Detailed Itinerary – Great Northern Circuit 12 days
This is a popular safari choice because it allows visitors a chance to not just see everything, but also really enjoy it without feeling rushed. This safari itinerary is flexible enough to allow you to extend a day or two in one location, or change the order of parks you visit to suit your preferences.
Day 01: After breakfast with your picnic lunch, drive to Lake Manyara National park for game viewing, dinner and overnight at the Campsite/Lodge.
Top Attractions: Giraffes, Tree-top walk experience, bird life around the lake.
Day 02: After breakfast, drive to Serengeti National Park through Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Take in the beautiful scenery and experience a casual game drive en route, with and optional visit to the famous Olduvai Gorge excavation site. Dinner and overnight at the Campsite/Lodge.
Top Attractions: The Ngorongoro Highlands and seeing where the remains of some of the first humans were discovered here in Tanzania.
Day 03: Full-day game viewing in Serengeti, meals, and overnight at the Campsite/Lodge.
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.
Day 06:
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.
Day 07: After breakfast, go for a nature walk on the Ngorongoro highlands. Later drive to Lake Eyasi for dinner and overnight at a camp/lodge.
Day 08:
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: Morning game viewing in Tarangire National Park then drive to Arusha National Park through Arusha Town. Dinner and overnight at a camp/lodge.
Top Attractions: There is a very nice traditional craft market in Arusha town, if you want to pick up some souvenirs on the way.
Day 11: Walking Safari in Arusha National Park. Walk with an armed ranger in Arusha National Park, through the plains and up to a waterfall for a memorable experience. Continue with a game drive to other areas of Arusha National Park, such as the Momella Lakes or Ngurdoto Crater.
In the evening or late afternoon drive to the camp/lodge for dinner and overnight.
Top Attractions: Walk among zebras and giraffes for a walking safari, and see colobus monkeys in the trees and flamingos in the lakes.
Day 12: This day you may opt for a cultural tour near Arusha National Park villages before you proceed to the airport for onward flight, or, for the ultimate Tanzania experience, a beach excursion to Zanzibar.
End of tour.
Experience Tanzania with RA Expeditions Ltd, the Safari Experts in Tanzania
| prices valid for 2023-2024 | Camping | Standard | Premium |
| 2 ppl | $3305 | $4711 | $5535 |
| 4 ppl | $2509 | $3923 | $4748 |
| 6 ppl | $2243 | $3660 | $4485 |
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!