5 Days The Classic Northern Circuit Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Safari

Your safari begins with a warm welcome from your BMC TOURS & SAFARIS guide at Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport. You are transferred to your comfortable hotel in Arusha, the vibrant gateway to Tanzania's northern safari circuit. Take time to relax, unpack, and acclimate after your journey. In the afternoon, your guide visits to brief you on the exciting days ahead, answer any questions, and ensure all safari preparations are complete. You might choose to explore the local craft markets or simply unwind by the pool. Arusha sits at the foot of Mount Meru, and on clear days you can glimpse its forested slopes. Enjoy a delicious dinner at the hotel, resting well for tomorrow's adventure into the wild.

Accommodation

Tulia Retreat Hotel & Spa

After breakfast, you depart for Tarangire National Park, a stunning landscape of rolling savannah and ancient baobab trees. Upon arrival, you begin your game drive along the Tarangire River, the park's lifeblood. During the dry season, this river attracts one of the highest concentrations of wildlife anywhere, with elephant herds numbering in the hundreds gathering to drink and socialize. Your guide shares insights into animal behaviors as you spot lions resting in the shade, giraffes browsing acacia trees, and over 500 bird species. You stop for a peaceful picnic lunch overlooking the river, watching wildlife gather while you dine. The afternoon continues with game viewing as golden light illuminates the baobabs. The moment you will treasure is watching a matriarch elephant lead her family to the river, tiny calves staying close as trunks curl around the water. You exit the park and transfer to your lodge near Karatu.

Accommodation

Marera Valley Lodge

After an early breakfast, you journey to the legendary Serengeti National Park, driving through the Ngorongoro Highlands with stops for panoramic views of volcanic craters and Maasai homesteads. As you descend onto the vast plains, the horizon stretches into eternity. The Serengeti, meaning "endless plains" in Maasai, spans nearly 15,000 square kilometers and hosts the greatest concentration of wildlife on earth. Your guide sets a relaxed pace, stopping whenever something captures your attention—a family of elephants, a soaring eagle, or a beautiful vista. You enjoy a picnic lunch at a scenic spot, listening to the sounds of the bush. Arriving in central Serengeti, you settle into your camp before an afternoon game drive. The moment you will never forget is watching the golden light soften over the plains as predators begin their evening hunt. You return to camp for dinner under a blanket of stars.

Accommodation

Osinon Serengeti Camp

Wake before dawn for an early morning game drive as the Serengeti awakens in golden light—prime time for predator sightings. Lions stalk zebras while cheetahs scan from termite mounds, and leopards may be spotted draped in acacia branches along the Seronera River. You explore the park's diverse habitats, encountering elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, and countless zebras and wildebeests. Around midday, your guide finds a peaceful spot for a picnic lunch in the bush, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the wilderness. After lunch, you begin your scenic drive toward the Ngorongoro Highlands, leaving the endless plains behind as you ascend into cooler, greener landscapes. You arrive at your comfortable lodge perched on the Ngorongoro Crater rim in the late afternoon, with breathtaking views of the caldera below. What you will carry forever is watching the sun sink below the ancient crater rim, anticipating tomorrow's descent into Africa's Garden of Eden.

Accommodation

Ngorongoro Safari Lodge

After an early breakfast with spectacular crater views, you descend 600 meters onto the Ngorongoro Crater floor for a final half day game drive. This natural wonder teems with lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeests, hippos, and the endangered black rhino—one of the best places in Africa to spot this elusive species. You explore diverse habitats including Lake Magadi with its shimmering flamingos, the Gorigor Swamp where hippos wallow, and open grasslands where predators rest after a night of hunting. Around midmorning, you enjoy a picnic lunch at the scenic Ngoitokitok Springs, watching hippos surface just meters away for one last time. After lunch, you ascend the crater wall and begin your scenic journey back to Arusha. Your guide takes a route offering beautiful views of the Great Rift Valley, with stops at viewpoints overlooking Lake Manyara and traditional Maasai villages. Pausing at the Rift Valley viewpoint and gazing back at the landscapes will fill your heart with wonder. You arrive in Arusha in the late afternoon for flexible drop off at your hotel or Kilimanjaro International Airport, marking the end of your unforgettable Northern Circuit safari.