9 Day Northern Tanzania Lodge Safari with Lake Natron
A grand nine-day loop through northern Tanzania, from Lake Natron's flamingos and the remote northern Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Eyasi.
- Duration
- 9 days
- Route
- Arusha – Tarangire – Lake Natron – Loliondo – Northern Serengeti – Central Serengeti – Ngorongoro Crater – Lake Eyasi – Arusha
- Start / end
- Starts and ends in Arusha (pick-up from Kilimanjaro Airport or your hotel)
- Best time
- June to October is ideal, with dry roads to Lake Natron and Mara River crossings in the northern Serengeti typically from July to October.
- Trip style
- Private safari in a 4x4 Land Cruiser with your own driver-guide, staying in mid-range lodges and tented camps.
Tour overview
This nine-day safari is for travelers who want to see the full range of northern Tanzania, from the classic parks to wild, rarely visited corners. It suits second-time visitors, keen photographers and anyone who enjoys a sense of exploration alongside superb wildlife.
After Tarangire, the route leaves the usual circuit to visit Lake Natron, with its flamingos, waterfall and volcanic scenery, then crosses Maasai lands through Loliondo to enter the northern Serengeti, a quieter region known for the Mara River crossings in season. You then travel south through the central Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Crater, finishing with a cultural visit to the Hadzabe and Datoga people at Lake Eyasi.
Mid-range lodges and tented camps, a private Land Cruiser and an experienced guide make the journey comfortable throughout.
Highlights
- Flamingo walks and the Engare Sero waterfall at Lake Natron
- Rarely traveled route through Loliondo into the northern Serengeti
- Seasonal Mara River crossings and big cats in the north
- Resident lions and leopards of the central Serengeti
- Game drive on the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater
- Dawn with Hadzabe hunter-gatherers and a visit to Datoga blacksmiths
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1Arrival in Arusha
Welcome to Tanzania. On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you are met by our team and driven about 1 hour to Arusha, a busy town at the foot of Mount Meru that serves as the gateway to the northern safari circuit. Check in to your hotel and take the rest of the day to relax and recover from your journey. Depending on your arrival time, you may like to explore the town's markets or simply enjoy the garden. In the evening, your guide will meet you to run through the itinerary and answer any questions before dinner.
Day 2Arusha to Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, drive about 2 to 2.5 hours to Tarangire National Park for your first full game drive. The Tarangire River attracts large elephant herds, especially in the dry season, along with zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, buffalo and impala. Lions often rest in the shade of the riverbanks and leopards are sometimes seen in the trees. The park's huge baobabs make a striking backdrop for photos, and the birdlife is excellent. Enjoy a picnic lunch at a scenic viewpoint, continue exploring in the afternoon and arrive at your lodge for sunset and dinner.
Day 3Tarangire to Lake Natron
Leave Tarangire after breakfast and drive to Mto wa Mbu, where the tarmac ends and a rough road heads north through the Rift Valley. The journey of about 4 to 5 hours passes Maasai villages, dusty plains and the striking cone of Ol Doinyo Lengai, an active volcano sacred to the Maasai. Stop for a picnic lunch along the way. Arrive at your camp near Engare Sero in the early afternoon, then join a local guide for a hike up a river gorge to the Engare Sero waterfall, wading through streams to reach a refreshing pool. Return to camp for sunset over the escarpment and dinner.
Day 4Lake Natron to Northern Serengeti via Loliondo
Rise early for a short walk with a Maasai guide to the shore of Lake Natron, where lesser flamingos often feed in the shallows. After breakfast, set off on one of Tanzania's wildest drives, climbing the escarpment and crossing the highlands of Loliondo, home to Maasai pastoralists and few other vehicles. The drive takes about 5 to 6 hours with stops. Enter the Serengeti at Klein's Gate and game drive into the rolling hills of the north, a region of kopjes, woodland and open grassland. Arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon for dinner.
Day 5Full Day in the Northern Serengeti
Spend a full day exploring the northern Serengeti. From July to October, the migrating wildebeest and zebra usually gather here, and your guide will head toward the Mara River in the hope of witnessing a crossing, a dramatic event where herds plunge through crocodile-filled water. At other times of year, the north is quiet and beautiful, with resident elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo and giraffe and far fewer vehicles than the central park. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the bush and continue game viewing until late afternoon, returning to your lodge for dinner.
Day 6Northern to Central Serengeti
After breakfast, game drive south through the Lobo area and down into the central Serengeti, a journey of about 3 to 4 hours plus game viewing. The landscape gradually opens out into the classic endless plains dotted with acacias and granite kopjes. The Seronera River valley is famous for its resident predators, and lion prides, leopards and cheetahs are frequently seen here. Enjoy a picnic lunch along the way and spend the afternoon exploring the river and kopjes before arriving at your lodge for dinner and the night.
Day 7Central Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Crater Rim
Enjoy a final morning game drive in the central Serengeti, when predators are at their most active. Then head south across the short-grass plains to Naabi Hill Gate and climb into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, passing Maasai herders and grazing land. The drive takes about 4 to 5 hours including game viewing and a picnic lunch. Arrive at your lodge on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater in the afternoon, where you can watch the light change over the caldera from your room or terrace before dinner. Evenings on the rim are cool, so bring a warm layer.
Day 8Ngorongoro Crater to Lake Eyasi
Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater shortly after sunrise for a morning game drive. Explore grasslands, swamps and the Lerai forest in search of lion, hyena, elephant, buffalo, wildebeest, zebra and black rhino, and watch flamingos on Lake Magadi. After a picnic lunch near the hippo pool, ascend the crater wall and drive about 2 hours via Karatu to Lake Eyasi, a seasonal soda lake beneath the Rift Valley escarpment. Arrive at your camp in the late afternoon and enjoy a peaceful evening in this remote, culturally rich area.
Day 9Hadzabe and Datoga Visit, Return to Arusha
Wake before dawn and walk with a local guide to join a group of Hadzabe, among the last hunter-gatherers in Africa. Watch them light fire by hand and, if you wish, follow them on a morning hunt with bows and arrows. Later, visit a Datoga family to see how they forge arrowheads and jewelry from scrap metal. Return to camp for a late breakfast, then drive about 4 hours back to Arusha with a lunch stop on the way. You will be dropped at your hotel or Kilimanjaro Airport in the late 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
- Lake Natron area fees and local guides for walks
- Hadzabe and Datoga cultural visits with a local guide
- Accommodation as listed, or similar
- Meals as listed in the itinerary
- Bottled drinking water in the vehicle throughout
- Kilimanjaro Airport arrival transfer and final drop-off at your hotel or the airport
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
Good to know
- The roads to Lake Natron and through Loliondo are rough and remote; travel times can stretch after rain.
- Lake Natron is hot, while the Ngorongoro rim is cold, so pack light clothing and a warm jacket.
- The Hadzabe visit is a genuine encounter, not a performance; dress modestly and ask before taking photos.
- Wear sandals or shoes that can get wet for the Engare Sero waterfall hike.
Frequently asked questions
Why include Lake Natron and Loliondo?
This route avoids retracing your steps and takes you through some of the least visited landscapes in northern Tanzania. It also brings you into the northern Serengeti from the east, where you will see very few other vehicles.
Is the Hadzabe visit ethical?
We work with local guides from the Lake Eyasi community, and visit fees go to the community. Groups are kept small and the visit is designed around the Hadzabe's daily routine rather than a staged show.
Can I add Zanzibar at the end?
Yes. Many travelers fly from Arusha to Zanzibar after this safari for a few days on the beach. We can arrange flights, transfers and hotels to extend your trip.
Similar tours
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 →
5 days5 Day Classic Northern Circuit Lodge SafariTanzania's classic northern circuit in five comfortable days: Tarangire, two Serengeti nights, the Ngorongoro Crater and a final game drive at Lake Manyara.From $1,480 ppView tour →
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 →