8 Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari Tours - Experience Big five Animals
Embark on an unforgettable 8-day Tanzania safari tour, where adventure and breathtaking landscapes await.
This meticulously crafted journey takes you through some of Africa's most iconic national parks, including the elephant-rich Tarangire, the vast Serengeti, and the awe-inspiring Ngorongoro Crater. Each day promises thrilling wildlife encounters, from the Big Five to the mesmerizing Great Migration. Along the way, immerse yourself in local culture with a visit to a traditional Maasai village.
Ideal for both luxury and budget travelers, this safari offers an extraordinary blend of excitement, natural beauty, and cultural discovery.
Highlight : 8-Day Safari in Tanzania
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Kilimanjaro International Airport - Arusha
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Tarangire National Park
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Ngorongoro Conservation Area
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Serengeti National Park
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Serengeti National Park - Karatu
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Lake Manyara National Park – Back to Arusha
From $3,097 pp
8 Days
Wildlife-Tour
Private / Group
Customisable
8 Day Tanzania Safari Tour - Itinerary and Price
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival in Arusha
You will be picked up from the Kilimanjaro airport and taken to your hotel at Kibo Palace Hotel for dinner and overnight.
Inclusion
Accommodation
Meals: B,L,D
Kibo Palace hotel
Day 2 - Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, we head to Tarangire National Park, arriving in time to enjoy lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon, we'll embark on a game drive, where you'll witness the iconic baobab trees, sweeping savannah, and acacia woodlands. Tarangire is renowned for its abundant wildlife, particularly during the dry season from June to September. During this time, thousands of animals—including wildebeest, zebras, eland, hartebeest, buffalo, and oryx—migrate from the arid Masai Steppe to the Tarangire River in search of water, while predators like lions and leopards follow closely behind.
Inclusion
Accommodation
Meals: B,L,D
Acacia Tarangire Luxury Camp
Day 3 - Ngorongoro Conservation Area
We depart for Ngorongoro conservation area, which sits at the rim of the Ngorongoro crater. An afternoon tour of the crater follows. The game drive begins with a 600m descent to the crater floor, a magnificent natural amphitheater. Covering 260 sq. km, the crater is an attraction in its own right and is one of the wonders of the natural world. The crater supports a year round resident population of a variety of wildlife and you can easily spot lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and other species of plain animals.
Inclusion
Accommodation
Meals: B,L,D
Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
Day 4 - 6 Serengeti National Park
We continue to Serengeti National Park, passing through Olduvai Gorge, a famous archaeological site where Dr. Louis Leakey discovered the remains of Homo habilis, an important link in human evolution. In the afternoon, we will have a game drive in the Serengeti, home to over 35 species of animals like zebras, wildebeests, elands, and giraffes.
The park is also the starting point for one of the world's most remarkable events—the annual wildebeest migration. Starting in June, more than a million wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles journey toward Kenya's Masai Mara in search of greener pastures, with predators like lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, jackals, hyenas, and vultures following close behind. The Serengeti is also home to over 500 bird species.
Hot air balloon ride cost per person: $546 (separate from the total price above).
Inclusion
Accommodation
Meals: B,L,D
Serengeti heritage Luxury camp
Day 7 - Serengeti National Park to Mto wa Mbu
After a breakfast, we will have a morning game drive in Serengeti. Then, we will proceed with game drive and later have a picnic lunch at Nabi gate.
In the afternoon, we will depart to Mto was Mbu and check in at the Heart and Soul lodge where we will have the dinner and an overnight stay
Inclusion
Accommodation
Meals: B,L,D
Heart and Soul Lodge.
Day 8 - Lake Manyara National park - Arusha or Airport
A morning game drive at Lake Manyara National Park. The park covers 330 sq. km, 70% of which is occupied by the lake. The varied ecosystem consists of ground water forests, acacia woodland and open grassland along the lake shore and sustains a wealth of wildlife, including the big five -lion, elephant, leopard, rhino and buffalo. The park is famous for the elusive tree-climbing lions that inhabit the woodland between the lake and the rift valley. We head back to the lodge for lunch and return to Arusha afterwards.
Inclusion
Accommodation
Meals: B,L.
Can be arranged on extra cost
5 Questions About 8-Day Tanzania Safaris
Discover the top 5 most informative questions about 8 Tanzania safari tours. Bruno, your Tanzania safari expert, will provide the answers.
Is 8 day safari in Tanzania good ?
Spending eight days on a safari in Tanzania is a good length of time, but you'll need to decide which area you want to focus on. It's not possible to visit all the main parks of Tanzania in a single trip, but you can choose to explore one of Tanzania’s three safari circuits. On a fly-in holiday, you can also mix and match destinations to some extent.
Trying to fit too much into a safari is a common mistake. It's better to allow enough time to truly enjoy each moment. I recommend spending at least 2 or 3 days in each destination instead of rushing from park to park. Safari days usually start before dawn because early morning is the best time for wildlife viewing. When spending more than 1 night in a place, you may have a break in the middle of the day before heading out again in the afternoon. This allows you to recharge for the afternoon drive or activity. It creates a lovely rhythm, typical of spending time in the bush. Also, don’t worry about covering the same ground twice, as every game drive is different, and you never know what you’ll see next. In 8 days, you'll have a chance to get away from the busiest traveler hot spots that are difficult to escape on shorter safaris.
"What activities and destinations should I consider during an 8-day safari in Tanzania?"
On an 8-day Tanzanian safari, you have plenty of options to tailor your experience just right. If you're opting for a road safari, focusing on one of Tanzania's three main safari circuits is key. The Northern circuit stands out with iconic parks like Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater—must-visits for first-timers. The Serengeti, famous for its annual wildebeest migration, can easily occupy your entire 8-day adventure, perhaps with a night stopover at Ngorongoro Crater along the way. Alternatively, consider extending your journey to include Lake Manyara or Tarangire National Parks, especially enjoyable during the Dry season.
For a more remote experience or a second Tanzanian safari, the Southern circuit offers its own allure. Guides in Ruaha National Park are among the best, and the park is perfect for immersive walking safaris. Nyerere National Park further south boasts boat safaris on the Rufiji River, where encounters with crocodiles and hippos provide a refreshing change from traditional vehicle safaris.
Fly-in safaris provide flexibility, allowing you to cherry-pick from the northern and southern parks or venture into the remote western parks. Mahale Mountains and Gombe National Parks on Lake Tanganyika's shores are renowned for exceptional chimpanzee trekking, often combined with Katavi National Park on 8-day packages. Katavi, with its exclusive lodges spread across vast wilderness, remains one of Tanzania's best-kept safari secrets.
What kind of accommodation can I expect?
Accommodation choices during a Tanzanian safari span a wide spectrum. In major parks and reserves, there's a variety of lodges and hotels available, catering to different comforts and budgets, from economical to mid-range to luxurious. The luxury segment, in particular, offers exceptional diversity, with some lodges exceeding all expectations—it's truly limitless.
Budget lodges are typically located outside the parks or nearby towns, while mid-range options within the parks range from basic tented camps to larger hotels. Though the latter may lack some ambiance, their prime locations often boast breathtaking views. If you prefer a more conventional hotel setting and prefer not to stay in the bush at night, these hotel-like lodges might suit you better than rustic eco-camps, which are more expensive but offer a more rugged experience.
Luxury lodges are usually intimate and blend seamlessly into the natural surroundings, providing an authentic outdoor feel. Many guests choose to fly directly to these lodges, where the service, cuisine, and guiding are exceptional.
For a different safari experience, consider a budget camping safari—an affordable option that immerses you in the authentic bush atmosphere. Campsites within parks and reserves are unfenced, offering a chance to fall asleep to the sounds of the wild with only canvas separating you from nature's embrace.
Which animals can I expect to see?
Tanzania boasts an extraordinary array of wildlife, offering a diverse animal encounter over an 8-day safari.
In northern Tanzania, the Serengeti stands out for its immense herds of ungulates and dense predator populations, including lions, leopards, and cheetahs. A highlight is witnessing the annual wildebeest migration, where millions of these animals, along with zebras and gazelles, trek across the plains in search of fresh grazing grounds. Witnessing their determined march across the savannah is awe-inspiring, especially during river crossings, where the dramatic spectacle of massive crocodiles seizing their prey unfolds.
Encountering the Big Five is highly probable during an 8-day safari. While elephants and buffalos are plentiful across all major parks, the best chance to see black rhinos is within the Ngorongoro Crater. Lions are abundant in both the Northern and Southern circuits, with Katavi National Park in the west also hosting a robust lion population. Although leopards are notoriously elusive, Serengeti and Ruaha offer good odds for spotting them. Wild dogs, a rare sight in the Serengeti, can be better observed in Nyerere or Ruaha, providing a special opportunity to see these endangered social animals in their natural habitat.
How much will this 8 Day safari cost?
"The cost of an 8-day safari in Tanzania varies widely. Budget options start around US$1,980 per person, while mid-range tours range from US$2,000 to US$3,000, and luxury experiences can cost between US$3,600 and US$7,700 per person. Numerous factors influence these prices.
Accommodation plays a pivotal role in cost variation. Budget safaris typically utilize economical hotels or camping, while mid-range options favor safari lodges, tented camps, or larger park hotels. Luxury safaris feature designer lodges and exclusive tented camps. Shared tours are generally more economical than private ones, especially for solo travelers, with little difference for families.
Luxury tours often include flights between parks, offering comfort and efficiency but at a premium compared to overland safaris. Road trips, though slower, provide a chance to see more of the countryside.
Traveling off-season or during shoulder months can yield great deals, despite the possibility of rainy weather affecting park accessibility. While some parks may close, others like Serengeti thrive with lush scenery and abundant wildlife, minus the crowds."
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