What You Need to Know: The 9-day Tanzania safari costs from US$5,495 per person for two travelers at mid-range lodges (US$4,095 budget, US$8,980 luxury). It covers Tarangire, Lake Manyara, the central Serengeti, a second Serengeti area chosen for the migration (the north from July to October, Ndutu from December to March, at US$5,585), and the Ngorongoro Crater. The price includes pickup in Arusha, eight nights at lodges and camps with meals, all park fees, the crater fee and a private Land Cruiser with your own guide.
Who Is the 9-Day Tanzania Safari For?
It suits travelers who want to see the northern circuit without rushing, especially first-time visitors. Five Serengeti nights give you time for the big cats of the central plains and for the migration herds wherever they are, and the slower pace means fewer long driving days. If you have less time, the 7-day safari covers the same parks with three Serengeti nights.
| This safari suits you if… | Consider another trip if… |
|---|---|
| You want the full northern circuit at an easy pace | You have a week: the 7-day Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro safari |
| You'd like the migration and the central Serengeti | You want more time still: the 12-day Tanzania safari |
| You prefer lodges to camping | You'd like a beach to finish: the 10-day safari and Zanzibar |
Which Second Serengeti Area Will You Visit?
The second area depends on your travel month, so you are where the herds are:
| Travel month | Second area (2 nights) | Why | From (2, mid-range) |
|---|---|---|---|
| July to October | Northern Serengeti, near the Mara River | River crossings | US$5,495 |
| December to March | Ndutu, southern plains | Calving and predators | US$5,585 |
| April to June, November | An area chosen for the herds' position that month | The herds on the move | In your quotation |
Not sure which months suit you? See the best time for a Tanzania safari.
9-Day Tanzania Safari Itinerary
Shown with the July-to-October northern Serengeti; from December to March, days 5 and 6 are at Ndutu instead. Day by day:
-
Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire
Pickup in Arusha and the drive to Tarangire for an afternoon with its elephant herds, then a night at a camp in or beside the park.
ElephantsTarangireLunch box, dinner -
Day 2: Lake Manyara
A morning in Tarangire's quieter south or straight to Lake Manyara, where the forest, the lake shore and the hippo pool make a gentle, varied game drive; the night is in Mto wa Mbu below the Rift Valley wall.
Forest and lakeLake Manyara, Mto wa MbuBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 3: Over the highlands to the Serengeti
Up past the crater rim and across the Ngorongoro highlands, then down onto the plains and into the central Serengeti, game-driving to your camp.
PlainsCentral SerengetiBreakfast, picnic lunch, dinner -
Day 4: A full day in the central Serengeti
The Seronera River valley is home to lions, leopards in the sausage trees and cheetahs on the plains all year; a full day lets you follow whatever your guide finds.
Big catsCentral SerengetiBreakfast, picnic lunch, dinner -
Day 5: To the second area
North through the Lobo hills to the Mara River (July to October), or south to the Ndutu plains (December to March), arriving among the herds in the afternoon.
MigrationNorthern Serengeti or NdutuBreakfast, picnic lunch, dinner -
Day 6: A full day with the herds
A day with the migration: river crossings in the north, or calving and the predators that follow it at Ndutu.
MigrationNorthern Serengeti or NdutuBreakfast, picnic lunch, dinner -
Day 7: Back to the central Serengeti
A game drive back to the central plains for a last Serengeti night, with another chance at the cats.
Game driveCentral SerengetiBreakfast, picnic lunch, dinner -
Day 8: Olduvai Gorge and Karatu
Out of the Serengeti, with an optional stop at Olduvai Gorge, where some of the earliest human fossils were found, then up to Karatu in the highlands.
HistoryOlduvai, KaratuBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 9: The Ngorongoro Crater, then Arusha
An early descent to the crater floor for buffaloes, lions, flamingos on the soda lake and the chance of a black rhino, then the drive back to Arusha in the afternoon.
Crater game driveNgorongoro, ArushaBreakfast, picnic lunch
Where You Stay on the 9-Day Safari
Lodges and tented camps at your chosen level, "or similar" (the Ndutu version swaps the northern camps for Ndutu camps):
| Nights | Area | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tarangire | Sangaiwe Tented Camp | Ang'ata Tarangire Kuro, Burunge Tented Lodge, Tarangire Katikati Camp | Elephant Springs by Karibu Camps, Maramboi Tented Lodge |
| 2 | Mto wa Mbu, Lake Manyara | Fig Tree Lodge, Nsya Lodge | Moonbow Lodge, Mawe Mawe Manyara, Suricata Boma Lodge | Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge, Lake Manyara Serena Lodge |
| 3, 4 and 7 | Central Serengeti | Maboresho Tented Camp | Ang'ata Serengeti, Mawe Tented Camp, Serengeti Tortilis Camp | Serengeti Serena Lodge, Nyota Luxury Tented Camp |
| 5–6 | Northern Serengeti, near the Mara River | Serengeti Classic View Kogatende | GNU Migration Camp, Nyikani Migration Camp, Olmorijo Camp | Malaika Mara River Luxury Camp, Mara Mara Tented Lodge |
| 8 | Karatu, Ngorongoro highlands | Bougainvillea Lodge, Country Lodge Karatu | Africa Safari Karatu, Eileen's Tree Inn, Karatu Tented Lodge | Gibbs' Farm, Acacia Farm Lodge |
How Much Does the 9-Day Tanzania Safari Cost?
From US$5,495 per person for two travelers at mid-range lodges, July-to-October version. By group size and level:
| Travelers | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US$5,870 | US$7,440 | US$11,975 |
| 2 | US$4,095 | US$5,495 | US$8,980 |
| 3 | US$3,515 | US$4,890 | US$8,305 |
| 4 | US$3,445 | US$4,840 | US$8,330 |
| 5 | US$3,225 | US$4,610 | US$8,055 |
| 6 | US$3,225 | US$4,620 | US$8,110 |
The December-to-March version with Ndutu costs from US$5,585 per person for two at mid-range level (US$4,070 budget, US$8,710 luxury).
Park fees on the 9-Day Tanzania Safari
Every fee is included; the 2026 rates for reference:
| Fee | 2026 rate (incl. VAT) |
|---|---|
| Tarangire National Park | About US$59 per person per 24 hours |
| Lake Manyara National Park | About US$59 per person per 24 hours |
| Serengeti National Park | US$82.60 per person per 24 hours |
| Concession fee (nights inside the parks and on the crater rim) | Per person per night, by season |
| Ngorongoro Conservation Area (also charged when you drive through) | US$70.80 per person per 24 hours |
| Ngorongoro crater service fee | US$295 per vehicle per descent |
What the 9-Day Tanzania Safari Includes
Included:
- Pickup from your Arusha hotel on day 1 and drop-off in Arusha on day 9
- Eight nights at lodges and tented camps at your chosen level, five in the Serengeti
- All meals on safari, as listed in the itinerary
- The Ngorongoro crater service fee
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof, a window seat for every guest (at most 6), charging points and a fridge for drinks, with your own driver-guide
- All park, conservation and concession fees
- AMREF Flying Doctors evacuation cover
- Drinking water in the vehicle
Not included in the 9-Day Tanzania Safari price
Not included:
- International flights and visas (US$100 for US citizens)
- Tanzania's mandatory inbound travel insurance, US$44 per adult from October 1, 2026 (we can help you buy it)
- Travel insurance, including medical evacuation
- Tips for your guide and lodge staff
- Drinks, except where a lodge includes them, and personal items
- Nights in Arusha before and after, and airport transfers (we can add them)
- A balloon flight over the Serengeti (US$490 per person)
Your Guide for Nine Days
Your driver-guide graduated from the College of African Wildlife Management at Mweka and has at least five years of safari guiding; guides speak English, and we can arrange French, Spanish, German or Chinese-speaking guides. The same guide stays with you for all nine days, so by the end of the trip they know exactly what you most want to see.
How to Book the 9-Day Tanzania Safari
Send your travel month, the number of travelers and your lodge level through the form, on WhatsApp +255 678 992 599 or by email to jaynevytours@gmail.com. You get a written quotation with the lodges for your dates. A 30% deposit holds the safari, the balance is due on arrival, and the booking terms explain refunds.
Common Questions About the 9-Day Tanzania Safari
Short answers to the questions our guests ask us most often:
Is 9 days enough for a Tanzania safari?
Yes. Nine days covers Tarangire, Lake Manyara, two areas of the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater without rushing.
How much is a 9-day safari in Tanzania?
From US$5,495 per person for two travelers at mid-range lodges, US$4,095 at budget level and US$8,980 at luxury level.
Will we see the Great Migration?
Very likely: the second Serengeti area is chosen for where the herds are in your travel month.
Can we add Zanzibar?
Yes. Many guests fly from Arusha or the Serengeti to Zanzibar for a few beach days; we quote both together.
Is the 9-day safari private?
Yes, your own vehicle and guide for all nine days, on the dates you choose.
Should You Book the 9-Day Tanzania Safari?
Book it if you want the whole northern circuit at a relaxed pace, with five Serengeti nights in two areas and the crater to finish, from US$5,495 per person at mid-range level. For a week, see the 7-day safari; for longer, the 12-day safari. All options are on our Tanzania safaris page.