Park · Northern circuit
8 days Tanzania safari
8-Day Tanzania Classic
The Essential Northern Circuit
- Duration
- 8 days
- Best time
- Year-round — ask us about seasons
- Style
- Private
- Price
- From US$4,410 per person (2 sharing, Comfort level), Apr–May 2027
Overview
An eight-day northern-circuit safari linking Arusha, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire. Full-day game drives, picnic meals and carefully selected lodges create an unhurried journey from Manyara's groundwater forest to the Serengeti plains, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire's elephant country, finishing with a Palace Hotel day room in Arusha.
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
- Day 1Comfort / Mid-range: Palace Hotel or similar Luxury: Arusha Serena Hotel
- Day 2Comfort / Mid-range: Pamoja Safari Lodge or similar Luxury: Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge
- Days 3–4Comfort / Mid-range: Sueños / Land of Nature or similar Luxury: Land of Nature Camps
- Day 5Comfort / Mid-range: Pamoja Karatu or similar Luxury: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
- Days 6–7Comfort / Mid-range: Land of Nature / Tanzania Bush Camp Luxury: Tarangire Sopa Lodge
Map
- Arusha
- Lake Manyara
- Serengeti
- Ngorongoro
- Tarangire
Sample itinerary: every day can be changed
Day by day
- 1Day
Arrival → Arusha
Meet your professional safari guide at Kilimanjaro International Airport, receive a short briefing and transfer to Palace Hotel in Arusha.
- Transfer
- JRO → Arusha
- Meals
- Half Board
Overnight: Comfort / Mid-range: Palace Hotel or similar Luxury: Arusha Serena Hotel
Read the dayHide the day
Meet your professional safari guide at Kilimanjaro International Airport, receive a short briefing and transfer to Palace Hotel in Arusha. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure.
- 2Day
Lake Manyara National Park
Enjoy a full-day Lake Manyara game drive with picnic lunch.
- Game drive
- Full day + picnic
- Meals
- Full Board
Overnight: Comfort / Mid-range: Pamoja Safari Lodge or similar Luxury: Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge
Read the dayHide the day
Enjoy a full-day Lake Manyara game drive with picnic lunch. Explore groundwater forest, grassland and alkaline lake habitat for elephants, giraffes, buffalo, zebra, hippo, primates and occasional tree-climbing lions.
- 3Day
Manyara → Serengeti
Travel through the Ngorongoro Highlands to Serengeti, with picnic lunch and an afternoon game drive en route to camp.
- Game drive
- En route
- Meals
- Full Board
Overnight: Comfort / Mid-range: Sueños / Land of Nature or similar Luxury: Land of Nature Camps
Read the dayHide the day
Travel through the Ngorongoro Highlands to Serengeti, with picnic lunch and an afternoon game drive en route to camp.
- 4Day
Serengeti — Full Day
Explore wildlife-rich Serengeti areas with picnic breakfast and lunch, searching for the Big Five and the Great Migration in season.
- Game drive
- Full day + picnic meals
- Meals
- Full Board
Overnight: Comfort / Mid-range: Sueños / Land of Nature or similar Luxury: Land of Nature Camps
Read the dayHide the day
Explore wildlife-rich Serengeti areas with picnic breakfast and lunch, searching for the Big Five and the Great Migration in season.
- 5Day
Serengeti → Ngorongoro
Take a final morning Serengeti game drive, then continue to Ngorongoro with picnic lunch and scenic views of the highlands.
- Highlight
- Highland views
- Meals
- Full Board
Overnight: Comfort / Mid-range: Pamoja Karatu or similar Luxury: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
Read the dayHide the day
Take a final morning Serengeti game drive, then continue to Ngorongoro with picnic lunch and scenic views of the highlands.
- 6Day
Crater Tour → Tarangire
Descend approximately 600 metres into Ngorongoro Crater for a morning game drive with picnic breakfast and lunch, then drive to Tarangire National Park.
- Highlight
- Crater floor
- Meals
- Full Board
Overnight: Comfort / Mid-range: Land of Nature / Tanzania Bush Camp Luxury: Tarangire Sopa Lodge
Read the dayHide the day
Descend approximately 600 metres into Ngorongoro Crater for a morning game drive with picnic breakfast and lunch, then drive to Tarangire National Park.
- 7Day
Tarangire — Full Day
Spend a full day among Tarangire's ancient baobabs, elephant herds and riverine wildlife.
- Game drive
- Full day
- Meals
- Full Board
Overnight: Comfort / Mid-range: Land of Nature / Tanzania Bush Camp Luxury: Tarangire Sopa Lodge
Read the dayHide the day
Spend a full day among Tarangire's ancient baobabs, elephant herds and riverine wildlife.
- 8Day
Return to Arusha → Departure
After a morning game drive, return to Arusha with lunch en route.
- Transfer
- To JRO
Read the dayHide the day
After a morning game drive, return to Arusha with lunch en route. Use a day room at Palace Hotel to freshen up and relax before transferring to Kilimanjaro International Airport.
What’s included
Included
- Meet & greet at Kilimanjaro International Airport
- All airport transfers
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Professional English-speaking safari guide
- Accommodation as indicated; meals as specified
- All park entrance and conservation fees
- Ngorongoro Crater service fee
- Unlimited bottled drinking water on safari
- Government taxes, VAT & AMREF medical-evacuation cover
Not included
- International and domestic flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses (laundry, telephone, souvenirs)
- Alcoholic and soft drinks unless specified
- Optional activities
- Tips and gratuities for guides and lodge staff
- Anything not mentioned 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
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Arusha 3.37° S · 36.68° E
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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: 8-Day Tanzania Classic
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