At a Glance
| Total Duration | 13 days / 12 nights |
|---|---|
| Tour Type | 100% private. No shared vehicles, no group tours |
| Vehicle | Private 4x4 Safari Land Cruiser with pop-up roof |
| Best Time to Visit | June–October for wildlife and dry beach weather. January–March for calving season |
| Key Destinations | Arusha, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Karatu, Zanzibar |
| Start / End | Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) / Zanzibar Airport (ZNZ) |
Quick answer: The 13 Days Extended Northern Circuit Safari & Zanzibar is an unhurried private Tanzania safari. It covers Arusha, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, the Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater over 8 days, then finishes with 5 nights on Zanzibar. Every game drive runs in a private 4x4 Safari Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof, with no group join-in tours, vans, or minivans.
Beyond The Plains Safaris builds this itinerary around a slower pace than our standard circuits. You get two full days in the Serengeti instead of one, a dedicated Karatu night after the crater, and five clear days in Zanzibar. Every leg runs on a private, customized itinerary with an expert local guide.
Tour Highlights
- 13 days / 12 nights across four Northern Circuit parks and five nights on Zanzibar
- Two full days in the Central Serengeti instead of the usual one
- Private 4x4 Safari Land Cruiser with pop-up roof, no group join-in tours
- Tarangire's large elephant herds and ancient baobab trees
- Lake Manyara's tree-climbing lions and dense birdlife
- A half-day descent onto the Ngorongoro Crater floor
- A private Stone Town heritage tour and spice farm visit
- An optional Mnemba Atoll snorkeling excursion and sunset dhow cruise
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Arusha & Safari Briefing
Your driver-guide meets you at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK) and takes you straight to your Arusha lodge. Once you settle in, you sit down with your guide for a full briefing on the route ahead. He walks you through each park, the wildlife you can expect, and how the days are structured. Tell him your priorities now, whether that means more time with predators or a slower pace overall, and the itinerary flexes around you. This is your only day off the road before the Northern Circuit begins.
Day 2: Tarangire National Park (Elephant Herds & Baobabs)
You leave Arusha after breakfast for the roughly 2.5-hour drive to Tarangire in your private Land Cruiser. The park is known for some of the largest elephant herds in northern Tanzania, moving through a landscape dotted with ancient baobab trees. Your guide works the Tarangire River corridor, where wildlife concentrates during the dry months, and watches for lion, giraffe, and buffalo along the banks. The pop-up roof keeps every sighting in full view for the whole vehicle.
Day 3: Lake Manyara National Park (Tree-Climbing Lions & Birdlife)
A short 1.5-hour drive brings you to Lake Manyara, a compact park with sharp contrasts. You pass through dense groundwater forest before the terrain opens onto the alkaline lakeshore. Manyara is known for lions that climb into acacia trees, and your guide knows where they tend to rest during the heat of the day. Along the water, expect flamingo flocks, hippo pods, and troops of baboon. The park holds over 400 recorded bird species, making it a strong stop for birdwatchers as well as game viewers.
Day 4: Lake Manyara to Serengeti National Park (Central Seronera)
Today's roughly 4.5-hour drive takes you through the Ngorongoro highlands and down into the Serengeti's open plains. Game viewing begins as soon as you cross into the park, well before you reach camp. Your guide heads for Central Seronera, one of the richest predator areas in the entire ecosystem, and fits in an evening game drive on arrival. The scenery shifts here. Wide horizons, resident lion prides, and noticeably fewer vehicles than the park entrance areas.
Day 5: Full Day Central Serengeti Game Drives
With no transit required, this is a full day dedicated to game drives in Seronera. Your guide tracks recent sightings and moves you between them at your own pace, whether that's a pride resting near a kopje or a leopard along the river line. You can take a bush breakfast or picnic lunch out in the field to extend your time on the plains, or return to camp for a midday break before heading out again. There is no shared vehicle and no group schedule to work around.
Day 6: Serengeti Plains Tracking Wildlife
Your second full Serengeti day pushes into a wider range of the plains, following current herd movements rather than staying fixed in one area. Your guide adjusts the route based on the latest reports, which can mean tracking migration activity, following cheetah on the open grassland, or working the riverine areas for leopard. This extra day is what separates this itinerary from shorter Serengeti stops. It gives you a real chance at sightings a single day would miss.
Day 7: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area
You take one last Serengeti game drive before the roughly 3-hour drive to Ngorongoro. The route climbs steadily out of the plains and into the highlands, arriving at the crater rim by mid-afternoon. That leaves time to settle into your lodge and watch the sun drop over the caldera, a view that consistently ranks among the most striking on this route.
Day 8: Ngorongoro Crater Floor Game Drive to Karatu
You descend to the crater floor at first light, when wildlife activity peaks and the light works best for photography. The crater holds one of the densest wildlife concentrations in Africa, and your guide covers as much ground as the time allows. Expect black rhino, lion, elephant, hippo, and large flamingo flocks gathered at the soda lake. After a picnic lunch, you climb back to the rim and continue about 45 minutes to Karatu, a quieter overnight stop before the flight to Zanzibar.
Day 9: Fly from Arusha/Kilimanjaro to Zanzibar (Arrival & Beach Resort Transfer)
After breakfast, you drive from Karatu to Arusha or JRO for your flight to Zanzibar, which takes about 1 hour 20 minutes in the air. This is the shift point of the trip, moving from dust and game drives to open water and beach resorts. On arrival at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ), a private driver meets you and takes you straight to your beachfront resort.
Day 10: Zanzibar (Historical Stone Town & Spice Plantation Tour)
A private guide leads you through Stone Town's old alleys, markets, and historic architecture on a walking heritage tour. From there, you visit a working spice farm, where you see, smell, and taste cloves, vanilla, and cinnamon grown on the island. The tour runs at your pace, with no group to keep up with, and you're back at your resort by the afternoon.
Day 11: Zanzibar (Relaxation on Northern/Eastern Beaches or Mnemba Atoll Snorkeling)
This day is left open. Spend it on the beach at your resort, or book an optional Mnemba Atoll snorkeling excursion. Mnemba's reef is one of the best marine sites off Zanzibar's coast, known for clear water and a wide range of reef fish. Either way, there's no fixed schedule to follow.
Optional add-on: Mnemba Atoll snorkeling excursion, available at extra cost.
Day 12: Zanzibar (Full Leisure Day or Sunset Dhow Cruise)
A full leisure day at your resort, with an optional sunset dhow cruise available in the late afternoon. The traditional wooden dhow sails along the coast as the light drops, a quieter close to the beach section of the trip. Spa treatments and water sports are also available locally at extra cost.
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Optional add-ons: sunset dhow cruise, spa treatments, water sports — all available locally at extra cost.
Day 13: Departure from Zanzibar Airport (ZNZ)
After a final breakfast at your resort, a private driver transfers you to Zanzibar Airport (ZNZ) for your onward flight. If your departure is later in the day, ask about a day-use room so you can hold onto the resort until it's time to leave.
Get Free Quote ›Tour Cost & Pricing Matrix
Prices are per person in USD, based on a private 4x4 Land Cruiser and dedicated driver-guide. Travelling solo, or in a group of 7 or more? Contact us for a custom quote.
Season Guide
- Low SeasonApril–May
- High SeasonJanuary–March, June, November–mid-December
- Peak SeasonJuly–October, late December–early January
Private Safari Rates (Per Person)
| Party Size | Low Season | High Season | Peak Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Persons | $6,750 | $7,850 | $9,100 |
| 4 Persons | $6,100 | $7,100 | $8,250 |
| 6 Persons | $5,700 | $6,650 | $7,700 |
Travelling solo, or as a group of 7 or more? Contact us for a custom quote.
Get a Live Quote for Your Dates ›What's Included & Excluded
| ✓ | Exclusive use of a private 4x4 Safari Land Cruiser with unlimited mileage |
| ✓ | Professional English-speaking driver-guide throughout |
| ✓ | All national park and conservation entry fees |
| ✓ | Transit flight from Arusha or JRO to Zanzibar |
| ✓ | Full-board accommodation on safari |
| ✓ | Bed and breakfast or half board in Zanzibar |
| ✓ | Bottled drinking water in the vehicle |
| ✓ | All government taxes and VAT |
| ✗ | International flights |
| ✗ | Tanzania visa fees |
| ✗ | Travel insurance |
| ✗ | Alcoholic beverages |
| ✗ | Tips for guide and staff |
| ✗ | Personal laundry |
| ✗ | Optional activities (Hot Air Balloon Safari, Mnemba Atoll diving) |
Getting There & Logistics
Fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), the main gateway for the Northern Circuit, about 45 minutes from Arusha. Arusha Airport (ARK) works for regional connections from Nairobi and other East African hubs.
Domestic Connection to Zanzibar
On Day 9, you fly from Arusha or JRO to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ). The flight takes about 1 hour 20 minutes. We handle check-in and all ground transfers on both ends.
Luggage Limits
Domestic flights require soft-sided bags under 15 to 20 kg per person. Store hard-shell suitcases at your Arusha lodge before the Zanzibar leg.
Packing Guide
Pack neutral-colored clothing for game drives, a warm layer for early mornings, sunscreen, and insect repellent. For Zanzibar, add swimwear, light cotton clothing, and reef-safe sunscreen. Use soft duffel bags for the domestic flight.
