Northern Circuit Classic — 7 Days

Comfort tier:

The definitive Tanzania safari. Seven unhurried days through the country’s four greatest parks, with private 4×4 game drives, expert guides and accommodation tiers to suit every traveller — from canvas camps to flagship lodges. We’ve designed the pace so that some afternoons are spent relaxing at the lodge, by the pool or on your private deck, while mornings and golden-hour drives are reserved for the most rewarding wildlife encounters.

What makes this journey unforgettable

Your journey, day by day

1

Arusha Arrival

You’ll be welcomed at Kilimanjaro International Airport by our team and driven to your Arusha base — about an hour through coffee plantations and small townships. The afternoon is yours to settle in, freshen up by the pool or stroll the lodge gardens. In the early evening your guide joins you for a relaxed briefing over a welcome drink, walking you through the route ahead and answering any questions before a quiet dinner.

Click to see the lodge description and photos in Arusha Coffee Lodge.

2

Tarangire National Park

After an early breakfast we drive south-west to Tarangire (about 2.5 hours), arriving in time for a long morning game drive among the park’s signature giant baobabs. Tarangire holds some of the largest elephant herds in East Africa, and the seasonal Tarangire River draws zebra, eland and predators. We picnic in the bush, then continue game-driving in the late afternoon when the light turns golden and the cats become active — returning to your lodge for a quiet sundowner and dinner.

Click to see the lodge description and photos in Arusha Coffee Lodge.

3

Lake Manyara to Karatu

The morning is spent in Lake Manyara’s lush groundwater forest, tracking the park’s famous tree-climbing lions and watching huge flamingo flocks turn the lake pink. After a leisurely picnic lunch we climb up into the cool Ngorongoro highlands, arriving at your Karatu lodge with the whole afternoon free to relax — many guests take a short coffee-farm walk, enjoy a spa treatment or simply rest by the fire before dinner.

Click to see the lodge description and photos in Arusha Coffee Lodge.

4

Karatu to Central Serengeti

We rise early and drive across the Crater Highlands and down onto the endless Serengeti plains — one of the most dramatic landscape transitions on the continent. Lunch is en route, and we arrive at our central Serengeti camp with time for an afternoon game drive in the wildlife-rich Seronera Valley, prime country for lion, leopard and cheetah. Return to camp for a hot shower, a fireside drink and dinner under the stars.

Click to see the lodge description and photos in Arusha Coffee Lodge.

5

Central Serengeti National Park

A full day in the Serengeti with the flexibility to follow the wildlife. We typically head out at sunrise with a packed breakfast for the best big-cat sightings, return to camp for a midday rest while the bush sleeps, then head out again for a golden-hour drive. During migration months (Dec–Mar in the south, Jul–Oct in the north) we time the day to maximise migration herd encounters.

Click to see the lodge description and photos in Arusha Coffee Lodge.

6

Ngorongoro Crater

An early start as we descend 600 metres into the Ngorongoro Crater — a collapsed volcanic caldera that hosts one of the densest concentrations of wildlife on Earth. Over a long morning we search the crater floor for the elusive black rhino, resident lion prides, hippos, buffalo and elephant. We picnic beside a hippo pool, ascend the rim by mid-afternoon, and the rest of the day is yours to relax with crater views from your lodge.

Click to see the lodge description and photos in Arusha Coffee Lodge.

7

Return to Arusha

A relaxed breakfast on the rim, then a scenic drive back to Arusha (about 3.5 hours) for lunch and final transfers. Depending on your onward flight time we can arrange a day room, a visit to a local cultural centre, or transfer you directly to Kilimanjaro Airport — or to Arusha airstrip for a connecting flight to Zanzibar for a beach extension.

Click to see the lodge description and photos in Arusha Coffee Lodge.

Pricing — Mid-Range

Season
Solo
2 Pax
4 Pax
6 Pax
Low Season
1 Apr – 31 May
$6840
$6840
$4890
$6840
High Season
4 Jan – 31 Mar • 1 Sep – 30 Nov
$8050
$5750
$4890
$4310
Peak Season
1 Jun – 31 Oct 2025 • 20 Dec – 4 Jan 2026
$9260
$6610
$5620
$4960