Serengeti & Ngorongoro Classic Safari
Private · 6 Days · The Complete Northern Circuit · Africa's Greatest Safari
🌍 Safari Overview
6 Days / 5 Nights
Duration
2–6 Guests
Group Size
Full Board
Meals
Year-round
Best Season
Mid-Range Lodge Safari
Tour Style
Mid-range
Accommodation
The classic Tanzania safari six days covering the complete Northern Circuit at a pace that lets you truly absorb every destination. Starting in Tanzania’s elephant capital Tarangire, continuing to the flamingo shores of Lake Manyara, spending two nights in the Serengeti, and finishing with a full day inside the legendary Ngorongoro Crater. This is the itinerary that defines a Tanzania safari: all four of the Northern Circuit’s greatest parks, each visited with enough time to do them justice. Ideal for first-time Tanzania visitors who want to experience everything the Northern Circuit offers.
✨ Safari Highlights
Tarangire Elephant Capital
Tarangire National Park has the largest elephant herds in Tanzania — herds of 200–300+ are common along the Tarangire River in dry season.
Lake Manyara Flamingos
Tens of thousands of flamingos line the alkaline shores of Lake Manyara alongside tree-climbing lions, hippos, and over 400 bird species.
Two Serengeti Nights
Two full nights in the Serengeti means morning and afternoon game drives on both days — maximum time for big cat sightings.
Ngorongoro Crater Full Day
A dedicated full day in Africa's greatest wildlife caldera — the entire crater day is yours, with no need to rush through on a half-day stop.
Complete Big Five
This itinerary covers Tanzania's most reliable Big Five territory — all five species are seen on the majority of departures.
The Complete Northern Circuit
Four parks, six days, one seamless safari — the definitive Tanzania Northern Circuit experience with private vehicle throughout.
📋 Day-by-Day Itinerary
1
▾
- Morning departure from Arusha hotel (7:00am) Drive south to Tarangire National Park (2 hours via Makuyuni Gate) Bush picnic lunch en route Afternoon game drive: elephant herds, lions, leopard, zebra, giraffe, wildebeest Visit the iconic Silale Swamp and Tarangire River corridor Evening sundowner drinks at the lodge with views across the park
🍽️Full Board — All Meals Included
2
▾
- Dawn game drive in Tarangire: elephants at watering holes, baobab forest, Boundary Hill viewpoint Morning: ancient baobab forest loop and the famous Engikaret hippo pool Drive to Lake Manyara National Park (1 hour) Afternoon: full Lake Manyara game drive tree-climbing lions in acacia branches, hippo pools, flamingo shore Birdwatching: 400+ species including various storks, herons, and kingfishers Evening: sundowners at the lodge with Rift Valley escarpment views
🍽️Full Board — All Meals Included
3
▾
- Morning drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area highlands (Maasai villages, crater rim viewpoints) Pass through Naabi Hill Gate into the Serengeti Afternoon game drive in Seronera Valley the most wildlife-dense zone in the park Serengeti sundowner: drinks on the open plains as the sun sets over Africa
🍽️Full Board — All Meals Included
4
▾
- Pre-dawn game drive (6:00am) prime predator activity hour Lion pride tracking in Seronera Valley and Moru kopje area Mid-morning: Seronera River hippo pools and crocodile banks Afternoon: cheetah on termite mounds, wild dog search, giraffe herds on the open plains Late afternoon: sundowner at a Serengeti kopje rock viewpoint panoramic 360° views over the plains Bush dinner under the Milky Way
🍽️Full Board — All Meals Included
5
▾
- Early morning final Serengeti game drive (6:00–9:00am) Drive south through Naabi Hill Gate to Ngorongoro highlands Stop at Olduvai Gorge Museum 'Cradle of Mankind' fossil site (optional, 1 hour) Arrive Ngorongoro Crater rim afternoon rim viewpoint walk Sundowner drinks on the crater rim with views directly into the caldera
🍽️Full Board — All Meals Included
6
▾
- Dawn departure to Seneto Descent Gate (5:30am) Descend into the crater floor the full caldera game drive begins Morning: lions at the crater lake, black rhino in open grassland, elephant bulls in Lerai Forest Mid-morning: flamingo flats thousands of pink birds on the alkaline lake shore Picnic lunch at Lerai Forest inside the crater Afternoon: spotted hyena clans, jackal, golden jackal, hippopotamus in the hippo pool Crater exit via Lerai Ascent Road at 4:00pm — drive back to Arusha (3 hours)
🍽️Full Board — All Meals Included
💰 Safari Pricing
Most Popular
Standard
$1,750
per person
- 3-4 star lodge and tented camp accommodation Full board — all meals throughout Private 4x4 vehicle and guide All park, conservation, and crater fees Airport transfers (Arusha KIA)
Premium
$2,850
per person
- 4-5 star premium lodge accommodation (Serena properties or equivalent) Full board — all meals throughout Senior guide exclusive to your group All park fees included Private airport transfers Sundowner drinks each evening In-room welcome amenities Olduvai Gorge stop included
Luxury
$5,200
per person
- 5-star luxury lodge (Serengeti Serena, Ngorongoro Serena or equivalent) Full board — all meals plus premium sundowner setup</li><li>Private senior guide and spotter</li><li>All park fees included</li><li>Private luxury transfers Bush dinner under the stars (one night) Champagne welcome Optional Serengeti balloon add-on available
All prices per person. Group discounts available. Contact us for custom pricing.
🏕️ Your Accommodations
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📍 Destinations You'll Visit
📍 Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park is one of Tanzania’s most underrated yet spectacular destinations. Located 120 km south of Arusha,…
Explore →📍 Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park packs an extraordinary diversity of habitats into a relatively compact 648 km² park. Stretching…
Explore →📍 Serengeti National Park
Serengeti National Park is Tanzania’s most celebrated wildlife destination and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Covering 14,763 km²…
Explore →📍 Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro Crater is one of the world’s most extraordinary natural wonders. Formed two to three million years ago…
Explore →📍 Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and IUCN Category VI protected area covering…
Explore →📍 Olduvai Gorge
Olduvai Gorge (also written Oldupai Gorge) is one of the most important prehistoric sites in the world —…
Explore →📍 Karatu
Karatu is a lively agricultural market town in the Karatu highlands, positioned at the crossroads between Tarangire National…
Explore →✅ What's Included
- All national park and conservation area fees
- Private 4WD Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
- Professional English-speaking certified guide
- Full board — all meals as stated in itinerary
- All accommodation as per itinerary
- All transfers and ground transportation
- Bottled drinking water throughout the safari
- 24/7 WhatsApp support from Daydream Tours & Safaris team
❌ Not Included
- International flights to/from Tanzania
- Tanzania visa fees (approximately $50 USD)
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Alcoholic and soft beverages
- Tips and gratuities for guide and staff
- Personal items, laundry, and souvenirs
- Optional activities not in itinerary
📸 Safari Photo Gallery
Leopard on a tree at sunset - Samburu National Reserve, North Kenya
Beautiful endangered Rothschild's giraffe in Lake Nakuru, Kenya Africa
A lion lying next to a killed giraffe
A lion is sitting in a field of savannah tall grass, surrounded by the lush greenery. The lions majestic fur stands out against the backdrop of the grass, and it appears to be calmly observing its surroundings
A leopard, Panthera pardus, walks parallel to a waterhole, looking away, front leg raised, green brown grass in background
A group of rhinos grazes peacefully by a waterhole while ostriches roam in the background, showcasing the vibrant wildlife of Botswana's safari landscape.🌟 Experience Type
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is 6 days enough for the full Northern Circuit?▾
Six days is the most popular length for the Northern Circuit it gives you meaningful time in every park without feeling rushed. You get two full nights in the Serengeti (the right amount for quality big cat sightings) and a full day in the Ngorongoro Crater. Most first-time visitors rate this as the perfect balance of time, cost, and wildlife quality.
What is the Ngorongoro Crater like compared to the Serengeti?▾
They offer very different experiences. The Serengeti is vast, open, and wild perfect for following predators across endless plains. The Ngorongoro Crater is a 264 km² enclosed caldera with an extraordinarily high density of wildlife in a relatively small area. In the crater you almost never need to drive far to find action. Both are unmissable which is why this itinerary includes both.
Do we visit Lake Manyara on this itinerary?▾
Yes Day 2 includes a Lake Manyara game drive after a morning in Tarangire. Lake Manyara is famous for its tree-climbing lions, hippos, flamingo flats, and exceptional birdlife (400+ species). It's an excellent wildlife destination in its own right and perfectly positioned as a Day 2 stop between Tarangire and the Serengeti.
How long is the drive to the Serengeti from Arusha?▾
The drive from Arusha to the central Serengeti (Seronera) takes approximately 5–6 hours including the Ngorongoro highlands crossing. On this itinerary, Day 3 includes the highlands crossing with game driving along the way, so the travel time is spent seeing wildlife rather than simply driving.
Can this tour be extended with more days?▾
Yes this 6-day itinerary can be extended to 7 or 8 days with an additional night in the Serengeti, an Arusha National Park day, or a Zanzibar beach extension. Ask us for our 7-day, 8-day, and combined Safari + Zanzibar packages.
Are tips included in the price?▾
Tips for your guide and accommodation staff are not included in the safari price. Industry guideline is approximately $15–20 per person per day for your driver-guide and $5–10 per person per day for camp/lodge staff. Tips are entirely at your discretion and based on the quality of service received.
What happens if the weather is bad or there is rain?▾
Tanzania safaris operate year-round in all weather conditions. Short afternoon rains (common October–December) add beauty to the landscape and do not significantly affect game viewing. The heavy long rains (April–May) are the only period when some roads become challenging. The Ngorongoro Crater and most of the Northern Circuit operate normally even during light rain.
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