Complete Northern Circuit Safari

Begin your ultimate Tanzania safari adventure with a morning departure from Arusha to Tarangire National Park. Famous for its massive elephant population and iconic baobab trees, Tarangire offers exceptional wildlife viewing. Full day game drive exploring the park's diverse ecosystems, from acacia woodlands to seasonal swamps. The Tarangire River attracts large concentrations of wildlife during the dry season, including lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, and over 550 bird species.

After breakfast, drive to Lake Manyara National Park, nestled at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment. Despite its compact size, the park boasts incredible biodiversity and is famous for its tree-climbing lions and large flocks of flamingos. Full day game drive through diverse habitats including groundwater forest, acacia woodland, and the alkaline lake shore. Watch for hippos, elephants, giraffes, zebras, and troops of baboons in the forest canopy.

After breakfast, drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area with stunning views of the crater rim. Descend into the Serengeti plains, arriving at Seronera in central Serengeti by midday. Afternoon game drive in the Seronera Valley, known for its resident wildlife and the highest concentration of leopards in Africa. The Seronera River attracts diverse wildlife year-round, making it excellent for predator sightings including lions, cheetahs, and hyenas.

Full day exploring the vast Serengeti ecosystem with morning and afternoon game drives. Depending on the season, track the Great Migration or focus on resident wildlife in the Seronera region. Optional hot air balloon safari at dawn (additional cost) offers breathtaking aerial views of the plains. Watch for the Big Five, cheetahs hunting on the open plains, hippo pools, and crocodiles in the rivers. Enjoy sundowners in the bush before returning to camp.

Morning game drive as you head north toward the Mara River region. This area is famous for the dramatic river crossings during the Great Migration (July-October). Even outside migration season, the northern Serengeti offers excellent wildlife viewing with fewer vehicles. Afternoon game drive exploring the Mara River area, watching for resident hippos, crocodiles, and the large herds that gather along the riverbanks.

Morning game drive in northern Serengeti before beginning the journey back to Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Stop at Olduvai Gorge, the "Cradle of Mankind," where some of the earliest human fossils were discovered by the Leakey family. Continue to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, arriving at your lodge perched on the crater rim in time for spectacular sunset views over the caldera. Evening at leisure enjoying the lodge facilities and preparing for tomorrow's crater descent.

Early breakfast before descending 600 meters into the Ngorongoro Crater for a morning game drive. The crater floor hosts approximately 25,000 large animals in a natural amphitheater, offering the best chance to see the Big Five in a single day. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to the densest concentration of wildlife in Africa, including the endangered black rhino. Picnic lunch by the hippo pool before ascending the crater and driving back to Arusha, arriving late afternoon with unforgettable memories of your complete northern circuit safari.