Planning a safari to Tanzania, then this 7 Days Tanzania Northern Circuit Wildlife Safari is just what you need! Our 7 days Tanzania northern circuit wildlife safari takes you to Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Lake Manyara National Park. This tour starts and ends in Arusha/Moshi.
Highlights for 7 Days Tanzania Northern Circuit Wildlife Safari.
Day 1: Arrival
Day 2: Drive to Tarangire National Park
Day 3: Full Day Game Drive in Tarangire- Optional Hot Air Balloon Tour
Day 4&5: Serengeti National Park
Day 6: Transfer to Ngorongoro Crater Area- Crater Drive
Day 7: Drive to Lake Manyara National Park and Back to Arusha
Detailed Itinerary for 7 Days Tanzania Northern Circuit Wildlife Safari.
Day 1: Arrival
When you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK), which handles local flights, you will be greeted by a representative from Explore Rwanda Tours who will bring you to your Arusha accommodations. Overnight and dinner, you will be in your hotel, awaiting your safari the next day.
Day 2: Drive to Tarangire National Park
Following an early breakfast, head for Tarangire National Park. The park was named after the Tarangire River, which passes through it. This ‘river of warthogs’ is the only source of water for wildlife in the area during the dry season. In sections, the flora is thick, including elephant grass, acacia trees, and a rich groundwater forest.
The park is well known for its elephant families, who can frequently be seen congregating along the river. You may also witness giraffes, bushbuck, and hartebeests. Tarangire National Park is the ideal spot to witness these gentle giants in their natural setting, from the cute calves to the fearsome bulls. Predators such as lions and leopards follow these animals carefully.
It’s especially intriguing since Tarangire National Park has more breeding bird species than anywhere else on the Earth! After having your lunch, you will enjoy another game drive before driving to your lodge or camp for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Full Day Game Drive in Tarangire National Park- Optional Hot Air Balloon Safari
Early after breakfast, you will go to Tarangire for a full-day wildlife drive. With a better chance of seeing what you missed the day before, you’ll explore Tarangire National Park’s most isolated parts, including the Silale wetlands.
The Silale Swamps attract hundreds of elephants that come to graze on the lush grass, but they are not the only ones who visit. Silale Swamps is home to a diverse range of species, including cats. It’s an excellent site to watch Tarangire’s famed tree-climbing lions and leopards. To add to the collection, the Silale Swamps are well-known for their large African Rock Python population.
After lunch, return back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4&5: Serengeti National Park
Depart for Serengeti National Park early in the morning, following breakfast. The Serengeti is incredibly breathtaking. It is noted for its broad open grasslands, which provide superb animal viewing opportunities. The Serengeti National Park is Tanzania’s oldest national park, as well as one of the world’s oldest ecosystems. Furthermore, the climate and vegetation have remained substantially unchanged for millions of years.
While the Serengeti National Park is home to a diverse range of species, the yearly Great Migration is undoubtedly its most famous feature. Massive herds of wildebeest, joined by vast herds of zebra and antelope, migrate annually in search of new pasture. The precise time of the migration is largely determined by the annual rainfall patterns.
Have lunch and another game drive before heading back to your lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Transfer to Ngorongoro Crater Area- Crater Drive
Following breakfast, we continue our en-route drive through the Serengeti National Park before departing for the Ngorongoro Crater. When you first visit Ngorongoro Crater, it seems like a forgotten world. Hidden behind the sheer volcanic cliffs lies a natural environment with wide grassland, patches of acacia forest, and shimmering lakes and wetlands.
The Crater was formed when a massive volcano erupted and fell on itself two to three million years ago. It is also well-known for its geological wonders and as a nature reserve with some of the most densely packed big animal populations on the African continent.
Without question, the trip down into the Crater is an experience in and of itself, and while on the Crater floor, you are rapidly surrounded by vast herds of wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, and more than 500 bird species. Furthermore, the Crater offers the best opportunity of sighting the endangered black rhino, which can occasionally be spotted in the wide grasslands.
After lunch, drive to your lodge in Karatu for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7: Drive to Lake Manyara National Park and Back to Arusha
After breakfast, set off to the neighboring Lake Manyara National Park for a wildlife watching drive, where you will first see enormous groups of baboons.
The park’s name comes from a shrub named Euphorbia tirucalli, also known as ‘Emanyara’ in the local Maasai language. Patches of yellow fever trees dot the green lake shoreline, and the rift valley wall is visible throughout.
The park’s entry is in a unique environment: a groundwater forest that provides a stunning contrast to the savannah-dominated parks. The rich green vegetation consisting of towering trees of the groundwater forest, tree-climbing lions, the soda lake populated by thousands of pink-hued flamingos, enormous water birds, and baboon bands, as well as the rift valley escarpment, make your safari to this area memorable.
Have your packed lunch and then drive back to Arusha, where your driver guide will drop you off at a hotel of your choice or the airport.
End of your 7 Days Tanzania Northern Circuit Wildlife Safari!
