Northern Tanzania Classic Safari

The Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, and the classic northern circuit.

Countries
Tanzania
Duration
8 days · 7 nights
Best season
June through October (dry season) or January through March (calving in Serengeti)
Group size
2–6 guests
All mammal safaris
Overview

What this journey is about.

Northern Tanzania's parks form one of the most concentrated wildlife circuits in Africa. The Serengeti holds the wildebeest migration and the predator populations that follow it, the southern Ndutu plains are the calving grounds between January and March, producing predator-prey interaction at exceptional density.

The Ngorongoro Crater is a collapsed volcanic caldera that acts as a natural enclosure for resident populations of all the Big Five, including black rhino, one of the most reliable rhino-viewing sites in East Africa. Tarangire's baobab landscape shelters some of the largest elephant concentrations on the continent during dry season. Lake Manyara delivers tree-climbing lions and the alkaline lakeshore that draws flamingos.

Suitable for

First-time safari visitors, migration-focused travellers, guests wanting Big Five and rhino in a single itinerary

Highlights

What you can expect to see.

Wildebeest migration in the Serengeti (Ndutu plains January–March; western corridor June–July)

Black rhino in the Ngorongoro Crater

Elephant concentrations in Tarangire's baobab country

Tree-climbing lions in Lake Manyara

Destinations

Where this itinerary goes.

Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park

Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park

Day by day

The itinerary, one day at a time.

Tap any day to open it. Every day stays flexible in the field, this is the plan, not a constraint.

  1. Meet at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to Arusha. Route briefing and equipment check for the northern circuit.

What's included

Everything covered in the field.

Accommodation options and a full quotation follow your enquiry, they depend on your dates, party size, and preferred standard.

Professional Guide

A trained naturalist guide with you throughout, including species identification in the field.

Park & Reserve Fees

All national park, reserve, and conservancy entry fees for the parks on your itinerary.

4x4 Safari Transport

Private safari vehicle with pop-up roof, window seat guaranteed for every guest.

Meals in the Field

Full board while on safari, including picnic breakfasts and lunches on long game-drive days.

Airport Transfers

Arrival pick-up and departure drop-off at your agreed airport or railway station.

Photography Support

Vehicle positioning for light and angle, bean-bag support, and unhurried time at sightings.

Drinking Water

Bottled or filtered drinking water in the vehicle for the duration of the safari.

Flying-Doctor Cover

Emergency evacuation cover for the duration of your time in the field.

Not included
  • International flights and visa fees
  • Travel and medical insurance
  • Personal items, laundry, and drinks
  • Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
  • Tips and gratuities for guides and camp staff
  • Accommodation upgrades quoted separately

Accommodation options and a full quotation follow your enquiry, both depend on your dates and preferences.

Licensed East African operator. Emergency evacuation cover throughout.

Frequently Asked Questions

Before you enquire.

The questions guests most often ask about this kind of itinerary.

  • Yes. Every itinerary here is a starting point. Days can be added or removed, parks swapped, and the pace slowed down or tightened around what you most want to see.

Related journeys

Other wildlife journeys.

Kenya's Classic Mammal Safari
KenyaMammal Safari

Kenya's Classic Mammal Safari

Our flagship mammal expedition: fourteen days across northern, central, western and southern Kenya, built to fatten a mammal list rather than tick off a postcard.

14 days · 13 nights
2–6 guests
Start Planning

Let's plan your East African safari.

Whether you're planning your first safari or returning in search of rare wildlife, we'll design an experience tailored entirely around your interests, travel style, and schedule.