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Active Kilitop and Safaris

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⬡ 8 Days · Northern Circuit · Tarangire, Manyara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro

8 Days Tanzania Safari

Eight days through Tanzania's northern circuit: elephant herds in Tarangire, tree-climbing lions at Lake Manyara, two full days on the Serengeti plains and a dawn descent into the Ngorongoro Crater. Offered at four comfort levels, from clean value lodges to premier tented camps.

Duration 8 Days Parks 4 Parks · Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro
Tour Length 8 Days / 7 Nights
Start / End Arusha, Tanzania → Kilimanjaro International Airport
Accommodation Mid-range
Tour Type Safari
Group Size 1–7+ Guests
Best Travel Period Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct -- Dry season, Great Migration peak
Destination Highlights

Your Route Through Tanzania

Click any destination to explore it on the map.

The Days

Day-by-Day Detailed Safari Itinerary

Multiple parks, several days -- and no wasted transfers. Every drive doubles as a game drive.

01
03°23′S 36°41′E
Day 1

Arrival in Arusha

Karibu Tanzania. Your driver-guide meets you at Kilimanjaro International Airport and drives you to Arusha, the safari capital at the foot of Mount Meru. Settle in, meet your guide for a short briefing about the days ahead, and enjoy your first African sunset from the garden.

Drive1 hr
Route55 km
MealsDinner
NightKibo Palace Hotel
02
03°50′S 36°00′E
Day 2

Arusha to Tarangire National Park

After an early breakfast you head west to Tarangire, famous for its giant baobab trees and the largest elephant herds in northern Tanzania. Game drive along the Tarangire River where elephants, giraffe, zebra, buffalo and lion gather in the dry season. Picnic lunch in the park, then continue your afternoon game drive until sunset.

Drive2-3 hrs
Route120 km
MealsBreakfast / Lunch / Dinner
NightTarangire View Tented Lodge
03
03°20′S 35°40′E
Day 3

Tarangire to Lake Manyara and Karatu

A short drive brings you to Lake Manyara, a compact park squeezed between the Rift Valley escarpment and a soda lake. Groundwater forest, hippo pools, flamingos and the famous tree-climbing lions make for a varied game drive. In the late afternoon you climb the escarpment to the farming town of Karatu on the edge of the Ngorongoro highlands.

Drive2 hrs
Route100 km
MealsBreakfast / Lunch / Dinner
NightNgorongoro Farm House
04
02°27′S 34°50′E
Day 4

Karatu to Serengeti via Ngorongoro

You enter the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and pause at the crater rim viewpoint before descending across the Malanja plains and past Olduvai Gorge, the cradle of mankind. Cross into the Serengeti at Naabi Hill gate and game drive through the endless short-grass plains to your camp in the central Seronera valley, home to the park's densest big-cat population.

Drive5-6 hrs
Route220 km
MealsBreakfast / Lunch / Dinner
NightTamu Tamu Serengeti Camp
05
02°27′S 34°50′E
Day 5

Full Day in the Serengeti

A full day of game viewing in the Serengeti. Leave at first light when the predators are most active, then explore the Seronera river valley, the kopjes and the plains where lion, leopard and cheetah are regularly seen. Depending on the season your guide will track the Great Migration herds. Optional dawn balloon safari over the plains.

DriveGame drives all day
RouteApprox. 150 km of game driving
MealsBreakfast / Lunch / Dinner
NightTamu Tamu Serengeti Camp
06
03°20′S 35°40′E
Day 6

Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Highlands

A final early-morning game drive in the Serengeti, then you drive back across the plains and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Optional stop at a Maasai boma to learn about the pastoral life of the people who share this land with wildlife. You arrive in the highlands in the late afternoon with time to relax before tomorrow's crater descent.

Drive5-6 hrs
Route220 km
MealsBreakfast / Lunch / Dinner
NightNgorongoro Farm House
07
03°10′S 35°35′E
Day 7

Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive to Arusha

Descend 600 metres onto the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater at dawn for around six hours of game viewing in the world's largest intact caldera. This is your best chance to see the endangered black rhino, plus huge bull elephants, lion prides, hyena, hippo and flamingos on Lake Magadi. Picnic lunch at the hippo pool, then ascend the crater wall and drive back to Arusha.

Drive3-4 hrs to Arusha
Route190 km
MealsBreakfast / Lunch
NightKibo Palace Hotel
08
03°26′S 37°04′E
Day 8

Departure -- Kwaheri Tanzania

A relaxed breakfast and, time permitting, a visit to the Cultural Heritage Centre or the Arusha markets for last-minute gifts. Your guide then transfers you to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home, or onward to Zanzibar for a beach extension. Kwaheri na safari njema -- goodbye and safe travels.

Drive1 hr
Route55 km
MealsBreakfast
Night—
Camps

Accommodation & Comfort Level

Mid-range Accommodations During Safari

Luxury Accommodations During Safari

Rates

Price & Additional Costs

Budget 8 Days Tanzania Safari Prices

Single Supplement — ADD RATE
Group size 1 Person2 Persons3 Persons4 Persons5 Persons6 Persons7 Persons
Prices From 2026 $3,980 $2,800 $2,630 $2,380 $2,360 $2,240 $2,250
Rooms 1 Room 1 Room 2 Rooms 2 Rooms 3 Rooms 3 Rooms 4 Rooms

Mid-range 8 Days Tanzania Safari Prices

Single Supplement — ADD RATE
Group size 1 Person2 Persons3 Persons4 Persons5 Persons6 Persons7 Persons
Prices From 2026 $4,580 $3,490 $3,290 $3,070 $3,040 $2,930 $2,930
Rooms 1 Room 1 Room 2 Rooms 2 Rooms 3 Rooms 3 Rooms 4 Rooms

Luxury 8 Days Tanzania Safari Prices

Single Supplement — ADD RATE
Group size 1 Person2 Persons3 Persons4 Persons5 Persons6 Persons7 Persons
Prices From 2026 $6,170 $4,600 $4,560 $4,180 $4,240 $4,040 $4,100
Rooms 1 Room 1 Room 2 Rooms 2 Rooms 3 Rooms 3 Rooms 4 Rooms

High-end 8 Days Tanzania Safari Prices

Single Supplement — ADD RATE
Group size 1 Person2 Persons3 Persons4 Persons5 Persons6 Persons7 Persons
Prices From 2026 $8,670 $6,030 $6,350 $5,610 $5,890 $5,470 $5,690
Rooms 1 Room 1 Room 2 Rooms 2 Rooms 3 Rooms 3 Rooms 4 Rooms
Price Details

What's Included

✓ Included

✓ Airport pick-up and drop-off at Kilimanjaro (JRO)
✓ All park entry, conservation and concession fees
✓ Ngorongoro Crater service fee
✓ Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
✓ Professional English-speaking driver-guide
✓ Accommodation as listed for your chosen comfort level
✓ Meals as listed -- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
✓ Unlimited drinking water in the vehicle
✓ Government taxes and VAT

✗ Not Included

✗ International flights to/from Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO)
✗ Tanzania visa (USD 50, or USD 100 for US passports)
✗ Travel insurance (compulsory -- must include emergency evacuation)
✗ Alcoholic drinks and premium beverages
✗ Tips for guide and lodge staff (USD 20-25 per day suggested)
✗ Balloon safari over the Serengeti (optional, from USD 599)
✗ Personal expenses and laundry
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Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything travellers ask before booking this safari.

Your safari price typically includes park fees, professional driver-guide, 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof, accommodation on the tier you select (budget camping, mid-range lodges, or luxury lodges), all meals during the safari, drinking water in the vehicle, and airport transfers.
Generally excluded: international flights to/from Tanzania, visa fees, travel insurance, tips for the driver-guide and lodge staff, alcoholic and soft drinks, personal expenses (laundry, souvenirs), optional activities such as hot air balloon flights or night drives.
Most visitors need a visa. Citizens of the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia and many other countries can obtain a Tanzania tourist visa on arrival or online (eservices.immigration.go.tz). Single-entry tourist visa costs US$50 (US$100 for US passport holders). Passport must be valid 6+ months beyond travel date.
A Yellow Fever certificate is required if you arrive from a Yellow Fever endemic country. Most travellers also take anti-malaria medication — consult your doctor 4–6 weeks before travel. Recommended (not required) vaccines include Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid, and routine boosters.
Tanzania is a year-round destination. The dry seasons (June–October and January–February) offer the best game viewing. The Great Migration river crossings in northern Serengeti typically peak July–September. The green season (March–May, November) brings lush landscapes, fewer tourists and lower prices.
Pack light, neutral-coloured clothing (khaki, olive, beige — avoid bright colours and dark blue/black). Layers are essential. Bring a warm fleece for Ngorongoro Crater, hat, sunglasses, comfortable walking shoes, binoculars, camera with extra batteries, and a soft duffel bag (hard suitcases don't fit safari vehicles). Bush flight luggage limit is usually 15kg.
Tanzania is one of the safest safari destinations in Africa. Petty theft can occur in Arusha and Dar es Salaam — use hotel safes and avoid displaying valuables. Inside parks and lodges you are completely safe. Your driver-guide is professionally trained in wildlife behaviour and emergency procedures.
Yes — Tanzania safaris are wonderful for families. Most lodges welcome children from age 6+; some luxury lodges require minimum age 8 or 12. Children pay reduced rates (often 50–75% of adult price). We can adjust the itinerary with shorter drives, child-friendly lodges with pools, and cultural activities.
A 30% non-refundable deposit is required to confirm your booking. Balance is due 60 days before arrival. We accept bank transfer (SWIFT), credit card (3% surcharge), and PayPal. All prices in US Dollars. A receipt and confirmation voucher are issued immediately on deposit.
More than 60 days before arrival: 30% deposit retained. 30–60 days: 50% of total trip cost. Less than 30 days: 100% of total trip cost. We strongly recommend travel insurance covering trip cancellation, medical emergencies, and emergency evacuation.
Most lodges in the northern circuit have Wi-Fi in main areas — often slow but enough for messages. Mobile signal (Vodacom, Airtel) covers much of Tarangire, Lake Manyara, parts of central Serengeti, and Ngorongoro rim. Deep in the Serengeti you may have limited or no signal — embrace the digital detox.
Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory. Industry guidelines: US$20–30 per day for driver-guide (from whole group, not per person), US$10–15 per day for camp/lodge staff (in the communal tip box), US$5–10 for porters at airports. Tips best in clean US dollar notes.
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