Northern Safari Circuit

The northern tourism circuit is by far the most popular safari circuit in Tanzania, comprising most of the must-see destinations in the country.

If you’re a first-time visitor to Tanzania, this is where you want to be. The circuit starts in Arusha and includes, from east to west: Arusha National Park at the foot of Mount Meru, Tarangire National Park 110km southwest of the town of Arusha, Manyara Ranch between Tarangire National Park and Lake Manyara National Park, Lake Manyara National Park at the bottom of the Gregory Rift, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (which includes the famous Ngorongoro Crater, the Empakaai Crater and the southern Serengeti plains of Lake Ndutu), and the Serengeti National Park that stretches north to the Tanzania/Kenya border.

Arusha National Park:

It is a popular destination for day trip visitors who are about to embark from the town of Arusha on longer northern circuit safaris. The small national park includes the slopes, summit, and ash cone of Mt. Meru, the Momela Lakes, Ngurdoto Crater, and the lush highland forests that blanket its lower slopes. Game viewing around the Momela Lakes is at a laid-back and quiet pace, and while passing through the forest many visitors stop to search for troupes of rare colubus monkeys playing in the canopy.

Tarangire National Park :

Is one of Africa’s little-known gems and a must for any northern circuit safari itinerary. Boasting a variety of wildlife as diverse as its landscapes Tarangire is also the park that can boast being home to Tanzania’s largest population of African elephants. With four of the Big Five also residing within the park, it is a great spot for a day trip from Arusha or as an addition to a Serengeti/Ngorongoro centered itinerary.

Lake Manyara National Park:

Located beneath the cliffs of the Manyara Escarpment, on the edge of the Rift Valley, Lake Manyara National Park offers varied ecosystems, incredible bird life, and breathtaking views. This park is famous population of tree-climbing lions (although sighting them is becoming increasingly rare) are alone reason enough to come.

Ngorongoro Crater :

Unesco World heritage site and a breathtaking natural wonder sited in the Great East African Rift Valley in Northern Tanzania. The crater is one of Africa’s most famous sites and said to have the highest density of wildlife in Africa. It is also the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera.Sometimes described as an ‘eighth wonder of the world’, the Crater has achieved a world renown status, attracting an ever-increasing number of visitors each year.

Lake Eyasi:

Located in the southwest of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and home of the ancient hunting Hadzabe and Datoga tribes. This magical soda lake is fed by the Sibiti and Baray Rivers.

Serengeti National Park:

Is undoubtedly the best-known wildlife sanctuary in the world, unequalled for its natural beauty and scientific value, it has the greatest concentration of plains game in Africa. It is home to The great Migraton event, the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth.   The resident population of lion, cheetah, elephant, giraffe, and birds is also impressive. It is the migration for which Serengeti is perhaps most famous. Over a million wildebeest and about 200,000 zebras flow south from the northern hills to the southern plains for the short rains every October and November, and then swirl west and north after the long rains in April, May and June. So strong is the ancient instinct to move that no drought, gorge or crocodile infested river can hold them back.

Kilimanjaro National Park:

located 300 kilometres south of the equator and in Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania. The park is located near the city of Moshi. The park includes the whole of Mount Kilimanjaro above the tree line and the surrounding montane forest belt above 1,820 metres. This park offers and incredible and diverse fauna and flora.

Lake Natron:

Is also called the death lake for its alkaline waters. This lake is the breeding ground for lesser flamingos, with more than two million individual birds flocking to the area. Breath-taking lunar landscapes it’s a great destination for those who love getting out of the beaten tracks.