Northern Circuit Tanzania Destinations
Northern Tanzania Safari
The well-established ‘Northern Circuit’ safari of northern Tanzania offers some of the world’s most diverse safari experiences, consisting of National Parks, game reserves, conservation areas and private concessions. Among these are the world-famous and iconic Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, and of course their less well-known neighbours, Tarangire National Park and Lake Manyara National Park.
Highlights
- Serengeti wildebeest migration
- the largest intact caldera in the world
- Climbing Lions
- Home Of Elephants
- Great honeymoon location
- Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
Where is Northern Tanzania?
A Northern Tanzania safari is a must-visit for everyone. The Serengeti National Park hosts the incredible Great Migration, a stunning wildlife event. Ngorongoro Crater, located on the floor of an extinct volcano, provides a unique game viewing experience. Kilimanjaro, the tallest freestanding mountain globally, looms over the landscape, offering a challenging adventure. Lesser-known parks like Tarangire National Park are excellent for game viewing, often overlooked compared to popular ones. The Rift Valley Lakes of Eyasi and Natron are home to the Hadzabe tribes and massive flocks of flamingos.
Tanzania’s northern safari circuit is Africa’s most famous safari area, featuring renowned parks like Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, along with lesser-known ones like Lake Manyara and Tarangire. The region boasts an incredible concentration of big game, with highlights such as the Serengeti’s Wildebeest Migration and Ngorongoro’s big five experience. It also showcases diverse cultures like the Maasai and Hadzabe, making it one of the most scenic and culturally rich parts of the continent.
Northern Circuit Tanzania Destinations Map
- Serengeti National Park
Great Migration
- Ngorongoro Crater
the largest intact caldera in the world
- Lake Manyara National Park
Climbing Lions
- Tarangire National Park
Home Of Elephants
- Kilimanjaro National Park
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
- Arusha Nationa Park
Mount Meru climb
Northern Circuit Tanzania National Parks
ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK
Arusha National Park, just 30 minutes from Arusha, has a dynamic landscape and is easily accessible. The park’s lush green areas stand out amid urban surroundings. It features three main attractions: Mount Meru, the second highest peak in Tanzania, Momella Lake, and Ngurdoto Crater. These make the park a great spot for hiking, trekking, and canoeing. Many tourists climb Mount Meru for adventure or as practice for climbing Kilimanjaro. While the park may not have many predators, it does have a good number of herbivores and mammals, including the rare Colobus monkey.
MANYARA NATIONAL PARK
Lake Manyara National Park, located at the foot of the Great Rift Valley in Tanzania’s rainforest, is home to both predators and large colonies of pink flamingos. The thick pink line of flamingos along the shore creates a stunning sight, reflected in the water. With over 400 bird species, including pelicans, storks, ibises, cranes, cormorants, marabous, and ancient families like hornbills, the park offers rich birdlife. You’ll also find zebras, buffalos, elephants, giraffes, lions, and other African wildlife, similar to other well-known parks in Tanzania.
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK
Tarangire National Park, named after the Tarangire River, is home to the largest elephant population in Northern Tanzania and is a prime spot during the dry season when both predators and herbivores migrate here for water. Covering 2,850 square kilometers, it is the sixth largest park in Tanzania, located between the Masai Steppe and nearby lakes. The park’s landscape features granite ridges, river valleys, swamps, woodlands, flooded grasslands, and baobab trees. As a seasonal park, Tarangire sees significant animal movement throughout its diverse habitats.
SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
The Serengeti, spanning 14,763 square kilometers, is known for its vast plains and the Great Migration, where millions of wildebeests and zebras move in search of greener pastures. It’s home to the Big Five, over 500 bird species, and a variety of wildlife. Visitors can enjoy game drives, hot air balloon rides, and beautiful sunsets. The best time to visit varies, but the northern Serengeti offers unique experiences year-round. With moderate temperatures, it’s a haven for predators, giraffes, crocodiles, and hippos.
KILIMANJARO NATIONAL PARK
Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, home to Africa’s highest peak at 5,895 meters (19,341 ft), features the world’s tallest free-standing mountain. Comprising three volcanoes—Mawenzi, Shira, and Kibo—the park offers diverse habitats, from lush forests to alpine deserts. Kilimanjaro’s snow-capped summit and glaciers attract hikers and nature enthusiasts. The park’s unique landscapes and rich wildlife make it a top destination for adventure seekers.
MKOMAZI NATIONAL PARK
Mkomazi National Park in northern Tanzania, established in 1951, became notable in 1989. It offers stunning views of Kilimanjaro and the Pare and Usambara mountains. The park borders Kenya’s Tsavo National Park, forming a vital ecosystem for elephants, oryx, and zebras. Mkomazi features arid landscapes, baobab trees, and savannah forests. It is home to giraffes, antelopes, buffalo, and predators like lions and leopards, with 78 mammal species recorded.
Best things to do in Northern Circuit Tanzania Safari
The Northern Circuit is known for Tanzania’s most world famous parks and includes the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Kilimanjaro National Park, Lake Manyara, Tarangire National Park, Arusha National Park, Olduvai Gorge, and Mkomazi National Park.
Popular Destination Packages
Our Most Popular & Best Tanzania Adventures
3 Days Tanzania Budget Safari
4 Days Tanzania Camping Safari
4 Days Tanzania Private Safari
6 Days Tanzania border to border Adventure
7 Days Best of Tanzania Luxury Safari
8 Days Ultimate Northern Tanzania Safari
Popular questions about Tanzania Safari
You can see lions, which are big cats. You can also see elephants, which are very big animals with trunks. Giraffes, which have long necks, are common. Zebras, with black and white stripes, are easy to spot. There are many other animals too, like rhinos, hippos, and many kinds of birds.
The best time is from June to October. This is the dry season. It is easier to see animals because they gather around water holes. The weather is also nice, not too hot and not too rainy.
A safari can cost from $1,500 to $5,000. The price depends on how many days you go, where you stay, and what you do. Some safaris are cheaper and some are more expensive.
Pack comfortable clothes. It can be hot during the day and cool at night. Bring sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun. A hat is good for keeping the sun off your face. A camera is great for taking pictures. Binoculars help you see animals that are far away.
Yes, it is safe if you go with a good guide and a trusted safari company. They know the area and the animals. Always follow the guide's instructions.
A good safari lasts 5 to 10 days. This gives you enough time to see different animals and visit different places without feeling rushed.
The Serengeti National Park is very famous. It has many animals and the Great Migration happens there. The Ngorongoro Crater is also amazing. It is a big volcanic crater with lots of animals inside. Tarangire National Park and Lake Manyara National Park are also good places to visit.
Yes, you can see the Great Migration in the Serengeti. It is a huge movement of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles. They move to find fresh grass and water. The best time to see the migration is from June to July and from October to November.
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Read real stories from people who have traveled with Seko Tours Adventures. Our travelers talk about their unforgettable Tanzanian safari trips and explain why traveling with us is special and life-changing.
Unforgettable Kilimanjaro Trek . We hiked Mount Kilimanjaro with Seko Tours and it was unforgettable, thanks to our guide, David. He helped us every step of the way. The hike was hard, but David's help made it easier. We saw stunning views and finally reached the top. It was the best feeling ever. We couldn't have done it without David and the team at Seko Tours. Thank you for this amazing adventure.James2024-07-04Great Safari Adventure . Our safari with Seko Tours was fantastic, thanks to our guide, David. He was very friendly and knew so much about the animals. We saw giraffes, zebras, and hippos in the national parks. David made sure we got the best views and told us many interesting facts. The lodges were nice and the food was tasty. We had so much fun. Thank you, David and Seko Tours, for an amazing adventure!.Navigate S2024-07-03Amazing Kilimanjaro Hike . Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with Seko Tours was amazing. Our guide, Inno, helped us a lot. He made sure we were ready for each day's hike. The views were beautiful and reaching the top was a dream come true. It was a hard climb, but Inno made it possible. This hike was one of the best experiences ever.Darshan2024-07-03We had a wonderful time on our safari with Seko Tours. We had a wonderful time on our safari with Seko Tours. Our guide, Ngoi, was excellent. He showed us many animals in the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. Ngoi was very patient and made sure we enjoyed our trip. The parks were beautiful and we saw so many animals. We highly recommend this tour and thank Ngoi for making it so special.Martelon2024-07-03Amazing Safari Experience . "We went on a safari with Seko Tours and it was amazing. Our guide, Inno, was great. He knew a lot about the animals. We saw lions, elephants, and a cheetah in the Serengeti. Inno made sure we were always comfortable. This safari was the best ever, thanks to Inno and Seko Tours!"Obazee2024-07-02Safari with guide Ezekiel. Ezekiel was a perfect guide and driver. He made us visit and discover the real wildlife of Tanzania. No trouble was too much for him. His knowledge about all the hotspots of the different animals is amazing. Haruna matata, he gets you around.Rony V2023-12-27Unforgettable experience at Mount Meru! We climbed Mount Meru in 4 days with Happyson and his crew from Seko Tours. We had an amazing experience, even though it was quite tough (especially because of the rainy season). We made it to the top thanks to this wonderful crew. They even shared their rain jacket and waterproof gloves with us. The chef prepared delicious meals, and the waiter took great care of us (including water to wash ourselves, tea, popcorn and hot water in a bottle to keep us warm during the night). Happyson and team spared no efforts and we had a lot of fun together. On the fourth day, right before the gate, we were surprised by seeing so many wild animals and the beautiful waterfall. The two giraffes at just a few meters away was amazing. Would definitely recommend!!Romy H2023-11-28Safari with David from Seko tours David was our guide for our 2 day Tarangire and 1 day Ngorongoro safari. We were with a group of 4 friends and David was the best guide we could wish for. He had a lot of knowledge about the area, the animals, the culture, actually about everything. He could find every amimal we wanted to see including the difficult to spot cheeta, leopard and rhino. He did everything to get us the best spot to view and photograph the animals. When viewing, he told us a lot of intersting facts about the animals and the area they are in. Between the safari days David also was our driver to all locations in between, always on time and always with surprises, like beer or a great warm lunch. Thanks David you made our trip really worth it!!Avdb2023-10-28Best Safari guides with a lot of knowledge, friendliness and fun We had a wonderful experience with our guides Shabani (mr walking encyclopedia) and John (mr juice). We went to Tarangiri, Serengeti and Ngorogoro in 2 cars with a family of 7. Both guides learned us a lot on the animals and really were motivated to give us the best time possible. They are friendly, happy and the best guides you could wish for. We saw all animals we wanted to see multiple times and had a lot of fun together.Cindy V2023-07-24