Overview
Discover the highlights of Tanzania’s Northern Circuit on an unforgettable 3-day safari featuring Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, and the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater. Begin your adventure in Tarangire, renowned for its impressive elephant herds and iconic ancient baobab trees. Continue to Lake Manyara National Park, celebrated for its tree-climbing lions, diverse birdlife, and scenic beauty. Complete your journey with a game drive in the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater, one of the best places to spot the endangered black rhino alongside a remarkable variety of wildlife. For added convenience, this safari includes return flights to and from Zanzibar, making it the perfect combination of adventure and ease.
Trip Highlights
- Mid-range tour: This mid-range tour uses lodges.
- Private tour: This tour will be organized exclusively for you and won't be shared with others.
- Can start any day: If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.
- Can be customized: You can request changes to this tour.
- Not for solo travelers: Solo travelers cannot book this private tour.
- Minimum age of 3 years: The minimum age for this tour is 3 years.
Itinerary
Upon arrival in Arusha at 09h15, your driver-guide will meet you and take you on a scenic 2-hour drive to Lake Manyara National Park. Known for its diverse birdlife and tree-climbing lions, the park spans 325 square kilometers, with a third of its area covered by the stunning alkaline Lake Manyara. The lake attracts a wide variety of birds, including flamingos, pelicans, storks, herons, cranes, and more.
The park also hosts an array of wildlife, such as lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, warthogs, wildebeests, baboons, and occasional leopards and buffaloes. Situated in the Rift Valley, the park offers activities like forest hikes, canoeing, a tree canopy walk, and walking safaris. Lunch will be served at a picnic site between 12h00 and 13h00. Afterward, enjoy a game drive before heading to your lodge in Karatu for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay.
Main Destination:
Lake Manyara National Park
Accommodation:
Marera Valley Lodge
Mid-range lodge located less than 1hr drive from Lake Manyara NP
Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
Non-alcoholic drinks
After breakfast at your lodge in Karatu (07h30 - 08h00), depart for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a 1-hour drive to the gate. The Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and geo-park, is 600 meters deep. Before descending, stop at a viewpoint for stunning views of the crater below.
Home to around 25,000 mammals and over 500 bird species, including migratory flamingos, the crater is the best place in East Africa to see the endangered black rhino, completing the Big Five. You’ll also spot zebras, wildebeests, lions, gazelles, and buffaloes. The crater’s 20-kilometer diameter makes it easy to see wildlife in just 5 to 6 hours. Visit the Ngoitoktok picnic site, a hippo pool, for a packed lunch. Afterward, enjoy a final game drive before ascending the crater and heading to your accommodation for dinner, relaxation, and an overnight stay.
Main Destination:
Ngorongoro Crater
Accommodation:
Marera Valley Lodge
Mid-range lodge located 1-2hr drive from Ngorongoro Crater
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
Non-alcoholic drinks
After breakfast at your hotel in Karatu (07h30 to 08h00), your personal driver-guide will pick you up for a 2.5-hour drive to Tarangire National Park. Located in northern Tanzania, Tarangire is famous for its large elephant herds and ancient baobab trees. The park spans 2,603 square kilometers and is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, lions, leopards, impalas, gazelles, and more. Tarangire also boasts over 500 bird species, such as bee-eaters, ostriches, and vultures. The park's Tarangire River, vital to both herbivores and carnivores, is a prime hunting ground for lions, especially in the Dry season.
After a picnic lunch, you'll drive to Arusha, where you'll be greeted by one of our representatives for a special farewell. After that, you will drive to the airport to catch your flight to Zanzibar.
Main Destination:
Tarangire National Park
Accommodation:
No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
Non-alcoholic drinks
Includes/Excludes
Cost Includes
- Park fees (For non-residents)
- All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
- All flights during the tour
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinks (As specified in the day-by-day section)
Cost Excludes
- International flights (From/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
- Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
FAQs
The 3-Day Midrange Safari – Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Manyara includes accommodation in comfortable midrange lodges or tented camps, park entrance fees, meals as specified in the itinerary, transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle, professional guide services, and guided game drives in all three national parks.
The 3-Day Midrange Safari – Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Manyara offers the chance to see elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes, wildebeests, hippos, flamingos, and, with some luck, the endangered black rhino in Ngorongoro Crater.
Yes, the 3-Day Midrange Safari – Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Manyara is perfect for families, couples, solo travelers, and first-time safari enthusiasts who want to experience Tanzania’s Northern Circuit in a short yet rewarding itinerary.
The 3-Day Midrange Safari – Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Manyara can be enjoyed throughout the year, with the dry season offering excellent wildlife viewing and the green season showcasing lush landscapes and outstanding birdwatching opportunities.
For the 3-Day Midrange Safari – Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Manyara, bring lightweight neutral-colored clothing, comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, binoculars, a camera, and any personal medications for a comfortable safari experience.
The 3-Day Midrange Safari – Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Manyara is an excellent choice because it combines three of Tanzania’s most iconic wildlife destinations, offering diverse landscapes, abundant wildlife, expert-guided game drives, and comfortable midrange accommodations in just three unforgettable days.
