10 days, private, starts and ends at Kilimanjaro Airport
10-day classic Northern Tanzania safari: Arusha NP, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and three Serengeti nights
Arusha NP, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro & Serengeti
When people ask us for the classic Tanzania safari, this is usually what they mean: all four northern-circuit parks, a lodge every night, and enough days in the Serengeti to settle into it.
Each park looks different. Tarangire has baobabs and elephants, the Serengeti has open plains and big cats, the crater is a volcanic bowl full of game, and Manyara has groundwater forest beside a soda lake. Times and drives are approximate, and your guide adjusts each day to the weather, the wildlife and you.
Birds and wildlife to look for
Arusha National Park’s forest and Momella Lakes
Two days in Tarangire, with its baobabs and big elephant herds
Lake Manyara’s groundwater forest and tree-climbing lions
A full game drive on the Ngorongoro Crater floor
Two full days in the Serengeti
A scenic flight back from the Serengeti to Arusha
Day-by-day itinerary
Times and drives are approximate. Your guide adjusts each day to the weather, the wildlife and you.
Day 1: Arrival in Arusha
This day is set aside for your arrival. At Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport, your driver meets you with a sign reading Charles Tours and takes you on the short drive to Arusha for dinner and overnight.
Overnight
Hotel in Arusha
Meals
Dinner
Travel
Day 2: Arusha National Park
Just a short drive from Arusha, this beautiful park is an ideal introduction to Tanzania’s wildlife and birdlife after your flight. We explore its montane forest, open grassland and the scenic Momella Lakes, looking for colourful forest birds, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes and other wildlife, before returning to your hotel in Arusha for dinner and overnight.
Overnight
Hotel in Arusha
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Travel
Day 3: Arusha to Tarangire National Park
After pick-up from your hotel in Arusha, we drive about two hours south-west to Tarangire. The park is famous for its baobabs and for some of the largest elephant herds in Tanzania, especially in the dry season, when the Tarangire River is the only water for miles around. We spend the day on the river circuit, watching elephants dig for water while giraffe, zebra and wildebeest come down to drink. Lions often rest in the shade of the riverbank, and pythons are sometimes seen in the trees. After a picnic lunch at a lookout and a slow afternoon drive, we head to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Overnight
Lodge in the Tarangire area
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Travel
Day 4: Full day in Tarangire National Park
A full day exploring Tarangire’s varied landscapes. We follow scenic tracks through baobab-studded plains and along the Tarangire River, watching for elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes and, with luck, lions and leopards. Birders can look forward to bee-eaters, hornbills, vultures and many striking savanna birds. After a picnic lunch in the park we continue game viewing through the afternoon, then return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Overnight
Lodge in the Tarangire area
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Travel
Day 5: Tarangire to Lake Manyara National Park
After breakfast we check out and drive to Lake Manyara National Park for a day of wildlife viewing and birding. We explore the park’s groundwater forest, open woodland and lakeshore, looking for elephants, giraffes, baboons and the famous tree-climbing lions. Birders can enjoy a variety of forest and savanna species, including the striking Silvery-cheeked Hornbill. After a picnic lunch in the park we continue with afternoon game drives along the lake and through the forest, then leave the park in the late afternoon and drive to Karatu for dinner and overnight.
Overnight
Lodge in Karatu
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Travel
Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater
After breakfast we drive into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a memorable game drive. The crater floor has open grassland, swamps, woodland and a soda lake, supporting an exceptional concentration of wildlife. Look out for lions, spotted hyenas, elephants, buffaloes, hippos and, with luck, the endangered black rhino. Birders can enjoy many species around the wetlands and lake, including flamingos when conditions are right. After a rewarding day we climb out of the crater and return to your lodge in Karatu for dinner and overnight.
Overnight
Lodge in Karatu
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Travel
Day 7: Karatu to Serengeti National Park
After breakfast we drive through the forested highlands of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, stopping at the crater viewpoint before descending onto the vast short-grass plains. After a picnic lunch at Naabi Hill Gate we enter the Serengeti for an afternoon game drive towards Seronera, watching for lions, leopards resting in sausage trees, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes and other plains game, along with a wide variety of savanna birds. We reach your lodge in the late afternoon to relax before dinner and overnight.
Overnight
Lodge in the central Serengeti
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Travel
Days 8–9: Two full days in the Serengeti
We set out early to enjoy the Serengeti at its most active, when predators are often on the move and the morning light is perfect for photography. Depending on the season and recent sightings, we search the plains for cheetahs, lions, leopards, elephants and other wildlife, and follow the Great Migration herds if they are in the area. Birders can enjoy the Serengeti’s rich savanna birdlife throughout the day. We stop for a picnic lunch under an acacia, continue the game drive into the afternoon and return to the lodge at dusk for dinner and overnight.
Overnight
Lodge in the central Serengeti
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Travel
Day 10: Fly from the Serengeti to Arusha and departure
After breakfast we transfer to Seronera Airstrip for your scheduled flight back to Arusha, with a final view of the Serengeti from the air. In Arusha your driver meets you with a sign showing your name and takes you to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your onward flight.
Depending on your flight schedule, an extra night in Arusha may be needed. We confirm this when you book.
Overnight
Meals
Breakfast
Travel
What’s included
Included
Private 4x4 with pop-up roof, just for your group
Professional guide (a specialist bird guide on birding trips)
All park, conservation and crater fees
Accommodation and meals as listed
Drinking water in the vehicle
Pick-up and drop-off at Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) or your Arusha hotel
Scheduled flight from Seronera to Arusha
Not included
International flights and visa
Travel insurance
Tips for your guide and lodge staff
Drinks at lodges
Optional extras such as a balloon flight
Price
We quote per person, based on your group size, season and accommodation level. Send an enquiry and you’ll have a full price within 24 hours.
Good to know before you book
Getting here: Fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), about an hour from Arusha. We meet you at arrivals. Read arriving in Arusha.
Health: See a travel clinic about vaccines and malaria prevention at least a month before you go. The CDC Travelers’ Health: Tanzania page is a useful starting point.
Most days start between 6:00 and 6:30, because the first hours after sunrise have the best light and the most active animals and birds. We usually take a picnic lunch in the park or return to camp for a midday rest, then head out again in the late afternoon. Parks close at sunset, so evenings are at the lodge.
Can the itinerary be changed?
Yes. Every trip is private, so we can add days, swap parks, change the accommodation level or slow the pace. Tell us what you’d like, and we’ll send a revised plan and price.
What vehicle will we use?
A 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for viewing and photography, charging points and a window seat for everyone. The vehicle and guide are yours alone for the whole trip.
How do I book and pay?
Send an enquiry and we’ll reply within 24 hours with a tailored itinerary and a full quote. Once you’re happy, we take a deposit to confirm, with the balance due before you travel. We’ll give you the exact terms in writing.
What if I have dietary needs?
Just tell us. Lodges and our camp cooks regularly cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and other diets.
