7 Days Safari Lake Natron, Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti

On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport you are met and transferred to your accommodation in the Arusha area, where the rest of the day is reserved for rest and preparation. This quiet first day allows you to recover from travel, meet your guide, and get an introduction to your upcoming Tanzania Safari — the perfect calm before the adventure begins on the northern circuit of the Tanzania Globe Tour.

Today you travel into a remote and extraordinary landscape to reach Lake Natron. The approach reveals stark volcanic scenery and Maasai countryside, and the lake itself appears otherworldly with red-hued salt flats visible from above. Lake Natron supports remarkable birdlife and scattered savannah animals; ostriches, antelopes, zebras and giraffes are often seen in this quiet region, and the shoreline provides dramatic photographic opportunities. The area’s remoteness and stark beauty make it a striking contrast to the classic savannahs of the rest of your Tanzania Safari.

A full day at Lake Natron focuses on its extraordinary waterbirds, especially the vast numbers of flamingos that breed here in season. You spend time observing pelicans and both large and small flamingo flocks, watching chicks hatch and adults feed along the alkaline shallows — a spectacular wildlife scene unique to this part of the country. Beyond birdlife, the surrounding plains host typical savannah species and provide opportunities to enjoy the quiet and raw landscapes that define this section of the Tanzania Globe Tour.

This morning you hike to the Engaresero Falls, a hidden cascade reached on foot with a local guide; the trail leads to refreshing pools where a swim is possible, so bring a towel and bathing suit. The day also includes opportunities to meet local Maasai communities nearby, learn about traditional life, and photograph the dramatic volcanic skyline formed by Ol Doinyo Lengai — the “Mountain of God.” These cultural and landscape experiences make the Lake Natron segment of your Tanzania Safari uniquely memorable.

Departing the Natron area at dawn, you travel toward the Ngorongoro highlands, climbing out of the lowland volcanic country into cooler, fertile uplands. Arriving at the crater rim you are greeted by sweeping views across the vast caldera below — a dramatic prelude to the wildlife experience awaiting you. This travel day transitions you from remote salt pans to the unique ecosystem of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, setting the stage for one of the most iconic days of your Tanzania Globe Tour.

Today you descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a full day of game viewing in an extraordinarily concentrated wildlife environment. The crater floor’s mosaic of lakes, marshes and grasslands supports dense populations of grazers and predators; during your Tanzania Safari you can expect to see elephants, buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, hippos and, if fortunate, the rare black rhino. The enclosed nature of the caldera makes wildlife encounters frequent and intimate, and the scenery itself — crater walls, escarpments and verdant plains — is unforgettable.

After an early morning ascent from the crater you head toward the Serengeti, entering the park and beginning game drives in the Seronera area. The Serengeti’s vast plains and kopjes host abundant wildlife and resident predators, and your first day here offers classic safari scenes: lion prides lounging on rock outcrops, giraffes browsing acacia, and herds of antelope and zebra moving across wide horizons. This marks the start of several full days dedicated to exploring one of Africa’s greatest wildlife arenas on your Tanzania Globe Tour.

You spend the entire day exploring central Serengeti, where the ecosystem’s richness becomes obvious in every direction. Depending on the season you may encounter parts of the Great Migration, while resident predators like cheetahs and lions take advantage of plentiful prey. The Seronera area’s kopjes, riverine strips and open grassland provide excellent opportunities for varied sightings, making this a highlight of any Tanzania Safari.

On your final morning you take one last drive through the Serengeti, soaking in early light and enjoying any last wildlife encounters before beginning the return trip toward Arusha. The transfer to the airport completes your Tanzania Globe Tour — a journey that combined the remote wonders of Lake Natron, the incomparable concentration of the Ngorongoro Crater, and the wide, wildlife-rich plains of the Serengeti.