The Northern Tanzania Circuit, Safaris, Destinations And Map
Visit the Northern Tanzania Circuit, Safaris, Destinations And Map. Through its several parks, reserves, conservation zones, and private concessions, northern Tanzania’s famous “Northern Circuit” safari provides visitors with a truly unique safari experience. Included in this category are the less well-known Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks, as well as the more famous and iconic Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater.
All of these parks serve the same overarching goal: to preserve the incredible flora and fauna that inhabit them, whether permanently or temporarily. This includes, but is not limited to, the greatest yearly migration of wildebeest and zebra in the world. As a result of its fame, this region has grown increasingly crowded, but if you know where to go, you can still find peace and quiet.
We The Bespoke African Safari Co. have a long history of frequenting northern Tanzania, therefore we’re familiar with the area better than most.
We hope you enjoy this well-traveled path in Tanzania as much as we did when we first set out on our adventure.
We can take you farther into this magnificent environment from our northern Tanzanian camps, which are in outstanding locations. Allow us to take you on an adventure into our wilderness, where we can reveal the best-kept secrets along the back roads.
Where is Northern Tanzania
Everyone ought to put a safari in northern Tanzania on their travel wish list. One of the most breathtaking wildlife shows on Earth is the Great Migration in Serengeti National Park, and there is no better place to see animals than on a safari in the Ngorongoro Crater, located on the floor of an extinct volcano. Atop all of this, you can see Kilimanjaro, the highest freestanding mountain in the world and, maybe, the most formidable obstacle in Africa. Parks like Tarangire National Park, which are less frequented by tourists and nevertheless provide excellent wildlife viewing, are a great alternative to the more popular tourist destinations. The Hadzabe people call the Rift Valley Lakes, specifically Eyasi and Natron, home, and these lakes are also the world’s largest flamingo breeding grounds. Many consider a safari in northern Tanzania to be the pinnacle of safaris.
Northern Tanzania’s safari circuit is often regarded as Africa’s most renowned safari destination. Stunning concentration of Africa’s great game can be found in this region, which is home to the renowned Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, and Tarangire, as well as the lesser-known parks.
The Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park are the focal points of most safari itineraries in this area. The wildebeest migration and massive concentrations of predators in the Serengeti are the park’s most famous attractions, while visitors to Ngorongoro can see all five of Africa’s most famous animals. In addition to being one of the most visually stunning and diverse regions of the continent, the area is home to a number of cultures, including the Hadzabe and the Maasai.
The Last Paradise on Earth – The Amazing Serengeti
Ngorongoro Crater & Conservation Area, Tanzania
A Northern Tanzania Circuit
Just like with any kind of vacation, you can tailor your choices here according to your financial constraints. In this case, the quality is directly proportional to the price.
Affluent vacationers have the option of taking a flying circuit that eliminates the need to drive between campsites. On a regular safari, you may expect to spend two nights at one of these lodges: Lake Manyara Tree Lodge, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Serengeti Under Canvas, or Kleins Camp. This is an exquisite, luxurious vacation. Including Singita’s Faru Faru, Sasakwa, or Sabora camps in the Grumeti Reserves would be the cherry on top.
Driving between Arusha, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, and the Ngorongoro Crater and Highlands would make up a mid-range northern circuit—the most popular route we provide. Following that, you would be flown into a more secluded and less crowded area of the Serengeti to stay in a smaller tented camp. This safari is a great way to save money compared to the high-end options, but it doesn’t sacrifice game watching opportunities. You’ll save money by driving instead of flying for the first part of the circuit, but then you’ll fly to the Serengeti to see the migration.
The most cost-effective safari experience is a traditional driving circuit with a private driver-guide who will be by your side throughout the entire journey. The more people you have to split the bill with, the more affordable it becomes. Private safaris are our speciality, and we tailor our Tanzania itineraries to each season’s best parks. If you rent a car, you can stay at cheaper hotels that don’t provide safari vehicles, and your driver-guide will be at the ready to show you the top attractions in the area every day. The Serengeti is a bit of a disappointment on this circuit because you can’t always guarantee witnessing the migration, and you’re also limited to staying in the larger lodges in the busiest portions of the parks.
Northern parks are notoriously quiet and rarely have anything going on, limiting visitors to daylight game drives at most. This does, however, differ somewhat across parks; private concessions, for example, may be able to provide night driving and walks on occasion.
The Ngorongoro Crater offers only daytime game drives, and if you are staying at one of the lodges on the crater rim itself, you can sometimes do a short bush walk around the property. The lodges in the wider Ngorongoro Highlands area offer more activities including hiking, riding and mountain biking.
The Serengeti National Park also offers daytime game drives only, unless you are staying in the far northern Kogatende region where some camps such as Alex Walker’s Serian and Serengeti Lamai offer walking safaris in limited areas. Because of their seclusion, Grumeti reserve assets Kleins Camp and Singita provide opportunities for night drives and hiking.
Lake Manyara National Park is so small and very accessible that it allows day game drives and even night game drives depending on where you are staying.
When it comes to parks, Tarangire National Park offers more variety than any other. Inside the park, Olivers Camp and Swala offer walking safaris and night drives, as well bush nights where you camp out under the stars. These can also be found at the less appealing campsites outside the park.
The surrounding areas like Empakai, Lake Eyasi, Mt Meru and Kilimanjaro offer the obvious walking and trekking, with Eyasi and the Southern reaches giving the opportunity to hunt with the Hadazbe.
How much is a Northern Tanzania Safari
There is a wide range of prices for the northern campgrounds, but generally speaking, you get what you pay for in terms of camp and game quality. At the other end of the price range, you’ll find the large permanent lodges such as the Serena and the Sopa. These resorts typically have 70 rooms and cost around $500 per person per night, not including game activities. In just as crowded regions, you can find smaller tented camps like Kati Kati in the Serengeti that fall within this pricing range.
At around $650 per person per month, you may choose from a variety of great options, like Olakira, Dunia, and Ubuntu, which are mobile tented camps. In order to avoid the crowds, create a personal camp atmosphere, and give a superb game experience, these camps typically relocate every four months with the migration. This is a tremendous benefit. Despite being the greatest mobile operation in the Serengeti, Alex Walker’s Serian is priced at $850 pppn, making it a mid-range product due to its frequent sales. If you want to skip the big hotels and yet have access to the Crater and Manyara, these camps are a great alternative. You can stay at Plantation Lodge or Gibbs Farm in the Ngorongoro Highlands for around $650 per person per night.
Prices for operators like &Beyond and Singita start at $1,000 pppn and go up to $1,600 pppn at the upper end of the spectrum. Then there are the Sayari and Serengeti Lamai, which cost around $900 per person per month. If money is not a concern, the premium offering is worth every penny because it offers a truly world-class safari.
You Won’t Believe What Happened on our Tanzania Safari (Ngorongoro Crater)
Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro & Serengeti
A Northern Tanzania Safari – Off the beaten track
With rare exceptions, game viewing is restricted to closed-sided vehicles and strolling is prohibited in the northern parks. Nonetheless, Serian and Nomads may now take decent, if brief, safari walks in the Serengeti from Sayari and Serengeti Lamai in the Lamai Wedge, as well as from their mobile camps.
Going off the usual path, leaving the National Parks and into the less strictly managed concession areas is well worth it if you want to stroll or hike properly. The ideal places to go walking are with the Hadzabe hunter-gatherers around Eyasi or around Nduara Camp in the Loliondo area. There are also rewarding guided excursions up the top of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, which overlook Manyara and are frequently conducted by Maasai.
What Makes Northern Tanzania Safaris Some Of The Best In Africa
From June to October, when the herds of the great wildebeest migration are in the north, the Serengeti National Park is undoubtedly at its most mesmerising. You can see lion, leopard, and cheetah in their natural habitat, as well as the breathtaking view of wildebeest crossing the crocodile-infested Mara River. These wildlife encounters will leave you with lasting memories.
The UNESCO World Heritage Ngorongoro Crater is a huge volcanic crater that is home to lions, buffalo, rhinos, elephants, and leopards. Don’t miss it. Up-close encounters are made possible by the crater’s distinctive environment, which makes for an exciting experience.
With its shallow alkaline lake teeming with hundreds of pink flamingos and a wide variety of species, including giraffes, elephants, baboons, and hippopotamus, Lake Manyara National Park is equally captivating. In the meantime, Tanzania’s greatest herds of elephants may be found in Tarangire National Park, which also has an amazing wildlife density during the dry season.
An ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro awaits the daring. The ascent is gratifying and difficult, and it ends with stunning views of the plains.
7 Reasons To Go To Northern Tanzania
1. Serengeti National Park – A Wildlife Symphony
Covering 14,750 square kilometres (5,700 square miles), the Serengeti National Park is Africa’s most renowned wildlife safari destination. Offering broad savannahs, grasslands, riverine woods, and woodlands, this year-round resort boasts a varied terrain. The park is well known for its more than 500 bird species and profusion of fauna. There are numerous camp alternatives available, ranging in price from low to high, where you can get a close-up look at the park’s wildlife and natural splendour.
Adventures change with the seasons. Heart-stopping Mara River crossings can be seen during the captivating wildebeest migration in the northern Serengeti, which takes place from June to October. Tens of thousands of wildebeest and zebra calves are born during the calving season, which takes place in the southern Serengeti from January to March. With so much dramatic predator action, both seasons are a photographer’s dream. Big cats, buffalo, rhinos, elephants, and a remarkable variety of antelope species can all be seen.
Serengeti National Park – Tanzania
2. Tarangire National Park – An Elephant Extravaganza
The unusual ancient baobab trees that stand like sentinels and the large number of elephants in Tarangire National Park are well-known for their surreal beauty. Additionally, there are sunbaked termite mounds throughout the park that resemble sporadic small mountains, their baked clay standing out against the vivid vegetation. The park hosts the greatest concentration of these majestic animals in the world during the dry season, which runs from June to November. While keeping an eye out for predators like lions, leopards, cheetahs, and hyenas, you can also see thousands of buffalo, wildebeest, and zebra.
The Tarangire River is the beating heart of the park. Even in the driest months, the river’s winding lifeblood provides a steady supply of water as it flows through the centre of the animal sanctuary and into the Silale Swamp. The marsh provides excellent game viewing opportunities due to its astounding species diversity and density.
Tanzania’s Best Kept Secret – Tarangire
3. Ngorongoro Crater – The World’s Largest Intact Volcano Caldera
The biggest intact and unflooded caldera in the world is Ngorongoro Crater, which is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It provides a rare chance to see a variety of wildlife in an unspoiled setting. During your safari, you can see the Big Five, large herds of antelope species, predators, and scavengers. It is a unique experience to see the black rhino with its pointed horns and hooked lips. Ngorongoro Crater has some of Africa’s highest wildlife concentrations. On the green plains, gazelles, zebras, and wildebeest all walk in sync while evading the persistent predators.
You will descend the steep inner walls onto the crater floor during your thrilling safari in order to observe and take pictures of the amazing fauna. You can have a full picnic meal while taking a break beneath an acacia tree. Prepare to eat as hippo, monkeys, and the yellow-billed kites flying overhead gaze at you with interest.
Ngorongoro Crater & Conservation Area, Tanzania
4. Mount Kilimanjaro – A Journey Of Choice And Challenge
There are many exciting possibilities when starting the life-changing journey to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing peak in Africa and the globe. Adventurers are drawn to seven different routes: the Northern Circuit, Machame, Umbwe, Rongai, Shira, Lemosho, and Marangu. The appeal of the climb is increased by the distinct challenges that each route presents. Success depends on skilful acclimatisation, which is essential to success.
For the best summiting experience, our climbing partners and I have decided on two routes: Rongai and Lemosho. An isolated northern route, the Rongai Route, reveals a peaceful environment brimming with antelope, elephant, buffalo, colobus monkey, and a variety of birds. The more recent and expansive Lemosho Route, on the other hand, winds through a variety of climate zones and promises both success and breathtaking scenery. Make an informed decision by taking into account your time limits, money, fitness levels, and personal preferences. Choose a route that permits a slow physical adjustment, stays clear of crowds, and offers stunning views of Kilimanjaro.
CLIMBING MOUNT KILIMANJARO
5. The Maasai – Explore Their Rich Cultural Heritage
With their lively culture, rich traditions, and unique way of life, the Maasai people—an exceptional ethnic group that mostly resides in Kenya and Tanzania—have enthralled people all over the world. The Maasai have a centuries-old heritage that began in the Sudanese Nile Valley. These hardy pastoralists depend on animals as a source of income, status, and food. Their civilisation is divided into age groups, each of which has a distinct role. In the past, Maasai warriors, often referred to as Morans, bravely and expertly resisted colonial authorities by defending their towns and livestock.
There can be chances to interact with the Maasai people, discover their traditions, take in colourful rituals, and value their distinctive heritage on your safari. In addition to promoting understanding, this cultural exchange helps the Maasai economically. Enter their world, hear their tales, and experience the friendliness and warmth of these magnificent Maasai people.
A History Of The Maasai People
6. Lake Manyara National Park – Where The Shoreline Turns Pink
The dry season, which runs from June to October, is the ideal time of year to visit Lake Manyara because the luxuriant foliage will have subsided and the soda lake’s splendours will be revealed. Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area are connected by the wildlife-rich Lake Manyara. The Rift Valley escarpment frames its visual grandeur, adding to the lake’s glistening waters’ attractiveness. From broad grasslands with giant baobabs to deep forests, the varied habitats provide an amazing microcosm of African ecosystems.
Enthusiastic bird watchers find paradise in Lake Manyara, particularly from November to May when it’s raining. The best time to see the captivating flamingos is at this time. These famous birds can feed and breed in ideal conditions thanks to the lake’s high water level. The modest shores of Lake Manyara are adorned with their elegant pink presence. Rare tree-climbing lions and massive herds of elephants move over the countryside, adding wonder and excitement to a safari.
SAFARI in TANZANIA: Lake Manyara with TREE CLIMBING LIONS and Elephant PARADISE!
7. Rubondo Island National Park
Only a short flight from the Serengeti plains lies Africa’s largest island national park, located in the southwest corner of Lake Victoria. With only our Rubondo Island Camp on the island and mostly covered in thick equatorial rain forest, this is a private sanctuary that is worth exploring. Chimpanzees, elephants, sitatungas, and bush bucks live in the forest, while giraffes roam the southern plains. A wonderful boating safari and thrilling catch-and-release fishing are made possible by the abundance of Nile Perch in the lake waters.
Rubondo Island – Tanzania
Best Time For Northern Tanzania Safaris
The dry months of June through October are the best times to visit Northern Tanzania’s safari circuit. The most sought-after encounter is the breathtaking river crossings made by the wildebeest migration in the northern Serengeti, while all of the well-known wildlife parks offer amazing experiences. As the dry season progresses and animals seeks out the few remaining water sources, the best chances to see game arise. The calving season, which occurs on the southern plains from December to March, is a stunning spectacle with lots of predator activity.
Northern Tanzania Safari Packages, Itineraries
Allow The Bespoke African Safari Co. to customize your ideal safari experiences in northern Tanzania. Our team of professionals will offer tailored guidance and assistance during the whole trip planning process. To help you get started and become inspired, here are some great examples.
Tanzania Northern Circuit Safari
Days: 8 | Nights: 7
Safaris in Tanzania’s Northern Safari Circuit are ideal for anyone seeking a Big Five experience. Lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, rhinos, and countless more species can be seen along this renowned safari route in Tanzania. Famous parks and reserves in Tanzania include Serengeti National Park with its vast savannahs and Ngorongoro Crater with its varied ecosystems; both are home to dense populations of animals and are famous for the Great Migration. Cultural encounters with the Maasai and visits to historical landmarks like Olduvai Gorge, sometimes referred to as the “Cradle of Mankind,” are other highlights of a vacation here.
9 Days Tanzania Family
Days: 9 | Nights: 8
This amazing Nine Days Tanzania Family deal lets families travel for free by air and car between three diverse and wildlife-rich regions, where they may experience breathtaking scenery and unique adventures. If you want to see elephants, zebras, giraffes, and more, your tour should begin at Oliver’s Camp in Tarangire National Park. While at the camp, take part in guided game drives, walking safaris, and night drives. To continue your quest for the Big Five on the crater floor, take a drive across the breathtaking Great Rift Valley and arrive at The Highlands in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.