6 Days The Complete Northern Circuit

Overview & Summary

Experience the full spectrum of Tanzania's northern safari circuit on this comprehensive 6-day journey. Begin in Tarangire, where massive elephant herds gather beneath ancient baobabs. Journey into the Serengeti's endless plains for two full days of predator tracking, with an optional sunrise hot air balloon safari. Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage site teeming with over 25,000 animals including the endangered black rhino. Conclude in Lake Manyara, searching for tree climbing lions against the Rift Valley escarpment. With expert BMC TOURS & SAFARIS guides and comfortable accommodations, this is the ultimate introduction to Tanzania's wild heart.

Full Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival and Tarangire National Park – Land of Giants

Tarangire River Wildlife, Massive Elephant Herds & Baobab Landscapes

Your safari begins with a morning welcome from your BMC TOURS & SAFARIS driver at Kilimanjaro International Airport or your Arusha hotel. You drive directly to Tarangire National Park, a landscape dominated by ancient baobabs and the life giving Tarangire River.

Embark on a full day game drive, spotting massive elephant herds numbering in the hundreds, lions resting in acacia shade, and giraffes browsing treetops. Enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking the river, watching elephants drink and play. After an afternoon of exploration, exit the park and transfer to your comfortable lodge near Karatu.

Dinner and overnight at Marera Valley Lodge

Accommodation

Marera Valley Lodge

Day 2 Karatu to Serengeti National Park – Into the Endless Plains

Ngorongoro Highlands Viewpoints, Maasai Homesteads & Serengeti Plains Game Drive

After breakfast, journey toward the legendary Serengeti National Park. The scenic drive takes you through the Ngorongoro Highlands, with stops at breathtaking viewpoints overlooking the Great Rift Valley and traditional Maasai homesteads dotting the landscape.

As you descend onto the vast plains, the horizon stretches into eternity. Enter the Serengeti for your first game drive, encountering giraffes, elephants, zebras, and perhaps lions resting in golden grass. Enjoy a picnic lunch en route before continuing your exploration. Arrive at your comfortable camp in Central Serengeti in the late afternoon, settling in before an evening game drive as the sun sets over endless plains.

Dinner and overnight at Baobab Central Serengeti Camp

Accommodation

Baobab Central Serengeti Camp

Day 3 Full Day Serengeti Exploration – Predators and Kopjes

Sunrise Seronera Valley Game Drive, Big Cats Tracking & Granite Kopjes Safaris

Wake before dawn for an early morning game drive as the Serengeti awakens in golden light—prime time for predator sightings. The Seronera Valley, one of Africa's most predator rich regions, offers lions stalking zebras, cheetahs scanning from termite mounds, and leopards draped in acacia branches.

Spend the day exploring open savannahs and ancient granite kopjes where predators laze. Your expert guide tracks elephants, buffalo, and resident predators across the valley. Enjoy a picnic lunch surrounded by the sounds of the bush, then continue your exploration through acacia woodlands. Return to camp as the sun sets, sharing stories of the day's wonders over dinner.

Dinner and overnight at Baobab Central Serengeti Camp

Day 4 Serengeti to Ngorongoro Highlands – Optional Balloon Safari

Optional Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Drift & Scenic Rift Valley Highlands Ascent

Rise before dawn for an optional sunrise hot air balloon safari over the Central Serengeti. Drift silently above golden plains as wildlife awakens below—a breathtaking perspective of Africa's most iconic landscape. After landing, celebrate with a champagne bush breakfast.

If you choose not to balloon, enjoy a final morning game drive tracking predators. After lunch, begin your scenic journey toward the Ngorongoro Highlands. Travel through changing landscapes, stopping at viewpoints overlooking the Great Rift Valley. Arrive at your comfortable lodge perched on the crater rim in the late afternoon, welcomed by breathtaking views of the caldera below. Enjoy dinner as the sun sets over this ancient volcanic landscape.

Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Safari Lodge

Accommodation

Ngorongoro Safari Lodge

Day 5 Ngorongoro Crater Descent and Transfer to Karatu

600-Meter Caldera Game Drive, Big Five Safari & Ngoitokitok Springs Picnic

After an early breakfast with spectacular crater views, descend 600 meters onto the Ngorongoro Crater floor for a full day game drive. This natural wonder, formed over two million years ago, teems with over 25,000 animals—lions stalk zebras, elephants graze near hippo pools, and the endangered black rhino browses peacefully.

Explore Lake Magadi's flamingos and the lush Gorigor Swamp before enjoying a picnic lunch at scenic Ngoitokitok Springs, watching hippos surface just meters away. After an afternoon of exploration, ascend the crater wall and drive to your comfortable lodge near Karatu.

Dinner and overnight at Marera Valley Lodge

Day 6 Lake Manyara National Park – Tree Lions and Departure

Lush Groundwater Forests, Tree-Climbing Lions & Shallow Soda Lake Birding

After breakfast, drive to Lake Manyara National Park, nestled against the dramatic Rift Valley escarpment. This compact park is famed for its lush groundwater forest and tree climbing lions—a behavior rarely seen elsewhere. Embark on a morning game drive through diverse habitats, spotting elephants and baboons in the forest, then emerging onto floodplains where thousands of flamingos gather.

Your guide helps you search for lions draped in acacia branches. Enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking the lake, watching hippos wallow. After lunch, exit the park and transfer to Arusha Airport for your flight to Zanzibar or to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your homeward journey.

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Inclusions & Exclusions

Optional Activities

Maasai Village Visit

Optional add-on

Balloon Safari

Optional add-on

Walking Safari

Optional add-on