Home Tanzania Safari Packages 10 Days Tanzania Safari — All Northern Parks

Quick Facts

Duration10 days / 9 nights
RouteArusha, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Central Serengeti, migration zone, Ngorongoro Crater
VehiclePrivate 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser with pop-up roof — no group join-ins, no safari vans
Best TimeYear-round; migration-zone leg repositions based on your travel month
Price FromUSD 2,540–4,250 pp depending on season and group size

Karibu Tanzania. This 10-day private safari covers every major park in Tanzania's Northern Circuit — Tarangire, Lake Manyara, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater — with dedicated time built in to track the Great Migration. Every day is run in a private 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof. No group join-ins, no safari vans, no shared itineraries.

Who This Safari Is For

  • First-time Tanzania travellers who want Big Five sightings across multiple ecosystems in a single trip
  • Migration-focused travellers chasing river crossings, calving season, or grassland herds
  • Couples, families and small groups who want a private vehicle, private pace, and a guide dedicated only to them
  • Photographers who need a pop-up roof, unrestricted window space and flexible stop times — not a shared van schedule

Best Months for the Great Migration on This Route

Migration EventMonthsWhere to See It
Calving seasonJanuary–MarchSouthern Serengeti / Ndutu plains
Herds moving northApril–MayCentral Serengeti
Grumeti River crossingsJune–JulyWestern Serengeti
Mara River crossingsAugust–SeptemberNorthern Serengeti
Herds moving southOctober–NovemberEastern & Central Serengeti

Key wildlife targets on this route: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino (Big Five), plus large concentrations of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle during migration months, tree-climbing lions in Manyara, and flamingos on the crater floor.

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Day-by-Day Itinerary

Safari njema — the route below is fixed for park sequencing, but game drive timing, migration-zone camp selection, and pace are adjusted per group.

Day 1

Day 1: Arrival in Arusha

  • Drive: Airport transfer only (JRO to Arusha, approx. 1 hour)
  • Highlights: Private airport pickup, safari briefing, overnight rest before the circuit begins
  • Overnight: Arusha lodge or hotel (mid-range to luxury tiers available)
Day 2

Day 2: Arusha to Tarangire National Park

Baobab-studded landscape in Tarangire National Park
  • Drive: Approx. 2.5–3 hours (120 km)
  • Highlights: Baobab-studded landscape, largest elephant herds in Tanzania, big cats, and over 550 recorded bird species
  • Overnight: Tarangire lodge or tented camp
Day 3

Day 3: Tarangire to Lake Manyara National Park

  • Drive: Approx. 1.5–2 hours (90 km)
  • Highlights: Tree-climbing lions, groundwater forest, large flamingo flocks along the alkaline lake, hippo pools
  • Overnight: Manyara lodge or tented camp
Day 4

Day 4: Lake Manyara to Central Serengeti

Descent into the Serengeti plains via the Ngorongoro Highlands
  • Drive: Approx. 4–5 hours via the Ngorongoro Highlands (280 km)
  • Highlights: Descent into the Serengeti plains, first game drive en route, Seronera Valley wildlife density (leopard and cheetah country)
  • Overnight: Central Serengeti lodge or tented camp
Day 5

Day 5: Full Day Central Serengeti Game Drive

Game drive along the Seronera River in the Central Serengeti
  • Drive: Game drive circuit only, no relocation
  • Highlights: Seronera River game viewing, resident lion prides, hippo pools, dedicated migration tracking based on current herd location
  • Overnight: Central Serengeti lodge or tented camp
Day 6

Day 6: Serengeti — Migration Zone (Northern or Southern, Season-Dependent)

Wildebeest herds in the Serengeti migration zone
  • Drive: Approx. 2–3 hours within Serengeti to the active migration zone
  • Highlights: Positioned toward Mara River crossings (Jun–Sept) or Ndutu plains calving grounds (Jan–Mar), depending on travel dates
  • Overnight: Migration-zone lodge or tented camp
Day 7

Day 7: Full Day in the Migration Zone

Extended tracking at the active migration front in the Serengeti
  • Drive: Game drive circuit only
  • Highlights: Extended time at the active migration front, river crossing viewpoints or calving-season predator action, flexible full-day tracking
  • Overnight: Migration-zone lodge or tented camp
Day 8

Day 8: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater Rim

  • Drive: Approx. 3–4 hours (150 km)
  • Highlights: Transit game drive back through the Serengeti plains, ascent to the crater rim, panoramic viewpoint stop
  • Overnight: Crater rim lodge or tented camp
Day 9

Day 9: Ngorongoro Crater Floor Game Drive

Wildlife on the Ngorongoro Crater floor, including flamingo-lined soda lake
  • Drive: Descent to crater floor (approx. 45 minutes), full day inside
  • Highlights: Highest predator density in Africa, black rhino sightings, flamingo-lined soda lake, dense Big Five country in one enclosed caldera
  • Overnight: Crater rim or Karatu lodge
Day 10

Day 10: Ngorongoro to Arusha — Departure

  • Drive: Approx. 3.5–4 hours (180 km)
  • Highlights: Final drive back through the Rift Valley escarpment, airport drop-off
  • Overnight: N/A — departure day
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Tour Cost & Pricing

Pricing is per person, based on twin/double sharing, private Land Cruiser only. Request a quote for solo travellers or single supplements.

Pricing note: Rates are indicative for mid-range lodge/tented camp accommodation. Luxury camp upgrades, Ndutu-specific mobile camps, and custom vehicle configurations are quoted separately. Contact us for a fixed quote based on your exact travel dates.

Season Guide

  • Low SeasonApril–May
  • High SeasonJanuary–March, June, October
  • Peak SeasonJuly–September, December

Private Northern Circuit Safari Rates (Per Person)

Season2 People4 People6 People
Low Season$3,150$2,780$2,540
High Season$3,780$3,320$3,010
Peak Season$4,250$3,690$3,340
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What's Included & Excluded

Included
Private 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser with pop-up roof for the full 10 days
Professional English-speaking safari guide, dedicated to your group only
All park entry fees and government levies
Accommodation for 9 nights per itinerary (lodge or tented camp)
All meals during the safari (full board)
Unlimited drinking water in the vehicle
Airport transfers (arrival and departure)
Game drives as per itinerary, with flexible timing
Excluded
International flights to/from Tanzania
Tanzania entry visa fees
Travel insurance
Tips and gratuities for guide and camp staff
Alcoholic and premium beverages
Personal expenses (laundry, phone/internet, souvenirs)
Optional activities (hot air balloon safari, Maasai village visits, cultural tours)
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Getting There & Travel Logistics

Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) is the primary gateway for this safari and receives direct international flights. Arusha Airport (ARK) handles domestic and regional flights only — most international travellers land at JRO, roughly 45 minutes to 1 hour from Arusha town.

Visa Requirements

Most nationalities require a Tanzania visa, obtainable as an e-visa in advance or on arrival at JRO. Confirm current requirements for your nationality before travel; the e-visa is recommended to avoid arrival queues.

Baggage Limits

Land Cruisers used on this route have moderate luggage capacity. Soft-sided duffel bags are strongly recommended over hard-shell suitcases — they pack more efficiently and don't damage vehicle interiors. A general guideline is one main bag (max 15–20 kg) plus a small daypack per person.

Road Conditions

Roads between Arusha, Tarangire and Manyara are paved or well-maintained gravel. Serengeti and Ngorongoro routes include unpaved sections — the private 4x4 Land Cruiser is essential here, not optional; a standard van or 2WD vehicle cannot handle this terrain reliably.

Route Map

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, for flexibility and comfort. A private Land Cruiser means no shared schedule, no waiting on other travelers' preferences, and a guide focused only on your group. You control stop times, photo breaks, and how long you stay at a sighting — something a shared group van cannot offer.

It depends on what you want to see. For river crossings, travel June through September. For calving season and predator action on open plains, travel January through March. This itinerary's Day 6–7 migration-zone leg is repositioned based on your travel month.

Yes. This 10-day route covers all four major parks. It can be reduced to 7–8 days by dropping a full-day migration extension, or extended to include Zanzibar or the Southern Circuit.

A 4x4 is required, not optional. Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater roads include unpaved, rutted sections that standard vans cannot safely navigate, particularly in the rainy season (March–May).

The rates cover the private vehicle, guide, park fees, accommodation, meals, and drinking water for the full 10 days. International flights, visas, tips, and personal expenses are not included.
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