The short answer
- Shortest worthwhile
- 3 days, no Serengeti
- With the Serengeti
- 5 days or more
- Classic circuit
- 7 days
- Start and end
- Arusha
Tanzania's northern circuit is a line rather than a loop: Arusha, then Tarangire, Lake Manyara, the Ngorongoro Crater and finally the Serengeti, a long day's drive from Arusha. That's why Serengeti safaris need at least five days by road, or a flight back.
In migration season, where you stay in the Serengeti matters as much as how long you stay. Our trip planner moves the Serengeti stop for your month.
Driving times
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| Arusha | Tarangire | Ngorongoro (Karatu) | Central Serengeti | Ndutu | Northern Serengeti | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arusha | 2.5 h | 3 h | 7 h | 5.5 h | 11 h | |
| Tarangire | 2.5 h | 2 h | 6 h | 4.5 h | 10 h | |
| Ngorongoro (Karatu) | 3 h | 2 h | 3.5 h | 2 h | 8 h | |
| Central Serengeti | 7 h | 6 h | 3.5 h | 2.5 h | 4 h | |
| Ndutu | 5.5 h | 4.5 h | 2 h | 2.5 h | 6 h | |
| Northern Serengeti | 11 h | 10 h | 8 h | 4 h | 6 h |
3 days: Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater
Best for: Short on time, or adding a safari to a Kilimanjaro climb
| Day | Plan | Night |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drive to Tarangire for elephants and baobabs | Mto wa Mbu or Karatu |
| 2 | Morning descent into the Ngorongoro Crater for black rhinos and lions | Karatu |
| 3 | Lake Manyara or a coffee farm, return to Arusha |
Want this as a private safari?
A local specialist will send a free itinerary and price for 3 days, built around your dates.
5 days: Tarangire, the Serengeti and the crater
Best for: First safari with a week in Tanzania
| Day | Plan | Night |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tarangire National Park | Tarangire or Mto wa Mbu |
| 2 | Drive over the Ngorongoro highlands into the Serengeti, game drive on the way | Central Serengeti |
| 3 | Full day in the Serengeti | Central Serengeti |
| 4 | Morning drive, then to the Ngorongoro rim | Ngorongoro or Karatu |
| 5 | Crater descent, return to Arusha |
Want this as a private safari?
A local specialist will send a free itinerary and price for 5 days, built around your dates.
7 days: the classic northern circuit
Best for: Most first time visitors
| Day | Plan | Night |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tarangire | Tarangire |
| 2 | Lake Manyara, or a walk and cultural visit near Mto wa Mbu | Karatu |
| 3 to 5 | Serengeti, in the area where the herds are that month | Serengeti |
| 6 | Drive to the Ngorongoro rim, with a stop at Olduvai Gorge | Ngorongoro |
| 7 | Crater descent, return to Arusha |
Want this as a private safari?
A local specialist will send a free itinerary and price for 7 days, built around your dates.
10 days: safari and Zanzibar
Best for: Bush and beach
| Day | Plan | Night |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tarangire | Tarangire |
| 2 | Ngorongoro Crater | Karatu |
| 3 to 5 | Serengeti | Serengeti |
| 6 | Fly from the Serengeti to Zanzibar, afternoon in Stone Town | Stone Town |
| 7 to 10 | Beach days on the north or east coast, fly home | Zanzibar |
Want this as a private trip?
A local specialist will send a free itinerary and price for 10 days, built around your dates.
Rather have a trip to Tanzania made just for you?
Answer a few quick questions and a local specialist will send you a free, no-obligation itinerary and price.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need for a Tanzania safari?
Three days for Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater, five or more to include the Serengeti by road, and seven for the classic northern circuit without rushing.
Can you see the Serengeti in 3 days?
Only by flying in and out. By road, the Serengeti is a full day from Arusha each way, so three days would leave almost no time in the park.
What is the best Tanzania safari itinerary for first timers?
The 7 day northern circuit of Tarangire, Lake Manyara, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, with the Serengeti nights in the migration area for your month.
Tanzania month by month
More Tanzania guides
Best time to visit Tanzania: safari, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar by month
June to October is the best time for most of Tanzania: dry safaris, good climbing on Kilimanjaro and sunny Zanzibar. January and February are a second high season, with calving in the southern Serengeti. Avoid April and May, the long rains.
Updated 16 October 2026
How much does a Tanzania safari cost? Prices, park fees and a calculator
Expect about US$250 to 350 per person per day for a budget camping safari, US$400 to 700 mid range and US$900 or more for luxury, including park fees. Fees alone add about US$150 a day in the Serengeti once the nightly concession fee is included.
Updated 16 October 2026
The Great Migration in Tanzania: where to see it month by month
The herds spend about ten months a year in Tanzania. Stay around Ndutu for calving in January and February, the Western Corridor in June, and the northern Serengeti near Kogatende for Mara River crossings from July to October.
Updated 16 October 2026
Serengeti safari guide: which area, how long and how to get there
The Serengeti is about 14,750 square kilometres, so where you stay matters. Central Seronera is good all year for big cats, Ndutu for calving early in the year, the Western Corridor in June and the north for river crossings from July to October. Allow at least two or three nights.
Updated 16 October 2026
