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Tanzania’s Northern Circuit: A Private 7-Day Safari

Private Tanzania Northern Circuit Safari

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Duration

7 Days

Starts In

Arusha

Route

Arusha, Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Tanzania's Northern Safari Circuit distils the country's greatest wildlife landscapes into a single, unhurried week. Beginning in Arusha at the foot of Mount Meru, the journey descends into the Great Rift Valley at Lake Manyara before crossing onto the Serengeti's endless plains, home to the annual wildebeest migration and all of Africa's Big Five. An optional dawn hot air balloon flight offers a rare aerial view of the grasslands before the route continues to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where two nights on the crater rim include a full day exploring one of the most densely populated wildlife arenas on earth. It's a circuit built around Tanzania's most iconic parks, paced for genuine immersion rather than a rushed checklist.

PRIVATE SAFARI - 7 Days / 6 Nights featuring Tanzania. Includes private arrival & departure transfers, accommodations in Arusha, Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area, game drives as indicated in the itinerary. This itinerary is fully flexible and can be amended to suit your interests.

Includes

Accommodations as per itinerary
Meals as per itinerary; breakfast (B), lunch (L), dinner (D)
Driver/Guide: Private as per itinerary
Keytours 24-hour emergency assistance
Private arrival and departure transfers as per itinerary
National Park Entrance Fees
Game Drives: As Per Itinerary

Excludes

Items of a personal nature
All other items not mentioned as included
Travel insurance; please inquire with your Keytours travel consultant
Gratuities for drivers, guides, and escorts

Itinerary

Day
1

Day 1: Gateway to Safari — Arrival in Arusha

Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where you clear customs before being met outside the arrivals hall by your driver-guide for the transfer into Arusha. Set at the foot of Mount Meru amid former coffee plantations on the shores of Lake Duluti, this gateway city marks the start of Tanzania's famed Northern Safari Circuit. Your lodge for the night sits within landscaped grounds designed in the style of a colonial-era coffee farm, offering an easy, low-key first evening to settle in after your flight. Optional walking, mountain biking and canoeing on the lake are available on request, a gentle introduction to the adventure ahead.

Day
2

Day 2: Into the Rift — Lake Manyara National Park

Spend the morning at leisure, with optional activities available direct, before a safari briefing and lunch precede your afternoon departure for Lake Manyara National Park. As Arusha's outskirts give way to open plains dotted with grass-thatched huts and grazing cattle, the towering wall of the Great Rift Valley rises on the horizon ahead. Lake Manyara itself, a shallow alkaline lake covering much of the park's 330 square kilometers, supports large herds of elephant, buffalo, giraffe and zebra, along with tree-climbing lions and more than 400 recorded bird species. Arrive at your lodge on the escarpment rim for dinner, overlooking the park below.

Day
3

Day 3: Endless Plains — Onward to the Serengeti

A morning game drive through Lake Manyara National Park precedes a return to the lodge for lunch, before departing for the Serengeti. Beyond Naabi Gate, the park's official entrance, game viewing continues en route to your lodge for the evening. The Serengeti spans roughly 14,750 square kilometers of savannah grassland and is home to all of Africa's Big Five, alongside cheetah, hyena and the vast herds that make up the annual wildebeest migration, one of the natural world's great spectacles. The Maasai people have called this landscape home for centuries, and their presence remains woven into the fabric of the plains.

Day
4

Day 4: Above the Plains — A Day in the Serengeti

Day
5

Day 5: Descent to the Crater — Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Depart the Serengeti with game viewing continuing en route to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a picnic lunch served along the way. Your lodge for the next two nights sits on the crater rim, offering sweeping views over one of the most densely populated wildlife areas on earth, home to an estimated 30,000 animals. Ngorongoro is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its landscape encompassing the crater itself alongside Olduvai Gorge and Empakai Crater, and continues to support Maasai communities who have lived here for generations. The afternoon is at leisure, with dinner and overnight taken at the lodge.

Day
6

Day 6: Into the Caldera — Ngorongoro Crater Floor

An early departure carries you down to the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater for a full day of game driving within its 102-square-mile bowl, home to more than 30,000 mammals and excellent odds of spotting all of the Big Five in a single day. A picnic lunch is served at a scenic spot on the crater floor before the afternoon ascent back to the rim. The crater's unique, self-contained ecosystem, virtually unchanged since prehistoric times, makes for one of the most concentrated wildlife-viewing experiences in Africa. Dinner and a final overnight at the lodge close out the day.

Day
7

Day 7: Journey's End — Return to Arusha

Early risers can catch the sunrise over the eastern rim of the crater before breakfast and departure for the return journey to Arusha, arriving in the city in time for lunch. From there, transfer to Kilimanjaro International or Arusha Airport for your onward departure flight, marking the end of a week spent across Tanzania's most celebrated parks and conservation areas. From the Rift Valley escarpment to the endless Serengeti plains and the crater's ancient caldera, this journey traces the heart of the Northern Safari Circuit's wildlife, landscapes and living Maasai culture.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Private Tanzania Northern Circuit Safari package include?

The Private Tanzania Northern Circuit Safari package includes: - Accommodations as per itinerary - Meals as per itinerary (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) - Private driver/guide - Private arrival and departure transfers - National Park entrance fees - Game drives as indicated in the itinerary - Keytours 24-hour emergency assistance. Please note that items of a personal nature, travel insurance, and gratuities for drivers and guides are not included.

How many days and nights does this itinerary cover, and where does it start and end?

This itinerary covers 7 days and 6 nights, starting and ending in Arusha, Tanzania. Your journey begins upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where you will be transferred to Arusha. The tour includes visits to Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, before returning to Arusha for your departure.

Can I customize the Private Tanzania Northern Circuit Safari itinerary?

Yes, this package is fully flexible and can be amended to suit your interests. You can customize aspects such as accommodations, activities, and the duration of your stay at specific locations. To discuss your preferences and make arrangements, please consult with a Keytours travel consultant.

What types of activities are available during the Private Tanzania Northern Circuit Safari?

This itinerary offers a variety of activities, including: - Game drives in Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park, and Ngorongoro Crater - Optional dawn hot air balloon flights over the Serengeti for stunning aerial views - Leisure activities in Arusha, such as walking, mountain biking, and canoeing on Lake Duluti. Please note that optional activities may incur additional costs.

How do travelers move between the destinations in this tour?

Travelers move between destinations in this tour via private vehicle with a driver/guide. Game drives and transfers between Arusha, Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park, and Ngorongoro Conservation Area are all included in the itinerary. This ensures a comfortable and personalized travel experience throughout the Northern Safari Circuit.

What should I know about the wildlife viewing in this itinerary?

This itinerary offers exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities, particularly in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. The Serengeti is known for its vast herds and the annual wildebeest migration, while Ngorongoro Crater is home to over 30,000 mammals, including all of Africa's Big Five. Expect a unique ecosystem and high chances of spotting diverse wildlife during your game drives.

Are there any specific items not included in the tour price that I should be aware of?

Yes, the following items are not included in the tour price: - Items of a personal nature (e.g., souvenirs, personal expenses) - Travel insurance (which you can inquire about with your Keytours travel consultant) - Gratuities for drivers, guides, and escorts. Make sure to budget for these additional costs when planning your trip.

Book Your Trip

Include Flights?

Yes

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