This 7-day Tanzania fly-in safari is an excellent choice for travellers who want to spend more time in the wildlife areas and less time on long road transfers. The journey combines the vast Serengeti plains with the extraordinary Ngorongoro Crater, two of northern Tanzania’s most important safari destinations.

Instead of driving from Arusha all the way to Serengeti, you take a scheduled light aircraft flight directly into the park. From the air, Tanzania’s landscape looks completely different: dry riverbeds, kopjes, acacia woodland and endless grassland stretch below you before your aircraft lands at a small bush airstrip. Your safari guide will meet you on arrival, and game viewing begins almost immediately.

This private itinerary gives you several nights in Serengeti, allowing time to explore the central plains and adjust the route around the season, wildlife movement and your interests. It then continues by road through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area for a full game drive inside the crater before returning to Arusha.

EKO TANZANIA ADVENTURES can arrange this safari as a comfort, luxury or premium tented-camp experience. It is ideal for couples, honeymooners, photographers, families, senior travellers and anyone who wants a more efficient Tanzania safari itinerary.

7-Day Tanzania Fly-In Safari: A Smart Serengeti and Ngorongoro Escape

Safari at a Glance

  • Duration: 7 days / 6 nights
  • Safari style: Private fly-in wildlife safari
  • Destinations: Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater
  • Starting point: Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport
  • Finish point: Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport
  • Transport: Domestic flight, private 4×4 safari vehicle and airport transfers
  • Ideal for: Couples, families, photographers, honeymooners and travellers with limited time

Why Choose a Tanzania Fly-In Safari?

Northern Tanzania is large, and road journeys between parks can take several hours. A fly-in safari helps reduce the time needed to reach Serengeti, leaving more of your holiday for game drives, lodge time and wildlife photography.

The flight itself is part of the adventure. Small aircraft fly at lower altitudes than international jets, giving you striking views of Tanzania’s changing landscape. You may see Maasai bomas, volcanic highlands, open savannah and winding rivers from above before arriving in the Serengeti.

Once you land, there is no need to wait until the following day for safari activities. Your driver-guide meets you at the airstrip and begins a game drive straight away. This makes the itinerary especially appealing for travellers who want a strong Serengeti experience without a long first-day drive from Arusha.

Day 1: Arrival in Arusha – Welcome to Tanzania

Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport, where an EKO TANZANIA ADVENTURES representative will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel in Arusha.

Arusha is a lively safari town located beneath Mount Meru. It is the main gateway to Tanzania’s Northern Circuit and a practical place to rest before your flight into the bush. Depending on your arrival time, you may relax at the hotel, enjoy dinner, organise your camera equipment or simply recover from your international journey.

Your guide or safari coordinator will brief you on the itinerary, luggage allowance for the domestic flight and the next morning’s transfer arrangements. Soft-sided bags are generally recommended for light aircraft travel, and your confirmed booking information will explain the applicable luggage limits.

Overnight: Hotel in Arusha
Meals: Dinner, depending on arrival time and confirmed arrangement

Day 2: Fly from Arusha to Serengeti National Park – Safari Starts on Landing

After breakfast, transfer to Arusha Airport for your scheduled flight to Serengeti National Park. Flight times and airstrip routing vary depending on the season, airline schedules and your selected camp location.

As the aircraft crosses northern Tanzania, the views become increasingly wild. The landscape changes from cultivated areas and highland slopes to the huge open spaces of the Serengeti ecosystem. On arrival, your private safari guide will meet you at the airstrip with a 4×4 vehicle.

Your first game drive begins immediately. Wildlife can appear at any time, even before reaching your camp. You may see zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, elephants, gazelles, hyenas or lions along the way. Your guide will stop whenever there is an interesting sighting, so there is no rush to “reach” the safari — you are already in it.

After a picnic lunch or lunch at camp, continue exploring the surrounding area. Arrive at your tented camp or lodge later in the afternoon, settle into your room and enjoy dinner beneath the Serengeti sky.

Overnight: Lodge or tented camp in Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3: Full-Day Serengeti Safari – Lions, Plains and Wild Spaces

Today is devoted to Serengeti National Park. You can begin with an early morning game drive, when the air is cool and many animals are active. Morning light is also excellent for photography.

The Serengeti is famous for its large predator population. Lions are often seen resting on kopjes, walking through the grassland or watching herds from the shade. Cheetahs favour more open areas, while leopards are often found near rivers, trees and denser woodland. Your guide will use tracks, bird behaviour, animal calls and experience to search for wildlife responsibly.

The Serengeti is about much more than big cats. Herds of wildebeest and zebra move across the plains, giraffes browse around acacia trees, elephants travel through woodland, and hyenas, jackals and vultures play important roles in the ecosystem. Birdlife is also rich, including ostriches, secretary birds, eagles, hornbills and colourful rollers.

You may choose a picnic lunch in the park or return to camp for a break, depending on your preferred pace and the accommodation location. An afternoon game drive offers another chance to see animals becoming active as the day cools.

Overnight: Lodge or tented camp in Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4: Explore Serengeti at Your Preferred Pace

A second full day in Serengeti allows the safari to feel more relaxed and productive. Instead of trying to see everything in one day, you have time to revisit promising areas, follow seasonal wildlife movements and spend longer at sightings that interest you.

If you are travelling during the Great Migration, your guide will focus on the part of the ecosystem where the herds are likely to be found. The migration moves throughout the year, so its location depends on rainfall patterns and season. In some months, large herds may be on the southern plains; in others, they may be further west or north. Your itinerary can be planned around this when booking.

For couples and honeymooners, this day can include a slower morning, a private bush breakfast where available, or an optional hot-air balloon safari. Balloon flights are not included unless specifically stated in your quotation, but they can be a special way to see the Serengeti at sunrise.

Later, return to your camp or lodge for dinner and a final evening in the bush. Tented camps offer a particularly appealing balance between comfort and the atmosphere of the wild: you have a proper bed and private facilities while still hearing the distant sounds of nature at night.

Overnight: Lodge or tented camp in Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Scenic Wildlife Transfer

After breakfast, enjoy a morning game drive as you begin the journey from Serengeti towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This is a scenic transfer, and wildlife viewing continues along the way.

The road gradually leaves the wide Serengeti plains and rises into the Ngorongoro highlands. The landscape becomes greener and cooler, with volcanic slopes, forested sections and occasional views across the conservation area. Depending on timing and conditions, there may be a permitted stop at a viewpoint near the crater rim.

Arrive at your lodge or tented camp in the Ngorongoro Highlands or Karatu area in the afternoon. The cooler climate is a pleasant contrast to the Serengeti. Relax, have dinner and prepare for an early start the following day.

Overnight: Lodge or tented camp near Ngorongoro or Karatu
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive – One of Africa’s Great Wildlife Areas

After an early breakfast, travel to the Ngorongoro Crater descent road and begin your drive down to the crater floor. The view from the rim is dramatic: a vast volcanic basin surrounded by steep green walls, with grassland, wetland, forest and Lake Magadi spread below.

The crater contains an exceptional concentration of wildlife. During your game drive, you may see lions, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, hippos, elephants, hyenas, jackals and many types of birds. Black rhinos live in the conservation area, although sightings depend on movement, distance and visibility.

Your guide will take time to explore different habitats on the crater floor. A picnic lunch is normally enjoyed at an approved location, often close to a hippo pool. This is a busy wildlife area, and the guide will make sure the day remains comfortable while still giving you plenty of time for observation and photographs.

In the afternoon, ascend the crater and return to your lodge. Spend your final evening in the highlands enjoying dinner and reflecting on the safari.

Overnight: Lodge or tented camp near Ngorongoro or Karatu
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7: Return to Arusha – Departure or Extra Night

After breakfast, drive back to Arusha. The route passes through rural northern Tanzania, where you may see farms, villages, local markets and views of the highlands.

You will be dropped at your Arusha hotel, Arusha Airport or Kilimanjaro International Airport according to your travel arrangements. If your international flight departs very early the next morning, it is often more comfortable to add an extra overnight stay in Arusha.

This itinerary can also be extended with a Zanzibar beach holiday, a Tarangire National Park visit, a cultural tour near Mto wa Mbu or a Mount Kilimanjaro day hike.

Meals: Breakfast and lunch, depending on departure schedule

7-Day Tanzania Fly-In Safari: A Smart Serengeti and Ngorongoro Escape

Accommodation Choices for Your Fly-In Safari

This fly-in safari can be arranged with different accommodation standards. Mid-range tented camps offer comfortable rooms, en-suite bathrooms, good meals and a close-to-nature atmosphere. Luxury camps and lodges may include larger suites, more private settings, exceptional views, personalised dining and premium service.

Your quote can be built around what matters most to you:

  • Comfortable permanent tented camps
  • Luxury lodges with scenic locations
  • Romantic honeymoon suites
  • Family rooms or interconnecting units
  • Private dining arrangements
  • Camps positioned closer to the Great Migration during your travel dates
  • A balance of value, comfort and wildlife access

What Is Included in This Tanzania Fly-In Safari?

Your confirmed quotation can include:

  • Airport transfers in Arusha
  • Domestic flight from Arusha to Serengeti
  • Private 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
  • Professional English-speaking safari driver-guide
  • Accommodation as selected
  • Meals shown in the itinerary
  • Drinking water during game drives
  • Serengeti National Park fees
  • Ngorongoro Conservation Area and crater fees
  • Government taxes and tourism levies as stated in the quotation

What Is Not Included?

Unless clearly stated, the following are generally excluded:

  • International flights
  • Tanzania visa fees
  • Travel and medical insurance
  • Alcoholic drinks and premium beverages
  • Tips for guides and camp staff
  • Personal expenses and souvenirs
  • Optional hot-air balloon safari
  • Extra hotel nights before or after the safari
  • Any additional domestic flights not listed in the final quotation

Important Travel Notes

Light aircraft schedules, routes and luggage allowances can change according to season and operational conditions. EKO TANZANIA ADVENTURES will confirm your domestic flight details before travel and advise you on baggage requirements.

Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed. Animals move freely through the parks, and the experience changes every day. However, spending several nights in Serengeti and travelling with an experienced private guide provides excellent opportunities to see a wide variety of wildlife.

This itinerary works throughout the year, but the most suitable Serengeti camp location may differ depending on the season. If you are travelling specifically to see the Great Migration, calving season or river crossings, tell us your preferred dates when requesting a quotation.

Book Your 7-Day Tanzania Fly-In Safari

Choose a faster, more comfortable route into Serengeti and enjoy more time where it matters most: among Tanzania’s wildlife. EKO TANZANIA ADVENTURES will tailor the accommodation, flight arrangements and safari pace to match your travel style.

Discover more private safari ideas at EKO TANZANIA ADVENTURES.