Six Day Classic Northern Circuit

Day by day

Day by day itinerary

1. Day 1

   Depart Arusha mid morning for Tarangire National Park, about two hours south west. Afternoon game drive along the Tarangire River, which in the dry months draws the largest elephant concentrations in northern Tanzania. The park is also the best place on the circuit for baobabs and for birds.

   Tarangire areaMeals L, D

2. Day 2

   Morning game drive in Tarangire, then transfer to Lake Manyara National Park. Afternoon in Manyara: the park begins in dense groundwater forest full of baboons and blue monkeys, opens into woodland where elephant and buffalo move, and ends at the lake shore where flamingos and pelicans gather. Manyara is where lions are occasionally seen resting in the acacias. Evening transfer up to Karatu.

   KaratuMeals B, L, D

3. Day 3

   After breakfast we drive up through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, pausing at the crater rim viewpoint, and continue across the Conservation Area onto the Serengeti plains, entering at Naabi Hill Gate. Game driving through the afternoon as we work north to the central Seronera area.

   Central SerengetiMeals B, L, D

4. Day 4

   A full day in the Serengeti, with an early departure and a picnic lunch in the bush. The Seronera valley holds resident lion prides, leopard along the river courses and cheetah on the open grass. Between December and March we work the southern plains toward Ndutu where the herds calve. Between July and October we can arrange to push north toward the Mara River crossings, which requires an extra night and is quoted separately.

   Central SerengetiMeals B, L, D

5. Day 5

   An optional balloon safari at dawn, launching before sunrise and landing to a breakfast set out in the bush. Quoted separately. For those not flying, an early morning game drive. Afterwards we leave the Serengeti, crossing back through the Conservation Area and climbing to the crater rim in the late afternoon.

   Ngorongoro crater rimMeals B, L, D

6. Day 6

   Early breakfast and descent into the Ngorongoro Crater for a full morning on the floor. Lerai forest, Lake Magadi, the Munge stream and the short grass plains where black rhino are most reliably seen. Picnic lunch at the hippo pool, then the ascent and the drive back to Arusha, arriving early evening. Drop off at your hotel or at Kilimanjaro International Airport.

   End of safariMeals B, L

Meal key: B breakfast, L lunch, D dinner.