8-Day Serengeti Safari Tanzania
The 8-Day Serengeti Safari Tanzania is a remarkable journey into the heart of Tanzania’s most iconic landscapes, where wildlife thrives across endless golden plains. Designed and operated by Deks Safaris & Tours Ltd, this itinerary promises an unforgettable blend of adventure, comfort, and authentic African experiences. The Serengeti National Park, renowned globally as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers the perfect backdrop to one of the greatest natural spectacles—the annual Wildebeest Migration. This journey attracts millions of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles, pursued by predators in a breathtaking display of survival and instinct.
This 8-Day Serengeti Safari Tanzania is not only about the migration. Over eight days, you will explore the central, western, and northern corridors of Serengeti, each offering unique ecosystems and wildlife encounters. The central Serengeti is rich with predators like lions and leopards, while the western corridor boasts dramatic Grumeti River crossings. The northern Serengeti provides opportunities to witness the iconic Mara River crossings during migration season, often considered the climax of the safari experience.
Your 8-Day Serengeti Safari Tanzania journey begins in Arusha, Tanzania’s safari hub, and quickly takes you deep into the wilderness with expertly guided game drives in custom 4×4 safari vehicles. Along the way, you will enjoy luxury tented lodges and camps that combine comfort with proximity to nature. Each day brings new discoveries sunrise over the Serengeti, hippos basking in pools, lions stalking prey, or elephants moving gracefully across the plains. By the end of the eight days, you will have experienced the circle of life in one of Earth’s most dynamic ecosystems, leaving you with memories that last a lifetime.
8-Day Serengeti Safari Tanzania Highlights
- Day 1: Arrival in Arusha – Gateway to Your Serengeti Adventure
- Day 2: Flight from Arusha to Central Serengeti – First Glimpse of the Plains
- Day 3: Central Serengeti to Western Serengeti – The Grumeti Adventure
- Day 4: Full Day Exploration of Western Serengeti – Grumeti Highlights
- Day 5: Western Serengeti to Northern Serengeti – Towards the Mara River
- Day 6: Full Day in Northern Serengeti – Witness the Mara Crossings
- Day 7: Northern Serengeti to Central Serengeti – Wildlife Encounters
- Day 8: Central Serengeti to Arusha – Departure
Detailed 8-Day Serengeti Safari Tanzania
Day 1: Arrival in Arusha – Gateway to Your Serengeti Adventure
Your 8-Day Serengeti Safari Tanzania journey begins with arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where a warm welcome awaits from Deks Safaris & Tours Ltd. After clearing formalities, you will meet your safari guide and be transferred to your elegant lodge in Arusha, a bustling town nestled at the foot of Mount Meru. The short scenic drive offers a glimpse of Tanzania’s vibrant life and landscapes, from lush greenery to charming villages.
At your lodge, you can relax after your flight and enjoy the serene atmosphere. The afternoon is at leisure, allowing you to unwind by the pool, take a stroll through the gardens, or simply prepare yourself for the exciting adventure ahead. Later in the evening, your guide will join you for a detailed safari briefing. During this session, you will learn more about the Serengeti’s unique regions, wildlife behavior, and the thrilling experiences planned over the next eight days.
Dinner will be served at your lodge, with menus often featuring a blend of international and local Tanzanian flavors. This first evening sets the tone for your 8-Day Serengeti Safari Tanzania: comfort, discovery, and anticipation. As you retire for the night, the sounds of Arusha’s nature will ease you into rest, preparing you for the incredible wilderness awaiting in the Serengeti the following day.
- Accommodation Options: Arusha Coffee Lodge or Mount Meru Hotel
- Meal Plan: Dinner
Day 2: Flight from Arusha to Central Serengeti – First Glimpse of the Plains
After breakfast at your lodge, your 8-Day Serengeti Safari Tanzania truly begins with a short transfer to Arusha Airport for your scheduled flight to the Serengeti. The flight itself is an experience, offering sweeping aerial views of the vast plains, dotted with acacia trees and winding rivers. As the plane descends onto Seronera Airstrip, the heartbeat of the Serengeti greets you with open arms.
Upon arrival, your guide welcomes you and immediately begins your first game drive through the central Serengeti. Known as Seronera Valley, this area is a wildlife haven where predators thrive thanks to abundant prey. The valley is famous for frequent sightings of lions resting under trees, leopards lounging on branches, and cheetahs scanning the horizon. The Seronera River provides essential water, attracting elephants, giraffes, and herds of antelope, while hippos wallow in the Retina Hippo Pool.
Midday, you will enjoy a picnic lunch in a scenic spot, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the wilderness. The afternoon continues with more wildlife viewing, each corner of the Serengeti revealing something new and awe-inspiring. By evening, you arrive at your luxury tented lodge or safari lodge in the heart of the central Serengeti, where dinner and relaxation await.
- Accommodation Options: Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti or Singita Sasakwa Lodge
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Central Serengeti to Western Serengeti – The Grumeti Adventure
After an early breakfast, you depart central Serengeti and set course for the western corridor, a region defined by the Grumeti River. The 8-Day Serengeti Safari Tanzania journey is a safari in itself, with countless opportunities to spot wildlife along the way. The western Serengeti is particularly renowned for hosting part of the wildebeest migration between May and July, when herds gather in the region before attempting the perilous river crossings.
The Grumeti River, with its large Nile crocodiles and hippos, becomes the stage for dramatic encounters between predator and prey. If traveling during migration season, you may witness wildebeest launching themselves into the river, battling both the current and lurking crocodiles. Outside of migration season, the area still brims with wildlife, from elephants and buffalo to giraffes and birdlife such as fish eagles and kingfishers.
A picnic lunch on the plains offers a chance to pause and absorb the atmosphere before continuing your explorations. The evening drive brings more opportunities to spot predators and resident herds before reaching your lodge in the western Serengeti. Here, the sun sets over expansive savannahs, painting the sky with golden hues, as you settle in for dinner and overnight rest.
- Accommodation: Singita Faru Faru Lodge
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Full Day Exploration of Western Serengeti – Grumeti Highlights
This day is dedicated to exploring the western Serengeti, where wildlife activity thrives. Early morning, after breakfast, you set off for a game drive in the Grumeti region, a landscape of rolling plains, acacia woodlands, and riverine forests. This is one of the best places to spot large predators like lions and hyenas, as well as immense herds of herbivores grazing on the fertile grasslands.
During the Great Migration, this region becomes particularly dramatic as wildebeest gather on the banks of the Grumeti River. Crocodiles, some of the largest in Africa, lie in wait, making river crossings an unforgettable highlight. Beyond the migration, however, the Grumeti ecosystem still offers rich biodiversity, with giraffes browsing treetops, elephants foraging along riverbanks, and countless bird species filling the skies.
You will return to your lodge for a hot lunch and a brief rest before embarking on another game drive in the afternoon. This second safari of the day often reveals different behaviors as predators become active again in the cooler hours. By sunset, you return to your lodge for dinner, storytelling by the campfire, and a restful night under the Serengeti’s starlit sky.
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Western Serengeti to Northern Serengeti – Towards the Mara River
After breakfast, you bid farewell to the western Serengeti and journey northwards. The drive takes you through changing landscapes, from open grasslands to hilly outcrops, offering rich game-viewing opportunities along the way. By midday, you arrive in the northern Serengeti, where the Mara River dominates the scene.
This area is one of the least crowded regions of Serengeti, making it ideal for peaceful yet dramatic wildlife encounters. During the migration season, the Mara River crossings are the ultimate highlight. Wildebeest and zebras gather in massive numbers, hesitating at the banks before plunging into crocodile-infested waters. The spectacle is both heart-stopping and awe-inspiring, often drawing predators like lions and hyenas to the action.
After a picnic lunch or hot meal at your lodge, you embark on an afternoon game drive in the northern Serengeti. The area is home to resident wildlife year-round, including giraffes, elephants, leopards, and large prides of lions. Evening brings you back to your luxury lodge, perfectly positioned near the Mara River, where you will enjoy dinner and relaxation after a day of exploration.
- Accommodation: Sayari Camp or Lemala Kuria Hills Lodge
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Full Day in Northern Serengeti – Witness the Mara Crossings
This day is devoted entirely to exploring the northern Serengeti, with a focus on the Mara River and surrounding valleys. After breakfast, you set off for a morning game drive, seeking opportunities to witness one of nature’s most dramatic events the wildebeest river crossing. Patience is key, as herds often gather for hours before braving the river, but the reward is a breathtaking view of Africa’s raw survival drama.
Beyond the crossings, the northern Serengeti offers spectacular wildlife diversity. Lobo Valley is a highlight, with its resident lions, cheetahs, and elephants, as well as dramatic rocky landscapes. The region also offers excellent birding, with vultures circling above and colorful species perched on acacia branches.
A picnic lunch allows you to maximize your time in the wilderness. The afternoon brings another chance to spot elusive species such as leopards and hyenas, or simply marvel at the massive herds spread across the plains. As the sun dips low, casting a golden glow over the savannah, you return to your lodge for dinner and a final night in northern Serengeti.
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Northern Serengeti to Central Serengeti – Wildlife Encounters
After an early breakfast, you 8-Day Serengeti Safari Tanzania journey back south toward the central Serengeti, enjoying a full day of game viewing en route. This leg of the safari offers a chance to revisit areas and encounter species you may have missed earlier. The central Serengeti is particularly well-known for its high predator density, making it possible to observe lions, leopards, and cheetahs hunting among vast herds of zebras, wildebeest, and gazelles.
You will arrive at your central Serengeti lodge by midday for lunch and relaxation, followed by an afternoon game drive. The Retina Hippo Pool is another highlight here, where dozens of hippo’s crowds together, offering both entertainment and great photographic opportunities. By evening, you return to your luxury lodge for your final night in Serengeti.
- Accommodation: Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti or Singita Sasakwa Lodge
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Central Serengeti to Arusha – Departure
Your final 8-Day Serengeti Safari Tanzania morning begins with breakfast at your lodge before transferring to Seronera Airstrip for your flight back to Arusha. From here, you connect to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward journey home. This marks the end of your 8 Days Serengeti Safari with Deks Safaris & Tours Ltd, leaving you with incredible memories of Africa’s most iconic landscapes and wildlife encounters.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
8-Day Serengeti Safari Tanzania Inclusions and Exclusions
Safari Inclusions
- Airport pick-up and drop-off (Kilimanjaro International Airport)
- Domestic flights (Arusha – Serengeti – Arusha)
- Full-board accommodation (luxury lodges and tented camps)
- All meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Professional English-speaking safari guide
- Unlimited game drives in 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Park entry fees and concession fees
- Bottled drinking water during game drives
- Safari briefings and daily support from Deks Safaris & Tours Ltd
Safari Exclusions
- International flights
- Tanzania entry visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips for guides, drivers, and lodge staff
- Personal expenses (alcohol, laundry, telephone, etc.)
- Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
- Medical expenses or evacuation insurance
