At your own pace. The complete Northern Circuit — Arusha to Tarangire, Ngorongoro, and the Serengeti.
The Northern Circuit is Tanzania's most celebrated safari route — and the only way to truly appreciate it is at ground level, moving at your own pace through a landscape that has been shaped by the largest land migration on earth.
This 10-day road trip takes you from the coffee highlands around Arusha, through Tarangire's baobab country, past the shimmering expanse of Lake Manyara, down into the world's most productive wildlife caldera, and deep into the Serengeti itself. You can self-drive with a hired 4WD and driver-guide, or we can arrange a private guide vehicle with a professional field guide who has spent decades learning these roads.
Either way, the Northern Circuit rewards those who take their time.
Drive Times & Distances
Day by Day
Arusha
Gateway to the Northern Circuit
Arusha is the departure point for all Northern Circuit safaris. Most international flights land at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), 45 minutes from Arusha town.
Highlights
- ✦Arusha is a working Tanzanian city — vibrant, chaotic, and worth at least one evening to explore
- ✦Coffee tours are available in the surrounding highlands — Tanzania's coffee culture is underrated
- ✦Stock up on anything you may have forgotten: pharmacies, outdoor gear shops, and supermarkets are all here
- ✦Many travellers overnight in Arusha before heading to Tarangire the following morning
Where to stay: Arusha Coffee Lodge, On The Beach Resort, or the Arusha Planet Lodge — a range of options from luxury to mid-range within and near town.
Arusha → Tarangire
2–3 hours driving
The road from Arusha to Tarangire runs southwest through Masai farmland. The park entrance is well-signposted. The first 30km after the gate are the most rutted — a preview of what awaits inside.
Highlights
- ✦Tarangire's signature image: ancient baobab trees silhouetted against wide open plains
- ✦In the dry season (June–October), Tarangire's elephant herds are the largest concentration in northern Tanzania
- ✦The Tarangire River runs the length of the park — following it is always productive
- ✦Look for aardvark tracks in the sand near the Silale Swamps in the park's south
Where to stay: Tarangire Safari Lodge, Oliver's Camp, Swala Camp — options from classic tented camps to intimate fly camping.
Tarangire
Full day game drive
A full day inside Tarangire allows you to explore the park's varied habitats — the riverine forest along the Tarangire River, the open acacia plains in the east, and the Silale Swamps in the south. Each area offers different wildlife experiences.
Highlights
- ✦The elephant herds are best seen at dawn and dusk when they move to and from water
- ✦Tarangire's lions are expert climbers — look for them in the acacia branches
- ✦The birding at the Tarangire River is exceptional year-round — over 550 species recorded
- ✦Sunset from the Tarangire Hill viewpoint is one of Tanzania's great overlooked vistas
Where to stay: Same camp or move toward Lake Manyara for the following morning.
Tarangire → Lake Manyara → Karatu
3–4 hours total driving
The road from Tarangire to Lake Manyara takes 1–2 hours. Lake Manyara is typically done as a half-day visit — the park is compact and a circuit of the main game drive road takes 3–4 hours. After Lake Manyara, drive north to Karatu (1 hour), the gateway town to Ngorongoro.
Highlights
- ✦Lake Manyara's flamingo populations — thousands of them along the lake shore in the wet season
- ✦The famous Lake Manyara tree-climbing lions — unique to this park and a few locations in Tanzania
- ✦Ground hornbill sightings are reliable along the park's forest roads
- ✦Karatu town is small but has excellent local restaurants — try the nyama choma (grilled meat) at the Karatu Grill
Where to stay: Ngorongoro Forest Lodge, Endoro Lodge, or the Rhino Lodge in Karatu — all excellent mid-range options near the Crater.
Ngorongoro Crater
Full day — 6–8 hours inside the Crater
The drive from Karatu to the Crater rim takes 30–45 minutes. You descend into the Crater at sunrise (the early start is worth it — morning mist inside the Crater is extraordinary). The Crater floor is 19km across and you will spend a full day exploring it.
Highlights
- ✦Ngorongoro has the highest predator density of any park in Africa — lions, leopards, cheetahs, and spotted hyenas are all reliably seen
- ✦The Crater's hippo pool near the Lerai Forest is one of Africa's most concentrated hippo populations
- ✦Black rhinos are present in the Crater — your best chance of seeing a rhino in Tanzania's northern circuit
- ✦Breakfast at the crater rim before descending is a magical experience — the view over the caldera at dawn is unforgettable
Where to stay: Ngorongoro Crater Lodge — the most iconic luxury lodge in Tanzania, perched on the Crater rim with views directly into the caldera.
Ngorongoro → Serengeti (Central)
3–4 hours driving to central Serengeti
The drive from Ngorongoro to the Serengeti central region (Seronera) takes 3–4 hours via the Naabi Hill Gate. The road descends through the Ndutu plains before entering the main Serengeti. In the green season, the Ndutu area — with its short grass, seasonal lakes, and newborn wildlife — is one of the most extraordinary places on earth.
Highlights
- ✦The Serengeti is 14,763 km² — larger than some countries — and you are about to spend the next 3–4 days exploring a fraction of it
- ✦The central Serengeti around Seronera is the most reliable area for leopard sightings in Africa
- ✦The landscape shifts dramatically as you enter the Serengeti proper — open plains, granite outcrops (kopjes), riverine forest
- ✦Stop at the Naabi Hill Gate for a picnic breakfast — the viewpoint over the Serengeti plains is magnificent
Where to stay: Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge, premium central Serengeti lodge, or Lamai Serengeti — a range from classic lodge to ultra-luxury tented camp.
Serengeti
Full days exploring the central and northern Serengeti
Two full days in the Serengeti allows you to explore the central region around Seronera, head north toward the Lamai Wedge during the Migration season (July–October), or venture west toward the Grumeti River. Each area has a distinct character.
Highlights
- ✦The central Serengeti's leopard population is the most reliable in Africa — ask your guide to take you to the proper acacia groves
- ✦The Simba Kopjes (named for the lions that rest on them) are one of the Serengeti's most iconic features
- ✦In July–October, head north to the Mara River for the dramatic Migration river crossings
- ✦Balloon safaris depart from central Serengeti at dawn — the perspective of the plains from above is extraordinary
Where to stay: Same camp or move north toward the Mara River for the Migration season.
Serengeti → Arusha (or Fly Out)
4–5 hours driving, or 1-hour flight to Arusha/Kilimanjaro
The road back to Arusha from the Serengeti is long — allow 5–6 hours with stops. Alternatively, schedule a light aircraft flight from the Serengeti's airstrips directly to Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha. The flight takes one hour and offers extraordinary aerial views of the Northern Circuit.
Highlights
- ✦The flight out of the Serengeti — low over the Ndutu plains at dawn — is one of the great aerial experiences in Africa
- ✦If driving, stop at the Ngorongoro Crater viewpoint on the return for a different perspective from the rim
- ✦Many travellers use the final day as a travel day — overnight in Arusha before international flights the following morning
- ✦A day room at Arusha Coffee Lodge before your flight is a civilized way to end a Northern Circuit safari
Where to stay: Arusha Coffee Lodge or On The Beach Resort — both excellent for a final night before departure.
Road Trip Questions
Should I self-drive or use a guide-driver?
What about hiring a 4WD in Tanzania?
Can I do the Northern Circuit without a 4WD?
What is the best time of year for a Northern Circuit road trip?
We know every kilometre of the Northern Circuit. Tell us your travel dates, group size, and preferences — we will put together an itinerary, arrange your vehicle and guide, and make sure nothing is left to chance.
Personal itinerary, zero obligation — just ask Kassim.