Northern Tanzania Safari Highlights
Tarangire • Serengeti • Ngorongoro • Lake Manyara
Overview
This 5-day classic Northern Circuit safari combines three of Tanzania’s most iconic national parks in one seamless journey — ideal for travellers seeking a high-impact, time-efficient safari without compromising on wildlife encounters or scenery. From the ancient baobabs and elephant herds of Tarangire to the legendary Serengeti plains and the dramatic Ngorongoro Crater, this itinerary delivers unforgettable game viewing, luxury wilderness stays, and diverse landscapes every step of the way.
You’ll begin in Tarangire, a park known for its large elephant populations and striking scenery. From there, journey to the world-famous Serengeti, where you’ll have a full day to explore the endless plains and possibly witness the Great Migration, depending on the season. Your adventure concludes with a safari in the wildlife-rich Ngorongoro Crater before returning to Arusha.
Whether you’re short on time or pairing this itinerary with a Zanzibar beach holiday, this 5-day safari offers some of the best wildlife experiences in East Africa.
Highlights: Giant baobabs, elephant herds, river wildlife
Driving Time: Approx. 2.5 hours (120 km)
Morning departure from Arusha to Tarangire, known for baobabs and elephant populations. Enjoy a game drive along the Tarangire River. Lunch included. Overnight near the park.
Accommodation Options:
– Budget: Basic camps or guesthouses
– Silver: Mid-range lodges or tented camps with comfort and convenience
– Gold: Boutique lodges with enhanced service and location
– Ultimate Luxury Collection: Premier lodges with exceptional design, privacy, and service
Meals Included: Full board (unless otherwise noted)
Highlights: The great plains, endless horizons, big cats, seasonal migration
Driving Time: Approx. 6 hours (via Ngorongoro highlands)
Drive to Serengeti via Ngorongoro. Game drive en route with chances to spot the migration or big cats. Arrive for sunset in the central Serengeti. Full board included.
Accommodation Options:
– Budget: Basic camps or guesthouses
– Silver: Mid-range lodges or tented camps with comfort and convenience
– Gold: Boutique lodges with enhanced service and location
– Ultimate Luxury Collection: Premier lodges with exceptional design, privacy, and service
Meals Included: Full board (unless otherwise noted)
Highlights: Sunrise game drive, Big Five sightings, crater rim views
Driving Time: Approx. 3–4 hours (game drive en route)
Optional sunrise game drive in Serengeti, then travel to Ngorongoro. Reach crater rim in time for dinner with scenic views. Full board included.
Accommodation Options:
– Budget: Basic camps or guesthouses
– Silver: Mid-range lodges or tented camps with comfort and convenience
– Gold: Boutique lodges with enhanced service and location
– Ultimate Luxury Collection: Premier lodges with exceptional design, privacy, and service
Meals Included: Full board (unless otherwise noted)
Highlights: Full-day crater descent, dense wildlife, Rift Valley scenery
Driving Time: Approx. 2 hours to Lake Manyara
Early descent into Ngorongoro Crater for game drive and picnic lunch. Afternoon transfer to Lake Manyara for overnight. Full board included.
Accommodation Options:
– Budget: Basic camps or guesthouses
– Silver: Mid-range lodges or tented camps with comfort and convenience
– Gold: Boutique lodges with enhanced service and location
– Ultimate Luxury Collection: Premier lodges with exceptional design, privacy, and service
Meals Included: Full board (unless otherwise noted)
Highlights: Tree-climbing lions, flamingos, groundwater forest
Driving Time: Approx. 2.5 hours (120 km)
Morning game drive in Lake Manyara. Scenic return to Arusha after lunch. End of safari or drop-off at your next destination. Breakfast and lunch included.
Accommodation Options:
– Budget: Basic camps or guesthouses
– Silver: Mid-range lodges or tented camps with comfort and convenience
– Gold: Boutique lodges with enhanced service and location
– Ultimate Luxury Collection: Premier lodges with exceptional design, privacy, and service
Meals Included: Full board (unless otherwise noted)
Tour Highlights
– Witness elephant herds and baobab-dotted plains in Tarangire
– Explore the vast, iconic savannah of the Serengeti
– Descend into the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera at Ngorongoro
– Discover the lush groundwater forest and tree-climbing lions of Lake Manyara
– Seamless private transfers and handpicked accommodations from Budget to Ultimate Luxury
Best Time: June to October (Dry Season)
Wildlife is easier to spot as animals gather around waterholes.
The Great Migration in the Serengeti usually peaks around June and July (north) and October (south).
Alternative Time: January to February
Calving season in the southern Serengeti, excellent for seeing newborns and predators.
Best Time: June to October
Dry season offers the best weather for beach activities, snorkeling, and diving.
Alternative Time: December to February
Warm and sunny, but occasional rains.
Best Time: January to mid-March and June to October
These are the dry seasons, providing better climbing conditions and clearer views.
Alternative Time: December can also be good, though it might have some rains.
Each activity offers a unique experience depending on the season, so coordinating your visit with Ngasini Travel Company can ensure a well-timed adventure.
Overview of the Umbwe Route
The Umbwe Route is the steepest and most challenging trail up Mount Kilimanjaro. This is the route for adventurous, experienced trekkers seeking a remote, fast, and scenic ascent to the Roof of Africa. Starting with a rapid climb through dense rainforest and sharp ridgelines, the route eventually merges with the Machame trail at Barranco Camp for a spectacular summit approach.
This route demands confidence, fitness, and acclimatisation experience. For those who are up to it, Umbwe is Kilimanjaro’s most thrilling path.
Drive time: ~2.5 hours (120 km)
Activities: Game drive
Overnight: Tarangire National Park or nearby lodge
Begin your adventure with a scenic drive from Arusha to Tarangire National Park, known for its dramatic baobab-studded landscapes and dense elephant population. Enjoy a full-day game drive as you explore the river valleys, woodlands, and open plains teeming with lions, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and over 500 species of birds.
Highlight: Spotting massive elephant herds crossing the Tarangire River.
Drive time: ~6 hours (via Ngorongoro Conservation Area)
Activities: Afternoon game drive
Overnight: Serengeti National Park (central region)
After breakfast, travel through the Ngorongoro Highlands en route to Serengeti National Park. Enter the park via Naabi Hill Gate and enjoy your first sightings of the wildlife-rich plains. An afternoon game drive takes you through the Seronera Valley, a hotspot for big cats and year-round game viewing.
Highlight: Watching the endless golden plains come alive with zebra, giraffes, and predators.
Activities: Morning and afternoon game drives
Overnight: Serengeti National Park (central or northern region)
Spend a full day immersed in the Serengeti wilderness. Your guide will tailor the day based on seasonal wildlife movements — from tracking prides of lions to witnessing the drama of the Great Migration (seasonal). You may visit the hippo pools, watch cheetahs hunting, or simply absorb the beauty of this vast ecosystem.
Highlight: Sunrise game drive with predators still active after a night of hunting.
Drive time: ~4 hours (plus game drive en route)
Activities: Final game drive in Serengeti, transfer to Ngorongoro
Overnight: Lodge on the Ngorongoro Crater rim or nearby
Enjoy a leisurely morning game drive as you exit the Serengeti and head southeast to Ngorongoro Conservation Area. En route, pass Maasai villages and rolling volcanic hills. Settle into your lodge overlooking the vast Ngorongoro Crater.
Highlight: Scenic drive through the Ngorongoro highlands and sunset over the crater rim.
Drive time: ~4 hours (excluding game drives)
Activities: Early morning crater descent, afternoon game drive in Lake Manyara
Return to Arusha: Late afternoon or early evening
Begin your day with a descent into the Ngorongoro Crater, one of the best places in Africa to see the Big Five. Spot endangered black rhinos, herds of elephants, hippos, and predators within the crater’s unique ecosystem. After a picnic lunch, drive to Lake Manyara National Park for a short, final game drive.
Lake Manyara is a lush park known for its pink flamingos, tree-climbing lions, and scenic lakeside setting — a peaceful conclusion to your safari.
Highlight: The chance to see lions in the trees and hippos wallowing just metres from your vehicle.
- All park entry and conservation fees
- Full-board accommodation in safari lodges or tented camps
- Private 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Experienced English-speaking safari guide
- Daily game drives and wildlife viewing
- Bottled drinking water throughout the safari
- Hot air balloon safari over the Serengeti
- Cultural visit to a Maasai boma
- Extra pre- or post-safari nights in Arusha or Zanzibar
- Private bush breakfasts or sundowner experiences
Tanzania’s most diverse landscapes and unique ecosystems, from Lake
NaFrom tron’s mineral waters to Serengeti’s vast plains, leaving travelers
with unforgettable memories and breathtaking encounters with nature.
