7 days / 6 nights
Tanzania Northern & Central Safari Circuit
Arusha · Tarangire · Lake Manyara · Ngorongoro · Serengeti
Discover the heart of Tanzania's renowned Northern Safari Circuit on this 7-day journey through some of the country's most celebrated wildlife destinations. From the elephant-rich landscapes of Tarangire and the Rift Valley scenery of Lake Manyara to the wildlife-packed Ngorongoro Crater and endless Serengeti plains, this safari delivers a well-balanced combination of wildlife, landscapes and authentic safari experiences.
Safari highlights
- Large elephant herds and ancient baobabs in Tarangire
- Excellent opportunities to encounter lions, leopards and cheetahs
- Search for black rhino in the Ngorongoro Crater
- Explore the vast plains of the Serengeti
- Follow predator activity and resident wildlife
- Discover Lake Manyara's diverse habitats and birdlife
- Experience the spectacular Great Rift Valley and Ngorongoro Highlands
- Excellent opportunities for wildlife and landscape photography
- Experience four of Tanzania's most iconic safari destinations
Out on safari
Day by day
7 days, 6 nights
The route below is the standard version. Game drives follow the wildlife rather than a timetable, and your guide adjusts as the animals move.
- 1
Arrival in Arusha
Arrive in Arusha and meet your safari representative. Transfer to your hotel for check-in, relaxation and a safari briefing.
- 2
Arusha to Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, drive to Tarangire National Park for your first game drive. The park is famous for its ancient baobab trees, large elephant herds and the Tarangire River, an important wildlife source during dry periods.
- 3
Tarangire to Lake Manyara National Park
Enjoy a morning game drive in Tarangire before continuing to Lake Manyara National Park.
Explore the park beneath the Great Rift Valley escarpment, with its groundwater forests, wetlands, open plains and lakeshore habitats. Look for elephants, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, hippos and abundant birdlife.
- 4
Lake Manyara to Ngorongoro Highlands
After breakfast, continue toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Enjoy the changing scenery as you climb from the Rift Valley toward the cooler Ngorongoro Highlands.
The afternoon can be spent relaxing at your lodge or enjoying an optional cultural experience.
- 5
Ngorongoro Crater to Serengeti
Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a morning game drive. The crater floor offers an exceptional concentration of wildlife, including lions, elephants, buffalo, zebras, wildebeest and, with luck, black rhino.
After the crater experience, ascend and continue toward Serengeti National Park with wildlife viewing en route.
- 6
Full-Day Serengeti National Park
Spend a full day exploring the Serengeti. Your safari guide will follow current wildlife movements and select productive areas for game viewing.
Depending on the season, you may encounter large herds of wildebeest and zebra, alongside lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, giraffes and buffalo.
- 7
Serengeti to Arusha
Enjoy an early morning game drive before beginning your journey back to Arusha. This final drive provides another opportunity to experience Serengeti's wildlife and landscapes before your safari concludes.
Included
What the price covers
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Professional English-speaking safari guide
- Private game drives throughout the safari
- 6 nights of accommodation
- Meals
- Tarangire National Park entry fees
- Lake Manyara National Park entry fees
- Serengeti National Park entry fees
- Ngorongoro Conservation Area and crater fees
- Drinking water during game drives
- Arusha transfers as specified
- All applicable government taxes and tourism fees
Accommodation options: Your accommodation will be selected according to your preferred comfort level, travel dates, availability and safari route. Exact properties will be confirmed in your personalised quotation
Not included
What you arrange yourself
- International and domestic flights
- Tanzania visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance
- Tips for safari guide and lodge staff
- Alcoholic and premium beverages
- Laundry and personal expenses
- Hot-air balloon safari
- Optional cultural activities and excursions
- Souvenirs and personal purchases
- Any service not specifically mentioned under "Included"
Best for
This safari is ideal for first-time visitors, couples, families, photographers and wildlife enthusiasts looking for a comprehensive introduction to Tanzania's Northern Circuit. The combination of four major destinations provides a strong balance of wildlife viewing, varied landscapes and time in the Serengeti.
Accommodation levels
Choose the level, and we build the trip around it
The same route can be run four ways. The level you pick decides where you sleep, how far you drive to the wildlife each morning, and most of what the safari costs.
Budget
Clean, simple camps and small lodges. Everything you need after a day in the park, and nothing you do not.
Mid-range
Comfortable lodges and permanent tented camps with en-suite bathrooms, pools and full service. Where most safaris sit.
Luxury
High-end lodges and luxury tented camps in prime locations, with the shorter drives to the wildlife that come with them.
Premium
The best addresses in each park. Exclusive-use camps, private guiding and the quietest corners of the reserves.
Why there is no price on the page
A safari price that fits everyone fits nobody. Two people in a premium camp in August and a family of four in a mid-range lodge in April are different trips at different costs, on the same itinerary. Rather than publish a figure that would be wrong for most people reading it, we price each trip properly.
Tell us your dates, your group and the level you want, and you get an accurate quote back with the accommodation named.
What the quote is built from
- Accommodation level and the type of camp or lodge
- Where you sleep: park rates differ, and so do the drives
- Travel dates, since low, high and peak seasons are priced apart
- Group size, and the ages of any children
- Safari style: private, shared, or tailor-made
- Length of the trip, the parks you enter and the activities you add
- Vehicle and transport arrangements
- Anything special: flights, transfers, honeymoon touches, dietary needs
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