Tanzania Northern Safari Circuit

Tanzania's classic safari route: starting from Arusha, it links Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti.

Tanzania's Northern Circuit is East Africa's most established safari route. With Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport as the gateway, it runs west through Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara, the Karatu Highlands and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and finally into Serengeti National Park, with extensions to Lake Natron and Lake Eyasi. Highlights: Tarangire's baobab trees and elephant herds; the high density of lions, black rhinos and flamingos inside Ngorongoro Crater; the early-human site at Olduvai Gorge; the Great Migration of wildebeest, plus cheetahs and leopards, on the Serengeti's endless plains; and climbs of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru. The classic approach is to hire a 4x4 (a Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof) and a guide for 5–7 days: 1 day in Tarangire, 1 day in Ngorongoro and 2–3 days in the Serengeti, where you can also take a hot-air balloon flight. If your budget allows, you can fly into and out of the Serengeti on a light aircraft, then end with a beach break in Zanzibar. International flights mostly arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), and you can also cross overland from Nairobi. Book camps early for the dry season; park entry and overnight fees are high (charged per day). Get a yellow fever vaccination, take malaria precautions, and never leave the vehicle on the plains.

Destinations

• Serengeti
• Ngorongoro, Manyara & Tarangire
• Arusha & Kilimanjaro
• Lake Natron

Itineraries

• Lake Natron, Rift Valley & Serengeti 8-Day Off-Road Safari – Head north along the Rift Valley to Lake Natron, then enter the Serengeti from the northeast, avoiding the main tourist…
• Classic Northern Circuit: 4 National Parks 7-Day Safari – A classic first-timer's route starting from Arusha, connecting Tarangire, Lake Manyara, the Serengeti, and the Ngorongo…
• Northern Safari & Zanzibar Island – Complete the Northern Circuit in eight days, then fly to Zanzibar to explore Stone Town and relax on the beaches.
• Kenya & Tanzania Cross-Border Loop – Depart from Nairobi on a grand loop connecting the Maasai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Amboseli.
• Short Tarangire & Ngorongoro Crater 4-Day Safari – Skip the Serengeti and spend four days exploring Tarangire, Lake Manyara, and the Ngorongoro Crater.
• Mount Kilimanjaro: Machame Route 9-Day Climb – Summit Uhuru Peak via the 7-day Machame Route, with pre- and post-climb stays in Moshi, followed by a visit to a waterf…