Safari Overview
This is the safari most travelers dream about. Five days across Tanzania’s famous northern circuit. You will see elephants among the baobabs, big cats on the endless plains and the wildlife-packed Ngorongoro Crater. The pace is comfortable, and the sightings come fast.
How the Trip Flows
The route runs west in a straight line and saves the best surprises for the end. Tarangire opens the trip with elephants at close range. The Serengeti fills the middle two days with big cats and open plains. The crater closes the show on the final morning. You sleep inside national parks on three of the four nights, which means dawn game drives without gate queues. Drive times are balanced so no day feels rushed. Check the itinerary tab for the full day-by-day plan with lodges and meals.
Where You Will Stay
Night one is at Tarangire Kati Kati, inside the park itself. Nights two and three are under canvas at Serengeti Kati Kati. The last night is at Tloma Lodge, a friendly garden lodge facing the Ngorongoro forest.
Safari Highlights
Sleep inside two national parks. Watch a lion pride at dawn in the Seronera Valley. Picnic beside the hippo pool. Search for black rhino on the crater floor. Share stories around the campfire each night.
Best Time to Go
June to October offers dry roads and packed riverbanks. December to March adds the calving herds in the south. This route delivers strong sightings in every month of the year.
Who This Safari Suits
Perfect for first-time safari-goers who want the full classic circuit. It balances real adventure with real comfort at a fair price.
Good to Know
Everything important is included: park fees, full board, game drives and a private guide throughout. Two nights are inside national parks, so wildlife sounds are part of the deal. The camps have hot showers and flush toilets, but no Wi-Fi in the wild. Fly back from Seronera airstrip to save a driving day if you wish. Families can request connecting tents. This route also runs well in reverse, starting with the crater.
Safari Highlights
- Two nights inside national parks
- Lions at dawn in Seronera
- Tarangire baobabs and elephants
- Ngorongoro Crater finale
- Classic northern circuit
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire National Park
Drive two hours from Arusha to Tarangire and spend the whole afternoon on a game drive. The park is famous for its giant baobab trees and elephant herds that can number over a hundred. Sleep inside the park tonight, with the sounds of the bush all around.
Day 2: Tarangire to the Serengeti
After an early breakfast, drive up through Karatu and the Ngorongoro highlands, stopping at the crater rim viewpoint. Descend past Olduvai Gorge onto the Serengeti plains. Game-drive your way to camp as the light turns gold.
Day 3: Central Serengeti
A full day among the big cats of the Seronera Valley. Morning and afternoon game drives search for lion prides, leopards resting in sausage trees and cheetahs on the open grass. Visit the hippo pool and picnic in the bush.
Day 4: Serengeti to Karatu
Catch the plains at sunrise on a final Serengeti drive. After lunch, travel back through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to the green farmland of Karatu. Arrive at your garden lodge with time to relax before dinner.
Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha
Enter the crater at dawn for a full morning tour of its lions, buffalo, flamingos and rare black rhino. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the crater floor, then drive back to Arusha, arriving in the late afternoon.
Inclusions & Exclusions
What's Included
- All park and crater fees
- Private 4x4 with pop-up roof
- Professional driver-guide
- Full board
- Nights at Tarangire Kati Kati, Serengeti Kati Kati & Tloma Lodge
- Drinking water
- Airport transfers
Not Included
- International flights
- Tanzania visa
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
- Items of a personal nature
- Drinks at lodges