Tanzania · 6 days · 5 nights

Northern Circuit Discovery

Tarangire → Lake Manyara → Serengeti → Ngorongoro

Northern Circuit Discovery links Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro over 6 days — a moving route with several changes of landscape. It suits travellers who would like a thoughtful mix of game viewing, comfortable camps and time to be still, with the pacing adjusted in your proposal.

A note from your safari desk

This is how we would run the route for a first visit, not a fixed package. We hold two things firm — the pace of the days and the driving times — and stay flexible on camps until we know what matters to your party. Send us your dates and we will come back with a version written for you, with the trade-offs explained plainly.

Take Me There Safaris · Safari desk, Nairobi

What this journey is about

Tarangire
Game drives among Tarangire’s baobabs and river valley, following elephants along the water.
Lake Manyara
Game drives through Lake Manyara’s groundwater forest, looking for elephant and primates.
Serengeti
Full days of game drives on the Serengeti plains, tracking whatever the season has brought to the area.
Ngorongoro
A descent into the Ngorongoro Crater with a picnic lunch, exploring the crater floor.

The route

Stop 1
Tarangire
Stop 2
Lake Manyara
Stop 3
Serengeti
Stop 4
Ngorongoro

Route order as travelled. This is a schematic of the sequence, not a scale map — driving times are given in the itinerary.

The route on a map

4 stops · drag and zoom to explore

Loading map…

01Tarangire
02Lake Manyara
03Serengeti
04Ngorongoro

Pins mark the regions in travelling order, not exact camps or lodges. Driving times are given in the day-by-day plan above.

Day by day

6 days · 5 nights, totalling exactly the advertised nights

Day01Arrive and settle into TarangireTarangire · overnight Tarangire
You are met on arrival and driven to your first camp. Depending on your flight time, there is a first evening drive or simply time to settle in. Game drives among Tarangire’s baobabs and river valley, following elephants along the water.
Transfers
Met at Kilimanjaro (JRO) or Arusha (ARK), then a transfer of approximately 2 hours by road from Arusha.
Meals
Dinner
Overnight
Tarangire
Pace
Light — settle in, with one short drive if your flight allows
From the safari desk: Send us your flight number before you travel. If you land after 15:00 we move any first drive to the following morning rather than rush you into the park tired.
Day02On to Lake ManyaraLake Manyara · overnight Lake Manyara
After breakfast you travel on to Lake Manyara. The afternoon is kept light: Game drives through Lake Manyara’s groundwater forest, looking for elephant and primates.
Transfers
approximately 2 hours by road from Arusha.
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Overnight
Lake Manyara
Pace
Half a day in the vehicle, then an afternoon drive
From the safari desk: Where the road allows it we plan the drive to arrive before lunch, so the afternoon is a proper game drive rather than a rushed arrival at dusk.
Day03On to SerengetiSerengeti · overnight Serengeti
After breakfast you travel on to Serengeti. The afternoon is kept light: Full days of game drives on the Serengeti plains, tracking whatever the season has brought to the area.
Transfers
a scenic drive from the Ngorongoro highlands, or a scheduled flight to a Serengeti airstrip.
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Overnight
Serengeti
Pace
Half a day in the vehicle, then an afternoon drive
From the safari desk: Where the road allows it we plan the drive to arrive before lunch, so the afternoon is a proper game drive rather than a rushed arrival at dusk.
Day04Serengeti — full daySerengeti · overnight Serengeti
Morning and afternoon drives from camp, with the middle of the day free to rest.
Transfers
No long transfer today; game viewing from camp.
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Overnight
Serengeti
Pace
Two game drives with a long midday rest
From the safari desk: We go out at first light and again from about 16:00, when the light and the movement are at their best. The middle of the day belongs to you: the pool, a long lunch and your notes.
Day05On to Ngorongoro highlandsNgorongoro · overnight Ngorongoro highlands
After breakfast you travel on to Ngorongoro. The afternoon is kept light: A descent into the Ngorongoro Crater with a picnic lunch, exploring the crater floor.
Transfers
approximately 2 hours by road from Karatu or the Serengeti.
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Overnight
Ngorongoro highlands
Pace
Half a day in the vehicle, then an afternoon drive
From the safari desk: Where the road allows it we plan the drive to arrive before lunch, so the afternoon is a proper game drive rather than a rushed arrival at dusk.
Day06DepartureNgorongoro highlands · onward travel
Your guide sees you to the airport in good time for check-in. If your international flight leaves late in the day, a day room or an extra night can be arranged.
Transfers
A final morning at camp, then a transfer of approximately 2 hours by road from Karatu or the Serengeti to Arusha or Kilimanjaro for your onward flight.
Meals
Breakfast
Overnight
Onward travel
Pace
Morning only, then onward travel
From the safari desk: We confirm your transfer time the evening before against the live flight schedule, and build in a buffer for road conditions. Late departures can keep a day room.

Transfer times are estimates and depend on road and weather conditions. Flight connections on arrival day are checked before we confirm the first night; if your flight cannot connect comfortably we will suggest an extra night.

Included

Meet-and-greet and road or light-aircraft transfers as shown in the itinerary
Private safari vehicle with a professional guide for the safari days
Accommodation as proposed, on the meal basis shown for each day
Park, reserve and conservancy fees for the areas on the route
Drinking water in the vehicle and game drives as scheduled
Planning by a safari consultant before you travel

Not included

International flights and any flights not listed in the itinerary
Visas, entry fees and travel insurance
Optional experiences such as balloon flights, mokoro trips, scenic flights and spa treatments
Gorilla and chimpanzee permits unless the proposal states otherwise
Drinks, laundry, tips and personal spending
Anything not listed in the inclusions

When to travel

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.

Good to know

Style: Private safari. Private journeys include your own vehicle and guide on safari days.
Accommodation level: proposed midrange. Specific properties are offered privately in your proposal — we do not name properties or publish rates here.
Group joining: shared departures are only offered once confirmed. This route is planned privately for your party.
Children: many camps welcome families, but room configurations, drive lengths and activity minimum ages vary. Share each child’s age at travel so we can check.
Accessibility: tell us about mobility needs and we will say honestly which camps and activities can accommodate them.
Arrival and departure: enter via Kilimanjaro (JRO) or Arusha (ARK); depart from Arusha or Kilimanjaro. Transfers are by road as shown.

Questions about this journey

Can we change the route or the number of nights?

Yes. Every journey here is a starting point. Add a night in one place, drop another, or finish at the coast — tell us what you would prefer in the enquiry.

Is this itinerary confirmed as available?

Not yet. It is a proposed route and is checked against your dates, camp availability and seasonal conditions before it is offered as confirmed.

Can we add a balloon flight or another optional experience?

Often, yes — subject to availability and weather. Balloon flights, extra permits and scenic flights are quoted separately and never assumed in the base arrangement.

Will we see every animal mentioned?

No. Wildlife moves freely and sightings cannot be guaranteed. We plan routes where the chances are good for the season, and we will always be straight with you about that.