Experience the wild heart of Tanzania on a comprehensive 6-day midrange safari across the iconic Northern Circuit. Starting and ending in Arusha, this carefully paced itinerary visits four of Africa's premier wildlife sanctuaries: the elephant-dominated riverbanks of Tarangire National Park, the vast grasslands and predator strongholds of Central Serengeti, the UNESCO-listed Ngorongoro Crater caldera, and the diverse habitats of Lake Manyara National Park.
Designed for travellers who want an optimal balance of wilderness adventure and refined comfort, this private tour features custom 4x4 Land Cruisers with pop-up roofs, professional driver-guide services, and mid-range accommodations — including Eileen's Trees Inn, Tukaone Weavers Camp, and Kankari Lodge.
Detailed itinerary for your 6-day best of northern tanzania midrange safari experience
Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK), a representative will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in Arusha. Spend the remainder of the day relaxing, unwinding from your flight, and receiving a brief briefing from your safari coordinator.
After breakfast, depart Arusha with your guide for a scenic 2-to-3-hour drive to Tarangire National Park. The park centres around the Tarangire River, the region's main water source during dry seasons, attracting large elephant herds, giraffes, buffaloes, and impalas. Spend the day on game drives under ancient baobab trees and enjoy a picnic lunch in the wild before transferring to your lodge in Karatu for dinner.
Travel from Karatu through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, stopping at the rim viewpoint to take in panoramic views of the crater. Enter Central Serengeti National Park (Seronera), where open grasslands stretch to the horizon. Embark on an afternoon game drive tracking lions, leopards, cheetahs, and plains game before retiring to your tented camp inside the park.
Dedicate a full day to exploring the Central Serengeti. Choose between morning and afternoon game drives returning to camp for hot lunch, or a full-day game drive with packed picnic lunches. Focus on wildlife hotspots along the Seronera River Valley, observing hippos at the pool, big cats on granite kopjes, and seasonal herds traversing the plains.
Depart the Serengeti after breakfast and head toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater floor for a memorable afternoon game drive. Explore the soda lakes where flamingos gather, observe prides of lions, and keep a lookout for the black rhino. After a picnic lunch near a hippo pool, ascend the crater walls and drive to Karatu for your evening stay.
On your final day, transfer to Lake Manyara National Park beneath the Great Rift Escarpment. Drive through lush groundwater forests inhabited by baboons and blue monkeys, then out onto the open shores to view flamingos, giraffes, and waterbirds. After a morning game drive and picnic lunch, drive back to Arusha for drop-off at your hotel or the airport for your onward flight.
Comfortable lodges and camps for your stay
A comfortable hotel used on your arrival night in Arusha before heading out on safari the following morning.
A cosy inn in Karatu, close to the Ngorongoro Crater gate, used after your Tarangire game drive.
A midrange tented camp inside the park, your base for two nights of game drives across the Seronera plains.
A comfortable lodge used after your Ngorongoro Crater descent, before continuing to Lake Manyara the next day.
All-inclusive rates for your 6-day best of northern tanzania midrange safari
| 1 Person (Solo) | 2 People | 3 People | 4 People | 5 People | 6+ People |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,120 | $1,850 | $1,690 | $1,610 | $1,570 | $1,550 |
What makes this experience exceptional
Explore Tarangire, Central Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara in a single seamless route.
Spend two days tracking big cats, herbivores, and the Great Migration across the central Seronera plains.
Descend 600 metres into a volcanic caldera inhabited by over 25,000 large mammals, including the endangered black rhino.
Search for tree-climbing lions, large baboon troops, and flamingo flocks beneath the Great Rift Escarpment.
Stay at well-equipped midrange lodges and authentic tented camps offering en-suite facilities, full-board dining, and solar-heated showers.
Travel throughout in a private custom Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof, driven by an experienced professional guide.
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