6 Day Northern Circuit Safari
Overview
Embark on the ultimate wildlife adventure with the 6-Day Northern Circuit Safari—a comprehensive and exciting journey designed for travelers seeking to experience the best of Tanzania’s iconic national parks. This safari takes you through Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater, giving you ample opportunities to see a wide variety of wildlife, including the Big Five. Designed for those with more time to explore, this safari minimizes travel time between game drives, ensuring a deeper immersion in the wonders of Tanzania’s northern circuit. Whether you’re witnessing elephants in Tarangire, the great wildebeest migration in Serengeti, or the breathtaking landscapes of Ngorongoro, this safari promises an unforgettable experience.
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6 Days/ 5 Nights
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Tanzania
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Guided, Private Safari
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Airport TransfersCar hireServices of an English-speaking guideRefreshments like waterAll accommodation & MealsAll activitiesAll Taxes /VATA professional driver /guideFuelDrinking water
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Tips and gratuitiesAll items of personal natureInternational flightsAlcoholic drinks
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Tarangire National Park
Your adventure begins with a morning pick-up from your hotel in Arusha, where your expert guide will brief you on your safari. Afterward, you’ll drive to Tarangire National Park, about a 2-hour drive from Arusha. This park, which covers approximately 2,600 km², is renowned for its stunning landscape, including vast savannahs, seasonal swamps, and iconic baobab trees. It’s one of the best places in East Africa to spot large herds of elephants, along with Maasai giraffes, zebras, lions, leopards, and more than 500 bird species.
After a thrilling game drive, you’ll head to your lodge for a relaxing lunch and an overnight stay.
Accommodation:
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Luxury: Tarangire Sopa Lodge
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Midrange: Forest Tented Camp
Meal Plan: Full Board
Day 2: Morning Game Drive in Tarangire & Transfer to Lake Manyara National Park
After a hearty breakfast, you’ll drive to the picturesque Lake Manyara National Park. Despite its smaller size, this park is teeming with diverse wildlife, including herds of elephants, flamingos, and other water birds around the alkaline lake. Lake Manyara is also famous for its tree-climbing lions, so keep your eyes peeled! The park’s unique landscape includes lush woodlands, grasslands, and dense forests filled with baboons and blue monkeys.
Following a game drive, you’ll head to your lodge for lunch, where you can enjoy stunning views of the Great Rift Valley. After some rest, you’ll have time to explore the surrounding area before heading back to your lodge for the evening.
Accommodation:
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Luxury: Lake Manyara Serena Lodge
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Midrange: Flamingo Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board
Day 3: Transfer from Lake Manyara to Serengeti National Park via Ngorongoro Highlands
After breakfast, you’ll continue your journey to the Serengeti National Park, one of the most famous wildlife destinations in the world. Along the way, you’ll pass through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where you can stop for a breathtaking view over the Ngorongoro Crater. Upon arrival at the Serengeti, known as the “Endless Plains,” you’ll be greeted by an expansive savannah teeming with wildlife. Depending on the time of year, you may witness the Great Migration—millions of wildebeests and zebras moving across the plains.
In the afternoon, you’ll embark on a game drive before heading to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation:
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Luxury: Serengeti Sopa Lodge
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Midrange: Mbugani Tented Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board
Day 4: Full-Day Game Drives in Serengeti National Park
On this day, you’ll enjoy a full day of game drives in the Serengeti National Park. The vast savannahs are home to an incredible array of wildlife, including lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, and buffaloes. Your early morning game drive will offer the best chances to see predators on the hunt and herds grazing in the cool morning light. After a delicious bush breakfast, you’ll continue exploring the Serengeti’s diverse landscapes and wildlife.
You’ll enjoy a relaxing lunch at Naabai Kopje, a scenic viewpoint known for its distinctive pink-headed lizards. Afterward, you’ll head out for an afternoon game drive before returning to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation:
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Luxury: Serengeti Sopa Lodge
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Midrange: Mbugani Tented Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board
Day 5: Morning Game Drive in Serengeti & Transfer to Ngorongoro Crater Rim
After breakfast, you’ll head out for a final game drive in the Serengeti, where you may spot more wildlife, including the Big Five—lions, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, and leopards. Afterward, you’ll depart for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, awaits. The caldera, which is 20 kilometers wide, is home to over 25,000 animals, including zebras, wildebeests, buffaloes, and elephants.
As you descend into the crater, enjoy the spectacular views and spot a variety of wildlife in the lush landscapes below. In the evening, you’ll return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay, with the option to enjoy a sunset over the crater.
Accommodation:
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Luxury: Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
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Midrange: Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board
Day 6: Explore Ngorongoro Crater & Return to Arusha
On your final day, after an early breakfast, you’ll descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive. This is the best time to spot wildlife, as the early morning mist clears and the animals become active. The crater is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including black rhinos, lions, elephants, and more. During your game drive, you’ll stop for a picnic lunch by a small lake, where you can spot hippos and water birds.
After an extensive game drive, you’ll leave the crater and drive back to Arusha, where you’ll arrive in the early evening for drop-off at your hotel or the airport for your return flight.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
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Suggested Tanzania Safari Ideas
The tours featured throughout our website are intended to give you ideas for what’s possible when you travel with us. Treat them simply as inspiration, because your trip will be created individually by one of our specialists to match your tastes and budget.