Private or Group Tanzania safari
6 Days Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater & Tarangire Safari
The complete northern circuit, finishing among the baobabs of Tarangire.
- 6 days / 5 nights
- Tanzania
- Midrange
- Private or Group
Choose your level
One route, three ways to travel it.
The road, the parks and the day-by-day itinerary are the same at every level. What changes is where you sleep, what you travel in and what it costs.
Trip facts
- Duration
- 6 days / 5 nights
- Country
- Tanzania
- Destinations
- Lake Manyara · Serengeti · Ngorongoro · Tarangire
- Safari level
- Midrange
- Travel type
- Private or Group safari
- Starts
- Arusha
- Ends
- Arusha
- Price
- On request
Overview
The journey at a glance.
This covers all four of the northern circuit's parks, in the order the geography suggests: Manyara in, the Serengeti for two nights, the crater, then east to Tarangire before returning to Arusha.
Tarangire at the end is the right way round. After the Serengeti's open plains and the crater's enclosed floor, the baobab country and the elephant herds along the Tarangire river feel like a distinct third act rather than more of the same.
Six days also absorbs a weather day, which on a circuit that crosses from 900 to over 2,200 metres is worth having.
RouteArusha · Lake Manyara · Serengeti · Ngorongoro · Tarangire · Arusha
Featured journeyA core northern circuit route with the full four-park spread and excellent upgrade options.
Your route
6 points.
One unfolding story.
Where you stay, and for how long. The full route is listed in text below the line, so it reads the same however you are viewing this page.
- 01ArushaIn transit
- 02Lake Manyara1 night
- 03Serengeti2 nights
- 04Ngorongoro1 night
- 05Tarangire1 night
- 06ArushaIn transit
Day by day
6 days, read as a journey.
Timings are indicative and depend on road and park conditions on the day. Meals shown are those included in the safari price.
Day 1Arusha → Lake Manyara
Under the Rift wall.
West from Arusha to Mto wa Mbu and into the park, where groundwater forest, woodland, floodplain and alkaline lake are compressed into a narrow strip below the escarpment.
- Activities
- Road transfer from Arusha · Afternoon game drive
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight
- Lake Manyara · Manyara Serena Safari Lodge, or similar
Day 2Lake Manyara → Serengeti
Over the highlands, onto the plains.
Up through Karatu to the Ngorongoro rim, along it, and then down onto the Serengeti, with an optional stop at Olduvai Gorge. A game drive takes you in to camp.
- Activities
- Road transfer to the Serengeti · Optional Olduvai Gorge stop · Game drive en route
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight
- Serengeti · Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge
- Optional
- Olduvai Gorge stop (USD 35 pp, paid locally)
Day 3Serengeti
A full day on the plains.
Out with picnic lunches for the whole day. The kopjes for lion, the riverine forest for leopard, the short-grass plains for cheetah, and, depending on the month, the migration herds.
- Activities
- Full-day game drive with picnic lunch
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight
- Serengeti · Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge
Day 4Serengeti → Ngorongoro
A last morning, then the climb to the rim.
A morning game drive on the way out, then east and up into the highlands, arriving on the rim in the late afternoon. Bring a warm layer.
- Activities
- Morning game drive · Road transfer to the Ngorongoro highlands
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight
- Ngorongoro · Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, or similar
Day 5Ngorongoro → Tarangire
The crater floor, then east to the baobabs.
An early descent onto the crater floor for black rhino, lion and elephant, then up and east to Tarangire, arriving in the late afternoon.
- Activities
- Ngorongoro Crater game drive · Road transfer to Tarangire
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight
- Tarangire · Tarangire Sopa Lodge
Day 6Tarangire → Arusha
Elephants on the river.
A morning game drive along the Tarangire river, which holds the circuit's heaviest dry-season elephant concentrations, then back to Arusha in the afternoon.
- Activities
- Morning game drive at Tarangire · Road transfer to Arusha
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Overnight
- The journey ends today
Accommodation · Midrange
A place to pause between chapters.
These are properties Ndurumo may recommend or use at this level on this route. Final accommodation is confirmed with your quotation and remains subject to availability.
Lake Manyara · Midrange1 night
Manyara Serena Safari Lodge, or similar
A good gateway night into the northern circuit.
Accommodation confirmed with your quotation and subject to availability.
Plan this safariSerengeti · Midrange2 nights
Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge
Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge is the recommended midrange option for Serengeti nights.
Accommodation confirmed with your quotation and subject to availability.
Plan this safariNgorongoro · Midrange1 night
Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, or similar
Accommodation confirmed with your quotation and subject to availability.
Plan this safariTarangire · Midrange1 night
Tarangire Sopa Lodge
Accommodation confirmed with your quotation and subject to availability.
Plan this safari
Compare accommodation at all three levels
Budget
- Lake Manyara
- Fanaka Campsite
- Serengeti
- Seronera Camp
- Ngorongoro
- Simba Campsite
- Tarangire
- Fanaka Campsite
Midrange
- Lake Manyara
- Manyara Serena Safari Lodge, or similar
- Serengeti
- Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge
- Ngorongoro
- Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, or similar
- Tarangire
- Tarangire Sopa Lodge
Luxury
- Lake Manyara
- andBeyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge
- Serengeti
- Elewana Serengeti Migration Camp
- Ngorongoro
- Elewana The Manor at Ngorongoro, Gibb's Farm
- Tarangire
- Lemala Mpingo Ridge
What you’ll experience
The character of this route.
- 01
All four northern circuit parks in one route
- 02
Two nights in the Serengeti with a full day on the plains
- 03
A descent onto the Ngorongoro Crater floor
- 04
Dry-season elephant concentrations in Tarangire
- 05
Baobab country to finish
Package detail
What the price covers.
These lists apply to the midrange version of this route. Optional extras are listed against the day they fall on.
What’s included
- Transport in a 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser
- Airport pick-up on arrival
- Accommodation as set out in the itinerary
- All meals while on safari (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Services of a professional Ndurumo driver-guide
- All park and reserve entrance fees
- All game drives listed in the itinerary
- Statutory taxes
Not included
- International flights
- Kenya or Tanzania visas and entry fees
- Travel and personal insurance
- Single-occupancy supplement
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Optional activities, including balloon safaris and village visits
- Items of a personal nature
- Tips for your guide and lodge staff
Pricing
Clear before you commit.
Price depends on travel dates, group size, accommodation level, park fees at the time of travel and vehicle arrangements.
We have not loaded a contracted rate for this tier yet, and we would rather quote you accurately than estimate. Price depends on dates, occupancy, park fees, vehicle arrangements and accommodation availability.
- Travel dates
- Required for a quotation
- Group size
- Required for a quotation
- Occupancy
- Per person sharing; single supplement quoted separately
- Child rates
- Quoted where the property applies them
This route, shaped around you
Begin with the journey already chosen.
Your enquiry carries this route and level automatically, so you only add the details we genuinely need to price it.
Is Tarangire worth the extra day?
Between July and October, clearly — it holds the circuit's largest elephant concentrations. Between December and May the game disperses outside the park, and we would be honest with you about that when you enquire.
Why are some Tanzania prices shown as On Request?
Several of our current Tanzania pages repeat the same base figure across different durations, which we do not think is a safe basis for a quotation. We are reconfirming those rates, and in the meantime we price each Tanzania enquiry against the actual dates, park fees and camps.
Is the price per person?
Yes. Published rates are per person sharing a twin or double room. Solo travellers pay a single-occupancy supplement, which we quote with the rest of the trip.
What does the final price depend on?
Travel dates, the number of people travelling, your accommodation tier, park fees at the time of travel and vehicle arrangements. We reprice every enquiry for the exact dates rather than working from a fixed sheet.
Can the itinerary be changed?
Yes. The route below is the standard shape of the trip. Nights can be added or moved, and destinations can be swapped, as long as the driving distances still work.
Are park fees included?
Yes. All park and reserve entrance fees for the parks in the itinerary are included in the quoted price.
What vehicle will we use?
Road safaris use a 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser. Private departures have their own vehicle; group departures share the vehicle with fellow travellers.
Can children join this safari?
Yes. Tell us your children's ages when you enquire and we will confirm which properties on the route suit them and whether child rates apply.
Continue exploring
Other routes worth following.
4 Days Lake Manyara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater Safari
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- 4 days / 3 nights
- Tanzania
- On request
5 Days Lake Manyara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater Safari
Arusha · Lake Manyara · Serengeti · Ngorongoro · Arusha
- 5 days / 4 nights
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4 Days Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater Safari
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6 Days Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater & Tarangire Safari
Let’s mark this route.
Share your dates and party, and we will come back with a quotation for this itinerary at the level you have chosen — or tell you honestly if a different route fits better.
A guided enquiry, not an instant booking. No obligation.
