Northern Highlights
Seven days exploring the complete Northern Circuit — from Tarangire's vast elephant herds and Lake Manyara's flamingo-lined shores, through two days on the Serengeti plains, into the Ngorongoro Crater for the Big Five, and home with memories that last a lifetime.
Your guide meets you at Kilimanjaro International Airport and escorts you to your lodge in Arusha. Settle into the lush gardens, enjoy a welcome drink as the sun sets behind Mount Meru, and prepare for the adventure ahead. As local Tanzanians, your guides know the country with unrivaled familiarity — you are in good hands from the moment you land.
After breakfast, drive south to Tarangire — famous for its massive elephant herds and ancient baobab trees. Game drive through the Silale Swamps and along the Tarangire River, where tree-climbing lions, leopards, and over 500 bird species await. The dry season sees one of the highest wildlife concentrations in all of Tanzania.
Drive to Lake Manyara, nestled beneath the Great Rift Valley escarpment. Explore the lush groundwater forests, search for the famous tree-climbing lions, and watch thousands of flamingos paint the alkaline lake pink. Blue monkeys, hippo pools, and ancient mahogany groves — all within a compact park of extraordinary biodiversity.
Your safari begins in the area the Maasai call the "serengit" — the land of endless plains. The Serengeti boasts one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Africa, including lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, rhinos, giraffes, hippos, and crocodiles. A UNESCO World Heritage Site for over forty years, its ecosystem supports more than 1.5 million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebras. A full day exploring the Seronera Valley — famous for year-round wildlife. Carnivores like hyenas, lions, leopards, and cheetahs rest on rocky outcrops, scanning for prey on the open plains. The area is also home to buffalo, giraffes, hippopotamuses, impalas, topis, warthogs, and zebras. Morning and afternoon game drives ensure you catch the best light and the most active wildlife.
Descend 600 metres into the Ngorongoro Crater — the world's largest intact volcanic caldera and home to roughly 30,000 animals including the endangered black rhino. This natural amphitheatre offers your best chance to see all the Big Five in a single day. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the crater floor beside a hippo pool.
After a leisurely breakfast, begin the scenic drive back to Arusha. Depending on your flight time, stop at a local Maasai market or enjoy a farewell lunch in town. Your guide transfers you to Kilimanjaro International Airport — carrying memories that will last a lifetime.
Rise before dawn to float silently above the endless plains. Watch sunrise paint the Serengeti gold as herds of wildebeest, giraffes, and elephants move beneath you. Land for champagne breakfast in the bush.
This itinerary can be tailored to your pace, preferences, and travel dates. Our expedition architects will personalise every detail.