The Ultimate 6-Day Tanzania Flying Safari: Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater (2027–2029)
This Ultimate 6-Day Tanzania Flying Safari combines two of Tanzania’s most famous wildlife destinations Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater. Travelling by light aircraft saves time on the road and allows you to spend more of your holiday watching wildlife.
The safari begins with a flight into the Serengeti, where you will enjoy several game drives across its open plains, river valleys and rocky kopjes. You will then fly to the Lake Manyara area and continue by road to the Ngorongoro highlands. The final full safari day takes you into the Ngorongoro Crater, a remarkable wildlife habitat known for its varied landscapes and resident animals.
This itinerary suits couples, honeymooners, families and travellers looking for a comfortable safari with less time spent travelling between destinations.
Tour duration: 6 days / 5 nights Destinations: Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area Transport: Scheduled light aircraft and private 4×4 safari vehicle Accommodation: Safari lodges or tented camps Travel years: 2027, 2028 and 2029 Best for: Wildlife viewing, photography and a relaxed fly-in safari
The Ultimate 6-Day Tanzania Flying Safari Detailed day-by-day itinerary
The Ultimate 6-Day Tanzania Flying Safari Day 1: Fly from Arusha to Serengeti National Park
Meals: Lunch and dinner | Overnight: Serengeti
After breakfast, transfer to Arusha Airport for your scheduled light-aircraft flight to the Serengeti. Depending on the flight schedule and your chosen camp, you may land at Seronera or another suitable airstrip in the park.
On arrival, meet your safari guide and begin the transfer to camp, with wildlife viewing along the way where conditions allow. After lunch and a short rest, head out for your first afternoon game drive.
Central Serengeti is known for its resident wildlife, including lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, zebras and wildebeest. Your guide will choose the route based on recent sightings and the time available.
Return to camp before evening, enjoy dinner and settle in for your first night in the Serengeti.
The Ultimate 6-Day Tanzania Flying Safari Day 2: Full-Day Game Drive in the Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner | Overnight: Serengeti
Set off early for a morning game drive, when the cooler temperatures often make wildlife easier to find. Your guide will look for predators returning from a night hunt, as well as grazing herds moving across the plains.
Continue through different habitats, from open grasslands to rocky kopjes and areas near seasonal rivers. These landscapes support a wide range of animals and provide excellent opportunities for wildlife photography.
A packed picnic lunch allows you to remain in the park instead of returning to camp during the middle of the day. In the afternoon, continue exploring another area before returning to camp.
Wildlife sightings vary from day to day, but spending a full day in the Serengeti gives you more time to observe animal behavior and explore beyond the areas closest to your accommodation.
The Ultimate 6-Day Tanzania Flying Safari Day 3: Another Day Exploring the Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner | Overnight: Serengeti
Spend another day exploring the Serengeti, giving you time to visit different areas and look for wildlife you may not have seen on the previous drives.
If you prefer an early start with a different perspective, you can arrange an optional hot-air balloon safari, subject to availability and suitable weather. The experience normally includes an early transfer, a balloon flight at sunrise and breakfast after landing. It costs extra and should be booked in advance.
If you choose not to take the balloon flight, enjoy a regular morning game drive with your guide. After lunch, relax at camp or arrange another drive depending on the accommodation and your preferences.
In the evening, your guide will confirm the following day’s flight arrangements and explain the baggage requirements before you leave the Serengeti.
The Ultimate 6-Day Tanzania Flying Safari Day 4: Fly from the Serengeti to Lake Manyara and Transfer to Ngorongoro
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner | Overnight: Ngorongoro or Karatu
Enjoy breakfast at camp, with the possibility of a short morning game drive if your flight schedule allows. You will then transfer to the designated airstrip for your flight to Lake Manyara.
On arrival, meet your driver-guide and travel by road towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The journey takes you up the Great Rift Valley escarpment and into the cooler highlands, where the scenery changes from open plains to green hills and cultivated land.
Check in at your lodge, which may be near the crater rim or in the Karatu area, depending on your accommodation choice. The rest of the afternoon is generally reserved for settling in and enjoying the surroundings.
The highlands can be cool, especially in the evening, so a warm layer is useful. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
The Ultimate 6-Day Tanzania Flying Safari Day 5: Game Drive in Ngorongoro Crater
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner | Overnight: Ngorongoro or Karatu
After an early breakfast, drive to the crater descent road and enter the Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive. The crater floor contains open grassland, woodland, wetlands and Lake Magadi, creating habitats for a wide variety of wildlife.
During the drive, look for lions, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, hyenas and elephants. The crater is also one of the better places in Tanzania to look for the endangered black rhino, although sightings cannot be guaranteed. Birdlife is particularly interesting around the wetlands and lake.
Enjoy a picnic lunch at an authorised site before continuing your afternoon wildlife viewing. Your guide will make the most of the time available while following conservation rules and designated routes.
Later, ascend the crater wall and return to your lodge. Spend the evening relaxing and enjoying dinner after a full day in one of Tanzania’s most distinctive wildlife areas.
The Ultimate 6-Day Tanzania Flying Safari Day 6: Return to Arusha and Departure
Meals: Breakfast | Lunch depending on flight time
Enjoy breakfast at the lodge before beginning your return journey. The exact arrangements will depend on your onward flight and the scheduled aircraft service.
One option is to drive to Lake Manyara Airstrip and take a scheduled flight to Arusha, if a suitable service is operating on your travel date. Alternatively, you can return to Arusha by road.
If you are flying internationally from Kilimanjaro International Airport, allow sufficient time for the transfer from Arusha and airport check-in. Depending on your flight time, an additional night in Arusha may be advisable.
Your six-day flying safari ends with a transfer to your hotel or the airport.
The Ultimate 6-Day Tanzania Flying Safari Suggested accommodation
The final selection will depend on your travel dates, preferred comfort level and budget. The properties below are examples to consider, subject to availability.
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Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti
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Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge
Suitable for travellers looking for comfortable rooms or tented suites and easy access to game drives.
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Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp
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Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
These are options for guests who want a distinctive highland stay before or after their crater safari.
– Rhino Lodge
A practical option to consider for travellers who want to stay near the crater without choosing the highest-priced properties.
The Ultimate 6-Day Tanzania Flying Safari Pre-trip planning and flight logistics
Booking in advance: For travel in 2027–2029, especially during the busy July–October period, it is sensible to enquire early. Confirm accommodation, aircraft seats, park fees and transfers before making final arrangements.
Luggage allowance: Light aircraft have different baggage rules. Coastal Aviation publishes a standard allowance of 15 kg per passenger, including hand luggage, and recommends soft-sided bags. Other carriers may have different limits, so confirm the allowance for every flight on your booking.
Flight schedule: Flight durations and routes depend on the carrier, airstrip, intermediate stops and operating conditions. The itinerary uses a proposed Arusha–Serengeti–Lake Manyara routing; flights and connections must be confirmed for the actual travel dates.
Larger luggage: Ask your safari operator or hotel whether excess luggage can be stored during the safari. Storage arrangements should be confirmed in advance rather than assumed to be free or available.
Game-drive hours: Game drives follow park opening times and regulations. Standard night driving is not permitted in Serengeti National Park, apart from specifically authorised activities where applicable.
The Ultimate 6-Day Tanzania Flying Safari What is included
The following can be included in your final quotation, depending on the package you offer:
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Scheduled domestic flights listed in the confirmed itinerary.
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Airport and airstrip transfers specified in the programme.
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Five nights of accommodation.
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Meals as specified in the itinerary.
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Private or shared 4×4 safari vehicle, as agreed.
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Professional English-speaking safari guide.
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Serengeti game drives and Ngorongoro Crater safari.
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Park and conservation fees, including applicable crater fees, if itemised as included.
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Drinking water during game drives.
The Ultimate 6-Day Tanzania Flying Safari What is excluded
Unless specifically stated in the quotation, the following are excluded:
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International flights to and from Tanzania.
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Visa fees and travel insurance.
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Tips for the guide and lodge staff.
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Premium alcoholic drinks, imported wines and personal purchases.
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Laundry and other personal expenses.
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Optional hot-air balloon safari.
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Optional cultural visits and other activities not listed in the package.
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Extra hotel nights and transfers outside the agreed itinerary.
The Ultimate 6-Day Tanzania Flying Safari Seasonal adjustments for 2027–2029
January–March: Southern Serengeti and Ndutu
The southern plains and Ndutu area can offer excellent opportunities to see wildebeest during the calving season. If this is your priority, arrange the first flight to a suitable southern airstrip and choose accommodation in the appropriate area.
July–October: Northern Serengeti
The northern Serengeti is often a good area to consider for migration viewing and possible Mara River crossings. The timing and location of the herds change each year, and river crossings are never guaranteed.
Central Serengeti is a useful base for a general wildlife safari because it supports resident wildlife throughout the year. The best routing still depends on rainfall, wildlife movements, camp location and flight availability.
The Ultimate 6-Day Tanzania Flying Safari Important note about pricing
For 2027, 2028 and 2029, provide a final quotation only after checking the selected accommodation, scheduled flights, park fees and the number of travellers. Rates and regulations may change before departure.
Recommended website presentation: Publish this as a six-day fly-in safari with the standard central Serengeti routing, then offer a southern Serengeti migration version and a northern Serengeti migration version as seasonal alternatives. This keeps the main itinerary clear while allowing you to tailor the trip to each guest’s travel dates and interests.
For more information contact https://summerwinteradventures.com/
