Wildlife Safari
7-Day Luxury Serengeti & Crater Highlands Safari
Luxury on safari is not principally about thread count. It is about space, time and access: fewer guests per guide, camps positioned in private or low traffic concessions, and an itinerary with enough slack that you are never moving because the schedule says so.
This trip runs on a private vehicle and a senior guide for the full seven days, which is the single greatest determinant of safari quality. A guide who knows your interests by day three will find you things a rotating camp guide never will.
Accommodation is at the premium end throughout: a Tarangire treehouse or luxury tented suite, three nights in a top tier Serengeti camp positioned for the season, and two nights on the crater rim in a suite with a caldera view. Crater rim properties in this category are genuinely exceptional and are worth the two nights rather than one.
Pace is deliberately relaxed. Full days in the field are available but not compulsory, and there is room for a balloon flight, a guided highland walk on the crater rim, or simply an afternoon watching the plains from your deck. The itinerary below is a framework rather than a fixed schedule.
Planning your trip
Practical planning. The itinerary runs over 7 days, which sets the pace: each additional day reduces transfer pressure and gives the guide room to respond to conditions rather than follow a fixed schedule. We quote fees at the tariff period current at the time of booking, since park, conservation and crater charges are revised periodically and are a significant share of the total cost. Yellow fever certification is required if you are arriving from or transiting a country with risk of transmission, and travel insurance covering medical evacuation is a condition of travel on all our programmes.
Season. June to October is the classic dry season, when vegetation thins, water sources concentrate wildlife and roads are at their most reliable. December to March brings green landscapes, calving on the southern plains and lower rates. April and May are the long rains, when some tracks become difficult and a number of seasonal camps close.
In the parks. Stay in the vehicle unless your guide confirms a stop is authorised, keep noise low near wildlife, never feed animals and take all rubbish out with you. Off-road driving, drones and unsupervised walking are prohibited or restricted across the national parks and conservation areas. These rules exist because visitor pressure is the main long-term threat to the places you have come to see.
Where this trip goes
Read the full destination guides for every protected area covered by this itinerary before you travel. Each one sets out habitat, seasonality, access and the managing authority in detail.
Compare similar packages
If the length, pace or budget of this itinerary is not quite right, these alternatives cover comparable ground:
- 4-Day Classic Northern Circuit (Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro)
- 5-Day Best of Tanzania Wildlife Safari
- 6-Day Northern Circuit Wildlife & Cultural Safari
- 6-Day Mid-Range Serengeti Migration Adventure
You can also browse the full package catalogue or the destination directory to build a custom itinerary with us.
Highlights
- Private vehicle and senior guide for all seven days
- Three nights in a premium Serengeti camp positioned seasonally
- Two nights in a crater rim suite with caldera views
- Guided walking in the Ngorongoro highlands
- Optional hot air balloon flight over the Serengeti
Trip itinerary
Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire
Collection from Kilimanjaro International Airport or your Arusha hotel and a morning transfer to Tarangire, entering in time for an afternoon game drive along the river circuit.
Overnight in a premium lodge or treehouse suite overlooking the Tarangire ecosystem.
Day 2: Tarangire to the Serengeti
A morning game drive in Tarangire before transferring west. Depending on the configuration this is by road through the Ngorongoro highlands, or by light aircraft to save the day.
Arrive in the Serengeti in the afternoon and settle into camp with an evening drive.
Day 3: Full day Serengeti
A full day with your private guide, structured around your interests rather than a set circuit. Photographers can hold a sighting for hours; those who prefer variety can cover more ground.
Bush breakfast or a private lunch setup in the field can be arranged.
Day 4: Second full day Serengeti
An optional pre-dawn balloon flight over the plains, landing for a champagne bush breakfast, followed by a relaxed return to camp.
Afternoon game drive working a different sector, with sundowners at a kopje viewpoint.
Day 5: Serengeti to the crater rim
A final Serengeti morning before working east across the plains, with a guided visit to Oldupai Gorge and its museum.
Continue up to the crater rim and check into your suite in the late afternoon, with the caldera below.
Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater floor
First light descent for a full floor game drive with a private picnic setup rather than the standard public site where the property allows.
Ascend in the afternoon for a guided walk in the highland forest along the rim, an activity that most crater visitors never do.
Day 7: Crater highlands to departure
A relaxed morning at the lodge, then the transfer down through Karatu and Mto wa Mbu to Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward flight.
Day rooms and airport lounge access can be arranged for late departures.
Included
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with senior guide throughout
- Six nights in premium lodges and camps on full board
- All park and conservation area entry fees
- Crater service and vehicle descent fees
- Guided highland walk in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
- House drinks at most properties, laundry and airport transfers
Excluded
- International flights and Tanzania visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance
- Hot air balloon safari, quoted separately
- Premium wines and champagne
- Tips for the guide and camp staff
Accommodation
Six nights at the premium tier: one in Tarangire, three in the Serengeti and two on the Ngorongoro crater rim.
Serengeti camp selection follows the season, and at this level the difference between a well positioned camp and a poorly positioned one is substantial. The two crater rim nights are a deliberate choice: rim properties in this category are among the most striking lodges in Africa, and one night does not do them justice.
FAQs
What makes this genuinely luxury rather than just expensive?
Three things: a private senior guide for seven days, camps in low traffic or private positions, and an itinerary with enough slack to stay at a sighting. Thread count and plunge pools are pleasant but they are not what changes the safari.
Should I add the balloon flight?
If your budget allows it, yes, once. It is expensive and it is a very early start, but the perspective on the plains at first light is not obtainable any other way. We schedule it for day four so a delay does not disrupt the itinerary.
Can this itinerary be flown rather than driven?
Yes, and many guests at this level do. Flying Arusha to the Serengeti and Serengeti to the crater highlands removes two long transfer days and can be added at additional cost.
Is this suitable for a honeymoon?
It works well, though our nine day honeymoon itinerary is built specifically around that with a bush retreat component. This one is more wildlife intensive. Tell us which balance you want and we will adjust.
Will I see the big five on this trip?
Lion, elephant, buffalo and leopard are all realistically possible on the northern circuit, and rhino are seen in the Ngorongoro Crater with reasonable frequency though usually at distance. No operator can guarantee sightings of wild animals and we will not pretend otherwise.
Is a private vehicle included?
Road-based itineraries use a private 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof, exclusively for your party, with a guaranteed window seat. Fly-in itineraries use camp-based vehicles shared with a small number of other guests, and a private vehicle can be added at extra cost.
What should I pack for a safari?
Neutral coloured layers, a warm fleece for early morning game drives, sun protection, binoculars and a camera with more storage than you expect to need. Soft-sided bags are required on any itinerary involving light aircraft, where the limit is typically 15 kilograms.
How much should I budget for tips?
Guidance rather than obligation: around 20 to 30 US dollars per vehicle per day for the driver-guide, and 5 to 10 dollars per guest per day for camp staff, pooled. We will give you a specific breakdown for your itinerary before departure.
How far in advance should I book 7-Day Luxury Serengeti & Crater Highlands Safari?
For peak months, meaning July to October and the Christmas and New Year period, six to twelve months ahead. Camps and mountain permits in those windows genuinely sell out. For green season travel, two to three months is usually sufficient.
Can this itinerary be customised?
Yes. Every itinerary we publish is a starting point. Days can be added or removed, accommodation tiers changed, internal flights substituted for road transfers, and extensions to Zanzibar or the southern parks attached. Tell us the constraint and we will build around it.