Tanzania Northern Circuit
The definitive Tanzanian safari: baobabs and elephants at Tarangire, the Serengeti plains, and the Ngorongoro Crater floor.
Tanzania's Northern Circuit packs four world-class parks into a single loop from Arusha. Tarangire opens with vast baobabs and the largest elephant herds in the north. The Serengeti follows — genuinely endless, and home to the migration for most of the year. Ngorongoro closes the trip with the highest concentration of large mammals anywhere on the continent.
Trip at a glance
Highlights
- Two nights inside the Serengeti, not on its boundary
- Full-day descent onto the Ngorongoro Crater floor
- Tarangire's baobab forests and elephant herds
- Lake Manyara's tree-climbing lions and flamingo flats
- Optional Serengeti balloon safari at sunrise
What's included
Included
- Park and reserve entrance fees for all listed parks
- Transport in a 4×4 pop-up-roof safari land cruiser or minivan
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Full-board accommodation (breakfast, lunch, dinner) as per itinerary
- Unlimited bottled drinking water in the vehicle
- All game drives as described
- Government taxes and levies
- Flying-doctor emergency evacuation cover
Not included
- International flights and visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance
- Tips for your driver-guide and lodge staff
- Drinks, laundry and items of a personal nature
- Optional activities (balloon safari, cultural village visits)
- Accommodation before and after the safari
- Any increase in park fees or government taxes
Day-by-day itinerary
Arrive Arusha
Airport transfer from Kilimanjaro International, briefing with your guide, and overnight at a garden lodge in Arusha.
Arusha → Tarangire
Drive to Tarangire National Park for a full afternoon game drive among baobabs and elephant herds. Dinner and overnight.
Tarangire → Serengeti
Cross the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to the Serengeti, game viewing en route. Afternoon drive in the Seronera valley. Dinner and overnight.
Serengeti National Park
A full day in the Serengeti with a picnic lunch. Optional sunrise balloon safari. Dinner and overnight.
Serengeti → Ngorongoro
Morning game drive, then transfer to the Ngorongoro crater rim. Sunset over the caldera. Dinner and overnight.
Ngorongoro Crater floor
Early descent for a full day on the crater floor — Big Five country. Ascend in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight.
Ngorongoro → Lake Manyara → Arusha
Game drive at Lake Manyara, then transfer to Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport for your onward flight.
Where you'll be
Good to know
Before you travel
- Passport valid 6+ months beyond your return date
- Kenya eTA or the East Africa Tourist Visa ($100, covers 3 countries)
- Yellow fever certificate if arriving from an endemic country
- Antimalarials — speak to a travel clinic 6 weeks out
- Travel insurance covering cancellation and medical repatriation
Booking & payment
- 30% deposit secures your dates; balance due 30 days before departure
- Card, M-PESA and Airtel Money via Pesapal; bank transfer on request
- Confirmation and receipt by e-mail within minutes
- Free changes up to 21 days before departure
- Track your booking any time with your reference number
On safari
- Pop-up-roof 4×4 with a guaranteed window seat for everyone
- Neutral clothing; avoid dark blue and black (tsetse flies)
- Binoculars, a 200mm+ lens and a power bank earn their place
- Light aircraft transfers cap luggage at 15kg in a soft bag
- Flying-doctor evacuation cover included at no extra charge
After your trip
- We e-mail a short feedback form — we read every one
- Returning guests get priority on peak-season dates
- Photos shared with us may feature in our gallery, with credit
- Any concern raised within 28 days gets a reply in 14
$2,760 is per person sharing a twin or double room, in USD. Solo travellers pay a single supplement of $607. Children under 12 sharing with two adults pay $1,720. Rates are held for 30 days from the date we quote you and are subject to availability.
Park fees are set by the relevant wildlife authority and occasionally change without notice; where that happens we pass on the difference at cost and never mark it up. Peak-season dates (July–October and Christmas/New Year) may carry a supplement, which we will always state in writing before you pay. Full terms are in our Terms & Conditions.
Questions about this safari?
Ask us anything — dates, lodges, whether it suits your family. We reply within 24 hours.
