Park · Northern circuit
11 days Tanzania safari
11-Day Tanzania Classic
The Grand Northern Circuit
- Duration
- 11 days
- Best time
- Year-round — ask us about seasons
- Style
- Private
- Price
- From US$5,810 per person (2 sharing, Comfort level), Apr–May 2027
Travel Tips
Overview
The journey begins gently in Arusha, then brings wildlife into focus at Lake Manyara. Three nights in the Serengeti create time for two complete safari days before Ngorongoro Crater, an optional Mto wa Mbu cultural stop and Tarangire close the northern circuit. Carefully selected lodges and camps, private 4x4 travel and a Planet Lodge day room keep the experience comfortable from arrival to departure.
Available at two levels: Comfort / Mid-range and Luxury. Each day below names the lodge for both, so you can choose the one that suits you.
The route
- Arusha
- Lake Manyara
- Serengeti
- Ngorongoro
- Tarangire
Where you sleep
- Days 1–2Comfort / Mid-range: Arusha Palace Hotel Luxury: Arusha Serena Hotel
- Day 3Comfort / Mid-range: Pamoja Safari Lodge Luxury: Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge
- Days 4–6Comfort / Mid-range: Suenos Luxury Camp Luxury: Serengeti Serena / Land of Nature Camp
- Days 7–8Comfort / Mid-range: Embalakai Camp or similar Luxury: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
- Days 9–10Comfort / Mid-range: Land of Nature Tarangire Luxury: Tarangire Sopa Lodge
Map
- Arusha
- Lake Manyara
- Serengeti
- Ngorongoro
- Tarangire
Sample itinerary: every day can be changed
Day by day
- 1Day
Arrival → Arusha
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, meet your safari guide and transfer to Arusha.
- Transfer
- JRO → Arusha
- Meals
- Half Board
Overnight: Comfort / Mid-range: Arusha Palace Hotel Luxury: Arusha Serena Hotel
Read the dayHide the day
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, meet your safari guide and transfer to Arusha. Check in at Arusha Palace Hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure after your international flight.
- 2Day
Arusha City & Culture
After breakfast, explore Arusha with a local guide.
- Highlight
- Coffee tour · US$40 pp
- Meals
- Half Board
Overnight: Comfort / Mid-range: Arusha Palace Hotel Luxury: Arusha Serena Hotel
Read the dayHide the day
After breakfast, explore Arusha with a local guide. Visit markets, craft centres and cultural attractions while experiencing the city's vibrant atmosphere and everyday life. An optional afternoon coffee tour is available at an additional cost of US$40 per person, before returning to the hotel for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
- 3Day
Lake Manyara National Park
Depart after breakfast for Lake Manyara National Park, home to elephant, giraffe, buffalo, hippo and the park's legendary tree-climbing lions along the Rift Valley wall.
- Game drive
- Lake Manyara
- Meals
- Full Board
Overnight: Comfort / Mid-range: Pamoja Safari Lodge Luxury: Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge
Read the dayHide the day
Depart after breakfast for Lake Manyara National Park, home to elephant, giraffe, buffalo, hippo and the park's legendary tree-climbing lions along the Rift Valley wall. Enjoy a game drive before continuing to your lodge in Karatu.
- 4Day
Karatu → Serengeti
After breakfast at the lodge, drive through the spectacular Ngorongoro Highlands toward Serengeti National Park.
- Game drive
- En route + picnic
- Meals
- Full Board
Overnight: Comfort / Mid-range: Suenos Luxury Camp Luxury: Serengeti Serena / Land of Nature Camp
Read the dayHide the day
After breakfast at the lodge, drive through the spectacular Ngorongoro Highlands toward Serengeti National Park. Enjoy game viewing en route across the famous plains, home to an extraordinary concentration of wildlife, with a picnic lunch along the way.
- 5Day
Serengeti — Full Day
Spend a full day exploring the Serengeti with morning and afternoon game drives.
- Game drive
- AM + PM
- Meals
- Full Board
Overnight: Comfort / Mid-range: Suenos Luxury Camp Luxury: Serengeti Serena / Land of Nature Camp
Read the dayHide the day
Spend a full day exploring the Serengeti with morning and afternoon game drives. Search for the Big Five and other wildlife, with picnic meals in the wilderness and a chance to witness the Great Wildebeest Migration in season.
- 6Day
Serengeti — Full Day II
Continue into different areas of the Serengeti with your experienced guide.
- Game drive
- New regions
- Meals
- Full Board
Overnight: Comfort / Mid-range: Suenos Luxury Camp Luxury: Serengeti Serena / Land of Nature Camp
Read the dayHide the day
Continue into different areas of the Serengeti with your experienced guide. Look for lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles and abundant birdlife.
- 7Day
Serengeti → Ngorongoro
Enjoy a final morning game drive before departing the Serengeti for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
- Highlight
- Maasai village visit
- Meals
- Full Board
Overnight: Comfort / Mid-range: Embalakai Camp or similar Luxury: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
Read the dayHide the day
Enjoy a final morning game drive before departing the Serengeti for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Pause at a Maasai village for a cultural visit, then continue through spectacular landscapes to your lodge, with a picnic lunch en route.
- 8Day
Ngorongoro Crater Safari
After an early breakfast, descend approximately 600 metres into Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive and picnic lunch.
- Highlight
- Crater floor + lunch
- Meals
- Full Board
Overnight: Comfort / Mid-range: Embalakai Camp or similar Luxury: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
Read the dayHide the day
After an early breakfast, descend approximately 600 metres into Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive and picnic lunch. Look for lion, elephant, buffalo, hippo, flamingo and the endangered black rhino.
- 9Day
Ngorongoro → Tarangire
After breakfast, depart for Tarangire National Park, renowned for magnificent baobab trees and large elephant herds, with an optional Mto wa Mbu cultural tour available…
- Optional tour
- Mto wa Mbu · US$40 pp
- Meals
- Full Board
Overnight: Comfort / Mid-range: Land of Nature Tarangire Luxury: Tarangire Sopa Lodge
Read the dayHide the day
After breakfast, depart for Tarangire National Park, renowned for magnificent baobab trees and large elephant herds, with an optional Mto wa Mbu cultural tour available en route at an additional cost of US$40 per person. Enjoy an afternoon game drive before proceeding to your lodge.
- 10Day
Tarangire — Full Day
Spend a full day exploring Tarangire's diverse landscapes with morning and afternoon game drives and picnic meals.
- Game drive
- AM + PM
- Meals
- Full Board
Overnight: Comfort / Mid-range: Land of Nature Tarangire Luxury: Tarangire Sopa Lodge
Read the dayHide the day
Spend a full day exploring Tarangire's diverse landscapes with morning and afternoon game drives and picnic meals. Follow the Tarangire River ecosystem for elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, lions, leopards and abundant birdlife.
- 11Day
Tarangire → Arusha → JRO
After breakfast, drive back to Arusha for lunch, then refresh at Planet Lodge before transferring to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home.
- Refresh
- Planet Lodge
- Transfer
- To JRO
Read the dayHide the day
After breakfast, drive back to Arusha for lunch, then refresh at Planet Lodge before transferring to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home.
What’s included
Included
- Meet & greet at Kilimanjaro International Airport
- All airport transfers
- Private 4x4 safari Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
- Professional English-speaking safari guide
- Accommodation and meals as specified
- All national park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Crater fees
- Government taxes and VAT
- Unlimited bottled drinking water during the safari
- AMREF Flying Doctors medical-evacuation cover
Not included
- International and domestic flights
- Tanzania visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance
- Alcoholic and soft drinks unless specified
- Optional excursions and activities not included in the itinerary
- Personal expenses; tips and gratuities
- Increases in park fees, taxes or government charges beyond our control
- Any services or items not specifically listed under inclusions
Where you stay
Comfort / Mid-range and Luxury lodges are listed for each day. "Or similar" means a lodge of the same standard if the named one is full.
Last updated
Places on this trip
Conservation area · Northern circuit
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Park · Northern circuit
Tarangire National Park
Park · Northern circuit
Lake Manyara National Park
Northern circuit
Town · Northern circuit
Arusha
Similar journeys
11days
Luxury lodges and camps
Private
11-Day The “Premiere Luxury” Safari
This Safari is ideal for Adventurers who want to stay at beautifully appointed and luxurious accommodations. We’ve chosen some of our favorite places with gorgeous charm and opulence in the Northern Circuit of Tanzania.…
- Arusha
- Tarangire
- Lake Manyara
- Serengeti
- Ngorongoro
- 5 parks and places
11days
Private · Migration
11-Day Great Migration Safari
Built for the Great Migration season. Begin with two nights in Arusha, then spend two nights among Tarangire's elephants and two nights near Ngorongoro.
- Arusha
- Tarangire
- Ngorongoro
- Central Serengeti
- Northern Serengeti (Mara River)
- 5 parks and places
From US$8,780 per person (2 sharing, Comfort level), Jun–Oct
10days
Private
10-Days Tanzania Private Safari
This Safari is exactly how it sounds, “short and sweet.” It is ideal for adventurers who do not have a lot of time but would like to see all the best parts of the Northern Safari Circuit of Tanzania. Highlights include L…
- Arusha
- Lake Manyara
- Serengeti
- Ngorongoro
- Tarangire
- 5 parks and places
Arusha 3.37° S · 36.68° E
Make this trip your own
Tell us your dates, who is travelling and what you would change. We will send back a version of this trip built around you.
Plan: 11-Day Tanzania Classic
Ask about this trip