Nine days through the country's most spectacular national parks. From the enormous elephant herds and ancient baobab trees of Tarangire, through the tree-climbing lions of Lake Manyara and the endless predator-rich plains of the Serengeti, to the legendary Ngorongoro Crater — often called the Eighth Wonder of the World.
Big Five encounters, exceptional birdlife, and landscapes that define the African safari experience.
Plan my SafariWhat makes this northern circuit the classic Tanzanian experience.
Ancient baobab trees — some over a thousand years old — tower above the savannah while enormous elephant herds move along the Tarangire River. Two full days allow you to explore habitats few other itineraries reach.
Lake Manyara's unique lions have learned to climb trees — a behaviour seen in only a handful of places in Africa. Spotting one draped across a high branch in the dense forest is unforgettable.
The Serengeti — 'the place that runs on forever' — is the world's most famous wildlife arena. Two full days on its vast grasslands, rocky kopjes and acacia woodlands deliver sightings that define the African safari.
Ngorongoro Crater — twelve miles across and six hundred metres deep — shelters a self-contained ecosystem of extraordinary density. The Big Five, flamingos, and the critically endangered black rhino on the floor of an ancient volcano.
An optional night game drive in Tarangire reveals the bush after dark — servals, bat-eared foxes, civets, hyenas and the glowing eyes of predators on the move. A thrilling dimension most safaris miss.
With a maximum of twelve guests per departure, you share the bush with a handful of fellow travellers — more space in the vehicle, more time at sightings, and a more personal connection with your guide.
Nine days across four of Tanzania's greatest national parks — every detail considered.
Welcome to Tanzania. Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel in Arusha. The remainder of the day is yours to relax and recover from your journey.
After breakfast, meet your safari guide and begin the scenic two-hour drive to Tarangire National Park. Famous for its towering baobab trees, sweeping savannah, and some of the largest elephant herds in East Africa, Tarangire offers classic African landscapes at every turn.
The Tarangire River acts as a magnet for wildlife during the dry season, drawing zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, eland, and predators including lions and leopards. Enjoy a picnic lunch within the park, then continue with afternoon game viewing before driving to your lodge.
Spend a second day exploring Tarangire's diverse habitats on morning and afternoon game drives. The park is renowned for excellent birdlife and for sightings of python coiled in tree branches or large cats lounging in sausage trees.
As evening approaches, an optional night game drive is available at additional cost — using specialised spotlights, this nocturnal adventure reveals servals, bat-eared foxes, civets, hyenas, and the glowing eyes of predators on the move.
After breakfast, continue to Lake Manyara National Park. Though compact in size, Manyara is extraordinarily varied — dense groundwater forests, open plains, hot springs, and the alkaline lake itself, home to flamingos and over five hundred bird species.
Explore the park's contrasting habitats, encountering troops of baboons, giraffes, vast herds of buffalo, zebra, and elephants. Manyara is also famous for its tree-climbing lions — a rare behaviour observed in only a handful of places in Africa.
After breakfast, journey through the fertile highlands — passing farms where the Iraqw people cultivate wheat, coffee, and maize — and into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Pause at the crater rim for a spectacular viewpoint before continuing to the Serengeti plains.
A picnic lunch is enjoyed en route before entering the Serengeti National Park. Tanzania's largest and most iconic park features vast grasslands, rocky kopjes, riverine forest, and seasonal marshes teeming with wildlife.
A full day exploring the vast Serengeti. Begin with an early morning game drive when predators are most active — lions, leopards, and cheetahs taking advantage of the cool hours. The Serengeti is home to large resident populations of elephants, buffalo, giraffes, hyenas, and a wide variety of antelopes.
After a picnic lunch in the bush, continue with an afternoon drive through different habitats, where the changing light of late afternoon creates extraordinary photographic moments as animals gather at water sources.
After an early breakfast, enjoy a final game drive through the Serengeti — a last opportunity to spot morning wildlife activity before leaving the park.
Drive towards the Ngorongoro highlands, arriving at your lodge in time for lunch. The remainder of the afternoon is free to relax and enjoy the magnificent views from the crater rim.
After breakfast, descend nearly six hundred metres into the legendary Ngorongoro Crater. This ancient caldera shelters an extraordinary concentration of wildlife within its steep walls — grasslands, swamps, forests, and a freshwater lake creating a self-contained ecosystem where animals thrive in remarkable density.
You may encounter all members of the Big Five, alongside hippos, hyenas, jackals, wildebeest, and thousands of flamingos. Enjoy a picnic lunch at a scenic spot within the crater before ascending to your lodge in the afternoon.
After breakfast, drive back to Arusha for a hot lunch before your transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport.
From Tarangire's baobabs to the Serengeti's endless plains and the ancient depths of Ngorongoro Crater — this is Tanzania's northern circuit at its most magnificent.
A modern five-star property in the heart of Arusha — Tanzania's safari capital — with views of Mount Meru and, on clear days, Kilimanjaro. A comfortable base before and after northern circuit safaris.
Contemporary rooms and suites with African-inspired decor, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, flat-screen TV, minibar, and ensuite bathrooms.
International and Tanzanian buffet. Rooftop bar with mountain views. Room service available.
Set on a hilltop within Tarangire National Park overlooking the sweeping savannah and the Tarangire River below, Sopa Lodge is one of only a handful of properties located inside the park itself. Ancient baobab trees dot the grounds, elephants pass through on their way to the river, and the panoramic views from every vantage point capture the vastness of one of Tanzania's most underrated national parks.
Seventy-five spacious rooms are set in clusters along the ridge, each with ensuite bathrooms, hot-water showers, comfortable beds with mosquito netting, ceiling fans, and a private terrace with views across the park. Rooms are finished in warm earth tones with locally inspired décor and tiled floors.
The main restaurant serves a generous buffet of Tanzanian and international cuisine with sweeping views from the hilltop. An outdoor terrace and poolside bar serve drinks and light meals throughout the day. Bush lunches can be arranged within the park.
Perched on the rim of the Great Rift Valley with uninterrupted views across Lake Manyara — a rustic-luxe retreat that captures the drama of its setting in every detail.
Fifty spacious suites with floor-to-ceiling windows, ensuite bathrooms with rain showers and freestanding bathtubs, and private balconies overlooking the Rift Valley.
Buffet of Tanzanian and international cuisine with panoramic valley views. Outdoor terrace for sunset dining.
A mobile-style tented camp in the Serengeti's central plains, positioned to follow the seasonal movement of wildlife — authentic canvas, warm hospitality and campfire evenings on one of the world's greatest wildlife stages.
Spacious canvas tents on raised platforms with comfortable beds, ensuite bathrooms with hot-water bucket showers, and private viewing areas facing the open plains.
Meals in the central dining tent or around the campfire. Packed picnic lunches for full-day drives.
A colonial-style retreat on a hillside above Karatu, between Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater — surrounded by coffee plantations and tropical gardens with views of Mount Oldeani.
Spacious cottages with ensuite bathrooms, bathtubs, rain showers, fireplaces, and private verandahs with garden or mountain views.
Tanzanian and international cuisine with locally sourced ingredients. Fireside bar with Tanzanian coffee and local beers.
Get in touch and your personal travel specialist will tailor every detail of this journey to your dates, pace and interests.
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