7 Days Mid Range Safari

Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), you will be warmly welcomed by your safari guide and transferred to Arusha for your first night in Tanzania. Arusha, nestled at the base of Mount Meru, is the gateway to northern Tanzania’s safari circuit. The city sits at an elevation of about 1,400 meters (4,600 feet) above sea level, enjoying a mild climate with average daytime temperatures ranging from 20 to 26°C (68 to 79°F) and comfortable humidity levels around 60–70%. Depending on your arrival time, you may rest or explore the hotel surroundings. Dinner and overnight will be at Raha Wildlife Lodge, a beautifully designed lodge offering comfort and warm hospitality.

After an early breakfast, your guide will drive you to Tarangire National Park, located approximately two hours southwest of Arusha. Established in 1970, Tarangire spans about 2,850 square kilometers and is renowned for its giant baobab trees and seasonal swamps. The park’s centerpiece, the Tarangire River, becomes a magnet for wildlife during the dry season, making it one of the best areas to spot large herds of elephants—some groups numbering up to 300 individuals. In addition to elephants, you’re likely to see buffaloes, zebras, wildebeests, giraffes, and predators like lions and leopards. The birdlife is equally impressive, with over 550 recorded species including the yellow-collared lovebird, bateleur eagle, and the endemic ashy starling.

Tarangire’s terrain varies from open woodlands and savannahs to acacia groves, sitting at altitudes ranging between 900 and 1,250 meters. Temperatures generally range between 28 and 32°C (82–90°F) with moderate humidity. Lunch will be served picnic-style around 13:00 within the park. After a full day of game viewing, you will head to the charming town of Karatu for dinner and overnight at Martina Retreat Lodge, located near the Ngorongoro Highlands.

On the morning of day three, you’ll depart early from Karatu and drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area en route to Serengeti National Park. Established in 1951, Serengeti is Tanzania’s oldest and most iconic national park, covering an impressive 14,750 square kilometers. The park’s name derives from the Maasai word “Siringet,” meaning “endless plains,” a fitting description of the sweeping savannahs and acacia-dotted landscapes that define its scenery.

Serengeti is famed for the annual Great Migration, where over 2 million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles move in search of fresh grazing. Even outside the migration season, the Serengeti remains an outstanding wildlife destination, home to abundant resident game including lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, elephants, buffaloes, and more than 500 species of birds such as lilac-breasted rollers, ostriches, and vultures.

The park’s altitude varies between 920 and 1,850 meters, offering a generally warm but pleasant climate with temperatures ranging from 25 to 28°C (77–82°F) during the day and cooler at night. Humidity is relatively low, especially in the dry season. On both days, your lunch will be served picnic-style around 13:00 during your game drives.

Your accommodation for the two nights will be at Serengeti Punda Maria Tented Camp, Yellow Babet Lodge, or Serenity Lodge, among one of them depending on availability—all of which offer mid-range comfort and prime locations for game viewing. Enjoy dinner and rest under the star-filled African sky.

After breakfast, enjoy a final early morning game drive in the Serengeti before continuing your journey toward Ngorongoro Crater. You’ll stop for a picnic lunch en route around 13:00. Later in the afternoon, you will descend into the crater—a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s most extraordinary natural wonders. Formed around two to three million years ago after a volcanic explosion, the crater is the world’s largest intact caldera and covers approximately 260 square kilometers.

It’s home to an estimated 25,000 animals, including the endangered black rhinoceros, elephants, lions, hyenas, zebras, wildebeests, and hippos. The crater also supports an impressive variety of birdlife, particularly around Lake Magadi where flamingos and crowned cranes can be seen.

Ngorongoro Crater’s floor sits at an elevation of about 1,800 meters (5,900 feet), offering cooler temperatures between 10 and 22°C (50–71°F) with higher humidity, particularly in the mornings. After your exploration, you’ll return to Karatu for dinner and overnight once again at Martina Retreat Lodge, offering a relaxing atmosphere in the cool highlands.

Today, you will take a cultural detour from wildlife to explore the human heritage of the Lake Eyasi region. After breakfast, you’ll drive approximately two hours to the shores of Lake Eyasi, a seasonal alkaline lake lying in the shadow of the Rift Valley escarpment. The lake is set at an altitude of around 1,030 meters and has a warm climate, with average temperatures reaching up to 30–35°C (86–95°F) and relatively low humidity.

Your cultural tour begins with a visit to the Hadzabe, one of the last remaining hunter-gatherer tribes in Africa. You’ll join them on a traditional morning hunt using bows and arrows, gaining firsthand insight into their ancient lifestyle.

Afterwards, visit the Datoga people—agro-pastoralists known for their blacksmithing skills. They’ll demonstrate their traditional techniques of crafting tools, jewelry, and arrowheads. This eye-opening experience offers a unique connection to Tanzania’s diverse cultural tapestry.

A picnic lunch will be served around 13:00. You’ll return to Karatu in the late afternoon for dinner and overnight at Martina Retreat Lodge or a similar mid-range property.

After breakfast, you will check out and begin your drive back to Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward flight. The drive from Karatu takes about 4 to 5 hours, depending on road and weather conditions. If your flight schedule permits, optional stops for lunch or shopping in Arusha can be arranged before heading to the airport, concluding your unforgettable journey through Tanzania’s natural and cultural heritage.