Northern Circuit Classics

5D/4N Classic Northern Circuit (No Manyara)

5 Days mid 4 stops From $1,600 pp
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Photo: ray rui / Unsplash
Duration5 Days
Price (pp)$1,600–3,200
Difficultymid
Stops4

Overview

About this safari

The "no filler" northern circuit — Lake Manyara trimmed out so every single stop is a heavyweight park.

✦ The moment

The "no filler" itinerary — every stop is a heavyweight park.

Your route

4 stops
  1. 01

    Tarangire National Park

    Tarangire National Park offers some of Africa's largest elephant concentrations, with herds of 200–300 gathering around the Tarangire River in dry season. Its iconic baobab forests create one of East Africa's most dramatic safari landscapes.

    Explore Tarangire National Park →
  2. 02

    Serengeti National Park

    The Serengeti is Africa's most iconic safari destination, home to the Great Migration and the continent's highest predator density. Spanning 14,763 km² of open savannah, it delivers unmatched Big Five sightings and balloon safari experiences year-round.

    Explore Serengeti National Park →
  3. 03

    Ngorongoro Conservation Area

    Ngorongoro Crater is the world's most productive wildlife-viewing arena — a collapsed volcanic caldera containing 25,000 large animals. Black rhino sightings here are among Africa's most reliable.

    Explore Ngorongoro Conservation Area →
  4. 04

    Arusha

    Arusha is Tanzania's safari capital — the launchpad for the entire northern circuit. Beyond its gateway role, the city offers Arusha National Park, the Cultural Heritage Centre, vibrant local markets, and access to Materuni Waterfalls and Chemka Hot Springs via private guide.

    Explore Arusha →

The journey

Your route on the map

Day by day

How the 5 days unfold

Day 1

Arrival & transfer

Met on arrival and transferred to your first camp. Time to settle in, meet your guide, and run through the days ahead.

Day 3 1 night

Serengeti National Park

The Serengeti is Africa's most iconic safari destination, home to the Great Migration and the continent's highest predator density. Spanning 14,763 km² of open savannah, it delivers unmatched Big Five sightings and balloon safari experiences year-round.

What to expect in Serengeti National Park →
Day 5 1 night

Arusha

Arusha is Tanzania's safari capital — the launchpad for the entire northern circuit. Beyond its gateway role, the city offers Arusha National Park, the Cultural Heritage Centre, vibrant local markets, and access to Materuni Waterfalls and Chemka Hot Springs via private guide.

What to expect in Arusha →

An outline, not a timetable. Daily order and camp choices are confirmed when we build your quote — and can be reshaped around your dates, pace and interests.

When to do this safari

How this is scored →

Averaged across every park on this route, from three years of rainfall and temperature. Strongest months: Jul, Aug, Sep, Jun.

Jan 64
Feb 89
Mar 44
Apr 25
May 75
Jun 95
Jul 99
Aug 97
Sep 96
Oct 86
Nov 48
Dec 36

The detail

What's included

Included

  • Park & conservation area entry fees
  • Professional English-speaking safari guide
  • 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof & guaranteed window seat
  • Accommodation as per itinerary
  • Meals as specified (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
  • Bottled drinking water on safari days
  • Airport transfers on arrival & departure
  • All government taxes & VAT
Route advantage:

Not included

  • International & domestic flights
  • Tanzania visa & passport fees
  • Travel & medical insurance
  • Tips & gratuities for guide and staff
  • Personal items, drinks & laundry
  • Optional activities (balloon safari, cultural tours)
  • Anything not listed under "What's included"
Good to know: Lake Manyara skipped (trimmed version)
From $1,600 per person · up to $3,200 pp

Before you go

Good to know

How fit do I need to be?

This safari is rated mid. Game-viewing days are spent mostly in the vehicle, so ordinary mobility is enough — the tiring part is early starts and long, corrugated roads, not walking. Tell us about knees, backs or mobility needs and we will adjust the driving days and seat allocation rather than leave you to tough it out.

Is the price per person or for the whole group?

Every figure we publish is per person, and the range reflects season and camp choice rather than a bait price. Small groups usually pay more per head than large ones, because the vehicle and guide are shared across fewer people. We will show you exactly where your number lands before you commit to anything.

What is the vehicle like, and will I get a window seat?

A 4x4 with a pop-up roof and a guaranteed window seat for every traveller — that is in the inclusions above and it is not negotiable, because a middle seat ruins a safari. If you are photographing seriously, ask us about a private vehicle: it costs more, but it means the car stops when you want it to.

Do I need vaccinations or anti-malarials?

Requirements change and depend on your route and country of origin, so we will not pretend to be your doctor. Yellow fever proof is commonly required when arriving from certain countries, and malaria prophylaxis is standard advice for these regions. Speak to a travel clinic well before departure — ideally six to eight weeks out.

What happens if I need to change dates?

Talk to us early. Camps hold space on deposit, and how much flexibility we have depends on how far out you are and which camps are involved. We will tell you plainly what is recoverable and what is not, rather than discovering it for you after the fact.

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Make 5D/4N Classic Northern Circuit (No Manyara) yours

Every safari is tailor-made — tell us your dates and travellers and we'll refine it for you.