The northern circuit
What the circuit actually is
The northern circuit is a loop of tarmac and graded gravel running west from Arusha: Tarangire, Lake Manyara, up the Rift escarpment to Karatu and the Ngorongoro highlands, then down onto the Serengeti plains. Add Arusha National Park at one end and Kilimanjaro at the other and you have, within roughly 400 kilometres, more concentrated wildlife than anywhere else on the continent.
You can drive all of it. Most people drive part and fly the long Serengeti legs. Below is each destination in detail — what it holds, when to come and how long it deserves.
Serengeti
14,763 km² of grass, granite kopjes and the greatest terrestrial mammal migration on earth.
Ngorongoro
The world's largest intact volcanic caldera, holding around 25,000 large animals on a 260 km² floor.
Tarangire
2,850 km² of baobab country holding the densest dry-season elephant population in northern Tanzania.
Lake Manyara
A narrow 330 km² strip between the Rift wall and an alkaline lake — and a park you can walk, cycle and drive at night.
Arusha
552 km² on Arusha's doorstep: a crater, seven lakes, a 4,566m volcano — and no lions, so you can walk.
Kilimanjaro
1,688 km² around a free-standing volcano rising from farmland at 800m to glaciers at 5,895m.
Lake Natron & Lake Eyasi
A caustic soda lake where East Africa's flamingos breed, and a lake shore where hunter-gatherers still hunt at dawn.
At a glance
Compare the parks
| Destination | Size | Getting there | Known for | Prime months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serengeti | 14,763 km² | 8 hours from Arusha, or 1 hour by light aircraft | The endless plains | Jan, Feb, Mar, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep,… |
| Ngorongoro | 8,292 km² conservation area · 260 km² crater floor | 3.5 hours from Arusha | The crater | Jan, Feb, Mar, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep,… |
| Tarangire | 2,850 km² | 2 hours from Arusha | Elephants and baobabs | Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct… |
| Lake Manyara | 330 km², of which about 230 km² is lake | 2 hours from Arusha | Forest, cliff and soda lake | Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct… |
| Arusha | 552 km² | 45 minutes from Arusha, 1 hour from JRO | Meru's shoulder | Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct… |
| Kilimanjaro | 1,688 km² | 1 hour from Moshi, 2 hours from Arusha | The roof of Africa | Jan, Feb, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep… |
| Lake Natron & Lake Eyasi | Natron 1,040 km² · Eyasi 1,050 km² (both seasonal) | Natron: 4–5 hours from Arusha · Eyasi: 1 hour from Karatu | Rift valley edges | Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep… |
How long do I need?
Honest minimums
- Four days — Manyara or Tarangire plus the Ngorongoro Crater. Real, but tight.
- Six days — adds two nights in the central Serengeti. This is the sweet spot, and our most-booked length.
- Eight days — enough to reach the migration wherever it is, north or south, without rushing.
- Ten days or more — the full circuit plus Lake Natron or Lake Eyasi, or a safari with four nights in Zanzibar.
The most common planning mistake we see is trying to fit five parks into five days. You spend the trip in a vehicle looking at gravel. Fewer parks, more nights in each.
Build the route
Not sure which parks to choose?
Tell us how many days you have and what you most want to see. We will tell you which parks earn their place on your particular trip — and which to leave for next time.