7-Day Tanzania Northern Circuit Safari with Serengeti and Ngorongoro

7 Days Round trip from Arusha Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Drive through Tarangire National Park with a picnic lunch and spectacular African sunset views
  • 02 Travel across the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and see the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater
  • 03 Spend a full day exploring Serengeti National Park's vast plains and abundant wildlife
  • 04 Look out for migrating zebras and wildebeest, along with predators such as lions, cheetahs, and leopards
  • 05 Enjoy game drives in Lake Manyara National Park and spot flamingoes in the region

Experience the ultimate Tanzanian safari on a journey from Arusha to the iconic landscapes of Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara. This comprehensive adventure combines thrilling game drives, breathtaking scenery, and diverse wildlife encounters across Tanzania's premier national parks. Travel through lush rainforests, expansive plains, and serene lakes while discovering the remarkable variety of habitats and animals that make the northern circuit so memorable. Your safari concludes with a scenic drive back to Arusha for your departure.

Book this 7-day Tanzania Northern Circuit Safari with Serengeti and Ngorongoro with Serengeti Wildlife Safaris, a licensed Tanzania tour operator based in Arusha since 2017. Every itinerary can be tailor-made to your travel dates, budget and interests, and combined with Serengeti and Ngorongoro safaris, Kilimanjaro climbs or Zanzibar beach stays.

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 7 Days
Tour type Private
Activity level Easy
Accommodation Included · Standard
Transport Included
Wheelchair access Yes
Cities Arusha, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara, Tarangire National Park
Languages English, Spanish, Swahili

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Arrival in Arusha

  • Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, you will be met by our representative driver-guide and transferred to your hotel in Arusha.
  • Enjoy the afternoon at leisure to relax and prepare for the upcoming safari.

Your dinner and overnight stay will be at Forest Hills Hotel in Arusha, a true oasis.

2
Day 02

Tarangire National Park Game Drive

  • After breakfast at the hotel, your driver-guide will collect you and depart south towards Tarangire National Park.
  • A full-day game drive is planned, with a picnic lunch in the afternoon.
  • After lunch, the game drive will continue until sunset. The African sunset is a spectacular sight.
  • Finally, you will be transferred back to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
3
Day 03

Journey to Serengeti via Ngorongoro

  • After breakfast, continue towards the fertile highlands where the Iraqw people grow wheat and corn.
  • Along the way, pass through the mist-shrouded rainforests of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where you might be lucky enough to see baboons or even leopards and elephants in the dense undergrowth. As you pass through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you will also see the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater before travelling onward to Serengeti National Park, which you will reach by midday. Serengeti National Park is the largest in Tanzania and features diverse landscapes and habitats, including grassy plains, swamps, lakes, savannahs, and mountains.
  • After an extensive game drive, you will drive to your accommodation to enjoy dinner and an overnight stay.
4
Day 04

Full Day in Serengeti National Park

  • You will spend a full day in this incredible place, exploring the park, its animals, and its incredible landscapes. The Serengeti is home to an abundance of wildlife, such as impala, buffalo, crocodiles, and hippos, but it is best known for its great migrating herds of zebras and wildebeest. The rainfall determines the animals' trek and varies from year to year.
  • Apart from the migrating herds, you may also see predators such as leopards, cheetahs, and lions.
5
Day 05

Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater

  • After breakfast at the lodge, depart from Serengeti National Park for Ngorongoro Crater. You will descend 600 m to reach the crater floor.
  • Begin with a game drive, have lunch, and continue with an afternoon game drive.
  • The day concludes when you return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
6
Day 06

Lake Manyara National Park Safari

  • After breakfast at the lodge, depart for Lake Manyara National Park.
  • Enjoy a full day of game drives with lunch at a picnic site in the park.
  • After lunch, the game drive will continue until sunset, giving you another chance to see the magical African sunset.
  • The day concludes when you return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
7
Day 07

Karatu to Arusha and Airport Drop-off

  • After breakfast at the lodge, depart from Karatu and drive to Arusha, where you will have a hot lunch before being dropped off at the airport.

This marks the end of your epic adventure.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Arusha 5 cities · 7 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • All accommodations
  • All activities, unless indicated as optional
  • All transportation, unless labeled as optional
  • Meals, as specified in the day-by-day section
  • Taxes / VAT
  • All transport by road
  • Domestic flights
  • Park fees
  • Professional guide
  • Drinking water on all days
  • The government-imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
  • All meals on safaris
  • Quality safari jeep
  • Guide wages
  • Free luggage storage in Zanzibar
  • Airport pickup
  • Airport pickup in Zanzibar
  • Air-conditioned car
  • Private trip
  • Free transfer in Zanzibar

What's Not Included

  • Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
  • International flights
  • Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
  • Tips (tipping guideline: USD 10–15 per person per day for your guide)

What to bring

  • Luggage

  • Clothes

  • Shoes

  • Sun protection

  • First aid supplies

  • Photography & electrical equipment

  • Electrical charging and power supply

Know before you go

Your safety on safari: Our 4x4 Land Cruisers are checked and serviced before every trip, every vehicle carries a first aid kit, and our guides are first-aid trained. Guides carry radios to stay in contact where there is no internet, including with park rangers, and you can reach our Arusha office at any time by WhatsApp or phone call.

  • Our representative will collect you from the airport and take you to your accommodation in Arusha for the night.

  • We are happy to book accommodation before and after your safari if needed.

  • Flying into Arusha / Kilimanjaro Airports is quite straightforward. English is widely spoken and used for signs and directions.

  • Arusha Airport is a 30-minute drive from Arusha.

  • Kilimanjaro Airport is roughly a one-hour drive from Arusha. If you arrive on an international flight, clearing immigration can be lengthy.

  • The local currency is the Tanzanian shilling. US dollars and euros are widely accepted. Most places will not accept older US dollar bills printed before 2006.

  • If you intend to use your credit or debit card to withdraw funds, we suggest taking more than one card with you, as you may find that your card is not accepted at the first ATM. Visa and Maestro cards tend to work best.

  • We recommend informing your bank that you will use your card abroad to avoid it being blocked. ATMs are available in Arusha and allow you to withdraw local currency.

  • We advise you to arrive in Arusha at least one day before your trip begins. Return flights can be booked for the late afternoon or evening of the final day of your safari, but please ensure your guide is aware of this so that you can arrive at the airport in plenty of time for your flight.

  • Please check with the relevant embassy in your country for up-to-date visa and passport information. Ensure your passport will not expire within six months of your trip and that it has at least three clear pages.

  • You will probably need a visa to enter Tanzania. Check with your country's government travel website to find out how to get your visa. Most visas can be bought on arrival in the country.

  • You will require vaccinations for your trip. As we are not medically trained, we cannot give detailed advice on vaccination requirements. However, the following vaccinations are generally recommended for Tanzania: tetanus, polio, hepatitis A, typhoid, rabies, yellow fever, and malaria. Yellow fever vaccination is compulsory when you enter Tanzania from a country with yellow fever.

  • Vaccination certificates are often checked at immigration. If you are entering Tanzania from a country that does not have yellow fever, vaccination is not needed. Please visit the World Health Organization website for an up-to-date list.

  • In some areas we visit, there is a risk of contracting malaria. You must know that whatever malaria tablets you take only offer partial protection. They must be coupled with your physical efforts against being bitten - the best prevention. Malaria-carrying mosquitoes come out at sunset, so you should wear long sleeves and trousers from this time. Exposed skin, especially ankles, should have insect repellent containing 'Deet' applied to it.

  • We strongly recommend that you have extensive travel insurance to cover your trip. It is also wise to leave a copy of your insurance policy with a friend or relative for safekeeping. Your policy should include adequate medical emergency and repatriation coverage.

  • Tanzania has a well-established tipping culture.

  • Guides: If you feel you have received good service, a typical tip is USD 10-15 per person daily.

  • In Tanzania, the year is loosely divided into the 'short' rains (November) and the 'long' rains (March to May). The rains usually last one or two hours daily and are followed by hot, sunny weather. Nights can be surprisingly cold at higher altitudes, for example Ngorongoro Crater.

  • All towns and cities have their share of petty crime, and sensible precautions need to be taken. Wearing expensive-looking jewellery or watches and carrying cameras will draw unnecessary attention. You may find a simple money belt more discreet than a bag.

Always be aware of your surroundings, and when approached by people you do not know, be very careful. At night in towns, it is best to use a taxi rather than walk around the streets. Single women, in particular, need to be careful, and we suggest that it is safer to be in a group.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Arusha, Tanzania
Tour start
Arusha, Tanzania
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 7 days finish where they began, in Arusha.

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