Tarangire, North Serengeti, Central Serengeti & Ngorongoro

Seven days

The Brief

Composed for travellers who want the Mara River crossings. Seven days through Tarangire, then north Serengeti for the river, central Serengeti for the cats, and the Crater for the close.

— The Ascend Tanzania

— 01

The route

Built around the Mara River crossings: three nights in the far north before dropping back to the centre and the crater.

ArushaTarangireNorth SerengetiCentral SerengetiNgorongoroArusha

Day 01Arusha to Tarangire
Day 02Tarangire to North Serengeti
Day 03Mara River crossings
Day 04North to Central Serengeti
Day 05Full day in central Serengeti
Day 06Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater
Day 07Crater floor and departure

— 02

Length & vehicle

We quote shorter or longer arcs from the same park sequence when flights allow — below are the tiers we publish for this itinerary family.

Private vehicle quotations assume your party only; shared departures quote per seat on confirmed dates.

Safari length	Shared / group seat	Private vehicle
7 days	$6,120	$7,490
8 days	$6,680	$8,190

Compare

Which option fits you?

Both can deliver the same parks and lodges — compare price and schedule certainty with exclusivity on the vehicle and day-to-day pacing.

Shared / group seat

Pros

Better per-seat value when departure dates suit you.
Straightforward choice if you enjoy small-group vehicle dynamics.

Cons

Wildlife rhythm follows the broader group unless everyone agrees to stop.
Pickup times and sightings can be paced to the median guest.
Seat-mate chemistry is not guaranteed.

Private vehicle

Pros

Your vehicle — start times, sightings, and photo stops follow your crew.
Ideal for mixed ages, honeymooners, or anyone who prefers not to share sightings.
Cleaner extension into beach or bush flights — one itinerary spine.

Cons

Higher cost for exclusive use of the vehicle and guiding team.

Families and photographers rarely regret the upgrade; budget-first travellers sharing fixed dates tend to thrive on seats.

Tell us preferred dates and party type — we will confirm availability within one business day.

— 03

Day by day

Typical pacing and overnight stops on this safari. Your final dates and camps shift slightly with rainfall, wildlife movements, and your own pace.

DAY 01

Arusha to Tarangire

Pickup, briefing, drive to Tarangire, afternoon game drive.

—Two hours forty west on the B144, through the gate by early afternoon
—The river circuit, where the dry-season herds concentrate
—Baobab country and the highest elephant density on the northern circuit

Tarangire

Park · Tarangire National Park

Tonight · Tarangire Sopa Lodge

DAY 02

Tarangire to North Serengeti

A long drive north, arriving at the Mara River by late afternoon. We stay at a mobile camp on the river for two nights.

—A long day north, broken by the crater rim viewpoint
—Into the Serengeti at Naabi and on toward Kogatende
—First afternoon along the Mara River escarpment

Serengeti (North)

Park · Serengeti National Park

Tonight · Northern Serengeti mobile camp

DAY 03

Mara River crossings

A full day on the river, watching the wildebeest plunge across.

—Full day at the crossing points with a packed lunch
—Herds mass for hours and commit in ninety seconds — waiting is the work
—Resident lion prides working the riverbank on both banks

Serengeti (North)

Park · Serengeti National Park

Tonight · Northern Serengeti mobile camp

DAY 04

North to Central Serengeti

A drive south to the Seronera Valley, the heart of the cats.

—South through the Lamai and back across the river
—Game drive all the way rather than a transfer
—Into Seronera, the best resident cat country in the park

Serengeti (Central)

Park · Serengeti National Park

Tonight · Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge

DAY 05

Full day in central Serengeti

A full day of game drives in Seronera.

—Seronera valley at dawn for lion, leopard and cheetah
—Moru kopjes and the rock paintings at midday
—Optional balloon at 05:15

Serengeti (Central)

Park · Serengeti National Park

Tonight · Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge

DAY 06

Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater

Morning game drive, then transfer to the Crater rim.

—Morning drive, then out through Naabi Hill
—Up the Malanja depression onto the crater rim
—Rim viewpoint before check-in

Ngorongoro Crater

Park · Ngorongoro Crater

Tonight · Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge

DAY 07

Crater floor and departure

Morning game drive on the Crater floor, lunch on the rim, transfer to JRO.

—Six o’clock descent, five hours on the floor
—Best odds of black rhino anywhere on the circuit
—Out by midday and back to Kilimanjaro International

Ngorongoro Crater

Park · Ngorongoro Crater

Tonight · Departure

Included

→Private 4x4 Land Cruiser
→Named guide-driver
→All park and Crater fees
→Six nights’ accommodation including two in mobile camp
→All transfers
→Drinking water
→Binoculars

Yours to bring

·International flights
·Tanzania visa
·Insurance
·Tips
·Optional balloon flight

Gallery

The same theatre

Granite ridges, teak-coloured plains, crater light, and rainforest — corners of Tanzania our teams work in every season.

A few questions

The crossings are typically late July through early October. The exact dates change year to year — we will time the safari around the most likely window.

Tell us when, where, and for how long. We will compose the rest.

Length & vehicle

We quote shorter or longer arcs from the same park sequence when flights allow — below are the tiers we publish for this itinerary family.

Private vehicle quotations assume your party only; shared departures quote per seat on confirmed dates.

Safari length	Shared / group seat	Private vehicle
7 days	$6,120	$7,490
8 days	$6,680	$8,190

Compare

Which option fits you?

Both can deliver the same parks and lodges — compare price and schedule certainty with exclusivity on the vehicle and day-to-day pacing.

Shared / group seat

Pros

Better per-seat value when departure dates suit you.
Straightforward choice if you enjoy small-group vehicle dynamics.

Cons

Wildlife rhythm follows the broader group unless everyone agrees to stop.
Pickup times and sightings can be paced to the median guest.
Seat-mate chemistry is not guaranteed.

Private vehicle

Pros

Your vehicle — start times, sightings, and photo stops follow your crew.
Ideal for mixed ages, honeymooners, or anyone who prefers not to share sightings.
Cleaner extension into beach or bush flights — one itinerary spine.

Cons

Higher cost for exclusive use of the vehicle and guiding team.

Families and photographers rarely regret the upgrade; budget-first travellers sharing fixed dates tend to thrive on seats.

Tell us preferred dates and party type — we will confirm availability within one business day.