The Northern Circuit Itinerary

Tanzania’s most iconic destinations

Our Northern Circuit safari itineraries are designed to visit Northern Tanzania's world-famous parks. This basic five-day itinerary covers the best of Northern Tanzania. Extending the safari to seven or nine days will allow you to have a more in-depth experience in each of these parks. If traveling when the wildebeest migration is in Southern or Northern Serengeti, we recommend adding two nights just to see the migration. To have a more in-depth experience of Tarangire National Park and its remote areas, we recommend adding another night here. It is also possible to have a bush walk and night game drive in Tarangire National Park.

Duration: 5 | 7 | 9 Days

Season Range: Year round

Price Guide: Starting from $1,750

Highlights:

Big five, Migration viewing, Famous destinations

Herd of wildebeest gathered near a river cliff with a crocodile in the water below.

Group of four people posing outdoors on a safari with two safari vehicles in the background during sunset.

Hot air balloon burner system with flame at night.

A cheetah lounging on a large rock under a tree.

Lion family in grassy area with lioness and lion resting while two cubs play.

A group of seven people posing outdoors near a safari vehicle. They are smiling and appear to be enjoying a safari experience. The background shows a clear blue sky and a landscape with some trees and grass.

Wildebeest migration crossing a river with a hippopotamus nearby.

An eagle perched on a bush in a vast savanna landscape with scattered trees and distant wildlife.

Lion growling in a forested area with cubs nearby.

Lion with zebra carcass in dense foliage.

Lion partially hidden in bushes with a zebra carcass in a grassy area.

Zebra in a grassy savanna with a distant tree and hills under a cloudy sky.

Antelope with long curved horns in grassy landscape

Vultures spreading wings on grassy field

A colorful bird perched on a branch with orange trumpet-shaped flowers and green leaves in the background.

Hyena walking on a barren landscape with dry grass and distant hills.

Close-up of an elephant's face with a focus on its textured skin and tusks.

Starry night sky with the Milky Way and an acacia tree silhouette in the foreground.

Two zebras standing on a grassy plain with blurred wildlife in the background.

Vulture perched on a rock against a clear blue sky

Lioness crouching and drinking water in the grass, with a focused expression.

A hippopotamus partially submerged in water with an egret standing on its back, surrounded by green grass and tall reeds.

Wildebeest herd crossing rocky terrain with dust in the air.

A large herd of wildebeests grazing on a grassy landscape, with scattered trees and rocks.

Eland antelope standing in grassy savanna, with trees and vegetation in the background.

Wildebeest migration crossing a river with a large herd gathering on a dusty hillside with greenery in the background.

Wildebeest and zebras crossing a river in a large herd during migration.

Cheetah climbing down a tree against a cloudy sky.

Lion with cub playing on its back in grassy field

African savanna at sunset with elephants and other wildlife grazing.

Two cheetahs sitting on grass, one yawning, near a tree.

Massive herd of wildebeests crossing a river during migration, surrounded by dust, with a grassy landscape in the background.

Detailed Itinerary

Meet your Duma Explorer guide at 9 AM, and depart for Tarangire National Park. The drive to Tarangire is approximately two hours. After reaching Tarangire, proceed on a game drive for the rest of the day, with a picnic lunch in the park. Tarangire is famous for its large elephant population, scenery, and diversity of birdlife. At approximately 6 PM, reach your tented camp nestled in one of the park's quieter environments. Tarangire's wildlife includes elephant, lion, giraffe, and many bird and antelope species.
Depart Tarangire after breakfast for a morning game drive as you exit the park.
Drive to Central Serengeti, approximately 5 hours from Tarangire. Spend the afternoon on a game drive in Central Serengeti. Proceed to your overnight location after the game drive.
Spend a full day viewing wildlife in the Central Serengeti. Known for its healthy cat populations, Central Serengeti is perhaps the best place in the world to view large cats.
Have a half day game drive in Central Serengeti. After the game drive, make your way to Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Overnight at a camp overlooking the Crater below.
Depart your hotel at 6am after an early breakfast. Be one of the first visitors on the Crater floor, and spend several hours viewing wildlife inside the Crater. After a picnic lunch and early afternoon game drive, return to Arusha.
Often called the eighth wonder of the world, Ngorongoro Crater is the largest unbroken caldera in the world, and is one of the only places in Africa you can view every member of the "big five" (rhinoceros, lion, cape buffalo, leopard, and elephant) on a single game drive.

Duma Client Experiences

“Can't-miss Tanzania trip”
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“This was a trip of a lifetime, which I took at the end of a 3- year job living in Dar es Salaam. It was the perfect way to say goodbye to a country I love. The geography of descending out of the Ngorongoro Highlands into the Great Rift Valley is indescribable. You feel so profoundly connected with the landscape. Walking by foot gives you a deep appreciation of the environment, but Duma Explorers takes care of all the creature comforts with running the campsite. Can't recommend more highly!” Read more
Chaggard, December 2020