7 Day - Classic Northern Circuit Safari

It runs well year round, because Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Crater and the central Serengeti all hold resident wildlife. The dry season, roughly June to October, is when Tarangire's elephants crowd the river and game viewing is easiest, while the long rains of April and May bring green landscapes and fewer vehicles. There are no fixed departures, so ask us for dates.

Tarangire is known for its ancient baobabs and large elephant herds along the Tarangire River. You spend two nights at Tarangire Sopa Lodge, with an afternoon drive on arrival and a full day of morning and afternoon drives through savannah, seasonal swamps and riverine woodland, including the Silale Swamps. The park is also excellent for birdwatchers.

You descend about 600 metres onto the floor of the volcanic caldera, home to all of the Big Five, and spend the day exploring it. You drive past Lake Magadi, where flamingos gather, and search the open grasslands for the rare black rhino. The nights either side are at Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, on the crater rim with views into the caldera.

You spend two nights at Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge in the central Seronera Valley. You enter the park through Naabi Hill Gate with a game drive across the short-grass plains favoured by cheetahs, then have a full day of morning and afternoon drives looking for lions on the kopjes and leopards in the sausage trees.

It depends on when you travel. The central Serengeti is chosen for its resident big cats, which are there all year, while the migration herds move through different parts of the ecosystem across the seasons. If the herds are a priority, tell us your dates and our Arusha team will advise where they are likely to be and whether the route should change.

On day three, on the drive from Tarangire to Ngorongoro, you stop in Mto wa Mbu, a lively village at the foot of the Rift Valley, for a local lunch. It is one of Tanzania's most culturally diverse communities, and the stop gives you a glimpse of everyday life between parks before you climb to the crater rim.

It starts in Arusha with a drive south-west to Tarangire. On the last morning you game drive slowly to the Seronera airstrip and fly back to Arusha, where your guide meets you for optional shopping and lunch at Cultural Heritage before the drive to Kilimanjaro or Arusha airport for your flight home. An evening flight works best.

Yes. This is the route most first-time visitors ask us about, because it covers the big-name parks with full days in each rather than a long transfer every morning. You get elephants and baobabs, a crater day with a chance of black rhino and big cats in the Serengeti. Our Arusha team can extend it or swap lodges to suit you.

Bring neutral-coloured layers: days are warm, but early mornings on the Ngorongoro rim are cold, so pack a fleece or light jacket. Add a hat, sunscreen, binoculars and a camera with a zoom lens. Use a soft duffel bag, as the flight from Seronera to Arusha is on a light aircraft with limited luggage space.

Most visitors need a Tanzanian tourist visa, which you can apply for through the official eVisa portal before you fly or obtain on arrival. A yellow fever certificate is required if you arrive from, or transit through, a country with yellow fever risk. Malaria prophylaxis is advised for the safari areas, so see a travel clinic a few weeks before you leave.

The 7 Day - Classic Northern Circuit Safari is 7 days and 6 nights. The day-by-day itinerary on this page shows where you go and stay each day.

This trip visits Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tarangire National Park and Lake Manyara National Park.

It is rated moderate: a reasonable level of general fitness is enough.

It runs for groups of 2 to 12 travellers.

Included: Full board accommodation at handpicked lodges and camps, All game drives in 4x4 safari vehicles with pop-up roofs, Professional English-speaking safari guide, Park entry fees for all national parks and conservation areas, Ngorongoro Crater descent fee, Bottled water during game drives, Cultural walk at Mto wa Mbu and All transfers and transportation, and more (see the full list on this page).

Not included: International flights, Visa fees, Travel insurance (recommended), Alcoholic beverages, Tips and gratuities for guide and lodge staff, Personal items and souvenirs, Optional activities not mentioned in itinerary and Additional meals and drinks outside of full board.