Tarangire & Lake Manyara
Tarangire’s baobabs and river valley hold strong elephant numbers in the dry months, and Manyara’s groundwater forest is good for primates and birds. Both are easy first stops from Arusha.
Tanzania
The Serengeti, the crater and the Indian Ocean
- Serengeti’s expansive wildlife country
- Ngorongoro Crater
- Tarangire and the northern circuit
- Nyerere, Ruaha and Zanzibar extensions
- Best time
- Jun–Oct, Jan–Feb
- Flight time
- 9–10 hrs from Europe
- Currency
- Tanzanian shilling
- Entry
- Visa or e-visa
Tanzania invites you to slow down and look a little longer. Explore the Serengeti, descend into Ngorongoro Crater, discover Tarangire or combine your safari with Zanzibar. For a different rhythm, consider the southern parks.
The Serengeti is vast. Where you stay and how you travel should follow your interests and the season. We’ll explain when a flight makes sense and when a road journey adds to the experience.
Distances and routing
The northern circuit — Tarangire, Lake Manyara, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro — sits within reach of Arusha and Kilimanjaro airport. The southern parks are far larger in distance and are usually linked by light aircraft.
Timing
When to travel to Tanzania
Months are a guide, not a guarantee. This is how the year usually behaves, and what it means for your dates.
Jan
Calving on southern plains
Feb
Ndutu predators, short grass
Mar
Rains build, herds move
Apr
Long rains, many camps shut
May
Green season, low demand
Jun
Dry season begins in the north
Jul
Migration in the north
Aug
River crossings, peak demand
Sep
North still superb
Oct
Dry, crowds thinning
Nov
Short rains, green hills
Dec
Warm, festive demand
Peak season Good Green / quiet
Long dry season (Jun–Oct)
Cool, clear mornings with highs around 26°C. The most reliable game viewing, and the most requested months.
Short dry season (Jan–Feb)
Warm and mostly dry on the southern plains, the window for calving season around Ndutu.
Rains (Mar–May, Nov)
Green season. Some camps close in April and May; rates ease and the light is beautiful.
Dry months (roughly June–October)
Generally the most reliable game viewing, with wildlife concentrated around water. The northern Serengeti is popular in these months.
Short dry spell (roughly January–February)
The southern Serengeti and Ndutu plains are the focus, with calving season attracting predators. Book well ahead.
Long rains (roughly March–May)
Green season with fewer travellers. Some camps and roads close; rates often ease. Conditions vary between regions.
Seasonal patterns shift year to year and differ within a country. We will tell you honestly what to expect for your dates rather than promise sightings.
Where to go
The regions worth knowing
You rarely need all of them. Two or three regions, connected sensibly, make a better journey than a long list.
The Serengeti
Central Seronera has resident wildlife year-round, the southern plains matter in the early months and the north comes into its own mid-year. Your month should decide where you stay.
Ngorongoro highlands
The crater is a compact wildlife amphitheatre reached by a steep descent. Nearby highland forest and villages add contrast to the plains.
Southern Tanzania
Nyerere and Ruaha are remote, quiet and best explored on foot and by boat as well as by vehicle. They suit travellers who have already seen the north or who want wilderness over traffic.
Zanzibar & the coast
Scheduled flights connect the northern circuit with Zanzibar for beach days, Stone Town and reef trips.
What you might see
Wildlife in Tanzania
No guide can promise a sighting. What we can do is put you in the right area, in the right month, with a guide who reads it daily.
The migration
Roughly 1.5 million wildebeest and zebra moving with the rains. Where they are depends on your month, not on a fixed route.
Ngorongoro Crater
Dense resident wildlife in a collapsed volcanic caldera, including black rhino and large lion prides.
Elephants of Tarangire
Baobab country holds some of East Africa's largest herds in the dry season, gathered along the river.
Southern wilderness
Nyerere and Ruaha offer wild dog, sable antelope and boat safaris with almost no other vehicles.
Practicalities
What to pack
Baggage is limited on light aircraft, and laundry is usually included on safari. Pack lighter than you think.
- Layers for cold crater mornings and hot afternoons
- Dust-proof camera bag and cleaning cloth
- Binoculars, a wide lens and a long lens
- Sun hat, sunglasses, factor-50 sun cream
- Insect repellent for Tarangire and the coast
- Soft bag for light-aircraft transfers
- Modest clothing for Stone Town and villages
- Refillable water bottle and oral rehydration salts
Safaris we plan
Tanzania journeys
These are the shapes we work from. Take one as it stands, or tell us what to change — most travellers do.
Tanzania · Private safari
Tanzania’s Classic Safari
Tarangire → Serengeti → Ngorongoro
Proposed level: Midrange to luxury
Tanzania · Private safari
Northern Circuit Discovery
Tarangire → Lake Manyara → Serengeti → Ngorongoro
Proposed level: Midrange
Tanzania · Private safari
Ndutu Calving-Season Journey
Ndutu → Serengeti → Ngorongoro
Proposed level: Luxury
Tanzania · Private safari
Northern Serengeti Migration
Tarangire → Central Serengeti → Northern Serengeti
Proposed level: Luxury
Tanzania · Private safari
Tanzania Family Discovery
Tarangire → Serengeti → Ngorongoro
Proposed level: Midrange to luxury
Tanzania · Private safari
Wildlife & Island Days
Tarangire → Serengeti → Ngorongoro → Zanzibar
Proposed level: Midrange to luxury
Tanzania · Private safari
Tanzania Honeymoon Journey
Tarangire → Serengeti → Ngorongoro → Zanzibar
Proposed level: Ultra-luxury
Tanzania · Private safari
Mkomazi Rhino & Northern Wildlife
Mkomazi → Arusha National Park → Tarangire
Proposed level: Midrange
Tanzania · Private safari
Ngorongoro Highlands & Lake Natron Walking Journey
Ngorongoro Highlands → Lake Natron
Proposed level: Midrange to luxury
Tanzania · Private safari
Saadani & the Swahili Coast
Saadani → Pangani
Proposed level: Midrange to luxury
Tanzania · Private safari
Usambara Forests & Amani Discovery
Usambara Mountains → Amani
Proposed level: Midrange
Routes are proposed for your dates rather than fixed departures. Accommodation is described by level, not by property, and no rates are published.
Travel your way
Styles that suit this country
- Classic northern-circuit private safaris
- Migration-focused journeys matched to your month
- Family safaris with shorter driving days
- Safari and Zanzibar beach combinations
- Walking and fly-camping in the southern parks
Before you book
Tanzania questions
Where do journeys start?
Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha. The northern circuit begins with a road transfer from there.
How long do I need?
Five days covers Tarangire, the Serengeti and the crater at a brisk pace. Eight to ten days allows a slower rhythm or the southern parks.
Are internal flights needed?
For the Serengeti and the south, usually yes. Flights save long driving days and let you spend more time in the parks.
Is the crater suitable for everyone?
The descent is steep and the day can be long. Families with young children and travellers with mobility concerns should discuss alternatives with us.
What about entry and health requirements?
Check your government’s travel advice and Tanzania’s official immigration and health guidance before travelling. Requirements can change.
Where is the migration?
It moves with the rains through the year, broadly between the southern plains and the north. We plan your stay around where the herds are expected in your month, without promising a crossing.
Can we combine with Zanzibar?
Yes. It is one of the most straightforward safari-and-beach combinations, with direct flights from Arusha and the Serengeti.
Do you offer group departures?
Group joining depends on confirmed shared departures. Where none are confirmed, we plan private journeys and explain the options honestly.
