Northern Circuit — Serengeti & Ngorongoro
This is the itinerary most first-time visitors picture when they imagine a Tanzania safari — the endless plains of the Serengeti paired with a descent into the Ngorongoro Crater, one of the densest concentrations of wildlife anywhere on the continent. Four days is enough time to properly settle into both parks rather than just passing through.
Travel is by 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for game viewing, with an English-speaking driver-guide throughout. Each night is spent inside or on the rim of the park you're exploring that day, keeping drive times short and game-viewing time long.
Day By Day
Select a day to see the drive time, game viewing, and where you'll be spending the night.
Ngorongoro Highlands & western plains
Departing Arusha after breakfast, the drive climbs through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area's highland forest before dropping onto the vast open plains of the Serengeti. A game drive en route through the eastern Serengeti makes for a natural first taste of the park, before settling in at camp for the night.
Central and southern Serengeti
A full day dedicated to game viewing across the Serengeti's central and southern plains, with a picnic lunch out in the bush. This is prime territory for lion, cheetah, and — depending on the season — the wildebeest migration itself, with the exact route each day shaped by where the animals are concentrated.
Final Serengeti game drive, then highlands
One last morning game drive in the Serengeti before departing, with the route back climbing steadily out of the plains and into the cool, forested highlands surrounding Ngorongoro. Camp for the night sits directly on the crater rim, with views down into the caldera itself.
Crater game drive and drive back to Arusha
An early descent onto the crater floor for several hours of game viewing in one of the densest concentrations of wildlife in Africa, with strong odds of spotting all of the Big Five in a single morning. After lunch on the rim, the drive returns to Arusha in the afternoon, in time for an evening flight or onward travel.
Get a quote for your dates and group size — we'll handle the rest.
Africa Adventure — Southern Circuit Specialists
Based in Mikumi, Morogoro, Gilbays Safaris runs daily departures into Mikumi National Park alongside safaris and tours across Tanzania — from game drives to Maasai cultural excursions.
