Great Northern Circuit Highlights – 10 Days

This is a great itinerary for those looking for a taste of Tanzanian and want to see all of the top parks in the Northern Circuit.

Detailed Itinerary – Great Northern Highlights 10 days

Day 1: Manyara National Park Tour

Approx 0800hrs: Drive from your accommodations in Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park for a game drive. This park also has a tree-top walk experience and boasts special tree-climbing lions.

Overnight and dinner at a nearby camp or lodge.

Top Attractions: Hippos, giraffes, and excellent bird viewing.

Day 2: Drive to Serengeti National Park via Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Optional visit to Olduvai Gorge enroute.

Approx 0800 hrs: Drive to Serengeti National Park. There is ample wildlife viewing and beautiful scenery as you drive through the Ngorongoro Highlands to Serengeti National Park.

Top Attractions: Have a break at Olduvai Gorge and see where evidence of the first humans was discovered.

Overnight and Dinner at accommodation in Serengeti National Park.

Day 3: Full-day Serengeti National Park Tour

Approx 0800 hrs: Begin game drive through Serengeti National Park toward the Grumeti River. See river crossings for some fantastic photo opportunities and witness first-hand the wonder of nature in this largest movement of animals in the world. 

Dinner and overnight at your preferred camp or lodge.

Top Attractions: River Crossings and the Great Migration, depending on the time of year.

Day 4: Full-day Serengeti National Park Tour

Serengeti National Park is huge! You’re surely not going to be disappointed having several days to watch the world-famous Great Migration or spend time in the Serengeti Woodlands or the Retina Hippo Pool the next. 

Dinner and overnight at your preferred camp or lodge.

Top Attractions: Stunning game viewing in Serengeti: from the famous Serengeti migrations to the endless grasslands. You’ll feel like you stepped back into time, or into a real-life Lion King.

Day 5: Half-day in Serengeti National Park, with a drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Approx 0800 hrs: A half-day to see more of Serengeti National park. See the animals grazing in the picturesque Seronera area. Continue on to the Ngorongoro Conservation area, passing through scenic African landscapes as you drive.

Overnight and dinner at your preferred accommodations near Ngorongoro Crater.

Top Attractions: Depart early for the best chance of seeing cheetahs on the prowl.

Day 6: Game drive in Ngorongoro Crater. 

After an early breakfast, depart for Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Descend to Crater Floor and take in herds of zebras and wildebeest grazing happily, even with lions sitting lazily in the tall grass. Enjoy a picnic lunch at the Hippo Pool. After lunch, continue your game viewing in the largest intact volcanic caldera in the world, if you’re lucky you might see a Black Rhino, too.

Overnight and dinner at your preferred accommodations near Ngorongoro Crater.

Top Attractions: The largest density of animals, per square meter in the world is within this famous volanic caldera! You’ll see lions, hippos, rhinos, wildebeest, elands, zebras, ostriches, elephants and many many more animals during your drive in Ngorongoro Crater.

Day 7: Nature Walk or Visit to Ngorongro Highlands, half-day drive to Lake Eyasi.

Instead of rushing from place to place, take some time to enjoy the area; hike in the Ngorongro Highlands or enjoy a quiet nature trail, offered by many of the lodges or camps near Ngorongoro. After lunch, depart to Lake Eyasi.

Overnight and dinner at your preferred accommodations in Lake Eyasi.

Top Attractions: Enjoying the birds within the forests of the Ngorongo Highlands and the beautiful scenery on the way to Lake Eyasi.

Day 8: Half-day in Serengeti National Park, with a drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

06:30: Early morning departure for hunting and gathering with Hadzabe Bushmen. See how they track animals, use a bow and arrow for hunting and locate honey in the wild. Picinic lunch, then drive to Tarangire National Park.

Overnight and dinner at your preferred accommodations near Tarangire National Park.

Top Attractions: Experience one of the unique tribes in Tanzania, and learn about survival from some of the last true “bushmen” remaining on earth.

Day 9: Full day game viewing in Tarangire National Park.

Approx 0800 hrs: Depart for a game drive in Tarangire National Park. See the ancient baobab trees and impressive Tarangire River which invites many animals, especially during dry seasons.

Overnight and dinner at your preferred accommodations near Tarangire National Park.

Top Attractions: Large families of elephants that make Tarangire home, and predators like lions and cheetahs that hunt near the river.

Day 10: Half-day in Tarangire National Park, then drive to Arusha. Morning game viewing in Tarangire National Park then drive to Arusha Town. Depending on your plans you may stay a night or transfer to the airport for onward flight.

End of tour.

Experience Tanzania with RA Expeditions Ltd, the Safari Experts in Tanzania

Note the following:

• The accommodations can be on the basis of Basic Camping (public or private), Permanent Tented Camps, Luxury Mobile Camping, or Lodges (standard to luxury). The accommodations may also vary depending on the locations of good game viewing from season to season. When we know your travel dates we will advise accordingly.
• If you wish to fly from Arusha to Serengeti or Serengeti to Arusha this is possible and we will customize the itinerary accordingly.
• This itinerary can be customized to cover only Ngorongoro and Serengeti or Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Serengeti.
• If you like us to arrange your accommodations for the night (s) before and after safari please let us know.
• If you are arriving at Kilimanjaro/Arusha Airport or in Arusha by shuttle bus let us know so we can arrange meeting you on arrival to make things even smoother.
• We will be happy to know your travel plans so we can customize this itinerary or any other itinerary for you. We are a full service company and we will be able to take care of all accommodations: before safari, on safari and after safari; airport and hotel transfers; and internal/regional flights.
• Click here for packing list. Camping and lodge safari have almost same packing list but in case you have questions let us know.
• This itinerary can also be extended (number of days and/or parks/activities) to cover other parks in the northern circuit, Kilimanjaro trek, Meru trek, Oldongo Lengai trek, Usambara Mountains, Zanzibar/Mafia/Dar beach holiday, Southern parks or western safari parks, or either way depending on your needs.

Its always an adventure!