The Tanzania Northern Circuit — how to plan the best safari route?
The Northern Circuit of Tanzania is the most classic safari route in Africa. Four parks, each unique, each essential — all connected by one road leaving Arusha and running through the heart of Tanzania's wildlife wonderland.
After 15 years of driving the route, I have one conviction: the order of the parks makes an enormous difference to the overall experience.
The parks and their strengths
Lake Manyara (1 day): The smallest park but the closest to Arusha. Famous for its tree-climbing lions, flamingos and dense forest. Strong as a warm-up or as a glimpse at a different level than the great plains. Ideal as the first or last park on the route.
Tarangire (2–3 days): The elephant capital of Tanzania. More elephants than any other park in the Northern Circuit — herds of 200 to 300 are not unusual in the dry season. Plus lions, leopards, wild dogs (rare but present), iconic baobabs and the Tarangire River as lifeblood.
Serengeti (3–5 days): The biggest and most spectacular park. Always good for Big Five, always good for cheetahs and hyenas. In the dry season (June–October) the Great Migration. In the wet season (January–March) the calving season in Ndutu. There is no bad time for the Serengeti.
Ngorongoro Crater (1–2 days): Not really a "park" but a 260 km² crater that functions as one of the most concentrated wildlife areas in the world. Almost all Big Five present, including the rare black rhino. The crater as a finale always works well — it is the most dramatic landscape of the route.
The order: what works best?
After thousands of drives I have one favourite order: Arusha → Lake Manyara → Tarangire → Serengeti → Ngorongoro → Arusha.
Why this order? You start with smaller parks closer to Arusha, which is jet lag-friendly. You build up to the highlight (Serengeti). And you end with the drama of the crater as finale.
How long do you need?
Minimum 7 days for a solid Circuit experience: Lake Manyara day 1, Tarangire days 2–3, Serengeti days 4–5–6, Ngorongoro day 7.
Optimal: 10 days. Those extra three days go to the Serengeti — three nights in this park give you more than two. The Serengeti is the only park where more time always pays off.
Ideal: 12 days, including Zanzibar as a finale. Tanzania safari + Zanzibar beach is the classic combination that most travellers describe as "the perfect trip".
What not to miss
In Tarangire: the sunset at the river, when elephant families with small calves drink at the water while the sky turns orange. For me this is the most beautiful recurring moment in all of Tanzania.
In the Serengeti: an early morning game drive (leaving before 7:00 am), when the air is still cool and the predators are active. The midday heat is the Serengeti at its least spectacular.
In Ngorongoro: plan two crater descents if possible. On the first day you get to know the crater. On the second day you know where the best wildlife concentrations are and have a better chance of the black rhino.