Wildebeest migration in Serengeti National Park. Photo: Daniel Rosengren, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.
Overview
Discover Tanzania’s legendary Northern Safari Circuit on this 10 Days Best of Tanzania Safari with Wagatil Safaris. Beginning and ending in Arusha, the itinerary combines Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park, Olduvai Gorge and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in one carefully paced wildlife adventure.
The journey is designed for travelers who want more than a rushed park-to-park safari. You will have dedicated full game-viewing days in Tarangire and Lake Manyara, time to experience the vast Serengeti plains, a Maasai cultural encounter, an archaeological stop at Olduvai Gorge and a rewarding descent into Ngorongoro Crater. Expect opportunities to see elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, hippos, antelopes and a remarkable variety of birdlife, while rarer species such as leopards, cheetahs and black rhinos depend on luck and conditions.
For travelers planning a wider regional journey, Wagatil Safaris also offers East African safari destinations and Tanzania combinations that can be extended to Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya or Zanzibar.
Tour Inclusions
- Safari accommodation for 9 nights
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- National park and conservation-area entry fees
- Professional English-speaking safari driver-guide
- Scheduled game drives
- Olduvai Gorge visit as arranged
- Safari transportation in a suitable 4×4 vehicle
- Arusha pick-up and final drop-off
- Maasai cultural experience as stated
- Ngorongoro Crater game drive
- Bottled drinking water during safari drives
- Services of Wagatil Safaris throughout the tour
Tour Exclusions
- International flights
- Tanzania visa and immigration charges
- Travel and medical insurance
- Optional activities not stated as included
- Tips and gratuities
- Alcoholic and premium beverages
- Laundry and personal purchases
- Any services not specifically listed as included
Travel Plan
-
01
Day 1: Arrival & Arusha City Experience
Your 10 Days Best of Tanzania Safari begins in Arusha, the gateway to Tanzania’s famous Northern Safari Circuit. A professional Wagatil Safaris representative will meet you at Kilimanjaro International Airport, Arusha Airport or your agreed location and provide a briefing about the days ahead.
Depending on your arrival schedule, enjoy a guided introduction to Arusha. The experience can include selected local markets, craft centers, cultural or historical attractions and views of the city with Mount Meru forming an impressive backdrop when weather conditions are clear.
Mount Meru viewed from Arusha. Photo: KaizaDee, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
After the city experience, transfer to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure before the wildlife safari begins.
Accommodation: Selected hotel or lodge in Arusha.
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner, depending on arrival arrangements.
-
02
Day 2: Arusha to Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, leave Arusha with your Wagatil Safaris driver-guide and travel toward Tarangire National Park. The drive introduces you to the landscapes of northern Tanzania before reaching a park famous for its baobab-studded scenery, seasonal wildlife concentrations and impressive elephant population.
Arrive at your lodge or camp, check in and have lunch. Later, depending on your arrival time and lodge location, enjoy an introductory game drive or spend the later part of the day relaxing and taking in the wilderness atmosphere.
Elephant in Tarangire National Park. Photo: Kim brixen, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Tarangire can support elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, antelopes and predators including lions and leopards, although every game drive is different.
Accommodation: Selected lodge or safari camp in or near Tarangire.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
-
03
Day 3: Full-Day Tarangire Wildlife Safari
Spend a full day exploring Tarangire National Park. Your guide will plan the day’s route around wildlife activity, water availability and seasonal conditions. The Tarangire River is an important source of water during dry periods and often attracts concentrations of wildlife.
Game drives may reveal large elephant herds, giraffes moving through acacia woodland, zebras and wildebeest on the open plains, buffaloes, warthogs and numerous antelope species. Lions can sometimes be found resting in shade or watching prey from strategic positions, while leopard sightings require patience and luck.
The park is also highly rewarding for birdwatchers, with a diverse mixture of raptors, water-associated species and dry-country birds. Enjoy lunch according to the day’s safari arrangement and continue exploring into the afternoon before returning to the lodge.
Accommodation: Selected lodge or safari camp in or near Tarangire.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
-
04
Day 4: Tarangire to Lake Manyara National Park
Enjoy breakfast before leaving Tarangire and continuing toward Lake Manyara National Park. The journey passes through northern Tanzania’s changing landscapes, communities and agricultural areas before reaching the dramatic Rift Valley escarpment.
After arrival and lunch, head into Lake Manyara National Park for an afternoon game drive. The park is compact but remarkably varied, with groundwater forest, open areas, wetlands and lake-edge habitats supporting a wide range of wildlife.
© Giles Laurent, gileslaurent.com, License CC BY-SA.
Possible sightings include elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, baboons, zebras, hippos and many bird species. Lake Manyara is also associated with tree-climbing lions, although seeing them in trees is never guaranteed.
Accommodation: Selected lodge or safari camp around Lake Manyara.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
-
05
Day 5: Full-Day Lake Manyara Game Viewing
After breakfast, return to Lake Manyara National Park for a more detailed day of wildlife exploration. By spending a full day here rather than rushing onward, you have time to explore different habitats and look for wildlife at a relaxed pace.
Your guide will search for elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, impalas, zebras, warthogs, monkeys and other animals while keeping watch for predators. The forested sections are especially scenic, while the lake and wetland areas attract waterbirds depending on seasonal conditions.
Part of the day can be dedicated to searching for Lake Manyara’s famous lions. Although these lions are known for occasionally resting in trees, their behavior is unpredictable and sightings depend on luck.
Return to your accommodation after the day’s game viewing for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Selected lodge or safari camp around Lake Manyara.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
-
06
Day 6: Lake Manyara to Serengeti National Park
After breakfast, check out and begin the journey toward Serengeti National Park. This transfer takes you deeper into Tanzania’s Northern Circuit and introduces increasingly expansive landscapes as you approach one of the world’s most celebrated wildlife ecosystems.
Enjoy lunch according to the day’s arrangements and continue toward your lodge or tented camp. Depending on the route, gate formalities, wildlife activity and accommodation location, the transfer can include game viewing as you enter and travel through the Serengeti.
The Serengeti supports immense populations of plains game as well as lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, hyenas and hundreds of bird species. Settle into your accommodation and enjoy the sounds and atmosphere of the African wilderness.
Accommodation: Selected lodge or tented camp in Serengeti National Park.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
-
07
Day 7: Serengeti Game Drive & Maasai Cultural Experience
Begin the day with an extensive game drive across the Serengeti. Your guide will use local wildlife information and seasonal knowledge to select productive areas for viewing. The park’s open plains and kopjes provide exceptional habitats for predators and large herbivore herds.
Search for lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, gazelles, hyenas and many other animals. During periods when the Great Migration herds are in accessible parts of the park, your guide will attempt to position the safari around those movements.
Male lion in Serengeti National Park. Photo: Thomas Fuhrmann, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Later, take part in a respectfully arranged Maasai cultural encounter. Learn about aspects of pastoral life, traditional dress, livestock, songs, dances and community traditions before returning to your safari accommodation.
Accommodation: Selected lodge or tented camp in Serengeti National Park.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
-
08
Day 8: Serengeti to Ngorongoro via Olduvai Gorge
After breakfast, enjoy the final views of the Serengeti before beginning the journey toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Depending on your route, wildlife may continue to appear along the way, providing additional game-viewing opportunities during the transfer.
Stop at Olduvai Gorge, one of East Africa’s most important archaeological and paleoanthropological areas. The site is associated with major discoveries that have contributed significantly to scientific understanding of early human evolution. Visit the museum or interpretation area according to the day’s arrangements before continuing toward Ngorongoro.
Ngorongoro Crater panorama. Photo: Thomas Huston, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Arrive at your selected lodge in the Ngorongoro region, check in and enjoy dinner overlooking one of Tanzania’s most dramatic landscapes.
Accommodation: Selected lodge in or near the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
-
09
Day 9: Ngorongoro Crater Safari & Optional Guided Rim Walk
After an early breakfast, descend into Ngorongoro Crater for one of the highlights of your Tanzania safari. The crater floor supports a remarkable concentration of wildlife within a relatively compact area, creating excellent opportunities for game viewing.
Search for lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, warthogs, hippos, hyenas, gazelles and many bird species. Ngorongoro is also one of Tanzania’s important areas for black rhinos, although sightings depend on luck and distance. Leopards are present in the wider conservation area but are less commonly seen on the open crater floor.
Enjoy a picnic lunch in an approved area before continuing with the crater game drive. Later, return toward the rim. Depending on your accommodation, weather, local rules and arrangements, you may opt for a guided crater-rim or highland nature walk with an authorized guide.
Accommodation: Selected lodge in or near the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
-
10
Day 10: Ngorongoro to Arusha – Departure
Enjoy breakfast and take in your final views of the Ngorongoro highlands before beginning the return journey to Arusha. The drive passes through northern Tanzania’s rural landscapes and towns, giving you one final look at the country after ten days of wildlife and cultural experiences.
Depending on your onward flight schedule, stop for lunch in Arusha or continue directly to Arusha Airport, Kilimanjaro International Airport or your hotel. Travelers who want to extend their holiday can continue to Zanzibar, Mount Kilimanjaro or another East African destination.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch, depending on departure arrangements.
END OF SAFARI.