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Safari plan · 6 days · Northern circuit · Midrange

Walking & Canoeing the North

Walks with armed rangers and a canoe on a Momella lake in Arusha National Park, walks and drives in Tarangire, an afternoon on foot in the Karatu farmland, and the Ngorongoro Crater floor on the way home.

Arusha NPTarangireKaratuNgorongoroArusha
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Length6 days · 5 nights
ParksArusha NP, Tarangire, Ngorongoro
Starts & endsKilimanjaro Airport
ComfortMidrange lodges & tented camps
Best monthsJune–October, December–February
OverviewThe routeDay by dayRatesWhere you sleepIncludedAdd-onsWhen to goFlights & extrasFAQEnquire
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IOverview

Less time behind glass, more time on your own feet.

A safari on foot changes what you notice: tracks, dung, birds, the smell of the bush, and the plain fact that you are no longer the biggest thing around. This plan puts a walk or a paddle into almost every day — in Arusha National Park, where walking with a ranger and canoeing on the Momella lakes are both possible, in Tarangire where walking is permitted, and in the farmland and forest edge around Karatu — and keeps the game drives for the rest.

Every walk inside a park is led by an armed park ranger, and you go at the pace of the slowest walker. Exact routes and lengths depend on the park’s rules and the ranger on the day, and we will not promise a particular walk until it is confirmed. What the plan does not give you is the Serengeti; see ‘Make it yours’.

Major attractions · 4
  1. 01Arusha National Park on foot and by canoe
  2. 02Tarangire National Park
  3. 03Karatu farmland and forest edge
  4. 04Ngorongoro Crater
Trip detailsPrivate
Tour length
6 days · 5 nights
Country
Tanzania
Start / end
Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO), both ways
Accommodation
Midrange
Tour type
Private walking and canoeing safari
Group size
Maximum per vehicle
Meal plan
Full board on safari
Best period
Jun–Oct · Dec–Feb
Activity level
Moderate — walks of a few hours on uneven ground
Request a free quote →Questions? WhatsApp +255 762 914 714
IIThe route

Meru’s foothills, Tarangire, the highlands, and home.

6 days, 5 nights, 3 places to sleep. The solid line is this plan; the dotted lines are the other roads through the region. Point at a day to see its leg.

Route map: Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha National Park, Tarangire, Karatu and the Ngorongoro Crater, and back to Arusha Kilimanjaro NP Arusha NP L. Manyara N Arusha Arusha NP Tarangire Karatu Kilimanjaro Airport Makuyuni Mto wa Mbu Crater floor
  1. 01Kilimanjaro Airport → Arusha National Park area~1 h road
  2. 02Arusha National Park & the Momella lakes~3 h game
  3. 03Arusha National Park → Arusha → Tarangire~3 h road · ~3 h game
  4. 04Tarangire~6 h game
  5. 05Tarangire → Karatu~2 h road · ~2 h game
  6. 06Karatu → the crater → Arusha → Kilimanjaro AirportThe long day~5½ h road · ~4 h game
Overnight stopPassing throughSchematic, roughly to scale
IIIDay by day

Six days, one at a time.

Each day lands on top of the last as you scroll: honest road time, game time, meals and where you sleep. Times are door to door in a safari vehicle and move with the season and what you stop for.

Mount Meru above the lodge gardens in the evening — 1600×1200
Arusha National Park areaADD IMAGE · Mount Meru above the lodge gardens in the evening
01/ 06

About an hour by road. Nothing else asked of you.

03°16′S 36°53′EDay 1 · Kilimanjaro Airport → Arusha National Park area

Arrive, to the foot of Meru

Travel
~1 h road
Game viewing
No game drive
Meals
Dinner
Sleep
Lodge near the park
  1. On landing

    Your guide meets you at arrivals. The drive is about an hour.

  2. Evening

    Dinner and the briefing: how the walks work, what to wear, and the ranger’s rules on foot.

What to bring

Broken-in walking shoes, long trousers, neutral colours, a hat and a small daypack with water. No bright clothing on walks.

Canoes on a Momella lake with Mount Meru behind, Arusha National Park — 1600×1200
Arusha National Park & the Momella lakesADD IMAGE · Canoes on a Momella lake with Mount Meru behind, Arusha National Park
02/ 06

No transfer. A morning walk with an armed ranger, an afternoon on the water.

03°16′S 36°53′EDay 2 · Arusha National Park & the Momella lakes

Arusha National Park on foot and by canoe

Travel
No transfer
Game viewing
~3 h
Meals
B · picnic L · D
Sleep
Same lodge, second night
  1. Morning

    A walk with an armed park ranger through open glades and forest edge, where giraffe, buffalo and colobus monkeys are often seen.

  2. Midday

    A picnic lunch, and a short drive to the Momella lakes.

  3. Afternoon

    Canoeing on one of the Momella lakes, with a guide, for the waterbirds and the view of Meru. Which lake, and whether it runs, depends on the water and the operator on the day.

At the pace of the slowest

Walks go at the pace of the slowest walker, and the ranger decides the route. Stop whenever you like; that is when you notice things.

The Tarangire River in the dry season — 1600×1200
TarangireADD IMAGE · The Tarangire River in the dry season
03/ 06

About 3 hours on tarmac, then an afternoon game drive.

03°52′S 36°00′EDay 3 · Arusha National Park → Arusha → Tarangire

South to Tarangire

Travel
~3 h road
Game viewing
~3 h
Meals
B · L · D
Sleep
Tented camp or lodge near the park
  1. Morning

    Back through Arusha and south-west through Maasai country to Makuyuni and the Tarangire gate.

  2. Afternoon

    A game drive along the Tarangire River, to get the lie of the land before tomorrow on foot.

  3. Evening

    Back at camp. Tonight’s briefing is about walking in big-game country.

Elephants under baobabs in Tarangire
Tarangire
04/ 06

No transfer. A morning walk where walking is permitted, and drives.

03°52′S 36°00′EDay 4 · Tarangire

Tarangire on foot and by vehicle

Travel
No transfer
Game viewing
~6 h
Meals
B · picnic L · D
Sleep
Same camp, second night
  1. Morning

    A walk with an armed ranger in an area where walking is permitted. You learn to read tracks and keep a respectful distance from elephants on foot.

  2. Midday

    Back to camp for lunch and the heat of the day.

  3. Afternoon

    A game drive among the baobabs until the park closes.

Where you can walk

Walking is permitted only in some parts of Tarangire and its surroundings, and the rules decide where. Ask us which walk applies to your camp and dates.

Footpath through coffee farms and forest edge near Karatu — 1600×1200
KaratuADD IMAGE · Footpath through coffee farms and forest edge near Karatu
05/ 06

A short early drive, about 2 hours to Karatu, then a walk in the farmland.

03°20′S 35°40′EDay 5 · Tarangire → Karatu

Up to Karatu, an afternoon on foot

Travel
~2 h road
Game viewing
~2 h
Meals
B · L · D
Sleep
Farm lodge
  1. Morning

    An early drive in Tarangire, then north past Mto wa Mbu and up the escarpment.

  2. Afternoon

    A walk through the farmland and along the forest edge around Karatu, with a local guide: coffee, small farms, and the view to the highlands.

  3. Evening

    Cool highland air and an early night before the crater.

The Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro Crater
The long day06/ 06

A morning on the crater floor, then about 4½ hours to the airport.

03°26′S 37°05′EDay 6 · Karatu → the crater → Arusha → Kilimanjaro Airport

The crater floor, then home

Travel
~5½ h road
Game viewing
~4 h
Meals
B · picnic L
Sleep
Homeward
  1. Dawn

    Down the descent road as it opens. The crater floor is by vehicle only.

  2. On the floor

    Grassland, soda lake and swamp in one bowl, and the likeliest place in Tanzania for black rhino, though never a certainty. Up again around midday.

  3. Afternoon

    Down the escarpment to Arusha and on to Kilimanjaro Airport for a late-evening flight.

Rather not rush it?

Add a night in Karatu or Arusha and fly the next day, or add a highland walk. Tell us your flight time.

IVRates

Priced by group size, because the vehicle is shared.

Park fees, accommodation, vehicle, guide and meals as listed — per person, no booking fees. Rates move with the month and lodge availability; your quote is fixed once you book.

Midrange · price per person, sharing
Group size1 person2 people3 people4 people5 people6 people
From yearraterateraterateraterate
Single supplementamount
Children

Child policy: ages, sharing discount, lodge minimum ages

What moves the price

What changes itHow much

  • The month you travel

    The dry season and the Christmas weeks are peak rates at almost every camp. The long rains are the lowest.

  • How many share the vehicle

    The vehicle and guide cost the same for two people or six, so the per-person price falls as the group grows.

  • Where you sleep

    The same night can cost several times more at one camp than at another a short drive away.

  • Flying instead of driving

    A light-aircraft seat replaces hours in the vehicle, and costs more than the time it saves.

  • Park fees

    Fixed per person per day by the authorities, and the same whoever you book with. We show them as their own line.

Not sure which level suits you? Tell us your dates, group and budget and we will send an itemised quote with named properties.

Request a free quote →
On request
On request
VWhere you sleep

Three places in five nights, two of each where the walking is.

Each night is described by type first, because the right camp depends on your month. The properties we normally use at each level are listed below; your quote confirms them against availability.

Nights 1–22×

Arusha National Park area

Lodge near the park

Close to the gate, so the walk starts in the cool of the morning.

Midrange here means
En-suite room, hot water, mains power.
Step up
A lodge with its own grounds to walk on the slopes of Meru.
Nights 3–42×

Tarangire

Tented camp or lodge near the park

Two nights, chosen for where walking is permitted, so one full day can be spent on foot and in the vehicle.

Midrange here means
Canvas walls, proper beds, en-suite, solar or generator power.
Step up
A camp in an area with more walking on offer.
Night 51×

Karatu highlands

Farm or garden lodge

Walking country in its own right, and close to the crater gate.

Midrange here means
Cottage rooms, mains power, gardens and farm paths.
Step up
A lodge on the crater rim itself.

The properties we use

WhereMidrangeLuxury
Arusha National Park areapropertyproperty
Tarangirepropertyproperty
Karatu highlandspropertyproperty

What ‘midrange’ means on this trip

  • En-suite everywhere. Your own bathroom every night.
  • Hot water. Welcome after a walk; in tented camps it may be a bucket shower filled on request.
  • Laundry. Most lodges offer it, sometimes at a charge. Useful with dusty walking clothes.
  • Food. Full board on safari, with packed breakfasts for early walks.
VIThe fine print

What is in the price, and what isn’t.

✓Included

  • Private 4×4 safari vehiclePop-up roof, window seat for everyone
  • A professional driver-guideThe same guide for the whole trip
  • Walks and canoeing as listed each dayRanger and activity fees itemised on your quote
  • All park and conservation feesIncluding the crater service fee. Itemised on your quote
  • Five nights’ accommodationAs described above
  • Meals as listed each dayFull board from day two
  • Drinking water in the vehicle
  • Airport transfersKilimanjaro Airport, both ways

–Not included

  • International flights
  • Tanzanian visaApply online before you travel
  • Travel insuranceRequired. It must cover medical evacuation and walking safaris
  • Tips for guide, rangers and camp staffWe send guidance with your booking
  • Drinks at lodges and campsUnless the property includes them
VIIAdd-ons & changes

The plan is a starting point, not a package.

The changes people ask for most, each with what it costs you in days or hours. Not in the standard price — arranged on request, and most can be combined.

+2 nightsprice

Add the central Serengeti

Drive on from the crater to Seronera for two nights of the plains and resident cats. By vehicle, not on foot.

Makes senseA first safari that wants the Serengeti too
The Serengeti →
+1 nightprice

A walk in the Ngorongoro highlands

Add a day walking in the highlands with an armed ranger, above the crater rather than in it.

Makes senseAnyone who wants more time on foot
Walking safaris →
+1 nightprice

Lake Manyara

Add a day at Lake Manyara, below the escarpment, on the way to Karatu.

Makes senseBirders, and the green season
Lake Manyara →
+1 nightprice

Lake Eyasi and its people

A night by Lake Eyasi south-west of Karatu, and a morning on foot with the communities who live there.

Makes senseAnyone curious about the people as well as the parks
Cultural encounters →
+7–9 daysprice

Climb Kilimanjaro first

Put a Kilimanjaro climb before the safari. The walks become a gentle warm-down.

Makes senseAnyone fit and with the time
The Lemosho route →
VIIIWhen to go

Rated for this route, not for the country.

Walking is best in the dry months, June to October, when the grass is short and visibility on foot is good. December to February also works. In the long rains of April and May some walks and the canoeing may not run, and the tracks are heavy. Canoeing depends on the water in the lake; ask us about it for your dates.

Jan
Dry spell, green plains
Feb
Calving in the south
Mar
Rains building
Apr
Long rains
May
Rains easing
Jun
Dry season begins
Jul
Dry, busy, cool
Aug
Dry, busy
Sep
Dry, Tarangire at its best
Oct
Dry, dusty
Nov
Short rains
Dec
Green, quieter
Three bars — the route at its bestTwo — good, with trade-offsOne — possible, and quiet
IXFlights & extras

Getting there.

Arrive

Kilimanjaro International (JRO)

About an hour by road from Arusha, and the airport most long-haul connections use. Land any time on day one — the first night exists to absorb late arrivals.

Depart

Kilimanjaro International (JRO)

Day six starts on the crater floor and reaches the airport in the evening. Only book a late-evening departure, and ask us before booking anything earlier.

Via Nairobi

Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO)

Workable: a short regional flight or a road transfer across the Namanga border to Arusha. It adds most of a day, so allow an extra night.

What else to budget.

Not part of the safari price, in order of how much they matter.

  • Tanzanian visaApply online before travel
    Current fee
  • Travel insuranceMust cover medical evacuation
    Typical cost
  • TipsGuide and camp staff, per day
    Guideline
  • DrinksAt lodges and camps
    Typical range
  • Personal spendingLaundry, crafts, extras
    Varies
  • Walking and canoeingPark activity fees
    Whether included in the quote, and amount
XWhy book with us

Only what we can prove.

01

Arusha, since 2010

A Tanzanian company, locally owned, running safaris and climbs from Arusha for more than fifteen years.

02

Licensed and registered

TALA-licensed through the Tanzania Tourist Board and registered with BRELA. Ask us for the numbers; we will send them.

03

One guide, one vehicle

The same guide drives you from the first day to the last. Nobody else joins your vehicle.

04

Every fee on its own line

Park, conservation and concession fees are shown separately on your quote, so you can see exactly what goes to the authorities.

XIQuestions

The ones we are asked most.

Walks are led by an armed park ranger who knows the area and the animals, and you follow their instructions. The rules on foot are strict, and they are there for good reason. You go at the pace of the slowest walker and never approach animals.

Usually a few hours at a gentle pace, with many stops. Exact routes and lengths depend on the park rules and the ranger on the day.

Parks and operators set their own rules and they change. Ask us for your dates and ages.

Reasonably. If you can walk for three hours on uneven ground in the warm, you will be comfortable. Tell us about any limits and we will shape the walks.

Not always. It depends on the water level in the lake and on the day’s conditions. If it cannot run, we replace it with another walk or a drive.

Not on the crater floor, which is by vehicle only. Walks are possible in the highlands around it with a ranger; see ‘Make it yours’.

Begin here

Send us your dates. We will send you the real version.

Named camps, the right direction of travel for your month, every fee on its own line — and a straight answer if another plan would suit you better.

Rather talk it through?WhatsApp us+255 762 914 714
Safari request Walking & Canoeing the North 6 days · 5 nights · private
01When, and what for?
How fixed are the dates?
What do you want from it? Pick any
02Who’s coming?
Travelling as
03How you like it
Style of camp

Not a commitment. It lets us send something realistic instead of something you have to reject.

04Where to reach you
We need a name to write back to.
That email address does not look complete.
Step 1 of 4
Other safari plans
7 days · Northern circuitThe Great Midrange JourneyRead the plan →
3 days · Northern circuitTarangire, Ngorongoro & Manyara ExpressRead the plan →
5 days · Northern circuitMidrange Best of TanzaniaRead the plan →
4 days · Northern circuitSerengeti Fly-inRead the plan →
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