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7-Day Northern Circuit Safari in Tanzania

7-day private safari

7-Day Northern Circuit Safari

Every park in the northern circuit, unhurried, with three nights inside the Serengeti.

From

$2,450

USD per person

Duration

7 days / 6 nights

Parks

Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater

Group

Private departure — usually 2 to 6 guests

Prices are per person based on a group of 6 sharing a private 4x4. Smaller groups are priced higher — ask us for a quote for your party size.

This is the full northern circuit as it should be done. Three nights in the Serengeti means you can follow the migration rather than chase it, and the extra days in Manyara and Tarangire fill in the landscapes and species the shorter trips skip. We build in slower mornings, longer game drives and time for cultural visits.

Best for
A complete first trip, photographers, families, honeymoons
Best months
June–October and January–March
Accommodation options
Camping from $2,450 pp · Lodge from $3,050 pp (USD)

Day-by-day itinerary

  1. 1

    Arusha → Tarangire National Park

    Full day game drive in Tarangire among the baobabs and elephant herds, then up to Karatu for the night.

    Meals: Lunch, dinner · Overnight: Karatu

  2. 2

    Lake Manyara National Park

    Groundwater forest, flamingo-edged lake shore, hippo pools and the escarpment. Optional treetop canopy walkway.

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner · Overnight: Karatu

  3. 3

    Karatu → Serengeti

    Over the highlands, past Olduvai Gorge and onto the plains, with an afternoon game drive to camp.

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner · Overnight: Serengeti

  4. 4

    Full day in the Serengeti

    A full day following the herds and the cats wherever they are, with a picnic lunch in the bush.

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner · Overnight: Serengeti

  5. 5

    Serengeti — northern or southern sector

    We move to the sector that matches the season: Ndutu for calving, the north for the Mara River crossings, Seronera in between.

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner · Overnight: Serengeti

  6. 6

    Serengeti → Ngorongoro rim

    Morning game drive out of the park, arriving on the crater rim for sunset over the caldera.

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner · Overnight: Ngorongoro rim or Karatu

  7. 7

    Ngorongoro Crater → Arusha

    Dawn descent for a full crater morning, picnic lunch on the floor, then the drive back to Arusha.

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch

What's included

  • Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof and window seat guaranteed
  • Professional English-speaking driver-guide
  • All national park and conservation area fees
  • Accommodation as listed
  • All meals on safari as listed
  • Drinking water throughout the safari
  • Pick-up and drop-off in Arusha or at Kilimanjaro Airport
  • Government taxes and VAT
  • 10% of your payment donated to the Fruitful Orphanage

Not included

  • International flights and Tanzania visa
  • Travel and medical insurance (required)
  • Tips for your guide and camp staff
  • Alcoholic and soft drinks
  • Personal items, laundry and souvenirs
  • Optional activities: Serengeti balloon safari (approx. $600 pp), Maasai village visit (from $30 pp), canoeing

How payment works

No payment is taken online. We confirm availability and send a written quote in US dollars. A 30% deposit by bank transfer secures your dates, and the balance is payable on arrival in Arusha in cash USD or by transfer. Once your safari is paid, 10% of the total is transferred to the Fruitful Orphanage & Day Care Center and we send you confirmation.

Read the full payment & booking terms →
Hot air balloon drifting over the Serengeti plains at sunrise

Optional add-on · from $600 per person

Sunrise balloon flight over the Serengeti

Lift off before first light and drift an hour over the plains, low over rivers and herds, landing to a champagne bush breakfast laid out under an acacia. It is the one extra almost everybody who takes it says was worth the money.

  • Always optional. Nothing on this safari depends on it — you can decide before you travel or once you are in camp, subject to availability.
  • It does not change the programme. The flight and breakfast finish mid-morning and your guide collects you in the park, so the day's game drives and every other day run exactly as written.
  • It does not affect your group. Travelling companions who prefer to stay on the ground keep the vehicle and the guide, and simply meet you afterwards.
  • Reference price $600 per person (USD, paid direct to the balloon operator). Children have a minimum age and height; we confirm the exact rate with your quote.
Maasai men in red and pink shukas singing together under a blue sky

Optional add-on · from $30 per person

Maasai village visit

Spend a couple of hours in a Maasai boma between parks: the welcome dance, the inside of a hand-built home, the cattle and the medicinal plants, and a chance to ask the questions a guidebook never answers. The fee is paid to the community itself.

  • Always optional. Tell us before you travel or decide on the road — your guide arranges it with the village.
  • It does not change the programme. The visit slots into a transfer between parks, so every game drive runs exactly as written.
  • From $30 per person (USD, paid direct to the village). We confirm the exact rate with your quote.
  • Respectful by arrangement. Photographs are welcome once you have asked; your guide translates and explains the etiquette first.

Parks on this safari

Tarangire National ParkLake Manyara National ParkSerengeti National ParkNgorongoro Conservation Area

Planning a 8-day trip?

Compare routes, prices and the best months for 8-day safaris from Arusha before you decide on this itinerary.

8-day Tanzania safari guide →

Other safaris

Read before you book

All Tanzania safari guides →

7-Day Northern Circuit safari FAQ

How much does the 7-Day Northern Circuit safari cost?
The 7-Day Northern Circuit Safari starts at $2,450 per person on our camping option and $3,050 per person staying in lodges. Prices are in US dollars and include park and conservation fees, a private 4x4 with a driver-guide, accommodation, meals and transfers from Arusha.
What is included in the 7-Day Northern Circuit price?
Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof and window seat guaranteed; Professional English-speaking driver-guide; All national park and conservation area fees; Accommodation as listed; All meals on safari as listed; Drinking water throughout the safari. International flights, your Tanzania visa, travel insurance, drinks and tips are not included.
Which parks does the 7-Day Northern Circuit safari visit?
Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater — over 7 days and 6 nights starting and ending in Arusha.
When is the best time to do the 7-Day Northern Circuit safari?
June–October and January–March
How many people share the safari vehicle?
Private departure — usually 2 to 6 guests You always have a window seat in a private 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof.
Can the 7-day circuit be extended to 8 days?
Yes. The most common change is one extra night in the Serengeti, which we quote at roughly $260 per person camping. Tell us your dates and we will price the 8-day version for you.
How do I book and how does the 10% donation work?
Send an enquiry — no payment is taken online. We confirm availability and send a written quote in USD, a 30% deposit by bank transfer secures your dates and the balance is paid on arrival in Arusha. Once the safari is paid, 10% of the total goes to the Fruitful Orphanage & Day Care Center and we send you confirmation of the transfer.

Questions about dates, group size or combining this with volunteering? We answer within 24 hours from Arusha.

Enquire about this safari