Africa Uncovered: 7-Day Budget Safari through Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro
SAFARI SNAPSHOT
This classic 7-day budget camping safari is the ultimate way to explore Tanzania’s legendary northern circuit without breaking the bank. From Tarangire’s ancient baobabs to Lake Manyara’s tree-climbing lions, from the endless plains of Serengeti to the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater, each day brings you closer to Africa’s untamed wilderness.

Your Safari Day Plan
Day 1: Tarangire National Park – Home of Giants
Your adventure starts with an early pick-up from your accommodation in Arusha at 7:30 am. Meet your expert Serengeti Sphere Safaris guide and drive about 1 hour 45 minutes to Tarangire National Park, a hidden gem brimming with wildlife.
Enjoy a full-day game drive beneath towering baobabs, watching herds of elephants, antelope, giraffes, and maybe even stalking lions and cheetahs.
Stop at a beautiful picnic site overlooking the Tarangire River for lunch and then continue your afternoon game drive until late afternoon.
Exit the park and drive to your nearby campsite for dinner and overnight stay.
Meals Included: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Lake Manyara National Park – A Lush Paradise
After breakfast at camp, take a short drive to Lake Manyara National Park, a small but stunning park famous for its groundwater forest, flamingos, and tree-climbing lions.
Your game drive will take you through thick forest alive with baboons and monkeys, open plains where elephants and buffalo graze, and the shores of the lake dotted with flamingos and hippos.
Have a picnic lunch at a scenic spot inside the park, then continue exploring until afternoon. Return to your campsite in the nearby area for dinner and overnight.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Journey to Serengeti National Park – Endless Plains Await
After an early breakfast, pack up camp and head out towards the famous Serengeti National Park, passing through the dramatic Ngorongoro highlands along the way.
Enjoy a picnic lunch en route and take in the changing scenery as lush hills give way to wide open plains.
Enter Serengeti through the Naabi Hill Gate and begin your first game drive in the world’s most iconic savannah, teeming with wildebeest, zebras, and big cats.
Arrive at your campsite in the central Serengeti by evening for dinner and overnight under the stars.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Serengeti National Park – Heart of the Wild
Spend the entire day exploring Serengeti’s vast plains and riverine valleys. Early morning and evening game drives offer the best chance to see predators on the hunt.
You may encounter prides of lions resting under acacia trees, cheetahs scanning the horizon, and elephants grazing near the waterholes.
Pause for a picnic lunch at a safe, scenic spot and continue your adventure through different habitats following your guide’s expertise.
Return to camp in the evening for a hearty dinner and stories by the campfire.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Serengeti National Park – More Wonders Await
Another full day to deepen your Serengeti experience. Begin with a sunrise game drive to catch the predators as they finish their nightly hunt and watch the plains awaken with life.
Spend the day exploring lesser-known corners of the park, perhaps tracking the migration herds if they’re nearby or searching for leopards in the rocky kopjes.
Enjoy your picnic lunch in the wild and continue your adventure until sunset. Return to camp for dinner and overnight.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Across the Highlands
After breakfast, pack up and enjoy a final morning game drive as you make your way out of Serengeti.
Optional: Stop at Olduvai Gorge (entrance fee extra) to learn about early human history and the archaeological discoveries made here.
Proceed into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, arriving at your campsite near the crater rim by late afternoon. Dinner and overnight in the cool highland air.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater – Nature’s Masterpiece
Wake up early for breakfast, then descend into the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater, often called the Eighth Wonder of the World.
Spend the morning on a game drive across the crater floor, spotting elephants, buffalo, hippos, lions, and possibly the rare black rhino grazing in this unique ecosystem.
Pause for a picnic lunch by the hippo pool, surrounded by the stunning backdrop of the crater walls.
After lunch, continue exploring before ascending and driving back to Arusha, arriving by late afternoon or early evening, with memories of Africa’s wild wonders to last a lifetime.
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Safari Includes
All park fees
Professional safari guide/driver
4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
Daily game drives as per itinerary
Accommodation as specified
All meals as specified in the itinerary
Drinking water in the safari vehicle
Camping equipment (for budget camping safaris)
Pick up and drop off at your accommodation
Government taxes and VAT
Safari Excludes
International and domestic flights
Tanzanian visa fees
Travel insurance
Personal expenses (e.g., drinks at lodges/camps, souvenirs, laundry)
Tips and gratuities (highly appreciated)
Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary (e.g., Maasai village visit, balloon safari)
Hotel accommodation before and after safari (can be arranged on request)
Additional meals and drinks not specified in the itinerary
Reserve Your Safari Experience
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