8 Days Tanzania Northern Circuit Safari
OVERVIEW
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1 Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) Transferred to your Hotel
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), your professional safari guide will greet you, assist with your luggage, and coordinate your transfer. After airport formalities, you will be driven to your selected accommodation, such as Kahawa House or a similar property near Moshi or Arusha. The drive introduces you to northern Tanzania, with views of local villages, farmland, and, on clear days, Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru. You may also see coffee and banana plantations and observe daily life in rural communities, offering insight into the region’s culture.
At your lodge, staff will welcome you and show you to your room, where you can rest and recover from your journey. Accommodations typically offer comfortable rooms, well-kept gardens, and communal spaces to enjoy the mountain air. Depending on your arrival time, you may take a short walk, photograph the scenery, or simply relax in your room.
In the evening, your guide will provide a briefing on the safari itinerary, key highlights, wildlife expectations, daily routines, and safety guidelines. This session is an opportunity to ask questions and make any final adjustments to your plans.
Dinner at the lodge will introduce you to Tanzanian cuisine. Afterward, you may retire early to rest for the start of your safari. This first night offers a calm beginning to your 8-day Northern Circuit Safari, preparing you for the experiences ahead.
Accommodation Selection:
Day 2 Tarangire National Park and Overnight at Sopa Lodge
After an early breakfast at your accommodation, you will depart from your accommodation and head toward Tarangire National Park, a journey of approximately two to three hours depending on road conditions. Tarangire is renowned for its large Elephants herds, ancient baobab trees, and abundant birdlife, making it one of Tanzania’s most scenic and wildlife-rich parks. As you drive through rural villages along the way, you will observe local life: farmers tending their fields, herders guiding livestock, and children playing, providing insight into the Tanzanian countryside.
Upon entering the park, your adventure truly begins with a game drive. The park’s open savannahs, riverine forests, and seasonal wetlands attract a wide variety of wildlife, giving you a high chance of spotting elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, and antelopes. Predators such as lions and leopards may also be seen, often resting under trees or stalking prey. The Tarangire River attracts animals throughout the day, offering excellent wildlife viewing and photography opportunities. Your guide will help track the animals, share interesting facts about their behaviour, and explain the park’s ecosystem and conservation efforts.
Accommodation Selection:
Day 3 Tarangire National Park to Central Serengeti
After an early breakfast at your accommodation, you will depart Tarangire National Park with your packed lunch boxes and begin your journey toward the Central Serengeti, one of Tanzania’s most iconic wildlife regions. The drive itself is a continuation of your safari adventure, as you will pass through scenic landscapes, small rural villages, and agricultural areas, observing local life along the way. Your guide will provide commentary on the changing ecosystems, highlighting differences between the savannahs of Tarangire and the vast plains of the Serengeti.
Upon entering the Serengeti National Park, you will begin your enroute game drive, exploring the park’s rolling plains, kopjes (rocky outcrops), and river valleys. This region is known for its high density of wildlife, including lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, and wildebeest, along with a variety of antelopes and bird species. Your guide will help you spot hidden wildlife, explain animal behavior, and share insights about the Serengeti ecosystem and the seasonal migration patterns.
Around midday, you will pause for a picnic lunch in a scenic spot within the park, surrounded by wildlife and the sweeping Serengeti landscapes. After lunch, the afternoon game drive continues, allowing you to explore more of the Central Serengeti and observe predator-prey interactions, grazing herds, and the diversity of wildlife that makes this park famous worldwide. Photographers will have excellent opportunities to capture animals in their natural habitats, framed by the vast, golden plains.
In the late afternoon, you will proceed to your accommodation in Central Serengeti, which could be a lodge or tented camp depending on your selection. After checking in, take some time to relax, enjoy the views, and reflect on your incredible wildlife sightings of the day. Dinner will be served at your lodge or camp, and you will spend the night surrounded by the tranquility and natural beauty of the Serengeti, ready for another full day of safari adventure tomorrow.
Accommodation Selection:
Day 4 Serengeti National Park Full Day in Central Serengeti
After an early breakfast at your lodge or camp in the Central Serengeti, you will set out for a full day of game drives, exploring one of the most famous wildlife regions in the world. The Serengeti is renowned for its endless plains, rolling hills, and kopjes, which provide ideal habitats for many animals. Your experienced safari guide will take you to prime wildlife areas, pointing out well-known and lesser-known species while sharing insights into their behavior and the balance of the Serengeti ecosystem.
The morning game drive is one of the best times to observe wildlife, as animals are most active in the cooler hours. You may spot Lions resting on rocky outcrops, Cheetahs on the hunt, Leopards hiding in trees, or herds of Wildebeest and Zebras grazing peacefully. The area is also home to Giraffes, Elephants, Topi, Hartebeest, and a wide variety of bird species. Your guide will help you track animals and explain fascinating details about predator-prey dynamics and migration patterns.
Around midday, you will pause for a hot picnic lunch at a scenic spot, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the African wilderness. After lunch, the afternoon game drive continues as you explore other parts of the Central Serengeti. You may encounter large herds of herbivores moving across the plains or witness predator activity. The vast landscapes, wildlife interactions, and golden light of late afternoon create excellent opportunities for photography and wildlife observation.
In the late afternoon, you will return to your lodge or tented camp to relax and enjoy the serene environment. Dinner will be served at your accommodation, where you can reflect on the day’s encounters with Africa’s wildlife. Spending the night in the heart of the Serengeti offers a peaceful and immersive experience, surrounded by the sounds of the wilderness, preparing you for the expedition to Ngorongoro Crater the next day.
Accommodation Selection:
Day 5 Central Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater.
After an early breakfast at your lodge or camp in the Central Serengeti, you will depart for the Ngorongoro Crater, one of Africa’s most renowned natural wonders. The drive passes through diverse landscapes, from Serengeti plains to highland forests and rolling hills near the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Your guide will share information about local culture, geography, and wildlife, ensuring a scenic and informative journey.
Upon arrival at Ngorongoro Crater, you will descend to the crater floor for a game drive in one of Tanzania’s most densely populated wildlife areas. The crater hosts the Big Five lions, elephants, leopards, buffalo, and rhinoceros, as well as zebras, wildebeest, hyenas, hippos, and many bird species. Its fertile floor and abundant water create a unique ecosystem with excellent wildlife viewing. Your guide will assist with tracking animals, explain their behavior, and highlight features of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Around midday, you will enjoy a picnic lunch inside the crater, surrounded by remarkable scenery and wildlife. The afternoon game drive will then continue, offering further opportunities to observe predators, herbivores, and the crater’s dramatic landscapes.
In the late afternoon, you will exit the crater and drive to Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge. After check-in, you can relax, take in panoramic crater views, and unwind in the cool highland air. Dinner will be served at the lodge, where you will spend the night in comfort and prepare for the next day’s activities.
Accommodation Selection:
Day 6 Ngorongoro Crater to Lake Eyasi Cultural Experience
After breakfast at your lodge in Ngorongoro Crater, you will depart for Lake Eyasi, a scenic and culturally rich area located at the edge of the Ngorongoro Highlands. Lake Eyasi is home to the Hadzabe and Datoga tribes, offering a unique opportunity to experience the traditional lifestyles of Tanzania’s indigenous communities. The drive to the lake takes you through rolling hills, farmland, and small villages, providing insight into local life and agricultural practices. Your guide will share information about the tribes, their customs, and the surrounding ecosystem, making the journey both educational and scenic.
Upon arrival at Lake Eyasi, you will begin activities with the Hadzabe people, one of the last remaining hunter-gatherer tribes in Africa. With their expert guidance, you can learn about traditional hunting techniques, tracking methods, and survival skills used in the bush. You may also accompany the Hadzabe on a short hunting expedition or gather edible plants, gaining first-hand experience of their fascinating lifestyle. This cultural encounter is both educational and immersive, providing a deeper understanding of the tribe’s connection to nature and wildlife.
You will visit the Datoga tribe, known for their ironwork and bead-making, where you can observe daily life and learn about their traditions. A walk around Lake Eyasi reveals beautiful acacia woodlands, marshes, and lake views often dotted with flamingos and other birdlife. After a day of cultural experiences and nature walks, you will return to your Lake Eyasi lodge for dinner and an overnight stay at Kisima Ngeda or a nearby lodge, preparing for the next day’s journey to Lake Manyara National Park.
Accommodation Selection:
Day 7 Ngorongoro Crater to Lake Eyasi Cultural Experience
After breakfast at your lodge in Lake Eyasi, you will depart for Lake Manyara National Park, one of Tanzania’s most scenic and diverse wildlife destinations. The drive to the park takes you through small villages, farmland, and rolling hills, giving a glimpse of rural Tanzanian life.Your guide will provide interesting commentary about the region’s flora, fauna, and local communities, helping you appreciate the landscapes before entering the park.
Upon arrival, you will embark on a game drive in Lake Manyara National Park, which is famous for its incredible biodiversity and unique ecosystems.The park features lakeshore forests, acacia woodlands, grassy plains, and the soda lake itself, attracting a wide variety of wildlife. Lake Manyara is renowned for its tree-climbing lions, a rare phenomenon that is a highlight for many visitors. Other wildlife commonly seen includes elephants, giraffes, hippos, buffaloes, zebras, baboons, and a variety of antelope species. The park is also a paradise for bird lovers, with over 400 species, including flamingos, pelicans, storks, and egrets, often found near the lake.
During the game drive, your guide will help you spot animals, explain their behaviors, and provide insights into the park’s ecology and conservation efforts. You will have opportunities for photography, wildlife observation, and enjoying the scenic beauty of the Great Rift Valley escarpments that frame the park. In the late afternoon, you will leave Lake Manyara and return to your lodge or camp in Karatu.Dinner will be served at your accommodation, allowing you to relax and reflect on the day’s incredible wildlife experiences. An overnight stay at Manyara Escarpment Lodge offers a comfortable, peaceful setting, preparing you for the final day of your safari and the journey back to Arusha.
Accommodation Selection:
Day 8 Lake Manyara National Park to Arusha Town (End of Safari)
After an early breakfast, you will set out for a leisurely half-day game drive in Lake Manyara National Park, enjoying the park’s peaceful morning atmosphere and beautiful scenery. A picnic lunch will be served inside the park, allowing you to relax while surrounded by nature. This final safari offers excellent opportunities to encounter elephants, baboons, giraffes, hippos, and a remarkable diversity of birdlife thriving in the park’s varied ecosystems. In the afternoon, you will depart Lake Manyara and drive back to Arusha City, reflecting on the incredible wildlife encounters and scenic landscapes experienced during your Tanzania Northern Circuit Safari, which comes to a memorable and satisfying conclusion.
Accommodation Selection:
INCLUSIONS & EXCLUSIONS
Includes
- Accommodation in Arusha on arrival day
- Accommodation in Arusha after safari
- All entry fees in national parks as per itinerary
- Arrival and departure airport transfers
- 3 meals a day while on Safari
- All Accommodations in lodges on safari
- Entry and transit fees in Ngorongoro
- Ngorongoro Crater fee
- First aid kit
- Service of an English speaking driver-guide
- Transport in 4×4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
- Driver’s Salary and allowances
- Park fees for vehicle and driver
- Game drives as per the Itinerary
- Enough bottled water the whole safari
- Government taxes
Includes
- Extras at the lodges
- Flights
- Tips
- Extra activities (like balloon ride $599 per person)
- And all not listed above
SEASONAL RATES
| Number of People | Price Per Person |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $4,340 |
| 2 People | $3,500 |
| 3 People | $3,130 |
| 4 People | $2,850 |
| 5 People | $2,640 |
| 6 People | $2,560 |
| 7+ People | $2,410 |
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