How many Tanzania parks can you visit in 7 days?
How many Tanzania parks can you visit in 7 days?
Imagine you have a week to spend in Tanzania: which destinations will you visit? That’s tricky, right? Yeah! We all know that FOMO (fear of missing out). You find it difficult to skip one destination. And this may result in including lots of destinations. And guess what. You won’t have enough time to appreciate nature in any of your destinations.
Planning a Tanzania adventure doesn’t just end with picking seven parks for a 7-day visit, but also having a practical point of view. Our safari planners will advise you when planning your safari, but let’s address it here first.
Things to consider.
Include transfer time.
Always include transfer time when planning your safari. For instance, to reach the Serengeti, you will need 5 to 6 hours of driving to get there. Which means you just have 2 to 3 hours to explore the Serengeti for the remaining hours, which are practically not enough. So, if you planned to spend just one day in the Serengeti, and you have wasted 5-6 hours in the transfer, then you have just arrived and left without exploring this top destination.
Well. What if I am flying to Serengeti? That’s the fastest way to arrive, usually taking about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Arusha. But it depends on your arrival time, which brings us to the second thing to consider…
Include extra time for flight delays.
Yes, nothing is boring like hearing a flight announcer confirm a flight delay. This means you’ll be a little bit late. Including ample time for any unforeseen circumstances, which may result in a delay of your safari.
Parks to visit during your 7-day Tanzania.
Tarangire National Park.
Spanning about 2,850 square kilometers (1,100 square miles), Tarangire is one of our favorites. What we love about it is its small size, yet it has rich wildlife to spot in the vast wilderness. If we start with its elephants, Tarangire has the largest elephant population in the country. Every turn will effortlessly offer stunning views of these giant terrestrial animals.
The massive baobabs (some dating back 300 years) decorate the park. The riverine forests, woodlands, and expansive plains teem with abundant wildlife, big and small. Visit it during the long dry season (June to October) to witness its small wildlife migration as animals move close to the Tarangire River, the lifeline of the park.
Tarangire is good as a surprise package and as a destination as well. We recommend spending one day to spare some time for other parks. Wake early so you can arrive early (2 hours later) at the park’s gate to continue your exploration.
Stay at Asilia’s Oliver’s Camp or Tarangire Treetops if you are in luxury. For cheaper options, consider Tarangire Safari Lodge or Whistling Thorn Tented Camp.
Lake Manyara National Park.
Getting to Lake Manyara from Tarangire is simple since these two parks are about 65 kilometers (40 miles) apart. Lake Manyara is small (one day is enough), but there’s much to do there. So, we recommend arriving there early for a rewarding safari.
We start looking out for the tree-climbing lions. These mysterious carnivores had just evolved into better versions of themselves, because the lions we are familiar with are not tree-climbers (especially upright trees). Search for elephants, buffalo, wildebeests, zebras, giraffes, and more.
In the evening, go for a canoe safari or watch flamingos on the shoreline and other birds. You can also walk on a treetop walkway to experience the wilderness from a bird’s-eye view.
Stay at the &Beyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge or Escarpment Luxury Lodge for comfort. You can pick Manyara Green Camp or Naya Lodge & Camp. You can stay at Gibb’s Farm or Ngorongoro Coffee Lodge in Karatu town (which is a 30-minute drive).
Serengeti National Park.
The next day, you hit the road to the Serengeti, about 225 km (140 miles) from Lake Manyara. The drive takes 4 to 5 hours, but it’s worth it. Serengeti is a 14,763 km2 expanse and teems with wildlife year-round. We recommend spending two days in this wildlife-rich destination.
Here, you can search for the Big Five, trek the Great Migration, or fly on a colorful balloon. If you arrive in time, you can witness the Mara River crossings. Wildebeest jump into the Mara River, while hungry crocodiles snatch their prey from the herd.
Every drive is an adventure. You spot giraffes, impalas, dik-diks, elands, gazelles, and zebras. On the other hand, large predators like leopards, cheetahs, lions, and hyenas are also abundant in the park (particularly in the Seronera Valley).
For luxury and comfort, stay at the Four Seasons Serengeti, Singita Sasakwa Lodge, or Siringit Serengeti Camp. You can also stay at Serengeti Sound of Silence or Lobo Wildlife Lodge. Camping in a public campsite is also an affordable or rustic experience.
Ngorongoro Crater.
A majestic caldera within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area teems with over 25,000 large animals. You will conclude your 7-day trip here. You will drive to this bowl for 2 to 3 hours with game viewing en route.
Descend into the crater floor to find the Big Five animals. This is your golden chance to see rhinos because it’s much easier to encounter them in this fascinating crater. Search for lions, elephants, wildebeests, zebras, and buffalo.
Enjoy a sundowner on the crater rim or a candlelit dinner in a serene, safe setting. You can stay at the Entamanu, Kirurumu Ngorongoro, and Lemala Ngorongoro, set on the crater rim. You can also stay at the Plantation Lodge or The Manor at Ngorongoro in the highlands.
The bottom line.
A 7-day Tanzania safari is enough to discover the best of Tanzania’s destinations. But we know that no one size fits all. You can suggest your best destinations and how you want your visit to be. We’re ready to take you there. Let’s start planning your adventure.
