offering sweeping views into the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera. Depending on arrival, enjoy a short highland game drive or relax at Ang’ata Ngorongoro Camp, perched on the crater rim.

Safari Highlight: Dinner by lantern light overlooking the Ngorongoro wilderness, where lions roar in the distance.

Distance: ~145 km | Drive Time: ~4–5 hours (with game drives en route)

This morning, venture into the remote Empakaai Crater for a guided walking safari. Descend through forested trails with an armed ranger, spotting monkeys, buffalo tracks, and colorful highland birds. At the crater floor, a soda lake often glows pink with thousands of flamingos.

Hike back to the rim with panoramic views of Ol Doinyo Lengai, the sacred Maasai volcano, before returning to camp for dinner.

Did You Know? Empakaai’s 6 km-wide caldera is one of Tanzania’s best-kept safari secrets.

Distance: ~40 km (one way) | Drive Time: ~1–1.5 hours each way (plus ~2.5 hours hiking)

On your final day, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, often called the “Eighth Wonder of the World”. Home to over 25,000 animals, including lions, elephants, hippos, hyenas, and the rare black rhino, this is the best place in Tanzania to spot the Big Five in a single day.

After a picnic lunch by the hippo pool, ascend the crater walls and return to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward flight—or extend your adventure to Zanzibar beaches or a cultural safari.

Safari Reflection: From Tarangire’s elephants to Serengeti’s endless plains and Ngorongoro’s ancient crater, this 7-day Tanzania safari delivers the best of East Africa.

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