Direct operator since 1978Original photographyNamed local guides4.8★ on Google
Direct operator since 1978Original photographyNamed local guides4.8★ on Google
Ngorongoro Crater viewpoint at dawn — mist rising from the caldera floor below

Planning Guide

Tanzania Safari Route Planner

The practical logic of sequencing a Tanzania northern circuit safari — which parks to visit first, how many days each deserves, and how to build an itinerary that does not backtrack.

The northern circuit of Tanzania — Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, and the Serengeti — is the most visited wildlife region in Africa for good reason. But the order in which you visit these parks, the number of days you allocate to each, and the routing between them are the details that separate a good safari from a great one. This guide is designed to help you think through those decisions before you commit to an itinerary.

We have been routing safaris from Arusha since 1978. The patterns below reflect what we have learned from watching thousands of guests move through these parks — what works, what backfires, and what the guidebooks rarely say out loud.

Itinerary Options

Four Itinerary Starting Points

Four common circuits we build for guests — each adapted to season, interest, and days available.

7 Days

🗺️

The Classic 7-Day Circuit

Arusha → Tarangire → Ngorongoro Crater → Central Serengeti → Arusha

Highlight

The essential northern circuit, done without rushing

Best For

First-time safari travellers who want the iconic parks

10 Days

🗺️

The Extended 10-Day Circuit

Arusha → Tarangire → Ngorongoro Crater → Central Serengeti → Northern Serengeti → Arusha

Highlight

Full northern circuit with Migration time in the north

Best For

Travellers wanting the Migration specifically, or those with more time

12 Days

🗺️

The Zanzibar Extension

Safari circuit (7-10 days) + 4-5 nights Zanzibar beach

Highlight

Wildlife plus beach — the complete Tanzania experience

Best For

Travellers combining safari with beach recovery

11 Days

🗺️

The Remote Southern Add-On

Northern circuit (7 days) + fly to Ruaha or Nyerere (3-4 days)

Highlight

True wilderness — remote parks, walking safaris, few vehicles

Best For

Experienced safari travellers who have seen the northern circuit and want more

Giraffes walking across the Serengeti plains at golden hour
The Serengeti — where your route planning decisions matter most

Park-by-Park

How Long Each Park Deserves

🐘

Tarangire National Park

The Elephant Park

1 day

Best For

Elephant herds, ancient baobabs, leopard in sausage trees, 550 bird species

Access

2.5 hours from Arusha, all-weather roads

Camp Tip

Stay inside the park at Tarangire Safari Lodge or Oliver's Camp for maximum time in the field

🦏

Ngorongoro Crater

The Natural Arena

Half to 1 day

Best For

Black rhino, lion prides, hippo pool, densest wildlife concentration in Africa

Access

3.5 hours from Arusha, paved road to rim

Camp Tip

Stay on the crater rim for sunrise views and to be first through the gate — descend by 6:30am

🦁

Serengeti Central (Seronera)

The Year-Round Home

2-3 days

Best For

Leopard sightings, cheetah on the open plains, year-round resident wildlife

Access

2.5 hours from Ngorongoro gate, or fly to Seronera airstrip

Camp Tip

Seronera is central and works as a hub — move to northern or southern Serengeti based on season

🦌

Northern Serengeti (Kogatende)

The Migration Frontier

2-3 days

Best For

Mara River crossings (July-October), fewer vehicles, remote feel

Access

2-3 hours from Seronera by road, fly to Kogatende airstrip

Camp Tip

This is where you want to be for the July-October window — book camps here specifically for this period

Common Questions

Route Planning Questions

What is the best order to visit Tanzania's northern circuit parks?
The most natural circuit runs: Arusha → Tarangire → Ngorongoro Crater → Central Serengeti → Northern Serengeti (for the Migration crossing points) → fly out from Kogatende or drive back via Ngorongoro. This direction follows the migration — starting where the wildebeest are likely to be at your travel dates, then working outward. It also means you see the Crater early, when you are freshest, before any travel fatigue sets in. Backtracking from the Serengeti to Ngorongoro at the end wastes driving time and is the most common planning mistake first-timers make.
How many days should I spend at each park?
The minimum practical allocation per park: Tarangire (1 day — it is compact but dense), Ngorongoro Crater (half a day to a full day — the drive down and back up takes time), Serengeti (3 days minimum, 5 ideally). The Serengeti is enormous and deserves more time than most first-timers initially plan. Rushing the Serengeti in 2 days means you barely scratch the surface. If you have 8 days total for the safari, a good split is: Tarangire (1), Ngorongoro (1), Serengeti (5), with one buffer day built in for weather or wildlife movement.
Should I start with Tarangire or go straight to the Serengeti?
Start with Tarangire. It is the most accessible park from Arusha — about 2.5 hours on good roads — and it offers exceptional elephant sightings, baobab landscapes, and birding in just one full day. Arriving at Tarangire after a night in Arusha gives you a gentle first day, which is valuable for adjusting to safari rhythms (early mornings, dusty roads, long game drives). Starting in the Serengeti is also fine, but Tarangire is worth the detour and breaks up the drive nicely.
What is the drive time between the main northern circuit camps?
From Arusha to Tarangire: 2.5 hours. Arusha to Ngorongoro gate: 3.5 hours. Ngorongoro gate to Serengeti central (Seronera): 2.5 hours. Seronera to Northern Serengeti (Kogatende area): 2-3 hours. The drive from the Crater to the Serengeti is one of the most beautiful in Africa — the highlands give way to the Ndutu plains, then the endless Serengeti horizon. Do not rush it. Budget a full day to get from the Crater to your Serengeti camp with time for game drives along the way.
Can I combine the southern circuit with the northern circuit?
Technically yes, but practically it is very difficult to do well. The southern circuit parks — Ruaha and Nyerere (formerly Selous) — are each a full day's drive or a separate flight from the northern circuit. Trying to squeeze both into a 10-day safari means you spend more time in transit than in wildlife areas. If you want both circuits, plan a minimum of 14-16 days. Most first-time Tanzania visitors should focus entirely on the northern circuit — it offers the highest density of iconic wildlife experiences in the shortest possible time.
Where should I stay between Ngorongoro and the Serengeti?
The overnight between the Crater and the Serengeti is one of the most consequential planning decisions you will make. Options: some operators offer a same-day drive from the Crater to the Serengeti, which is long but doable if you leave the Crater by 12pm. Alternatively, stay at a lodge on the Ngorongoro highlands or just outside the conservation area — it adds cost but reduces the next day's drive significantly. The third option is to fly: a scheduled airstitch flight from Lake Manyara airstrip to the Serengeti saves an entire day of driving and is the choice most luxury operators make for clients on tighter schedules.
What about the timing relative to the Great Migration?
The Great Migration dominates the Serengeti year-round, but the location shifts dramatically with the seasons. From January to March, the herds are in the southern Serengeti (Ndutu) — ideal for calving season and excellent predator action. From April to June, they move north and west through the central Serengeti. From July to October, the herds are in the northern Serengeti near the Mara River — the dramatic river crossings happen in August and September. If your primary goal is to see the Migration, plan your Serengeti location based on the season. If you want the full northern circuit experience, any month works — the Migration is always somewhere in the Serengeti.
How many parks can I realistically cover in a 7-day safari?
In 7 days on the ground, a realistic and unhurried circuit is: Tarangire (1 day), Ngorongoro Crater (half day), Serengeti (3-4 days), with two of those days as travel and a buffer. This is a tight but satisfying itinerary. Seven days does not allow for a rushed attempt to also include Lake Manyara or Tarangire twice — those additions dilute the quality of the Serengeti time, which is where you want the bulk of your days. Prioritise depth over breadth.
Should I fly between parks or drive?
For the northern circuit, flying saves significant time and is the standard choice at the luxury level. A scheduled airstitch flight from the Lake Manyara/Karatu area to the Serengeti takes about 90 minutes and replaces a 6-hour drive. Many luxury camps in the Serengeti are only accessible by light aircraft — you fly in regardless. Driving makes sense for the Arusha to Tarangire and Arusha to Ngorongoro legs, both of which are scenic and offer the chance to stop at viewpoints and en route attractions. A typical luxury itinerary uses a combination: drive the first leg, fly the rest.
What is a realistic total driving distance on the northern circuit?
The total road distance on a standard northern circuit (Arusha → Tarangire → Ngorongoro → Serengeti → back to Arusha) is approximately 600-700km — but it feels like more because average speeds on safari roads are 30-50km/h. The actual time in the vehicle is typically 15-20 hours across a 7-10 day safari, broken into manageable daily segments of 2-5 hours. Game drives themselves involve considerable driving within parks. Budget game drive time separately from transit time when planning your days.

Next Step

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