The complete Northern Circuit in one trip — Tarangire, Lake Manyara, the Serengeti (two nights) and Ngorongoro Crater — in comfortable midrange lodges. The single best all-rounder for a first Tanzania safari.
Route Arusha → Tarangire → Manyara → Serengeti (2 nts) → Ngorongoro → Arusha
Duration
7 Days
Style
Midrange lodges & tented camps
Best season
Jun–Oct
Highlights
Two full nights in the Central Serengeti (rare at this price point)
Big Five with high sighting probability
Elephant herds and baobabs in Tarangire
Tree-climbing lions and 500+ bird species at Lake Manyara
Full day on the Ngorongoro Crater floor with a chance at black rhino
Optional hot-air balloon or walking safari upgrades
Day by day
1
Day 1
Arrival, Arusha
Airport pickup, transfer to Arusha (e.g. Kibo Palace Hotel). Optional city, Cultural Heritage Centre and Maasai-market tour.
2
Day 2
Tarangire
~2-hr drive; game drive among elephant herds, baobabs and the Tarangire River; picnic lunch; overnight near the park.
3
Day 3
Lake Manyara
Full-day drive around the shallow salt lake — primates, buffalo, flamingos and tree-climbing lions.
4
Day 4
Serengeti
Scenic drive up through the crater highlands (10-min stop at Ngorongoro viewpoint); afternoon game drive; overnight tented camp inside Central Serengeti.
5
Day 5
Serengeti (full day)
Sunrise-to-sunset game drive across the plains; optional balloon safari at dawn.
6
Day 6
Ngorongoro Crater
Descend to the crater floor for ~5–6 hrs of dense wildlife viewing; overnight on the crater rim/Karatu.
7
Day 7
Departure
Breakfast, drop-off in Arusha or at Kilimanjaro/Arusha airport.
What makes this trip special
The deliberate sequencing — easing in at Tarangire, building to the open Serengeti, finishing in the enclosed “theatre” of the crater — plus two Serengeti nights that let you linger on a sighting instead of rushing through.
What’s included
Park fees, all game drives, lodges
Professional driver-guide
All ground transport & airport transfers
Taxes/VAT
Meals/drinks as specified per day
Not included
International flights
Balloon/walking-safari upgrades
Tips (~$20 pp/day)
Visa & travel insurance
Drinks beyond those specified
Good to know
Best game viewing June–Oct (dry season); Dec–Mar adds the southern-plains calving. Some long, occasionally bumpy transfer drives (Serengeti day is 4–5 hrs). Suits first-timers, couples and families.
From this trip
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