Tour Overview
| Duration | 7 Days / 6 Nights |
|---|---|
| Destination | Tanzania Northern Circuit — Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro |
| Price From | $2,495 per person (twin share) |
| Tour Style | Private Premium Lodge Safari |
| Best Season | Year-round (different highlights per season) |
| Data Source | Tanzania Safari Radar / inafricatour.com 2026 verified pricing |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire — Elephant Paradise
Morning pickup from your Arusha hotel. Drive west to Tarangire National Park (2 hours), named for the Tarangire River that is the only permanent water source in the area during dry season. Tarangire has the highest concentration of elephants in Tanzania — herds of 100+ are frequently seen, and the total park population exceeds 3,000. The elephants dig for water in the dry riverbed with their tusks, creating water holes used by all species. Game drive focusing on elephant families, supplemented by sightings of the distinctive Tarangire landscape: giant baobab trees (Adansonia digitata — the “upside-down tree” of African legend, some over 1,000 years old), termite mounds the size of small houses, and acacia woodlands. Picnic lunch at a viewpoint overlooking the Tarangire River — elephants crossing below. Afternoon game drive then continue to your lodge near Lake Manyara. Overnight near Manyara.
Day 2: Lake Manyara — Tree-Climbing Lions
Full morning in Lake Manyara National Park. This small park (330 sq km, of which 230 sq km is the alkaline lake) packs extraordinary diversity into a narrow strip between the lake and the Rift Valley escarpment. Lake Manyara is famous for its tree-climbing lions — one of only two places in Africa where lions habitually climb trees (the other is Ishasha in Uganda). The lions drape themselves over acacia branches during the heat of the day, a behavior possibly to escape biting flies or simply to catch the breeze. Also notable: enormous troops of baboons (some 300+ strong), the largest concentration in Africa, and the soda lake with its flamingo congregations (greater and lesser flamingos) — at peak season the lake edge is carpeted pink. The park has five distinct vegetation zones: groundwater forest (fed by springs from the escarpment), acacia woodland, open grassland, swamp, and the alkaline lake. Afternoon: visit a Maasai village for cultural immersion — learn about traditional cattle-herding life, warrior dances (adumu — the famous jumping dance), and their coexistence with wildlife. Overnight near Manyara.
Day 3: Karatu to Central Serengeti
Long but spectacular driving day. Morning: depart through the Ngorongoro Highlands — the road climbs through misty montane forest to the crater rim viewpoint (brief stop for photographs — the first look into Ngorongoro Crater is unforgettable). Continue across the Ngorongoro Conservation Area’s vast highlands — you may see Maasai herders with their cattle, occasional wildlife including giraffes and zebra sharing the landscape with livestock. Pass Olduvai Gorge (optional stop) then descend onto the Serengeti plains. Enter Serengeti through Naabi Hill Gate and game drive en route to your camp in central Serengeti. The afternoon light in Serengeti — golden hour on the endless plains with acacia silhouettes — is the Africa of imagination. Sunset game drive: big cats becoming active as the heat of the day fades. Dinner and overnight at a tented camp (mid-range or luxury, per your preference) in central Serengeti.
Day 4: Serengeti — Full Day Pursuing the Migration
Full day tracking the Great Migration. Your guide uses radio communication with other guides to locate the herds. Depending on season:
December-March (Southern Serengeti/Ndutu): The calving season. Drive south to the Ndutu plains where hundreds of thousands of wildebeest give birth over a 3-week period in February — up to 8,000 calves born daily. This is peak predator action: lions, cheetahs, leopards, and hyenas follow the herds, and the plains are a brutal theater of life and death. The wildebeest calves can stand within 5 minutes and run within 15 minutes — but many will not survive their first week.
April-May (Western Corridor): The herds move west toward the Grumeti River. Game drive along the Grumeti and Mbalageti rivers where the first river crossings occur — crocodiles await. Fewer tourists in this area means more exclusive sightings.
June-July (Northern Serengeti/Kogatende): The famous Mara River crossings — the ultimate wildlife spectacle. Wildebeest mass on the southern bank for days before a single animal takes the plunge, followed by thousands in a chaotic rush. Nile crocodiles (some over 5m long) take the stragglers. This is the most photographed wildlife event on Earth.
Picnic lunch in the bush. Return to camp for sunset. Overnight in Serengeti.
Day 5: Serengeti to Ngorongoro — Crater Rim
Morning game drive out of Serengeti — one last chance for that leopard you haven’t seen yet. Drive back through the NCA to the Ngorongoro Crater rim. Check into your lodge — perched at 2,286m on the crater rim with a view that defies photography. Afternoon at leisure: relax on your veranda watching the mist roll into the crater, or take a guided walk along the crater rim (escorted by an armed ranger — buffalo, elephants, and occasional lions walk the rim forest). The rim walks offer different perspectives on the crater: looking east toward Mount Kilimanjaro (on clear mornings), west across the Serengeti plains, and down into the crater itself with its soda lake shimmering. Evening: sundowner by the lodge fireplace, with Maasai storytelling. Overnight on Ngorongoro crater rim.
Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater — Eden on Earth
Dawn descent into the crater. The early start is essential — being among the first vehicles on the crater floor maximizes wildlife viewing before the day heats up and animals retreat to shade. Full morning game drive covering all crater habitats: Lake Magadi (flamingos, hippos), Gorigor Swamp (hippo pool, elephants bathing), the Lerai Forest (elephant bulls, eland), and the open plains where black rhinos graze. Ngorongoro is the best place in Tanzania for black rhino sightings.
The crater lions of Ngorongoro are among the most studied in Africa — the crater population is genetically distinct due to its isolation, and the males develop unusually dark manes. Spotted hyenas are abundant and often steal kills from the crater lions. Picnic lunch at Ngoitokitok Springs, a hippo pool with picnic facilities (and resident yellow-billed kites with impressive food-snatching skills).
Afternoon: ascend the crater and drive to Karatu or Lake Manyara area. Farewell dinner and overnight. Overnight near Manyara.
Day 7: Mto wa Mbu & Return to Arusha
Morning: visit Mto wa Mbu village (meaning “Mosquito River” — don’t worry, it’s malaria-free season depending on when you visit). This village is a microcosm of Tanzania’s ethnic diversity — over 120 tribes represented in a single community. Walk through the rice paddies, banana plantations, and local market with a village guide. Taste banana beer (mbege) — the traditional brew of the Chagga people. Afternoon: return drive to Arusha (2 hours), arriving in time for your evening flight from Kilimanjaro Airport or a day room at your Arusha hotel before departure.
Included
- 6 nights mid-range/luxury lodge and tented camp accommodation
- All meals on safari (full board)
- Private 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof, fridge, and charging ports
- Expert English-speaking safari guide (minimum 10 years experience)
- All park fees: Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, NCA
- Olduvai Gorge visit (optional — included in premium package)
- Maasai village cultural visit
- Mto wa Mbu village walk
- Unlimited bottled water, soft drinks in vehicle
- Airport transfers in Arusha
