5 Day Classic Northern Circuit Lodge Safari
Tanzania's classic northern circuit in five comfortable days: Tarangire, two Serengeti nights, the Ngorongoro Crater and a final game drive at Lake Manyara.
- Duration
- 5 days
- Route
- Arusha – Tarangire – Serengeti – Ngorongoro Crater – Karatu – Lake Manyara – Arusha
- Start / end
- Starts and ends in Arusha (pick-up from your hotel or Kilimanjaro Airport)
- Best time
- June to October offers the easiest dry-season game viewing, and January to March is usually good for calving herds in the southern Serengeti.
- Trip style
- Private safari in a 4x4 Land Cruiser with your own driver-guide, staying in comfortable mid-range lodges.
Tour overview
This is our classic introduction to Tanzania: four outstanding parks, two nights in the Serengeti and comfortable lodges every night. It is ideal for first-time safari travelers, honeymooners and families who want variety without rushing.
The safari begins in Tarangire National Park, continues to the vast plains of the Serengeti for big cats and seasonal herds, and then returns via the Ngorongoro Crater, where the wildlife density is remarkable. A final morning at Lake Manyara National Park adds forest, primates and birdlife before you head back to Arusha.
A private Land Cruiser and an experienced guide stay with you throughout, so you can tailor each day to your interests.
Highlights
- Four of northern Tanzania's best parks in one trip
- Two nights and a full day in the Serengeti
- Big cats, elephants and seasonal migration herds
- A morning game drive inside the Ngorongoro Crater
- Lake Manyara's forest, baboons and birdlife
- Comfortable mid-range lodges every night
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1Arusha to Tarangire National Park
Your guide meets you at your Arusha hotel or Kilimanjaro Airport in the morning for the drive of about 2 to 2.5 hours to Tarangire National Park. Enter the park and begin your first game drive through the baobab-dotted landscape and along the Tarangire River, where elephants, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe and buffalo come to drink. Watch for lion, leopard and the park's colorful birdlife. Break for a picnic lunch, then continue exploring through the afternoon. Arrive at your lodge, set on a ridge with sweeping views over the park, in time to watch the sunset before dinner.
Day 2Tarangire to the Serengeti
After breakfast, drive through Mto wa Mbu and up the Rift Valley escarpment to Karatu, then enter the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Stop at the crater viewpoint before crossing the highlands and descending to Naabi Hill Gate on the edge of the Serengeti. Enjoy a picnic lunch here, then game drive north across the plains to the central Serengeti, watching for cheetah, gazelle, hyena and lion. The journey takes most of the day, about 6 to 7 hours with stops and game viewing. Arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon for a relaxing evening.
Day 3Full Day in the Serengeti
Today is dedicated to the Serengeti. Head out early when the predators are most active, exploring the Seronera River valley and the granite kopjes that make ideal lookouts for lions. Leopards are often found draped in the sausage and acacia trees, and cheetahs hunt on the open plains. Depending on the time of year, your guide may also head toward the migrating wildebeest and zebra. Take a picnic lunch in the bush or return to the lodge to rest, then go out again for an afternoon drive with elephants, giraffe, hippos and countless antelope before returning for dinner.
Day 4Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Crater
Depart early with a packed breakfast and game drive out of the Serengeti, then climb back into the Ngorongoro highlands, about 3 hours in total. Descend into the crater and spend several hours exploring the caldera floor, home to lion, hyena, buffalo, elephant, wildebeest, zebra and the endangered black rhino. Look for flamingos on Lake Magadi and hippos at the Ngoitoktok spring. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the crater floor, then ascend in the afternoon and drive about 45 minutes to your lodge in the green coffee country around Karatu for dinner.
Day 5Lake Manyara National Park and Return to Arusha
After a relaxed breakfast, drive about 45 minutes down the escarpment to Lake Manyara National Park. Your final game drive takes you through dense groundwater forest full of baboons and blue monkeys, past the hippo pool and onto open floodplains where buffalo, elephant and giraffe graze beside the lake. Keep an eye on the acacias for the park's occasional tree-climbing lions and on the shoreline for pelicans and flamingos. Enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking the lake before driving about 2 hours back to Arusha for drop-off at your hotel or the airport in the afternoon.
What is included
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof for game viewing
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- All park entry and conservation fees as per the itinerary
- Ngorongoro Crater descent (crater service) fee
- Accommodation as listed, or similar
- Meals as listed in the itinerary
- Bottled drinking water in the vehicle throughout
- Pick-up and drop-off at your Arusha hotel or Kilimanjaro International Airport
- Government taxes and VAT
Not included
- International flights and Tanzania visa
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Tips for your guide and crew
- Alcoholic and soft drinks at lodges
- Personal items, laundry and souvenirs
- Optional activities such as a hot-air balloon safari
- Accommodation in Arusha before or after the safari
Good to know
- Day 2 involves a long but scenic drive; your guide will plan comfort and photo stops.
- A hot-air balloon safari over the Serengeti can be added on Day 3.
- Lodges can usually arrange laundry at a small extra cost, so you can pack light.
- Soft-sided bags are easier to fit into the safari vehicle than hard suitcases.
Frequently asked questions
Is five days a good length for a first safari?
Five days is a sweet spot for many first-time visitors. It covers the four key parks of the northern circuit, includes a full day in the Serengeti and avoids feeling rushed.
Can we upgrade to luxury lodges?
Yes. Each night can be upgraded, for example to Tarangire Treetops, Four Seasons Serengeti or Ngorongoro Crater Lodge. Contact us and we will tailor the accommodation to your preferences.
Is this safari suitable for children?
Yes, this route works well for families. The lodges have family-friendly rooms and pools at several properties, and your guide can adjust the pace for younger travelers.
Similar tours
6 days6 Day Serengeti and Ngorongoro Lodge SafariSix unhurried days with three nights in the Serengeti, including a night near the migration herds, plus Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire.From $1,780 ppView tour →
9 days9 Day Northern Tanzania Lodge Safari with Lake NatronA grand nine-day loop through northern Tanzania, from Lake Natron's flamingos and the remote northern Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Eyasi.From $2,670 ppView tour →
5 days5 Day Lake Eyasi Cultural and Wildlife SafariA five-day blend of wildlife and culture: Tarangire, time with Hadzabe and Datoga communities at Lake Eyasi, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara.From $1,480 ppView tour →