Highlights of the Northern Circuit

The itinerary below is designed to give you an overview of the route. Get in touch with our team for a full travel itinerary, or to create a tailor-made trip. 

Day 1: The Adventure Begins!  

Upon arrival, you will be  met at the airport and transferred to the lodge. Activities dependent on international flight arrival time. 

Overnight Arusha Serena Hotel on bed and breakfast basis (excludes other meals, drinks and laundry) 

Day 2: Arush to Lake Manyara

Depart Arusha, passing through the Masai Steppe filled with many picturesque African villages as well as maize, coffee and banana plantations. At the town of Makuyuni, turn North West and continue the journey through a scenic escarpment that brings you to your lodge, perched on the edge of the Rift Valley with stunning views over the distant Lake Manyara.

Overnight at Lake Manyara Serena on full board basis (excludes laundry and drinks)

Day 3: Lake Manyara to the Serengeti 

After breakfast, there is a game drive in Lake Manyara National Park that returns to the lodge for lunch. Leaving Lake Manyara behind, the journey continues North West across the stunning hilly countryside of the highlands which is filled with wheat and coffee plantations, and then into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. From here lie the vast plains of the Serengeti, where you begin spotting wildlife as you approach the entrance gate.  Complete the formalities and enter the park with game viewing en route to the lodge, arriving for dinner 

Overnight at Serengeti Serena Lodge on full board basis (excludes laundry and drinks) 

Day 4: Serengeti National Park 

Morning and afternoon game drives in Serengeti National Park.

Overnight at Serengeti Serena Lodge on full board basis (excludes laundry and drinks) 

Optional Shared Hot Air Balloon Safari

You may book a hot air balloon safari on this day. It beings with an early morning transfer to the balloon staging site. You meet the pilot, who provides a safety briefing while the crew inflate the hot air balloon.  At sunrise, your shared hot air balloon lifts off over the Serengeti plains. At times, your pilot will ascend to a higher altitude to give you an overview of the ecosystem. Then you descend to just above treetop level to silently observe the wildlife below.  After about 50 minutes, you land and are met by the balloon staff to transport you to your shared bush breakfast.  You then return to the camp or lodge. Please note that the cost is NOT included in the safari cost.  Please ask for the current rates.

Day 5: Serengeti National Park to Ngorongoro 

After breakfast you depart for Ngorongoro with a picnic lunch viewing wildlife across the vast Serengeti plains, stopping en route for a picnic lunch. Continue to your lodge, set high on the rim of Ngorongoro Crater arriving for dinner

Overnight at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge on full board basis (excludes laundry and drinks) 

Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater

A highlight awaits you this morning as you depart to explore what is commonly referred to as the world's largest natural wildlife arena. After an early breakfast, you drive to the crater entry gate and descend with a picnic lunch through the early morning mists and 2,000 feet into the crater. Ngorongoro Crater is the word's largest intact volcanic caldera. Due to its size and diversity, the crater floor is comprised of several distinct areas, ranging from forest, swamps, lakes and springs, to open grassland and some sandy dunes. A truly unique wildlife experience. Return to the lodge in the late afternoon. 

Overnight at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge on full board basis (excludes laundry and drinks) 

Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater to Tarangire National Park

Depart Ngorongoro Crater after breakfast, head south-east past Lake Manyara and Mto wa Mbu Village. Through the highlands and the Karatu district, you’ll view the scenic wheat plains and coffee plantations here before journeying down the spectacular escarpment.  Turning left that the Makuyuni Junction, the journey will pass through the Masai Steppe filled with many picturesque African villages as well as maize, coffee and banana plantations. On arrival in Arusha you are dropped off in the city centre for your onward arrangements, either an overnight in Arusha or to connect with your onwards international flight.