If You Can Only Have A Week in Tanzania, Here's How Your Itinerary Should Look Like

Having a limited number of vacation days can be disheartening but if you go to Tanzania, even a limited holiday is enough to captivate you with its natural allure. It doesn’t even mean that since your time is quite restricted, you can only do budget safari. Yes, these safaris are still extraordinary and yet easy on the pocket but if you want some touches of class, fly-in safaris and even luxury African safari tours are very much possible as well. For a typical tour, if you only have a week to do a safari in Tanzania, here’s how your itinerary should look like:

Day 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport

Your first day usually involves a meet and greet with the operator’s staff especially your Safari Guide. You will have the day to yourself, either to spend in your lodge or to saunter around town. Then you will have dinner in a recommended restaurant.

Day 2: Arusha National Park

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the lodge and then get ready to explore Arusha National Park, one of Tanzania's smallest, but most beautiful and topographically varied parks. Wildlife is present, but for the most part it's a sideshow to the scenery and the trekking and climbing possibilities.

Return to the lodge late in the afternoon and enjoy your last night in Arusha for this Tanzania adventure.

Day 3: Tarangire National Park

Following a scrumptious breakfast, you'll leave for Tarangire National Park, a heaven of elephants and fascinating landscapes. You can also have a picnic lunch by the Tarangire River and then spend the afternoon enjoying the wonderful scenery and exciting game drive before checking into The Manor which is located in the Ngorongoro Conservation area.

Day 4: Lake Manyara National Park

Start the day early with a hearty breakfast and depart the hotel to go to the scenic Lake Manyara National Park. Enjoy a picnic lunch en route as you go off in search of the tree-climbing lions in Lake Manyara.

At around 4, return to The Manor and enjoy an hour horseriding around the coffee estate and trek around the hills that embrace the lodge. You can also view  the gorgeous sunset.

Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater

Visit the world's largest inactive volcanic caldera, Ngorongoro Crater. This park promises superb wildlife viewing and a very scenic picnic in the rim of the crater.

After Ngorongoro crater trip, get back to the lodge for relaxation. You can also go on a spa treatment if you wish.

Day 6: Serengeti National Park.

Discover the beauty of the world-famous Serengeti by going on an unforgettable game drive following the famous wildebeest migration. Also expect to experience a picnic lunch in the middle of the wild.

After the game drive, check into Four Seasons Safari Lodge in the Serengeti. This will be your luxury accommodation in the wild.

Day 7: Serengeti National Park

What better way to take in the stunning Serengeti landscape than from the air? In the early morning, embark on a sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the Serengeti which is one of the highlights of your safari tour. The air time lasts approximately one hour and are followed by a champagne bush breakfast. Hot-air balloon safaris require an early departure from the Lodge at approximately 4:45 am; a quick grab-and-go breakfast is provided.

Lunch will be served at your exclusive lodge before you depart for Seronera Airstrip which is just located within the park. En route, you will be able to enjoy a picturesque and possible action-packed game drive.

From Seronera Airstrip, you can now fly to Kilimanjaro Airport or any other international airport for your flight back home.

Of course, your itinerary should be tailored according to your own preferences and travel style. If you want a more remote, authentic safari experience, you should head to the Southern safari circuit. This covers Mikumi National Park, Ruaha National Park, Saadani National Park and world-renowned Selous Game Reserve. If you want the more touristy route, there’s always the famous Northern safari circuit which can take you to Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park and several World Wonders and UNESCO Sites including Ngorongoro Crater, Kilimanjaro National Park and the amazing Serengeti.

You can also combine both circuits but since you’re only able to allot 7 days for this adventure, it’s best to fly from the southern region to the north or vice versa.

Must-visit Parks in the South:

The nearest international gateway to the southern safari circuit is the Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam. From DAR, it will take about 8 hours to drive to JRO (airport in Arusha) or 70 minutes to travel by air.

• Selous Game Reserve: A slice of undisturbed wilderness in the South, Selous Game Reserve is known as one of the largest faunal reserves in the world. Part of it offers a vast hunting ground and the other part is a park teeming with incredible array of wildlife.

• Ruaha National Park: One of the most remote and off-the-beaten-path park in Tanzania, Ruaha National Park is the largest park in Tanzania as well as in East Africa. It hosts 10% of the world’s lion population and also one of the largest elephant populations anywhere.

• Mikumi National Park: Mikumi National Park is the fourth largest park in the entire country. Since its road improvements connecting Dar es Salaam, Mikumi has become a hotspot for Tanzania tourism.

Must-visit Parks in the North:

The most convenient airport to fly into when you’re traveling to this part of Tanzania is Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) in Arusha, a small town often referred to as the safari capital because of its accessibility to some of the world’s top safari parks.

• Serengeti National Park: Serengeti National Park, home of the Great Migration and densest lion population, continues to be at the forefront of African wildlife destinations. Its natural sweeping vistas, diverse landscapes and stupendous wildlife concentration make it a traveler’s dream-come-true.
• Ngorongoro Conservation Area: Renowned s Africa’s Garden of Eden, this wildly unique site displays an incredible wildlife diversity amounting to about 25,000 animals in one magnificent inactive volcanic caldera.
• Lake Manyara National Park: Have you seen those postcards with vibrant flamingoes crowded together in one vast soda lake in Tanzania? That’s Lake Manyara National Park! Not only will you be able to feast your eyes on this lovely pink wildlife party, you will also be able to meet tree-climbing lions, baboons and many other animals!
• Tarangire National Park: Tarangire is usually skipped due to its route albeit its close proximity to the city center of Arusha. But, if you want to see herds of elephants and witness plenty of elephant mud baths, not to mention a more unspoiled landscape in the northern circuit, this is where you go!

Must-try activities:

With a wealth of incredible landscapes, wildlife and unique experiences, there is a plethora of activities that one cannot dare to miss when in Tanzania.

Wildlife Viewing

It is a sacrilege to miss out on game viewing in Tanzania. The country is blessed with excellent wildlife sanctuaries that harbor the highest animal concentration per square kilometer in the world. With this sheer amount, you can be guaranteed a jaw-dropping safari experience in almost all corners of the country.

Tanzania is also famous for having a very thick population of predators like lions, cheetahs, hyenas and leopards. Hence, predator vs predator and predator vs prey interactions are very commonly sighted.

If you want to witness one of the most spectacular animal movement on Earth, visit Serengeti National Park. It is home to 2.5 million wildebeests, zebras and Thomson’s gazelles as well as rarely seen animals and the most sought-after Big Five. All these in one diverse ecosystem that exudes the “real Africa” feels.

Mountain Climbing

The most famous mountains that most outfitters trek in Tanzania are Mount Meru in Arusha and snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak  in Africa and tallest free-standing mountain in the world.

If you want marvelous 360-degree views, there is no better place to see it than from the top. Luckily, there are many different routes you can choose from – from beginner trails to expert climbing routes to scenic paths. Whatever route suits your style, you will be rewarded with magnificent views especially on the glacier summit!

Beach Escape

Did you know that Tanzania also boasts of a gorgeous coastal region? What’s even cooler is that the Zanzibar archipelago doesn’t only have some of the most stunning beaches in the world, it also has lovely historical sites that includes Stone Town.

With a coral wilderness that’s just spectacular, a few beaches that offer crashing waves and a beautiful white sand shore stretching abaft turquoise clear waters of the Indian Ocean, activities like snorkeling, diving, surfing or fishing are also incredible.

Hot air balloon

Soar up high in the sky as you revel in endless savannas teeming with wildlife! You may even witness some unique or action-packed interactions that you may not catch during game drives! But the best thing of all, is if you ride the hot air balloon during sunrise or sunset. You will be able to see the changing of colors in the sky while you’re floating on air, feeling the fresh African breeze across your skin.

Visit UNESCO Sites

Tour Tanzania’s 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites! In 5 days, this may not be practical unless you fly between places but, at least you can tick some of them off your bucket list. Here’s a list of the UNESCO sites in the country:

• Ngorongoro Conservation Area
• Serengeti National Park
• Stone Town
• Kilwa Kisiwani
• Selous Game Reserve
• Songo Mnara
• Kilimanjaro National Park

There’s a whole slew of Tanzania safari packages available – from day tours to 3-day visits to 5-, 7-, 10-day safaris and many more. You can even choose from a string of family safaris, solo travels or group expeditions!