Overview
This 5-day budget camping safari covers three of the Northern Circuit's classic parks: Lake Manyara National Park, known for its birdlife and predator sightings; the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with its wildlife-dense crater; and the Serengeti, offering some of the widest variety of animals anywhere in Tanzania.
Camping accommodation throughout keeps this itinerary genuinely affordable, making it a strong option for travelers who want real access to the Northern Circuit's highlights without lodge-level pricing.
See our budget safari cost guide, or contact us to book this itinerary.
Day 2-4
Day 4-5
Day 1-2
| Accommodation | Confirmed together with you — see the Rates tab for general comfort levels we work with. |
|---|---|
| Meals | Full board on safari days; meals as specified for any city/beach nights, per your final itinerary. |
Day by Day (5 days)
You will be met at the reception of your hotel in Arusha and driven to the Lake Manyara National Park. Not only is this park a bird-lover’s paradise with over 400 species of birds, but is also home to primates such as baboons and blue monkeys and many herbivores, such as elephants, hippos, wildebeests, impalas, and giraffes. You might even catch a glimpse of the carnivorous inhabitants, such as leopards and lions. . After extensive game viewing, you will leave the park and head to Kizumba Camp Site for dinner and overnight. The camp is located at the top of the East African Rift Valley.
After the breakfast plates have been cleared, you will continue towards the fertile highland where wheat, coffee, and corn are grown by the Iraqw people. Passing through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you will be able to see the breath-taking Ngorongoro Crater viewpoint before traveling onward to the Serengeti National Park which you will reach by midday. You have the chance for an evening game drive in the Park. Your overnight will be at the Seronera Nyani Campsite area in central Serengeti.
Today, you will explore the Serengeti National Park in a full-day game drive. Your guide will take you closer to where the wildebeest migrating herds are to be found. During the short rainy season in November and December, the herds make their way from the hills in the north to the plains of the south, returning north during the longer rainy season from April to June. Lurking close by, you might even spot some leopards, cheetahs, and lions. After an eventful day you will return to your campsite for dinner and an overnight stay.
In the early morning, you will set out on another game drive in the Serengeti before continuing towards the Ngorongoro Crater. Soon the 600 meters deep unbroken caldera will open up before you and you will have a moment to take in the fantastic, awe-inspiring views of the collapsed volcano. Your campsite lies directly on the crater’s edge, offering a once-in-a-lifetime view as the sun slowly sets over the crater. Dinner and overnight stay will be at Simba- A campsite.
Early in the morning, you will head down the forested slopes into the crater on a steep and narrow path. The crater floor is covered in open grassland with the occasional acacia tree and two small wooded areas. You will be able to see many animals in a short period of time and might even be able to tick the “Big Five” – lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard – off your list. You will spend the entire morning exploring the park and after a picnic lunch in the crater, you will return to Arusha where you will arrive by early evening. END OF THE TOUR.
Rates Per Person
See "Accommodation & Meals" on the Overview tab for the general comfort levels available — send us your dates and group size for an exact quote.
Next: Inclusions →Inclusions
Included
- Private vehicle with your own driver-guide
- Park entry and conservation fees
- Accommodation as specified in your itinerary
- Meals as specified per day (full board on safari days)
- Airport pickup and drop-off
Excluded
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
Getting There
Tour Start & End
This trip starts in Serengeti National Park and ends in Lake Manyara National Park.
Airport Information
Kilimanjaro International Airport and Mwanza Airport are the most common arrival points, depending on your route.
Transfer Information
Airport pickup and all transfers between destinations are included and arranged by our team.
Accommodation Before/After
Need a night in Mwanza or Arusha before or after this trip? We can arrange that on request.