What to do in Tanzania in seven days

Are you planning a safari and are wondering what to do in Tanzania in seven days? We take you on a journey of discovery!

In one week, you can see some of the world’s best national parks and conclude your safari with a relaxing beach holiday in the Zanzibar archipelago.

We offer an authentic classic safari experience. Our customised 4×4 guarantees you a window seat, and you’ll stay in small, intimate lodges where you’ll feel like a guest rather than a number in huge, soulless hotel.

We believe seven days is the minimum period to experience what Tanzania has to offer.

To climb Kilimanjaro, you need a minimum of eight days, including a pre- and post-night before and after your 6-day climbing tour.

Let’s explore some of the ultimate things to do in Tanzania in seven days.

Our favourite 7-day tours:

What to do in Tanzania in seven days: Is one week enough for a safari?

One week is definitely enough for a safari in Tanzania. Seven days give you enough time to explore two to three national parks on either the Northern or Southern Circuit.

Tanzania has multiple natural wonders and 121 different cultural groups, making it an ideal destination for those seeking a unique experience.

Explore snow-capped mountains, vast savannahs, and snaking rivers lined with Baobab trees, not to mention enjoy world-class game viewing, including the Great Wildebeest Migration.

Plan your seven-day safari on either the Northern or Southern Safari Circuits, which are home to UNESCO-grade national parks.

For higher budgets, consider a fly-in safari to combine both circuits and even the remote yet beautiful Western Circuit. In this case, you’d need more than seven days though.

Northern Safari Circuit 7-day itinerary

With contrasting parks open all year, the Northern Circuit is the perfect region for an iconic safari. You can visit all of the below parks in just seven days:

Tarangire National Park, a short drive from Arusha, is the first stop. Surprisingly, this incredible park is not as famous as its neighbouring parks, nonetheless the wildlife here is astonishing. Most outstanding are the large herds of elephants that you can see here, particularly during the dry season.

Serengeti National Park is Tanzania’s most iconic park, made famous by the Great Wildebeest Migration. You can see a great diversity of wildlife in the park’s vast open plains, along its beautiful rivers and ranges of hills.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area is the final destination, and what a way to finish. Not only is the crater a staggering geological formation, but the floor of the world’s largest unbroken caldera is home to an abundance of life where the Big Five reside.

On a seven-day safari, you can spend two nights in each park. Alternatively, we recommend two nights in Tarangire National Park, three nights in the Serengeti and one night in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

This allows you to take in the sounds and smells and colours of your surroundings instead of rushing from one park to the next.

Southern Safari Circuit 7-day itinerary

Southern Tanzania is home to some of the last remaining true wildernesses in Africa. If you have seven days to spend on the Southern Circuit, we recommend:

Mikumi National Park – a vast ecosystem 220km from Dar es Salaam and likened to the Serengeti, with extensive open plains dotted with acacia trees. You can see all the classic safari animals apart from Black Rhino here.

Udzungwa Mountains National Park is a unique stopover that allows you to stretch your legs and walk to 170m tall Sanje Falls. Incredibly, 30 to 40% of all Tanzania’s plants exist here, and the park is only explorable on foot.

Nyerere National Park was carved out of the Selous Game Reserve in 2019. The diversity of wildlife along the Rufiji River is world-class, and you will have the chance to see rare species, such as Wild Dog, take a boat out or go on adventurous walking safaris.

Ruaha National Park is the meeting place between the flora and fauna of Eastern as well as Southern Africa; consequently, you can expect a vast diversity of wildlife and a fantastic experience in a beautiful landscape with enormous Baobab trees.

Most popular choice what to do in Tanzania for one week: Safari and Beach Holiday

It is no surprise that Tanzania is such a popular honeymoon destination when a safari can be combined with a tropical beach retreat at the Zanzibar archipelago.

Seven days in Tanzania will allow you to spend four days on safari and three days relaxing at the beach.

7-day safari and beach itinerary

From Arusha, Tarangire National Park will be your first stop, where you’ll find a landscape filled with giant baobabs surrounded by big herds of elephants, abundant wildlife and 500 bird species. A mini wildebeest migration attracts predators such as lions and leopards.

The Serengeti National Park, second en route, will enable you to see parts of the wildebeest migration, be it the calving season, river crossings or long columns moving north or south in search of fresh grass.

Having been protected for 70 years, you can expect to see abundant wildlife in this beautiful park.

The Ngorongoro Crater is the ultimate destination. Like the Serengeti, long-term protection has created one of the world’s best opportunities for wildlife viewing. You will experience all this firsthand at the base of a 19 km-wide volcanic crater.

Beach holiday options in Tanzania after your safari

We can arrange a smooth transition from mainland safari to beachside retreat, including transfers, flights and a warm welcome to take you to your beachside accommodation. Choose from any of these destinations:

Unguja Island, commonly known as Zanzibar, has an international airport that facilitates easy access to the island. It is the largest island in the archipelago and has stunning beaches, delicious food, welcoming people and unique places to stay.

History enthusiasts will love spending a night in Stone Town to uncover the islands long and, at times, dark history. The heavily Arabic/Portuguese influenced architecture and bustling cobbled streets will transport you to a place far from your everyday life. 

Pemba Island is located north of Zanzibar and is the second-largest island in the archipelago.

The entire western side of the island is protected by the Pemba Channel Conservation Area, offering snorkellers and divers the chance to see rare turtles, dolphins, migrating whales and possibly even very rare dugongs.

Smaller and greener than the main island, yet with incredible beaches, Pemba Island receives fewer visitors than well-known Zanzibar therefore offers an opportunity to relax with a bit more privacy on a pristine island.

Mafia Island is much further south, but thanks to its airport, it is still straightforward to get there.

Mafia is an untouched paradise with much lower visitor numbers than its northern cousins. Consequently, you can find yourself on deserted beaches and at exceptional dive sites and coral gardens with very few other people.

Or you can choose from mainland beaches like Bagamoyo, Pagani and the Saadani National Park – where the savannahs meet the shoreline.

What to do in Tanzania in seven days: Trekking & Mountain Climbing

The tectonic and volcanic action millions of years ago has created a fantastic destination for trekking and mountain climbing in northern Tanzania.

Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, is the best-known trekking tour in Tanzania. However, trekking Mount Kilimanjaro requires a minimum of eight days in the country. This includes a pre- and a post-night and a 6-day climb in between both.

If you only have seven days in Tanzania, try Mt Meru instead:

Trek Mount Meru in Arusha National Park for an unforgettable adventure.

With a challenge comparable to Kilimanjaro, stunning scenery, and fewer crowds than on Kilimanjaro, this hidden gem is a worthy challenge.

Additionally, a Mt Meru climb only takes four days, giving you plenty of time to relax and reflect on your fantastic experience at your lodge before and after your trek.

You want to experience Tanzania in 7 days?

Just get in touch with us!

Is one week enough in Tanzania? And why we suggest a minimum 10-day itinerary instead

Travelling to Tanzania takes time. Therefore, we highly recommend setting aside a minimum of seven days to enjoy the wonders of Tanzania. Keep in mind that Tanzania is 2.6 times larger than Germany.

As a result, travelling between parks will take some time. Adding three or more days to your itinerary will allow you to travel at a more leisurely pace and experience much more of what this beautiful country has to offer.

Nevertheless, seven days in Tanzania will still enable you to enjoy an unforgettable week.

If you visit Tanzania for seven days only, we recommend following the ethos of “less is more”. By visiting fewer parks and instead staying more than one night at each place, you can enjoy the big and small moments of a safari.

For us, it’s not about ticking off your bucket list, but being in the moment and savouring an unforgettable experience.

Get in touch with us to plan your seven-day Tanzania experience. Plan your dream trip together with our experienced travel experts.