Safari Overview
8 days best of Tanzania Northern Circuit Safari will typically cover some of the most iconic wildlife destinations in Tanzania. The Northern circuit has best national parks with Serengeti national park as the best in Africa. Combined with Kilimanjaro, Lake Manyara national parks and Ngorongoro conservation crater, you are certainly going to have the adventure of a lifetime.
Expect to see the Big 5 together with other mammals like leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, hippos, hyenas, dik-dik, warthogs, crocodiles, aardvarks, servals, kudus, gerenuk, jackals, galagos, bush babies, baboons, red colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys with birds like flamingos, kori bustard, pygmy falcon, white-backed vulture, mousebird, southern ground hornbill, honeyguide, painted-snipe, Fischer’s lovebird, African fish eagle, African jacana, turacos, pied kingfisher, superb starling, Egyptian goose, African jacana, hadada ibis, harmerkop, pied crow, Senegal coucal, marabou stork and many more. Trip will start in Kilimanjaro and end in Arusha Tanzania.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Kilimanjaro national park
You will be picked from the Kilimanjaro international airport by our driver guide who will give you a brief of the trip about 8 days best Tanzania northern circuit safari. You will then set off for Mount Kilimanjaro national park which will take 2 hours. On route to the park, you will enjoy a captivating scenery, offering a glimpse into the diverse landscapes and cultural richness of the region. You will get to the park in time for lunch, you will have your lunch, then check into your lodging for the night. And after some resting, you will head out for a community tour and you will be exposed to the different cultural encounters as you interact with the chagga tribe and Masai. With a local guide, you will be involved in traditional dances, music, drama plus story telling which will provide an insight on how these communities survive and how they afford their way of life. This will take about 2hours and once done you will head back to your lodging in the evening. You will have dinner then retire for the night.
Day 2: Game drive and transfer to Lake Manyara National Park
You will have an early breakfast, then head out to capture the animals when they are still very active, expect to see elephants, buffaloes, giraffes among other animals, the park has over 150 bird species, a birder has enough options for the viewing as the park is a perfect habitat. This will take about 3hours and expect to see birds like turacos, African pitta, grey crowned crane, bee-eaters, vultures, barbets, flamingos, white necked raven, narina trogon, African emerald cuckoo, hornbills, shrikes and many more. After the game drive, you will head back to your lodge, have an early lunch, check out and exit the park for Lake Manyara national park which will take about 4hours. On route to Lake Manyara national park you will enjoy a mix of captivating landscapes, cultural sights and natural beauty and as you approach Lake Manyara you will enjoy the diverse ecosystems, birdlife and the lake views. You will get to your lodging in the evening, check in, have dinner and retire for the night.
Day 3: Game drive and community tour
You will have a scrumptious breakfast, after which you will be picked by the driver guide so you can head out for your morning game drive along the lower slopes of the valley. During the drive expect to see animals like lions, antelopes, buffaloes, cheetahs, elephants, zebras, hippos, klipspringers with birds like pink-backed pelicans, egrets, ibis, storks, herons, flamingos and many more and this takes about 2-3hours. Also be on the lookout for tree-climbing lions as the park is famously known for them. You will have lunch break, after which you will head out into the community for a tour of the Mto WA Mbu who are located close to the park. You will experience local culture, including traditional dances, markets, and a taste of local cuisine. The community is known for being an agricultural hub with crops like rice and red bananas, you will also get an opportunity to interact with the local farmers and more with the help of a local guide. The tour will take 2-3hours after which you held back to your lodging, enjoy the sunset before you have dinner and end the night.
Day 4: Transfer to Serengeti National Park
After breakfast you will check out of your lodging and exit the park for Serengeti National Park. As you depart from Lake Manyara National Park, you will pass through areas of lush vegetation and fertile farmlands, characterized by banana plantations, coffee farms, and small villages and as you move closer to Serengeti, the landscape transitions from highland forests and farmland to the open
savannasthat characterize the park. You will have lunch along the way in the Ngorongoro conservation area and get to Serengeti in the early evening. Check into your lodging, have an early diner and enjoy the beautiful night sky as you relax until you decide to retire for the night.
Day 5: Full day Game drive in Serengeti National Park
Game drives are the primary activity in the Serengeti and offer visitors the chance to explore the vast savannah plains and spot a diverse array of wildlife. Experienced guides lead drives in open-top safari vehicles, taking visitors to prime viewing areas where they can see the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhinoceros), as well as cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests. So after the morning game drive, you will have lunch within the Serengeti. After lunch you will embark on another game drive with an opportunity to see any animals that you missed out during the morning like lions, buffaloes, hyenas, giraffes, kudus, dik-dik, warthogs, gazelles and many more with birds like wheatears, weavers, African fish eagles, vultures, kori bustard, ostriches, lilac-breasted roller and hornbills. When done with all this thrill and wildlife viewing, you will head back to your lodging, have dinner and rest for the night.
Day 6: Transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Waking up early in the morning, you will prepare for checking out of your lodging, have breakfast then exit the Serengeti for Ngorongoro crater which will take about 5-6hours. On route, the journey shows of Tanzania’s most spectacular landscapes. The route showcases the dramatic changes from the endless plains of the Serengeti to the lush, green highlands of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. You will arrive in Ngorongoro crater in the late afternoon, check into your lodging and relax for the evening. Enjoy the sunset, then have dinner after which you will enjoy an evening fire to close off the day and retire at will.
Day 7: Guided nature walk and Afternoon game drive
After breakfast, you will head out for a full day’s activities in the Ngorongoro Crater which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most iconic safari destinations in Africa. The Crater Rim Walk at the Ngorongoro Conservation Area offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore the stunning scenery and diverse ecosystems of the area on foot. The Crater Rim Walk provides breathtaking panoramic views of the Ngorongoro Crater and its surrounding landscapes. From the crater rim, you can enjoy sweeping vistas of the crater floor, the surrounding highlands, and the distant horizon. As you walk along the crater rim, you’ll encounter a variety of habitats, including lush forests, grassy plains, and rocky outcrops. Keep an eye out for grazing antelopes, baboons, and other small mammals, as well as bird species like vultures, weavers, hornbills, kori bustards, martial eagles, olive sunbirds, bee-eaters and European roller. Once done with the walk, you will enjoy a picnic lunch at a perfect spot for resting and taking pictures. Then enjoy an afternoon game drive as the crater is home to a high concentration of wildlife, including lions, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, leopards, flamingoes, zebras, wildebeests, baboons, jackals, hyenas and various antelope species and birds like flamingos, eagles, storks, herons,. A game drive in the crater provides unparalleled opportunities for wildlife viewing and picture taking for memories. After a day of fun, you will head back to your lodge, freshen up, have dinner then spend the evening relaxing and retire at will.
Day 8: Checkout and departure
After breakfast, you will check out of your lodging and have breakfast then exit the crater for Arusha, the drive will take about 3-4hours. Traveling from the Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha takes you through some of Tanzania’s most beautiful and diverse landscapes. The journey showcases the transition from the lush highlands of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to the bustling town of Arusha, set against the backdrop of Mount Meru. You will arrive at the airport in time for your check in which will mark the end of your 8 days of Tanzania’s northern circuit safari.
