Tanzania: Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Highlands & the Serengeti

Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Highlands & the Serengeti

Arusha • Tarangire • Ngorongoro • Serengeti
Duration: 10 Days

Overview

A first safari in Tanzania that follows the northern circuit in the order most people do it best: by road for the shorter legs, then by light aircraft once the distances get big. Two nights next to Tarangire for elephants and walking, three in the cool Ngorongoro highlands with a full day on the Crater floor, then four nights in the Serengeti split between the central plains and the far north near the Mara River. It is built for June to October, when the herds are usually in the northern Serengeti, and you can finish with a few days on Mnemba Island off Zanzibar.

Trip Highlights

Elephants and baobabs in Tarangire, and walks on a private concession next to the park

A full day on the Ngorongoro Crater floor looking for black rhino, lion and big bull elephants

Hiking Olmoti or Empakaai Crater in the highlands, with time in Maasai country

The central Serengeti's resident lion and cheetah, with a pool overlooking a waterhole

The far northern Serengeti in migration season, close to the Mara River crossings

Ideal For

First-time safari travelers • Couples and honeymooners • Families with children aged eight and up • Travelers who want the migration and the Crater in one trip

Preferred Properties

Tarangire: Chem Chem Lodge, Auberge Safari

Ngorongoro highlands (choose one): The Highlands; Gibb's Farm; andBeyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge (planned to reopen January 2027)

Central Serengeti: Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, or Singita Sasakwa Lodge in Grumeti

Northern Serengeti: Lamai Serengeti

Zanzibar extension: andBeyond Mnemba Island

Day-By-Day Itinerary

Days 1–2: Tarangire

Land at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where your guide meets you. The drive to Chem Chem takes about three and a half hours, or about two hours if you have spent a night in Arusha first. If your flight lands late, we add that night in Arusha so you are not driving after dark. Day 2 is for Tarangire: game drives along the river, where elephants gather in the dry season among the baobabs, and a guided walk on the Burunge concession, which you cannot do inside the park.
Overnights: Chem Chem Lodge, Auberge Safari

Days 3–5: Ngorongoro Highlands & Crater

Drive up into the Ngorongoro highlands, a few hours by road with a stop in Karatu. Spend one full day on the Crater floor. Time down there is limited and vehicles pay a fee for each descent, so we plan an early start and a picnic lunch on the floor. The other day is for walking: Olmoti Crater, the longer hike into Empakaai Crater to its soda lake (ages 12 and up), or a visit to a Maasai community. From Gibb's Farm, you would walk instead to the forest elephant caves and the waterfall, and eat from the farm's gardens. Evenings are cold up here, so pack a warm layer.
Overnights: The Highlands (or Gibb's Farm; from 2027, andBeyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge)

Days 6–7: Central Serengeti

Drive to Lake Manyara airstrip, about three hours from The Highlands or 30 minutes from Gibb's Farm, and take a light-aircraft flight to Seronera in the central Serengeti. Soft bags only, with strict weight limits. The lodge is about 50 minutes from the airstrip. The central plains hold lion, leopard and cheetah all year, and the waterhole in front of the lodge draws elephants. If you travel in June or early July, we may swap these nights for Singita Sasakwa in Grumeti, where the herds usually pass around that time, and where walks and off-road driving are allowed.
Overnights: Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti (or Singita Sasakwa Lodge in June and July)

Days 8–9: Northern Serengeti

Fly north by light aircraft to Kogatende airstrip, then drive about 45 minutes to Lamai on its kopje above the Mara River valley. From about July to October the migration is usually in this area, and you spend the days near the river waiting for crossings, which take patience and are never guaranteed. August and September are usually the peak. Away from the river there is resident lion, leopard and elephant, and guided walks are possible when the grass is short.
Overnights: Lamai Serengeti

Day 10: Depart, or Fly to Zanzibar

Drive back to Kogatende and fly by light aircraft to Arusha or Kilimanjaro to connect to your international flight. If you want a beach finish, fly to Zanzibar instead and add three or four nights on Mnemba Island. The transfer from Zanzibar airport is about 90 minutes by road and then a short boat ride, landing on the beach. Boats do not cross after dark, so we time the flights around that. Snorkel the house reef, kayak, dive if you are certified, and look for nesting green turtles.
Overnights: andBeyond Mnemba Island (optional extension)