8-Day Tanzania Northern Circuit Safari | Arusha, Tarangire, Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro

Your epic Tanzania safari begins with a convenient pick-up from your Arusha hotel around 08:00 AM. Today, you'll head straight to Arusha National Park, a captivating gem located at the foothills of Mount Meru, offering a unique introduction to Tanzania's diverse ecosystems.

• Morning Game Viewing: Explore the park's varied habitats, including the Momella Lakes (often dotted with flamingos) and the lush montane forests. Arusha National Park is renowned for its graceful giraffes, herds of buffalo, zebras, and especially for its playful black and white colobus monkeys and blue monkeys. Enjoy a classic game drive from your comfortable 4x4 safari vehicle.
• Picnic Lunch: A delicious picnic lunch will be served within the park, allowing you to immerse yourself in the serene natural surroundings.
• Afternoon Return to Arusha: In the afternoon, after a fulfilling day of wildlife viewing, you will drive back to Arusha town.
• Dinner & Overnight in Arusha: Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at Bright Star Hotel (or similar), preparing for the adventures ahead.

After a hearty breakfast at your Arusha accommodation around 08:00 AM, your journey continues south to Tarangire National Park. This magnificent park is celebrated for its iconic baobab trees and boasts one of the highest concentrations of elephants in Africa.

• Full-Day Game Drive: Upon arrival, immediately embark on an exhilarating full-day game drive through Tarangire's diverse landscapes. Witness enormous herds of African elephants, along with lions, leopards, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and various antelope species. The permanent Tarangire River serves as a vital water source, attracting a remarkable array of wildlife, especially during the dry season.
• Picnic Lunch: Enjoy a delicious picnic lunch amidst the stunning savannah landscapes, listening to the sounds of the bush.
• Dinner & Overnight: As dusk settles, you will proceed to your chosen accommodation for a relaxing evening, shower, dinner, and overnight stay.
  • Jua Public Campsite: For an authentic, immersive camping experience under the vast African sky.
  • Bougainvillea Safari Lodge: For comfortable rooms, modern amenities, and a relaxing lodge atmosphere.

After breakfast, your safari journey continues to the picturesque Lake Manyara National Park. This relatively compact park, nestled at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, offers incredible biodiversity within a small area.

• Full-Day Game Viewing: Spend your day on a captivating game drive in Lake Manyara. This park is famous for its elusive tree-climbing lions, a rare behavioral trait often observed here. You'll also encounter large troops of inquisitive baboons, graceful giraffes, sturdy buffalo, and hippos in the lake. The alkaline lake itself is a spectacle, often painted pink by thousands of flamingos (seasonal) and other vibrant water birds.
• Picnic Lunch: A delightful picnic lunch will be served at a scenic spot within the park.
• Dinner & Overnight: In the late afternoon, you will drive back to the same general area for another night, allowing for a relaxed evening.
  • Kizumba Public Campsite: Continue your authentic camping experience.
  • Bougainvillea Safari Lodge: Enjoy another comfortable night at the lodge.

After your breakfast, prepare for an epic journey as you drive towards the legendary Serengeti National Park, arguably the most famous wildlife sanctuary in the world. The drive itself is part of the adventure, offering changing landscapes as you head deeper into the heart of Tanzania's wild.

• Scenic Drive & En Route Wildlife: Enjoy the panoramic views as you traverse through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, potentially spotting Maasai villages and wildlife en route, towards the Serengeti's expansive plains.
• Afternoon Serengeti Game Drive: Upon entering the Serengeti National Park, immediately begin your thrilling afternoon game drive. Explore the vast, endless plains, renowned for their incredible predator population including lions, leopards, and cheetahs, and immense herds of wildebeest and zebras (especially during the Great Migration season).
• Picnic Lunch: A convenient picnic lunch will be served in a suitable location within the park.
• Dinner & Overnight: As evening approaches, proceed to your chosen accommodation within the Serengeti for dinner and overnight. This is your first of three nights in the heart of the Serengeti.
  • Seronera Public Campsite: For a truly immersive camping experience, falling asleep to the sounds of the African wilderness.
  • EMBALAKAI LUXURY TENTED CAMP: For an upscale, intimate tented camp experience offering comfort and close proximity to nature.

Today is dedicated to a full day of extensive game viewing in the Serengeti National Park. With both morning and afternoon game drives, you'll have ample opportunity to delve deeper into this incredible ecosystem, maximizing your chances for extraordinary wildlife encounters.

• Morning Game Drive: Begin early to witness predators on the hunt as the day cools. Explore different zones of the Serengeti, depending on wildlife movements and seasonal variations (e.g., tracking the Great Wildebeest Migration).
• Afternoon Game Drive: Continue your exploration, focusing on elusive species or areas of high animal concentration. Look for the entire Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo), giraffes, hippos, and countless bird species. The vastness of the Serengeti allows for endless discovery.
• All Meals Inclusive: Enjoy breakfast, picnic lunch, and dinner, ensuring you are well-fueled for your immersive safari experience.
• Dinner & Overnight: Return to your chosen accommodation within the Serengeti for your second night, fully immersing yourself in this iconic park.
  • Seronera Public Campsite: Enjoy another night under the stars in the heart of the Serengeti.
  • EMBALAKAI LUXURY TENTED CAMP: Indulge in another night of luxury tented comfort.

Today offers another full day of exhilarating game viewing in the Serengeti National Park. This additional day provides unparalleled opportunities for in-depth exploration, allowing you to venture into different areas of the park and observe more complex animal behaviors.

• Extended Game Drives: With a full day at your disposal, your guide can seek out specific animal sightings, follow a pride of lions, or spend more time observing the nuances of the ecosystem. This extra time significantly increases your chances of spotting rarer species or witnessing dramatic events.
• Seasonal Highlights: Depending on the time of year, your focus might be on the wildebeest calving season, river crossings during the Great Migration, or searching for the elusive leopard hidden in a kopje.
• All Meals Inclusive: Breakfast, picnic lunch, and dinner are included, ensuring a seamless safari experience.
• Dinner & Overnight: Your third and final night in the Serengeti at your chosen accommodation.
  • Seronera Public Campsite: Experience the tranquility of the Serengeti for one more night.
  • EMBALAKAI LUXURY TENTED CAMP: Relish the luxury and serenity of your tented camp.

After your breakfast, you'll enjoy your final morning game viewing in Serengeti National Park. This is your last chance to capture those iconic photos or spot any wildlife you may have missed during your extensive stay.

• Final Serengeti Game Drive: Focus on areas known for high predator activity or specific animal sightings before departing the plains.
• Lunch: A satisfying lunch will be served.
• Drive to Ngorongoro: In the afternoon, you will drive towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, ascending to the rim of the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater. The views from the rim are truly breathtaking and set the stage for tomorrow's grand finale.
• Dinner & Overnight: Settle in for dinner and overnight at your chosen lodge or campsite, with potentially stunning views of the crater or surrounding highlands.
  • Simba Public Campsite: For an authentic camping experience on the cool crater rim.
  • NGORONGORO SERENA LODGE: For luxurious comfort and often direct, magnificent views into the Ngorongoro Crater.

Your comprehensive Tanzania safari culminates with an unforgettable experience in the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater. After an early breakfast around 06:00 AM, you will descend approximately 600 meters into the crater floor for your final day of game viewing.

• Crater Floor Exploration: Spend a significant part of the morning on an exhilarating game drive inside the Ngorongoro Crater. This natural wonder is a densely packed wildlife haven, offering the best chance to spot all of the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, the critically endangered black rhino, and buffalo) in a single day. You'll also encounter vast herds of wildebeest, zebras, hippos, diverse birdlife, and potentially cheetahs and hyenas.
• Picnic Lunch: A convenient picnic lunch will be served on the crater floor, allowing you to maximize your time immersed in its extraordinary beauty.
• Return to Arusha: In the afternoon, after an awe-inspiring experience, you will ascend from the crater and begin your comfortable drive back to Arusha.
• End of Services: You will be arriving in Arusha town around 06:00 PM for drop-off at your hotel or onward transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your flight. This marks the triumphant conclusion of your incredible 8-day Tanzania safari.