10 Days
10 Days - Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Lake Natron, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Eyasi
This immersive Tanzanian safari begins in the legendary landscapes of Tarangire, home to vast elephant herds and ancient baobab trees, before venturing to the diverse shores of Lake Manyara to seek out its famed tree-climbing lions. The journey then leads to the dramatic scenery of Lake Natron for hikes among vibrant flamingo flocks, followed by an extended exploration of the Central Serengeti — a renowned sanctuary for big cats. After witnessing the unparalleled wildlife density within the Ngorongoro Crater, you’ll connect with the ancient cultures of the Hadzabe and Datoga tribes at Lake Eyasi, providing a profound conclusion before returning to Arusha.
Tour Highlights
Six Iconic Destinations
The most complete Northern Circuit itinerary we offer — Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Lake Natron, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Lake Eyasi.
Lake Natron’s Otherworldly Scenery
A blood-red soda lake beneath Ol Doinyo Lengai, and East Africa’s most important flamingo breeding site.
Extended Serengeti Time
Two full days immersed in Central Serengeti’s big cat territory.
Hadzabe & Datoga Culture
A profound cultural conclusion at Lake Eyasi, home to one of the last hunter-gatherer societies on Earth.
Day by Day
Arusha to Tarangire
Pick up at 7:30am from your hotel in Arusha and depart for Tarangire National Park with a picnic lunch for a full-day game drive. Tanzania’s third-largest national park is known for its majestic baobab trees, dwarfing the animals that feed beneath them, and the Tarangire River — famous for some of the largest elephant herds in Africa. Watch for lion, leopard, cheetah, lesser kudu, buffalo, oryx, eland, giraffe, and zebra. Dinner and overnight at your camp/lodge.
Lake Manyara
Depart for Lake Manyara National Park, a compact but remarkably diverse park set against the Rift Valley wall — famous for tree-climbing lions resting in its acacia trees, large herds of elephant and buffalo, and over 400 bird species along the lake shore. Dinner and overnight in Karatu.
Lake Natron
Journey through dramatic Rift Valley scenery to Lake Natron, a blood-red soda lake beneath Ol Doinyo Lengai — the volcano the Maasai call the Mountain of God — and East Africa’s most important breeding site for lesser flamingos. An afternoon walk to the Engare Sero waterfalls offers a swim in natural pools before dinner and overnight.
Lake Natron to Central Serengeti
Depart Lake Natron for the Serengeti’s eastern reaches, arriving in time for an afternoon game drive across the plains — lion, elephant, and the first vast herds of the ecosystem’s resident wildlife. Dinner and overnight in the Serengeti.
Central Serengeti
Two full days exploring the Serengeti’s diverse terrain — riverine forests, granite kopjes, and open grasslands — with the Seronera area’s resident lion, leopard, and cheetah populations delivering some of the most reliable big-cat sightings on the circuit, alongside sundowner drinks at a scenic viewpoint as the light turns gold.
Central Serengeti to Ngorongoro
Depart the Serengeti and climb into the Ngorongoro Highlands, arriving at a lodge on the crater rim in time to watch the sun set over one of Africa’s most spectacular natural amphitheaters.
Ngorongoro Crater Tour (5 hours) to Lake Eyasi
Descend 600 meters onto the crater floor for a five-hour game drive among the Big Five and the endangered black rhino, before continuing on to Lake Eyasi — home to the Hadzabe, one of the last hunter-gatherer societies on Earth, and the Datoga, a community of skilled blacksmiths and pastoralists.
Lake Eyasi to Arusha
An early-morning opportunity to join Hadzabe hunters on a traditional bushcraft walk, or visit a Datoga homestead to see their blacksmithing traditions firsthand, before the drive back to Arusha for your onward journey.
What's Included
- Accommodation during the safari (lodges or tented camps as per itinerary)
- All park entry fees and government taxes
- Professional English-speaking driver guide
- Private 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof for excellent game viewing
- Daily meals — breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Bottled drinking water during game drives
- Game drives in Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater
- Crater service fee
- Airport or Arusha hotel transfers (before and after safari)
What's Not Included
- International and domestic flights
- Tanzania visa fees
- Travel insurance and personal medical expenses
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Tips and gratuities for guide and camp staff
- Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary (e.g., Maasai village visit, hot air balloon ride)
- Personal expenses such as souvenirs, laundry, and phone calls
