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Tanzania is a true gem of natural beauty, and its northern region is the crown jewel. One legendary safari park after the next; the Northern Circuit is the classic safari circuit of Tanzania. This 7 Day Amazing Tanzania Northern Circuit Safari is an ideal itinerary for Tanzania first-timers who mainly come for safari or want to combine their safari trip with a Kilimanjaro or Zanzibar add-on.
Scroll down to view the detailed day-to-day itinerary, complete with realistic driving times.
Day 1: Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha
Day 2: Arusha to Tarangire National Park (150 Km 2.5 Hrs.)
Day 3: Tarangire to Serengeti National Park (170 Km 4 Hrs.)
Day 4: Serengeti National Park
Day 5: Serengeti National Park
Day 6: Serengeti to Ngorongoro (160km 3 Hrs.)
Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater Tour then drive to Arusha (261 Km Appx. 5 – 6 Hrs.)
Welcome to Tanzania! Your exciting safari adventure begins as soon as you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport in northern Tanzania.
A Greenway Nature Tours guide will greet you, and after loading your bags into a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle, we’ll head to our hotel in Arusha, just less than an hour away.
Arusha, often called the safari capital of Tanzania, is situated on the southern slopes of Mount Meru and is close to Mount Kilimanjaro. It’s also conveniently located near several major attractions, including Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara National Park, Olduvai Gorge, Tarangire National Park, and Arusha National Park.
Built by the Germans as a center for colonial administration due to its mild climate (located 1,400 meters above sea level), is an excellent place to take a break from your safari if you have extra time. It serves as a key international diplomatic hub and has played an important role in the history of modern Tanzania. If you arrive early today, you can opt to visit Arusha National Park or explore some of the town’s notable attractions, such as the bustling Maasai Market or the Tanzanite Museum, which is dedicated to the rare deep-blue precious stone found nowhere else in the world.
Accommodation Options:
Midrange: Outpost Lodge
Luxury: Impala Hotel/Arusha Coffee Lodge/Kibo Palace Hotel
Meal plan: Dinner
After an early breakfast at the hotel, we’ll head to our first safari destination, Tarangire National Park. The drive will take about two and a half hours southwest, passing Lake Manyara on our right.
Along the way, we’ll journey through the scenic Maasai country, with its unique microclimates and varied vegetation. We’ll arrive at the lodge in time for lunch. Afterward, we’ll set off on our first game drive of the safari! As we explore the park, we’ll start compiling our lists of mammals, birds, and more. . Tarangire is a lovely quiet park, off the beaten safari track, renowned for its large elephant migrations and named after the Tarangire River that runs through it.
Tarangire’s landscape is mostly open savanna, interspersed with Acacia woodlands and distinctive Baobab trees. The areas along the river feature dense riparian woodlands and even some palm trees.
Spanning 2,850 km², the park serves as a vital refuge during the dry season, when large numbers of migratory wildlife such as elephants, zebras, wildebeest, eland, buffalo, and various antelope gather around permanent water sources. Elephants congregate in herds of up to 600 animals, and the abundance of game attracts numerous predators, particularly lions.
In fact, after the Serengeti, Tarangire boasts the second-highest concentration of wildlife in Tanzania! After our game drive, we’ll return to the lodge to freshen up and enjoy dinner. Be sure to look up at the night sky before heading to bed—the stars here are truly spectacular!
Accommodation Options:
Midrange: Tarangire Sopa Lodge
Luxury: Tarangire Kirurumu Camp
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After a brief morning game drive, we’ll return to camp for breakfast. We’ll then pack our bags, check out, and head westward to the Serengeti for the next exciting chapter of our adventure.
The Serengeti, along with Kenya’s Maasai Mara Game Reserve, form Africa’s (and the world’s?) most famous wildlife park. The iconic image of Acacia trees on an endless grassy plain perfectly captures the essence of Africa. Add a Maasai warrior and some cattle to the scene, and the picture is complete—this is Africa!
We’ll pass through the cool Crater Island, Maasai villages, and the stunning Ngorongoro Conservation Area as we travel. Along the way, we’ll enjoy a packed picnic lunch to maximize our game-viewing time in the Serengeti. By mid-afternoon, we’ll arrive at our camp or lodge in the central Serengeti, where we’ll stay for three amazing nights.
The central Serengeti includes the renowned Seronera Valley, famous for its abundant big game and other wildlife. This picturesque landscape is made up of vast savannah plains, rocky granite outcrops, scattered acacia woodlands, and a network of rivers and streams. As part of “the Great Migration,” this area provides a perfect habitat for a wide range of African megafauna, including giraffes, impalas, waterbucks, hippos, elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, hyenas, and more.
After settling in and capturing some photos, we’ll embark on our first “official” game drive in the Serengeti. As we explore, we’ll discover more about this iconic reserve and search for the incredible wildlife and plant life that inhabit the area. In this part of the Serengeti, we can almost certainly expect to spot lions, leopards, and cheetahs!
Accommodation Options:
Midrange: Serengeti Kati Kati Camp
Luxury: Serengeti Serena Lodge/Serengeti Sopa Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
The Serengeti ecosystem, one of Africa’s seven natural wonders and one of the ten natural travel wonders of the world, is among the oldest and most scientifically important ecosystems on Earth. Its climate, wildlife, and plant life are believed to have remained largely unchanged for over a million years, giving the region a strikingly ancient feel.
This morning, we’ll have an early breakfast at the lodge before heading out on a morning game drive. We’ll return to camp for lunch, followed by some time to relax. In the afternoon, we’ll set off once again to search for more wildlife and birds on a game drive.
Accommodation Options:
Midrange: Serengeti Kati Kati Camp
Luxury: Serengeti Serena Lodge/Serengeti Sopa Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today, we’ll enjoy another full day in the central Serengeti. We will enjoy breakfast and lunch at the camp/lodge, with morning and afternoon game drives included. The local Maasai people call the Serengeti “Siringet,” meaning “the land that goes on forever.” The vast stretches of grasslands, dotted with flat-topped Acacia trees, give the Serengeti its iconic “Out of Africa” feel.
Many consider the sunsets here to be the most breathtaking on Earth, as the sky transforms into shades of pink, purple, and orange before the sun sinks below the horizon. The dust stirred up by the migrating wildebeest and the looming rain clouds only enhance the dramatic beauty of the scene. It’s truly magical!
This morning, you also have the option to take a hot air balloon ride over the park. If you’ve pre-booked this activity, you’ll be picked up before sunrise and driven to the launch site. After a safety briefing, you’ll gently float through the early morning sky, sometimes at tree level, offering incredible photo opportunities. Occasionally, the balloon will rise higher, providing a breathtaking view of the expansive plains and the early movements of the herds. After landing, enjoy a delicious bush breakfast before heading back to your camp.
Accommodation Options:
Midrange: Serengeti Kati Kati Camp
Luxury: Serengeti Serena Lodge/Serengeti Sopa Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
There is nothing like awakening to the dawning colours of the sun breaking over the African plains. We may start the day with some early morning exploration before stopping for a safari breakfast. Then, it’s time to hop into our 4×4 and head toward the Ngorongoro Crater.
On the way, we’ll stop at one of the world’s most unique archeological sites—Olduvai Gorge. This is where Louis and Mary Leakey made the groundbreaking discovery of Homo habilis in 1960, one of the earliest human ancestors. You’ll have a tour of the site before continuing our journey to the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater.
As the largest intact caldera on Earth, this massive extinct volcano forms a self-contained ecosystem, home to over 30,000 animals, including big cats, elephants, gazelles, and zebras. This is where we’ll spend the next day exploring.
Besides the stunning views, you also have the option to visit a nearby Maasai boma, where for a small fee, you can learn about the culture and traditions of the indigenous Maasai people.
Accommodation Options:
Midrange: Rhoita Valley Tented Camp/ Ngorongoro farmhouse
Luxury: Ngorongoro Crater Lodge/Ngorongoro Serena Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After an early breakfast and a short walk along the crater rim (perfect for capturing dramatic photos of the crater), we’ll bid farewell to the friendly staff at the lodge and begin our journey back to Arusha in our 4×4 vehicle, with a lunch stop along the way. From there, we’ll head to Kilimanjaro International Airport for our flights home.
*Please note: Extensions to Zanzibar or parks in Kenya, Uganda, or Rwanda can be easily arranged. Feel free to get in touch with us for more information.
Accommodation: Not Included
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
Since 2016 our tour company offers 4×4 car hire, safari itineraries with accommodation and guided tours for group and the independent traveler in East African countries of Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania.
+256 703740870
+256 704 324 972
info@greenwaynaturetours.com