Budget level:
Mid-Range
Country
Tanzania
When to Go
All Year
Duration
5 Nights
Safari Type
Lodge
Location
Arusha, Northern Tanzania
Kids Min Age
All Ages
Safari Rating
This distinctive 6-day safari is designed to offer a comprehensive and immersive experience of Tanzania’s northern circuit. Starting at the peaceful Sangaiwe Tented Camp near Tarangire National Park, you will encounter impressive elephant herds and diverse wildlife amidst the park’s iconic baobab trees. The journey continues to the fertile highlands of Karatu, where the Marera Valley Lodge provides a comfortable retreat close to Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater.
In the heart of the Serengeti, Kati Kati Tented Camp serves as your base for exploring one of Africa’s most famous wildlife reserves. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to witness the dramatic spectacle of the Great Migration and observe predators like lions and cheetahs in action. Your adventure concludes at Ang’ata Ngorongoro Camp, ideally situated on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. This prime location allows for early morning descents into the crater, offering unrivaled game viewing opportunities in this unique ecosystem.
Itinerary in Brief
- 1 Night Sangaiwe Tented Lodge
- 1 Night Marera Valley Lodge
- 2 Nights Kati Kati Tented Camp
- 1 Night Ang’ata Ngorongoro Camp
Welcome to an unforgettable Tanzanian adventure. Over six days, you’ll explore some of the country’s most iconic and diverse landscapes, from the scenic beauty of Tarangire National Park to the vast plains of the Serengeti and the majestic Ngorongoro Crater. Begin your journey at the serene Sangaiwe Tented Camp, located near Tarangire National Park, renowned for its enormous baobabs and thriving elephant herds. Immerse yourself in the lush highlands of Karatu at the Marera Valley Lodge, a perfect gateway to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Travel deeper into Tanzania and venture into the legendary Serengeti, where the Kati Kati Tented Camp awaits. This centrally located camp provides an excellent base for witnessing the awe-inspiring Great Migration and observing the region’s prolific predators. Your safari culminates with a stay at Ang’ata Ngorongoro Camp, perched on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. Here, you’ll gaze upon one of the world’s most extraordinary natural wonders, teeming with wildlife. Each day promises new adventures and unforgettable moments, whether you’re a seasoned traveler or embarking on your first safari.
Throughout this carefully curated safari, you’ll experience exhilarating game drives, peaceful nature walks, and immersive wildlife encounters. From the tranquil ambiance of Sangaiwe to the dramatic vistas of Ngorongoro, every stop offers its own unique charm and allure. This journey through Tanzania promises not only breathtaking scenery and abundant wildlife but also the rich cultural experiences that make this East African nation truly special.
Highlights
- Begin your safari at Sangaiwe Tented Camp near Tarangire National Park, perfect for close encounters with elephants and other wildlife.
- Discover the rich biodiversity of the Lake Manyara National Park, home to flamingos and tree-climbing lions.
- Journey through the Serengeti National Park, famous for the Great Migration and its high density of predators.
- Visit the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater, the largest intact caldera in the world, and home to a diverse range of wildlife.
- Stay in well-appointed lodges and camps that enhance your authentic safari experience.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 | Sangaiwe Tented Camp, Arusha – Tarangire National Park
In the morning, drive from Arusha to Tarangire National Park. The landscape of this reserve is characterized by massive baobab trees, bush savanna, and seasonal swamps. The park covers about 2600 km², which is roughly the size of Luxembourg. Tarangire is considered one of the best places in East Africa to observe elephants up close. Additionally, the park provides habitat for Maasai giraffes, various species of gazelles and antelopes, buffaloes, lions, leopards, baboons, and several hundred species of birds. You will undertake extensive game drives and drive to the Sangaiwe Tented Lodge outside the park in the late afternoon, where you will stay tonight.
Lunch / Dinner
Day 2 | Marera Valley Lodge, Tarangire – Lake Manyara National Park
After breakfast, set off to visit Lake Manyara National Park. This reserve encompasses a large part of the eponymous soda lake, which seasonally hosts huge colonies of flamingos and many other water birds. Along the lake shores, you can observe elephants, hippos, buffaloes, zebras, mongoose, and various species of gazelles and antelopes. The park is also known for sightings of lions that climb trees, a behavior that is atypical for lions but can also be observed in other parks. Generally, a large portion of luck is required to spot big cats, especially lions, in a tree. After thoroughly exploring the national park, your journey continues into the lush highlands of Karatu, where you will spend the night at the Marera Valley Lodge.
Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 3 | Kati Kati Tented Camp , Karatu – Serengeti National Park
After breakfast, depart towards the Serengeti. You will pass through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and soon the vast plains of the southern Serengeti come into view. The name Serengeti is derived from the Maasai word “Siringitu,” meaning “the endless plains.” The grass savannas of the southern Serengeti extend to the horizon and are interrupted only by so-called kopjes, bizarre rock formations. These are ideal hunting grounds for cheetahs and other big cats. With the vehicle roof open and always new wildlife sightings, you will slowly approach your destination for the day, the Seronera Valley in the central Serengeti. Dinner and overnight stay at Kati Kati Tented Camp.
Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 4 | Kati Kati Tented Camp, Serengeti National Park
Look forward to a full day of game drives in the Serengeti. Together with your guide, you will find and observe the animals and learn many details about their behavior and social structures. In the Seronera Valley, lions and other big cats like leopards and cheetahs are often observed, as well as elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, hartebeests, topis, various gazelles, hyenas, ostriches, and a multitude of bird species. The areas you visit will also depend on the great migration. Typically, the massive herds of wildebeests and zebras move from the hills in the north to the plains in the south during the small rainy season in November and back north after the large rainy season in April, May, and June. However, fluctuations in rainfall can shift this cycle. You will overnight again at Kati Kati Tented Camp.
Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 5 | Ang'ata Ngorongoro Camp, Serengeti – Ngorongoro
After breakfast, embark on one last game drive in the Serengeti National Park. Keep an eye out not only for the “Big Five” but also for smaller and lesser-known species such as the “Little Five.” Each day on safari is a new adventure, and you never know what lies around the next corner. After lunch at a picnic spot, continue towards the Ngorongoro Crater. Once you reach the crater rim, you will have a breathtaking view into the vast caldera of the Ngorongoro Crater. You will stay overnight at Ang’ata Ngorongoro Camp on the crater rim.
Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 6 | Ang'ata Ngorongoro Camp, Ngorongoro Crater – Arusha
Enjoy breakfast at dawn before descending into the crater. The interior of the world’s largest intact caldera is teeming with wildlife. In the grasslands and acacia forests, you can find almost every typical representative of the East African savannah, except for topis, Maasai giraffes, and impalas. It is not uncommon to spot the Big Five – lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard – within a few hours. After extensive game drives and a picnic in the crater, you will leave the highlands in the afternoon and drive back to Arusha, where your exciting northern Tanzania safari ends.
Breakfast / Lunch
When To Go
| jan | feb | mar | apr | may | jun | jul | aug | sep | oct | nov | dec | |
| Arusha |  | | |  | |  | | | | | | |
| Northern Tanzania | | | | | | | | | | | | |
= Best
= Good
= Mixed
Ready for an adventure? Lets Talk!
Contact SAFARI FRANK to get started on your safari of a lifetime!
Safaris
Related Safaris
Lodge and Canvas
7 Nights
Tanzania
Budget level:
High-End
Lodge and Canvas
8 Nights
Tanzania
Budget level:
High-End
Lodge and Canvas
10 Nights
Tanzania
Budget level:
High-End
Lodge and Canvas
9 Nights
Tanzania
Budget level:
High-End
