7 Day The Great Savannah Luxury Safari All Inclusive

The best part of this seven-day safari is the range: elephant country in Tarangire, flamingo-fringed Lake Manyara, the open Serengeti, and Ngorongoro’s wildlife-filled crater all fit into one trip. You also get two Serengeti game drives, including an early start when big cats are most active.

I like the private format, since your group travels on its own rather than sharing the vehicle with strangers. I also like the care built into the service: Pendo handles planning questions, while guides such as Dismas have helped make past trips personal and memorable.

The main drawback is the pace. You cover a great deal of northern Tanzania in seven days, with several long drives and early starts. The $4,570 price is substantial, and you should confirm the exact lodging, vehicle details, and what drinks or extras are covered before paying.

Highlights worth knowing before you book

• Four major wildlife areas: Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro each offer a different setting and animal experience.
• Two Serengeti game drives: An early morning outing is followed by breakfast, a rest period, and a second drive toward sunset.
• Private participation: Only your own group takes part, which gives you more control over stops and the daily rhythm.
• Strong elephant viewing: Tarangire is especially appealing for large elephant groups, baobab trees, and birdlife.
• Maasai village option: The visit in the Ngorongoro Highlands is optional and offers contact with elders, warriors, women, and children.
• Meals are built in: Six breakfasts, six lunches, and six dinners are included, while tips, visas, and international flights are extra.

Four parks, one tightly planned safari

I see this trip as a good introduction to Tanzania’s northern safari circuit. Instead of spending the whole week in one park, you move through areas with different scenery, animal habits, and moods.

Tarangire gives you giant elephant herds and baobabs. Lake Manyara adds groundwater forest, monkeys, giraffes, and the possibility of tree-climbing lions. The Serengeti supplies the huge open plains and predators, while Ngorongoro concentrates a remarkable mix of animals in a compact volcanic setting.

That variety is the real value of the route. The trade-off is that you will spend part of the trip in transit. If you want a slow, lodge-based holiday with long afternoons at one property, this schedule may feel busy.

The safari begins in Arusha, the practical gateway for the northern parks. On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, a Tales of Tanzania Safaris representative meets you and transfers you to your hotel.

Your first day is intentionally light. You can rest, use the pool, or explore Arusha if your arrival time and energy allow. I like this buffer because international flights can be tiring, and a forced game drive on arrival day would be a poor start.

The supplied schedule gives Day 1 up to 12 hours, but that does not mean you are sightseeing for 12 hours. Much depends on your flight and transfer time. Treat this as an arrival and recovery day.

Tarangire’s elephants and ancient baobabs

After breakfast on Day 2, you drive about 110 kilometres from Arusha to Tarangire National Park. The stated drive time is roughly two hours, followed by a game drive with a packed lunch.

Tarangire is the place to watch for large elephant groups. The park is also known for baobab trees, lions, leopards, birds, and changing scenery. The Silale Swamp in the south is especially important because its dependable water can draw animals during the dry season.

The Tarangire River also matters. During dry months, it becomes a key water source, so animal activity may gather around it. That does not guarantee a particular sighting, but it explains why this park can be productive even when other water sources are less reliable.

I would give yourself time to enjoy the small details here. An elephant herd moving between baobabs is the headline, but birdlife and the shape of the park are part of what makes Tarangire different from the Serengeti.

The day is listed at about seven hours. That sounds manageable, though the combination of driving, lunch, and wildlife stops can still feel full. Ask your guide about the day’s route and where lunch will be taken, since timing in a national park changes with animal activity.

Lake Manyara’s forest and possible tree-climbing lions

Day 3 takes you to Lake Manyara National Park, located between Tarangire and Ngorongoro. The park stretches along the base of the Rift Valley escarpment, a rusty-gold wall rising about 600 metres above the lake.

The first surprise is the groundwater forest. This lush area supports blue monkeys and large troops of baboons, with giraffes and elephants also possible. The road through the forest gives the park a different feel from Tarangire’s drier open areas.

Lake Manyara itself can appear in the distance, sometimes edged with flamingos. The park is also associated with lions that climb trees. That is a possibility, not a promise, but it gives your guide another interesting sight to look for.

Leopards are also listed among the park’s wildlife. As with any safari, sightings depend on conditions, season, and luck. The strength of Manyara is the mix of forest, escarpment, lake, and animals rather than one guaranteed encounter.

This game drive lasts about eight hours. If you prefer variety and scenery to a single long wildlife search, Manyara earns its place. If your main aim is maximum time with big cats, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro portions are likely to matter more.

The long road to the Serengeti plains

On Day 4, you leave for the Serengeti after breakfast. The route includes a possible visit to a Maasai village in the Ngorongoro Highlands.

The village visit is optional, which is useful. You can decide if it fits your interests and schedule rather than treating it as compulsory. The visit is described as a chance to meet elders, warriors, women, and children and learn about Maasai beliefs, traditions, and daily culture.

I would approach this part with respect and attention. It is not simply another photo stop. The value comes from listening and learning, and you should confirm how much time it takes from the day’s drive.

Central Serengeti is known for wide plains dotted with acacia trees and rocky kopjes. Riverine forest adds another habitat, and leopards may be found along river valleys. The open views help you understand the scale of the Serengeti, where animals can appear scattered across miles of grassland.

This is an eight-hour day, and the drive from the Ngorongoro area into the Serengeti can feel long. Still, the change in scenery is one of the reasons to choose this route. You are not being taken to a single fenced wildlife park. You are moving through a broad chain of habitats.

Two game drives in one Serengeti day

Day 5 is the strongest wildlife-focused day of the trip. You leave the lodge at about 6:00 a.m. for an early morning game drive.

That timing matters. The air is cooler, and animals are often more active. Big cats may be returning from a night of hunting, giving you a better chance to see movement before the heat of the day encourages animals to rest.

After the morning drive, you return to the lodge for breakfast and a break. I consider this pause a real advantage. Safari drives can be tiring, especially when you spend hours watching and waiting, so a chance to rest keeps the afternoon from becoming a chore.

Later, you head out again for another game drive and sunset viewing. The day is listed at about eight hours, but it is split into useful sections rather than one continuous drive.

The Serengeti is not a place where every mile produces a dramatic sighting. You may spend time scanning plains and river areas. That open-ended quality is part of the experience, but it also means you should not judge the day only by a checklist of animals.

Ngorongoro Crater and the Big Five possibility

Day 6 takes you from the Serengeti to Ngorongoro, a drive of about two hours. The main attraction is the crater, the world’s largest intact collapsed volcanic caldera.

The crater works almost like a natural enclosure. Its floor supports lions, hyenas, zebras, Cape buffalo, servals, and many birds. Rhinos are possible if luck is on your side, making this one of the better parts of the trip for a concentrated search for the Big Five.

You have lunch in the crater and continue the game drive. That keeps the day focused on wildlife rather than sending you away from the action for a midday meal.

The crater is also visually striking. The high elevation can bring early mist, and views from lodge verandas are described as especially fine in the morning. I would make time to look beyond the animals here. The crater’s steep walls and enclosed floor explain why the wildlife feels so concentrated.

The schedule gives this day about eight hours. As with Tarangire and Manyara, the exact rhythm depends on park conditions and animal sightings. The advantage is variety in a compact area. The limitation is that the crater can feel busy or concentrated compared with the wide-open Serengeti, though no crowd conditions are provided here.

Returning to Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport

On the final morning, you have breakfast at the lodge before driving to Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward flight.

This final transfer is important to plan carefully. The tour information does not give a fixed departure time or airport transfer duration, so you should provide your flight details when booking and confirm the timing directly with the operator.

Because the safari covers several parks, do not assume the last morning will be a relaxed sightseeing period. It is primarily a return day. If you have an international flight, allow plenty of time and ask how the company schedules the transfer.

What the $4,570 price really covers

At $4,570 per person, this is a major trip purchase. The price is easier to judge if you view it as a private seven-day safari package rather than a series of separate park visits.

Six breakfasts, six lunches, and six dinners are included. Park access is included where stated, and airport pickup is offered. You also have a private tour, so your own group participates rather than joining a shared departure.

Those details reduce the need to arrange each park, transfer, and meal yourself. The price also buys a planned route through four important destinations and a driver-guide-led experience.

You still need to budget for tips, a visa, and international flights. Drinks and other personal extras are not clearly detailed, so ask before booking. The exact accommodations are also not named in the supplied information. Since the title uses the word luxury, I would request the hotel and lodge names, room category, and meal details in writing.

Past service has included prompt planning help from Pendo, including a safari arranged around individual needs, and a guide named Dismas who made a special effort to create memorable days. Those details suggest a personal service style, but your assigned guide and accommodation should be confirmed rather than assumed.

Who should choose this safari

I would recommend this trip for someone visiting Tanzania for the first time who wants the main northern parks in one organized journey. It suits couples, families, and small private groups that value their own vehicle and want meals and major arrangements handled.

It is also a good fit if you want both wildlife and scenery. Tarangire gives you elephants and baobabs, Manyara provides forest and lake views, the Serengeti offers open plains, and Ngorongoro brings animals together in a dramatic volcanic setting.

I would hesitate if you dislike early mornings, long road transfers, or a packed schedule. The 6:00 a.m. Serengeti departure is worthwhile, but it is not a lie-in holiday.

Dietary needs can be accommodated, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals. Add those requirements when booking so the operator can prepare properly.

Confirmation is provided at booking, and most people can participate. Pickup is offered, and the tour operates privately for your group. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Inside that window, the amount paid is not refunded, and changes are not accepted.

Should you book the Great Savannah safari?

Book it if you want a private, full-service introduction to Tanzania’s northern circuit and value a broad mix of parks over a slow stay in one place. The strongest reasons are the four-park route, the two Serengeti drives, built-in meals, and the chance to see elephants, big cats, crater wildlife, and perhaps rhinos or tree-climbing lions.

Before committing the $4,570, get the missing practical details: lodge names, vehicle type, guide assignment, drinks, and airport transfer timing. If those answers suit you, this is a well-rounded safari for a first visit. If your priority is luxury accommodation above all else, verify the lodging carefully, since the safari schedule gives more detail about wildlife than about the properties themselves.

FAQ

How long is the safari?

The experience lasts approximately seven days, beginning with arrival in Arusha and ending with a transfer to Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport.

What is the price per person?

The listed price is $4,570 per person.

Which national parks are included?

The route includes Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park, and Ngorongoro Crater.

Is airport pickup available?

Yes. Pickup is offered, and on arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport you are met by a Tales of Tanzania Safaris representative and transferred to your hotel.

Are meals included?

Yes. Six breakfasts, six lunches, and six dinners are included.

Are international flights included?

No. International flights are not included.

Is a visa included?

No. Visa costs are not included.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your own group participates in the activity.

Can dietary requirements be accommodated?

Yes. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other dietary needs can be accommodated if you provide the information in the special requirements section when booking.

Is cancellation free?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience begins. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted, and the payment is not refunded.