Safari · Northern Circuit
The Northern Circuit, Done Properly
Seven days is the sweet spot for northern Tanzania: enough time to give Tarangire two full days, spend a morning with the farming communities of Mto wa Mbu, cover real ground in the Serengeti, and still descend into the Ngorongoro Crater without rushing.
You travel in a private 4×4 with a pop-up roof and your own guide throughout, staying in comfortable tented lodges positioned close to the action — overlooking Tarangire, up in Karatu and on the crater rim itself.
- Two full days in elephant-rich Tarangire
- Cultural morning in Mto wa Mbu with local farmers
- Full day tracking wildlife across the Serengeti plains
- Sunrise descent into the Ngorongoro Crater
7 Days
6 Nights Full Board
3 Parks
Tarangire · Serengeti · Ngorongoro
Private
4×4 and Guide Throughout
Big Five
All Five Possible
Day by Day
Your Itinerary
Day 1
Arusha to Tarangire National Park
A scenic drive south-west to Tarangire, famous for its giant baobabs and the largest elephant herds in northern Tanzania. Lunch on arrival, then an afternoon game drive along the river.
- 🚗 ~2.5 hrs
- 🐘 Elephant Herds
- 🌳 Baobab Country
- 🏕️ Tented Lodge
Day 2
Full Day in Tarangire
A whole day to work the Tarangire River, where the dry season concentrates elephant, lion, eland and fringe-eared oryx, and over 500 bird species have been recorded.
- 🚙 Full-Day Game Drive
- 🦅 500+ Bird Species
- 🦁 Lion & Leopard
- 🍽️ Picnic Lunch
Day 3
Cultural Morning in Mto wa Mbu – Karatu
A morning with the farming communities of Mto wa Mbu — irrigation plots, banana groves and the local craft workshops — before continuing up to Karatu for the night.
- 🌱 Farm & Village Walk
- 🍌 Red Banana Groves
- 🎨 Local Artists
- 🏨 Lodge in Karatu
Day 4
Karatu to the Serengeti
Climb through the Ngorongoro highlands and out across the short-grass plains as green hills give way to golden savanna. Picnic lunch en route and an afternoon game drive on arrival.
- 🚗 5–6 hrs
- 🏔 Ngorongoro Highlands
- 🚙 Afternoon Game Drive
- 🍽️ Picnic Lunch
Day 5
Full Day in the Serengeti
A sunrise start and a full day covering different zones of the park — following the migration if it’s in range, or working the Seronera Valley kopjes for lion, leopard and cheetah.
- 🌅 Sunrise Game Drive
- 🐆 Kopje Leopards
- 📍 Seronera Valley
- 🍽️ Picnic Lunch
Day 6
Serengeti to Ngorongoro
A final morning game drive on the plains before travelling back east to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, arriving on the crater rim in time for sunset.
- 🚙 Morning Game Drive
- 🚗 4–5 hrs
- 🌇 Crater Rim Sunset
- 🏕️ Lodge on the Crater Rim
Day 7
Crater Safari & Return to Arusha
An early descent onto the crater floor for elephant, lion, black rhino and flamingo among 25,000 large animals in a 260 km² caldera, then the afternoon drive back to Arusha.
- 🌋 Crater Floor Drive
- 🦏 Black Rhino
- 🦩 Flamingos
- 🚗 ~3.5 hrs to Arusha
Cost
What Your Trip Covers
What’s Included
- All park entry and conservation fees
- Full-board accommodation throughout
- Private 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- All game drives and listed excursions
- Bottled drinking water on every drive
- Airport transfers and meet & greet
- Government taxes, VAT and emergency evacuation cover
- Cultural experiences as listed in the itinerary
Not Included
- International flights, visas & taxes
- Travel and medical insurance
- Tips and gratuities (approx. $20 per person per day)
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Optional extras such as balloon safaris
- Personal items and souvenirs
Get Your Tailored Quote
Rates vary with group size, season and accommodation level. Tell us your dates and party size and we’ll send a detailed, no-obligation quote within 24 hours — usually much faster on WhatsApp.
Map
Where You'll Be Travelling
The Classic, at Your Pace
Want it longer, shorter or more luxurious? Every day here can be moved. Tell us what you’re after.