Ultimate Northern Circuit Safari 12 Days & 11 Nights.

Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where your guide will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel in Arusha. Known as Tanzania’s gateway to the Northern Circuit, Arusha is a bustling town with beautiful views of Mount Meru. Enjoy a relaxed evening preparing for the adventure ahead.

• Accommodation:

  • Budget: Outpost Lodge
  • Semi-Luxury: Arusha Coffee Lodge
  • Luxury: Gran Melia Arusha

Kick off your safari with a day in Arusha National Park, located just an hour from Arusha. This park offers unique landscapes, from lush rainforests to open savannas, and is home to giraffes, zebras, and various monkey species. Take a walking safari and canoeing excursion on Lake Momella, getting up-close with nature. Enjoy a scenic picnic lunch within the park, surrounded by wildlife and Mount Meru’s backdrop.

• Travel Time: 1-hour drive from Arusha to the park.
• Accommodation: Same as Day 1

Head to Tarangire National Park, famous for its large elephant population and iconic baobab trees. This 2-hour drive from Arusha brings you into a beautiful park with year-round wildlife. Spend the day on game drives, spotting herds of elephants, giraffes, lions, and more. In the evening, relax at your lodge.

• Travel Time: 2-hour drive from Arusha to Tarangire.
• Accommodation:

  • Budget: Tarangire Safari Lodge
  • Semi-Luxury: Tarangire Sopa Lodge
  • Luxury: Lemala Mpingo Ridge Lodge

Depart for Lake Manyara National Park, known for its vast flocks of flamingos, tree-climbing lions, and beautiful Rift Valley backdrop. Enjoy a scenic drive followed by a full day of game drives, exploring its diverse ecosystems, from groundwater forests to the lake’s alkaline waters. Picnic by the lake and savor the natural beauty and wildlife before settling in for the night.

• Travel Time: 1-hour drive from Tarangire to Manyara.
• Accommodation:

  • Budget: Twiga Lodge
  • Semi-Luxury: Rift Valley Lodge
  • Luxury: Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodg

Immerse yourself in a cultural tour of Mto wa Mbu, a lively town with over 120 ethnic groups. Visit local markets, banana plantations, and art shops, experiencing the vibrant traditions and daily lives of the community. Enjoy a traditional Tanzanian lunch prepared by local residents, then spend the evening reflecting on the rich cultural encounters.

• Travel Time: Short drive from Lake Manyara to Mto wa Mbu.
• Accommodation: Same as Day 4

Journey to the Ngorongoro Crater, an awe-inspiring natural wonder and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Descend into the crater for a full day of game viewing in a setting teeming with wildlife, including the rare black rhino. Enjoy a picnic lunch near Lake Magadi, with opportunities to spot flamingos, hippos, and lions.

• Travel Time: 1.5-hour drive from Mto wa Mbu to Ngorongoro.
• Accommodation:

  • Budget: Rhino Lodge
  • Semi-Luxury: Ngorongoro Farm House
  • Luxury: Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

Today, drive to Serengeti National Park via Olduvai Gorge, where you’ll explore the origins of humanity at this significant paleoanthropological site. Continue on to the Serengeti, arriving in time for an afternoon game drive. Marvel at the endless savannas and wildlife, including large predator populations, herds of antelope, and giraffes.

• Travel Time: 3-hour drive from Ngorongoro to Serengeti.
• Accommodation:

  • Budget: Serengeti Wildebeest Camp
  • Semi-Luxury: Kati Kati Tented Camp
  • Luxury: Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti

Spend two full days exploring the Serengeti’s Central and Western regions. Morning and afternoon game drives provide chances to see diverse wildlife, including lions, leopards, buffalo, and elephants. Depending on the time of year, you may witness parts of the Great Migration, where thousands of wildebeest and zebras journey across the plains. Enjoy picnic lunches in scenic spots before returning to your lodge for sunset views and evening relaxation.

• Accommodation: Same as Day 7

Travel to the Northern Serengeti, where the Mara River attracts vast herds during migration. This area offers a more remote, peaceful experience, with wildlife congregating around the river and crocodiles lurking in the waters. After an exhilarating day, head to your lodge and relax under the starry sky.

• Travel Time: 2-hour drive from Central to Northern Serengeti.
• Accommodation:

  • Budget: Mara Kati Kati Tented Camp
  • Semi-Luxury: Lemala Mara Camp
  • Luxury: Sayari Camp

In the morning, enjoy a final game drive before taking a scenic flight back to Arusha. This flight gives you a bird’s-eye view of Tanzania’s landscapes, a breathtaking farewell to the wild Northern Circuit. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for a restful evening and a celebratory dinner.

• Accommodation: Arusha Planet Lodge or similar

After breakfast, spend your last day in Arusha shopping for souvenirs or visiting cultural sites before transferring to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home.