The Arusha northern circuit.
Nine private days from Mount Meru's coffee estates to the great plains of the Serengeti — Tarangire's elephant herds, the Ngorongoro Crater floor, and the cats of Seronera, all with your own guide and vehicle.
Duration
9 days · 8 nights
Parks
Arusha · Tarangire · Manyara · Ngorongoro · Serengeti
Style
Private guide & vehicle
Best season
June – October / January – March
Highlights
Signature moments
- —Dawn descent into the Ngorongoro Crater
- —Baobabs and elephant herds of Tarangire
- —Sunrise hot-air balloon over the Serengeti (optional)
- —Tree-climbing lions on the shores of Lake Manyara
- —Bush lunch beneath the fig trees of Momella
When to travel
2026 windows
Great migration · calving
January – March 2026
Southern Serengeti calving on the Ndutu plains
Dry season · classic
June – October 2026
Cool, dry, peak game viewing across the northern circuit
River crossings
July – September 2026
Grumeti and Mara crossings — book 9 months ahead
Private safaris depart every day of the year — we tailor to your calendar
Route
Day-by-day itinerary
- Day 1Legendary Lodge
Arusha
Arrival at Kilimanjaro International, private transfer to a colonial coffee-estate lodge in the shadow of Mount Meru. Briefing over dinner with your guide.
- Day 2Legendary Lodge
Arusha National Park
A gentle first game drive around Momella Lakes — flamingos, giraffe, colobus monkeys — with an optional canoe safari and a picnic under the fig trees.
- Day 3Sanctuary Swala
Arusha → Tarangire
Drive south to the Tarangire River. Afternoon among the baobabs and the largest elephant herds in northern Tanzania.
- Day 4Sanctuary Swala
Tarangire
Full-day exploration of the Silale swamps and a bush lunch. Sundowners on the escarpment as the herds return to water.
- Day 5The Manor at Ngorongoro
Tarangire → Lake Manyara → Karatu
Morning at Lake Manyara for tree-climbing lions and the alkaline lake shore, then up onto the highlands. Afternoon at leisure at the plantation.
- Day 6The Manor at Ngorongoro
Ngorongoro Crater
Dawn descent into the crater floor — black rhino, big cats and the endemic Grant's gazelle. Picnic lunch by Ngoitokitok Springs.
- Day 7Sanctuary Kichakani Camp
Ngorongoro → Central Serengeti
Cross the Ngorongoro highlands and drop onto the Serengeti plains. Afternoon game drive around Seronera — the leopard heartland.
- Day 8Sanctuary Kichakani Camp
Serengeti
Full day with the herds — timed to the migration where possible — and an optional sunrise hot-air balloon flight with champagne breakfast.
- Day 9Departure
Serengeti → Arusha
Morning game drive to the airstrip, light aircraft back to Arusha, connection to Kilimanjaro for onward flights or Zanzibar extension.
Ways to extend
—
Zanzibar
Four nights on the north coast at Mnemba or Matemwe — dhow sailing and reef days.
—
Selous & Ruaha
A southern-circuit tail for walking safaris and boat game viewing on the Rufiji.
—
Mount Kilimanjaro
Seven-day Machame or eight-day Lemosho routes with private summit team.
Design your Tanzania safari.
Hold your dates
Enquire about this tour.
Tell us who you're travelling with, roughly when, and how many places you need. A curator will reply within two working days.
Selected · Tanzania — Northern Circuit Safari