9-day Northern Circuit safari
Highlights
- Private safari with your own Wildecho Exped guide
- Walking safari in Arusha National Park with an armed ranger
- Tarangire: home of giants and baobabs
- Lake Manyara: tree-climbing lions and flamingos
- Ngorongoro Crater: World Heritage Site and black rhinos
- Three full days in Central Serengeti (Seronera)
- Great Migration and big cats
- Optional Zanzibar extension
Your safari at a glance
This 9-day safari is the complete northern Tanzania.
Start with a walking safari in Arusha National Park, see giant elephants in Tarangire and tree-climbing lions at Lake Manyara, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, and finish with three full days in the Serengeti.
If you wish, we can extend your trip to Zanzibar after the safari.
Detailed itinerary
- DAY1
Arrival: Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha
Welcome to Tanzania. Your Wildecho Exped driver will be waiting at the airport with a sign bearing your name and will take you to your hotel in Arusha to relax. In the evening, your guide gives you a short briefing about the safari ahead. Enjoy the pool, garden, bar and restaurant.
Overnight: Hotel in ArushaLunch, dinner & breakfast - DAY2
Walking safari in Arusha National Park
Arusha National Park is one of the most beautiful small parks in Tanzania, from the rainforest slopes of Mount Meru to the Momella Lakes and open savannah. With an armed ranger, walk for about 1.5 hours through acacia bushland, seeing giraffes, bushbuck, warthogs and buffalo from 20–30 metres away. Then continue by Land Cruiser to the Momella Lakes for flamingos, hornbills, ibises, pelicans and more than 200 bird species.
Overnight: Hotel in ArushaDinner & breakfast - DAY3
Arusha to Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, drive to Tarangire National Park. The Tarangire River draws giraffes, zebras, antelopes and buffalo to drink, and with them many lions. In the dry season, large herds of elephants gather here: Tarangire has one of the largest elephant populations in northern Tanzania. The park is also famous for its huge, ancient baobab trees.
Overnight: Tented lodge in TarangireDinner & breakfast - DAY4
Tarangire to Lake Manyara National Park
Visit Lake Manyara National Park. From about April to November, huge flocks of flamingos can gather on the shores and turn the lake pink from afar. With more than 400 bird species, it is one of the best birding spots in Tanzania. You will also see giraffes, elephants, warthogs, zebras and Manyara's famous tree-climbing lions.
Overnight: Hotel in KaratuDinner & breakfast - DAY5
Ngorongoro Crater to the Serengeti
After an early breakfast, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, one of the largest intact volcanic calderas in the world, formed about 2 million years ago. Look for elephants, buffalo, lions, cheetahs, zebras and the endangered black rhino. Enjoy a picnic lunch near the Hippo Pool, then drive to the Serengeti in the afternoon.
Overnight: Tented lodge in SerengetiLunch, dinner & breakfast - DAY6
Serengeti National Park: Seronera
A day in Central Serengeti, around Seronera. The Serengeti, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to millions of animals. Lions, elephants, giraffes, buffalo, zebras and antelopes are almost certain, with a good chance of cheetahs, servals and other rare animals. Raw, wild and real.
Overnight: Tented lodge in SerengetiLunch, dinner & breakfast - DAY7
Full day in the Serengeti: Seronera
Explore more of Central Serengeti. Your guide takes you to new spots to find the animals you most want to see. Seronera is a great area for leopards, servals and caracals, and with a full day there is time to search and wait for the perfect moment.
Overnight: Tented lodge in SerengetiLunch, dinner & breakfast - DAY8
Serengeti morning game drive to Arusha
Your final morning in the Serengeti. Every day is different: yesterday's lazy lions might be hunting today. Visit the famous kopjes, granite outcrops where animals rest in the shade. Before midday, start the drive back to Arusha through Ngorongoro, with chances to see baboons, elephants and cheetahs, and a picnic lunch on the way. Arrive in Arusha by dinner.
Overnight: Hotel in ArushaDinner & breakfast - DAY9
Departure: Kilimanjaro Airport
After breakfast, we transfer you to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight. If you would like to continue to Zanzibar, just tell us and Wildecho Exped will arrange everything.
5-day Maasai & Ngorongoro safari
Culture, a highland hike and wildlife in a short trip: a Maasai boma visit, the Olemagrut hike, a full day in the crater and Tarangire.
5-day Serengeti flying safari
Fly straight into the Serengeti, spend two days with the big cats, then float over the plains in a hot air balloon at sunrise.
6-day Ndutu calving season safari
Timed for the calving season: thousands of wildebeest calves are born at Ndutu, and the big cats are never far away.