Overview
This 6-day itinerary, available on any departure date, covers three of Tanzania's most famous safari destinations: the Ngorongoro Crater, the Serengeti National Park, and Lake Manyara National Park.
It's built specifically for travelers looking for an affordable Tanzania safari that doesn't compromise on accommodation quality or vehicle standards — a genuinely solid, well-rounded introduction to the Northern Circuit's highlights.
See our safari cost guide, or contact us to book this itinerary.
Day 3-5
Day 1-3
Day 5-6
| 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 (6 days)
On arrival in Arusha, you will be met by your guide. After an introductory lunch, we start our Tanzania safari by driving to the Ngorongoro Highlands to the Ngorongoro Serena Lodge (or similar) where you check-in for the night.
The Ngorongoro Crater is recognized as a UNESCO-protected World Heritage Site and forms part of an international biosphere reserve. The crater measures approximately 300 sq km and measures about 19 km across. The floor of the crater is 600 meters below the rim, (which is over 2200 m.a.s.l), and is home to an abundance of wildlife including black rhino, lion, cheetah, buffalo, elephants, and a plethora of antelope species.
Today we will descend to the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater for a full-day explorative game drive tour. We take a picnic lunch and this will be served in the crater. Late in the afternoon, we ascend back to the rim and our lodge for dinner and overnight.
After breakfast, we head to the Olduvai Gorge – a renowned archeological site famous for some of the man’s earliest remains. From here we continue our Tanzania Safari to the world-famous Serengeti National Park, arriving at our lodge, the Serengeti Serena or similar, in time for lunch. This afternoon we take our first game drive safari into this wildlife haven. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
The Serengeti National Park has also been declared a World Heritage Site and covers over 14700 sq km of the prime African wilderness. It actually forms one ecosystem with Kenya’s neighboring Masai Mara Game Reserve, and plays an integral part in the annual wildebeest migration that moves in a circular fashion between itself and the Masai Mara (in Kenya).
Today we use the full day for a game drive safari in the Serengeti – a highlight of a Tanzania safari to many. To maximize our time in this African wonderland we again take picnic lunches with us that we will stop and enjoy at lunchtime. Dinner and overnight at a lodge in Serengeti.
After breakfast, we drive to Lake Manyara which is essentially a soda lake that forms part of the Great Rift Valley. We check-in at the Lake Manyara Serena or similar in time for lunch, and after lunch head out for an afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Famous for its tree-climbing lions, 77 % of this national park is taken up by the soda lake. The lake is a huge attraction to migratory birds and as such is an ornithologist's dream. The variety of habitats including swamp, savanna, and dense jungle give rise to an equally wide variety of African wildlife, including buffalo, elephant, leopard, baboon, impala, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, ostrich, and hippo. The national park is just 125 km from Arusha and is, therefore, our last stop in this Tanzania safari.
After breakfast, we drive back to Arusha in time for lunch at a restaurant, which marks the end of our Tanzania safari.
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.