Exclusive 1 Week Tanzania Safari Itinerary & Costs (4 Ideas)

In as few as seven days, one can encompass the principal highlights of Tanzania. This encompasses undertaking safari excursions in two or three of the nation’s national parks. Combine an athletic trip with leisure on tours of the Serengeti and relaxation on Zanzibar’s pristine white sand beaches. If you are truly seeking adventure, challenge your endurance with a six-day ascent of the magnificent Mount Kilimanjaro.

A one-week Tanzania itinerary can be a fantastic introduction to the country’s diverse offerings. A classic safari experience in the Northern Circuit (Serengeti, Ngorongoro) is a popular choice, but options also exist for exploring the Southern Circuit, including Mikumi and Nyerere National Parks, or even incorporating a trek up Mount Kilimanjaro or Mount Meru. Alternatively, one could combine a safari with a relaxing beach getaway on Zanzibar.

1 Week Tanzania Itinerary Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Serengeti & Zanzibar Getaway

Engage in Tanzania’s two most renowned activities during a 7-day safari and beach retreat.

Your arrival will be in Arusha, a city in northern Tanzania, perfectly positioned near the nation’s most renowned national parks. From this location, take a brief fly to an airfield within Serengeti National Park. Translating to “endless plains” in the Maasai language, the Serengeti encompasses 5,700 square miles (14,763 square kilometres) of savanna, celebrated for its rich wildlife, including the iconic Big Five safari species: lions, leopards, buffalo, elephants, and black rhinos. This region is home to the Great Migration, during which over a million wildebeest traverse to new grazing areas from June to November.

You will tent in the park and, over three days, participate in game drives in 4×4 safari vehicles to observe the unusual species. In addition to the Big Five, one may observe numerous giraffes and zebras, and potentially watch lions pursuing wildebeest. You will subsequently prepare for departure and travel by air to the island archipelago of Zanzibar for the final stage of the journey. Renowned for its pristine white dunes and beautiful waters, you may spend the subsequent two days unwinding on the beaches here. Snorkelling and surfing are excellent alternatives, as is a trip of Stone Town, the mediaeval core of Zanzibar City.

1 Week Tanzania Highlights

Day 1 Arrive in Arusha, Transfer to Serengeti National Park Serengeti National Park
Day 2-3 Serengeti National Park Game Drives Serengeti National Park
Day 4 Serengeti National Park to Zanzibar Zanzibar Beach
Days 5-6 Zanzibar Optional Activities Zanzibar Beach
Day 7 Zanzibar to Arusha, Depart

Itinerary #2: Best of Tanzania’s National Parks

Commence a 1 Week Tanzania expedition across three distinct national parks, featuring interactions with indigenous tribespeople.

Similar to the prior schedule, your arrival will be in Arusha; however, you will initially proceed to Tarangire National Park rather than the Serengeti. This national park in Tanzania is relatively small, encompassing 1,000 square miles (2,600 square kilometres), but it hosts hundreds of African bush elephants, observable on an afternoon game drive. You will proceed to Lake Eyasi to engage with the Hadzabe people, an endangered group that continues to subsist on the land as their ancestors did for the previous 10,000 years. Your next destination is Mto Wa Mbu, a village of farmers and craftspeople representing all 120 tribes of Tanzania.

Subsequently, proceed north to the middle savanna area of the renowned Serengeti for additional game drives. This region is exceptional for observing lions and cheetahs. Concluding your journey to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the most distinctive national park awaits. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the largest volcanic caldera globally, measuring 1,968 feet (600 m) in depth and spanning 100 square miles (260 sq km) in width. Over 20,000 animals inhabit the rich plains of the crater bottom, encompassing all of the Big Five species. Due to anti-poaching patrols, this is one of the rare locations where one is likely to observe a black rhino.

1 Week Tanzania Highlights

Day 1 Arrive in Arusha
Day 2 Arusha to Tarangire National Park, Game Drive
Day 3 Tarangire National Park to Lake Eyasi, Tribe Experience
Day 4 Lake Eyasi to Mto Wa Mbu, Transfer to Serengeti National Park
Day 5 Serengeti Game Drives
Day 6 Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Day 7 Ngorongoro to Arusha, Depart

Itinerary #3: Zanzibar & Pemba Island

This seven-day vacation in Zanzibar encompasses leisure at the beach and cultural attractions on the principal island, along with an excursion to the adjacent Pemba for diving and various water activities.

This itinerary centres on Zanzibar, a gem of the Indian Ocean located off the eastern coast of Africa. Its alluring beaches and tranquil, crystalline waters establish it as a prominent holiday locale, while also offering abundant cultural experiences. You will encounter it during a walking tour of Stone Town, the mediaeval core of the capital. On this excursion, you will observe ancient sites such as the 17th-century Arab Fort, the 19th-century Sultan’s Palace, and the Anglican Cathedral. Conclude your second evening with a five-course tasting menu at an authentic Swahili restaurant located in a fashionable district of Stone Town.

Subsequently, proceed northward to the adjacent island of Pemba. This destination offers an authentic escape, characterised by minimal infrastructure amidst extensive white-sand beaches, verdant valleys, and coconut plantations. Numerous extra activities are available to engage you, such as fishing, sunset sailboat excursions, and aquatic experiences. Snorkelling and diving are prevalent activities. The offshore Pemba Canal is a diverse marine ecosystem teeming with numerous species, including turtles, rays, whale sharks, and tropical fish.

1 Week Tanzania Highlights

Day 1 Arrive in Zanzibar Stone Town
Day 2 Stone Town Tour Stone Town
Day 3 Zanzibar to Pemba Island
Days 4-6 Pemba Optional Activities
Day 7 Pemba to Arusha, Depart

Itinerary #4: Hiking Kilimanjaro

This remarkable week-long trek will lead you to the snow-covered peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa.

You will arrive in Arusha and transfer to Moshi, located at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro, which rises to 19,341 feet (5,895 m). Despite being the biggest freestanding mountain globally, ascending to its summit is not very challenging due to the gentle gradient of the routes. During this multi-day expedition, your sole concern is acclimatisation to the altitude as you ascend swiftly. During a pre-hike briefing, your guide will address all these matters and verify that your kit is properly organised. You will subsequently proceed to the Machame Gate in Kilimanjaro National Park to commence the ascent.

This path is the most preferred and picturesque on the mountain. The ascent to the peak requires six days, with overnight stays at a different camp each night. Prepare to trek approximately six hours daily while traversing several habitats. These encompass tropical woods, alpine deserts, and the glaciers of the summit zone. During your journey, you will encounter endemic fauna such as colobus monkeys, and exceptional viewpoints will be present along the trek. At the Uhuru Peak top (19,340 ft/5,895 m), you will observe an extraordinary panorama, followed by a descent lasting several days down the mountain.

1 Week Kilimanjaro Highlights

Day 1 Arrive in Tanzania, Transfer to Kilimanjaro, Hike to Machame Camp
Day 2 Machame Camp to Shira 2 Camp
Day 4 Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
Day 5 Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Day 6 Barafu Camp to the Summit, Descent to Mweka
Day 7 Mweka Camp to Arusha