Northern Circuit — Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Serengeti
The unhurried version of the classic northern circuit. An extra day gives Tarangire room to breathe with a full day of its own, rather than a single afternoon drive, before the route moves on through Ngorongoro and into two full days in the Serengeti — enough time to actually follow the game rather than just glimpse it.
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 edge 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.
Baobabs, elephant herds & the Tarangire River
Departing Arusha after breakfast, the short drive south brings you to Tarangire by late morning, in time for lunch at camp and an afternoon game drive. The park is famed for its ancient baobabs and some of the largest elephant herds in Tanzania, which gather along the Tarangire River especially in the dry season.
Riverine woodland and the swamp circuit
A full day exploring Tarangire's varied terrain, from riverine woodland to seasonal swamps that draw in game year-round, with a picnic lunch out in the bush. Beyond the elephant herds, the park has one of the highest densities of breeding birds in the country, along with good chances of lion, leopard, and the striking long-necked gerenuk.
Morning game drive, then the highlands
A final morning game drive in Tarangire before departing, then the route climbs steadily through Karatu's coffee-growing hills and into the cool, forested highlands surrounding the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Camp for the night sits directly on the crater rim, with views down into the caldera itself.
Big Five country, then west to the plains
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 continues west across the Ngorongoro highlands and the Serengeti's short-grass plains to 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 game drive and drive back to Arusha
A last morning game drive through the Serengeti's eastern plains before the long drive back, retracing the route through the Ngorongoro highlands and down towards Arusha. The safari ends 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.
