Tanzania's Northern Circuit — The Greatest Safari on Earth

Tanzania's northern circuit is the most famous safari route in the world — and for good reason. No other 200-mile stretch of road offers this density of wildlife, this variety of landscapes, and this consistency of spectacle. The Serengeti alone holds more large mammals than anywhere else on Earth.

If it is your first safari, your tenth, or your fiftieth, the northern circuit delivers. It is the benchmark against which all other safaris are measured.

• Serengeti National Park — The crown jewel. 1.5 million wildebeest, the Great Migration, and the highest predator density on Earth.
• Ngorongoro Crater — A collapsed volcanic caldera with the densest wildlife population in Africa. The Big Five in a single day is almost guaranteed.
• Tarangire National Park — Elephants, baobabs, and birdlife. The dry season concentrates wildlife along the Tarangire River.
• Lake Manyara National Park — Tree-climbing lions, flamingos, and groundwater forest. A perfect half-day stop.
• Arusha National Park — Canoe safaris, walking tours, and views of Mount Meru. Often skipped but worth a visit.

7-8 days:

• Day 1: Arrive Arusha
• Day 2: Tarangire (2-3 hour drive from Arusha)
• Day 3: Tarangire to Ngorongoro
• Day 4: Full day in Ngorongoro Crater
• Day 5-7: Serengeti (2-3 days)
• Day 8: Fly Serengeti to Arusha or Zanzibar

Add Manyara as a half-day en route to Ngorongoro. Add Arusha National Park for an active start.

• June-October: Dry season, migration in the north, perfect weather
• January-March: Calving season in the south, green landscapes, predator action
• November-December: Short rains, fewer crowds, lower prices
• April-May: Long rains, heavy but brief, excellent value

Most northern circuit safaris start in Arusha — a 1-hour drive from Kilimanjaro International Airport. From Arusha, you drive to Tarangire, Ngorongoro, and the Serengeti. The Serengeti has airstrips for fly-in/fly-out options.

The northern circuit is famous because it is unbeatable. There is no better introduction to African wildlife, no more reliable place to see the Big Five, and no landscape more iconic than the Serengeti at sunset.

Plan your northern circuit safari with us.