Classic Circuit

7-Day Tanzania Classic Circuit

The Tanzania Classic Circuit is a 7-day private safari in Tanzania covering Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park and Lake Manyara National Park. Prices start from $2,650 per person for two or more sharing, with comfortable lodges and tented camps.

From

$2,650 pp

Length

7 days

Route

Tarangire › Ngorongoro › Serengeti › Lake Manyara

Stay

Comfortable lodges and tented camps

Best time

Year-round; June to October is generally drier

Your route, day by day

Follow the route across Tanzania.

A beautifully balanced northern-circuit safari with elephant country, the Serengeti plains, the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara landscapes.

Start: TarangireReal map of Tanzania

1Day 1

Arrive and travel to Tarangire

Meet your guide in Arusha and continue to Tarangire. Enjoy an afternoon game drive among baobabs and elephant herds.

TarangireArusha
2Day 2

Tarangire to the Ngorongoro area

Enjoy a morning drive before travelling through the highlands to your lodge near Karatu or the crater rim.

NgorongoroTarangire
3Day 3

Into the Serengeti

Cross the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and enter the Serengeti, with game viewing along the way.

SerengetiNgorongoro
4Day 4

Full day in the Serengeti

Explore different habitats with morning and afternoon drives, looking for predators and plains game.

Serengeti
5Day 5

Serengeti to Ngorongoro

Enjoy a final Serengeti drive before returning to the highlands for the night.

SerengetiNgorongoro
6Day 6

Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara area

Descend into the crater for a wildlife-rich game drive, then continue towards the Lake Manyara area.

NgorongoroLake Manyara
7Day 7

Lake Manyara and return

Explore Lake Manyara’s forest, lake edge and birdlife as time permits, then return to Arusha for onward travel.

Lake ManyaraArusha

Know before you go

What you’ll find in Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti and Lake Manyara.

3.85°S, 36.00°E

Tarangire National Park

Elephant country: ancient baobabs, a permanent river and some of the largest elephant herds in northern Tanzania.

Wildlife & sights: Elephant herds, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, lions, leopards and more than 500 bird species.
Best time: The dry season from June to October concentrates animals along the Tarangire River; the green season is quieter and lush.
Guide tip: It is the easiest first park from Arusha, so it works well as an opening day.

Explore Tarangire

3.17°S, 35.58°E

Ngorongoro Crater

A collapsed volcano about 19 km across whose floor holds grassland, a soda lake and forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where wildlife is easy to find.

Wildlife & sights: Black rhino (with luck), lions, buffalo, elephants, hippos, flamingos and large bull elephants.
Best time: Year-round. Dry months from June to October give the clearest roads; the green season brings fewer vehicles and newborn animals.
Guide tip: Go down early. The crater is busiest mid-morning and animals are most active at first light.

Explore Ngorongoro

2.33°S, 34.83°E

Serengeti National Park

Tanzania's most famous savanna: endless plains, kopjes that lions use as lookouts and the stage for the annual wildebeest and zebra migration.

Wildlife & sights: Lions, leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, elephants, giraffes and vast herds of wildebeest and zebra.
Best time: Year-round. Calving on the southern plains around Ndutu runs roughly January to March, the western corridor is active around May and June, and the north and Mara River are the focus from about July to October.
Guide tip: Where you sleep matters more than how long you stay: camps near the herds save hours of driving.

Explore Serengeti

3.60°S, 35.80°E

Lake Manyara National Park

A narrow park squeezed between the Rift Valley escarpment and an alkaline lake, with groundwater forest, hippo pools and birdlife.

Wildlife & sights: Tree-climbing lions (sometimes), baboons, blue monkeys, hippos, giraffes and flamingos when the lake level suits.
Best time: Year-round; birdlife peaks in the wetter months and the forest is shaded and cool on hot days.
Guide tip: Short on time? It makes a gentle half-day game drive with an easy route back to Arusha.

Highlights of this 7-day trip

Four signature northern Tanzania destinations
Private guide and 4x4 safari vehicle
Elephants and baobabs in Tarangire
Big-cat country in the Serengeti
Ngorongoro Crater game drive
Lake Manyara forest and birdlife

Your trip is planned by our Arusha-based team, who drive these roads every week. Dates, pace, lodges and extras can all be changed before you confirm, and your written quote lists every park fee and inclusion.

Starting price per person

$2,650

USD, two or more sharing, standard season. Final price depends on dates, group size and accommodation.

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Questions about this trip

How much does the Tanzania Classic Circuit cost?

It starts from $2,650 per person for 7 days with two or more travellers sharing. The final price depends on your dates, group size and the accommodation you choose, and is confirmed in a written quote.

What is the best time to do the Tanzania Classic Circuit?

Year-round; June to October is generally drier. The dry season from June to October concentrates animals along the Tarangire River; the green season is quieter and lush.

How many days do I need for Tarangire and Ngorongoro?

This itinerary uses 7 days, which is enough to cover 8 key places without rushing the longest drives. Extra nights can be added at any stop.

Is this trip private?

Yes. You travel in your own 4x4 with a dedicated guide, so you set the pace for photography and rest. Group-departure options are available on request.

What will I see in Tarangire?

Elephant country: ancient baobabs, a permanent river and some of the largest elephant herds in northern Tanzania. Look for: Elephant herds, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, lions, leopards and more than 500 bird species.

What will I see in Ngorongoro?

A collapsed volcano about 19 km across whose floor holds grassland, a soda lake and forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where wildlife is easy to find. Look for: Black rhino (with luck), lions, buffalo, elephants, hippos, flamingos and large bull elephants.