Last updated 12 August 2026 · 12 min read
Serengeti Wakanda operates Tanzania's Northern Circuit and Zanzibar. Everything below sits within a day's drive of Arusha, which is why this circuit works so well as a single trip.
The seven destinations
| Destination | Go for | Best months | Nights we suggest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serengeti National Park | The migration, big cats, endless plains | All year, sector depends on month | 3 to 5 |
| Ngorongoro Crater | Black rhino, dense game in a caldera | All year, best June to October | 1 to 2 |
| Tarangire National Park | Elephant herds, baobabs, low crowds | June to October | 1 to 2 |
| Lake Manyara | Tree-climbing lions, birdlife, canopy walk | Any, best in green season | 1 |
| Lake Eyasi | Hadzabe and Datoga communities | All year | 1 |
| Lake Natron | Flamingos, Ol Doinyo Lengai, waterfall walk | June to October | 1 to 2 |
| Empakai Crater | Walking safari, flamingo lake, Rift views | June to October | 1 |
Serengeti: the reason people come
Fourteen thousand square kilometres of plains, kopjes and river country. It holds the migration for most of the year and the highest lion density in Africa. It is not a one-stop park: which sector you sleep in decides your trip.
Ngorongoro Crater: the highest hit rate in Tanzania
A 260 square kilometre collapsed caldera with roughly 25,000 large animals inside it. It is the most reliable place in Tanzania to see black rhino, and it is common to see four of the Big Five before lunch. It is also busy, which is why we descend at 6:30am.
Tarangire: the elephant park
In the dry season the Tarangire River is the only water for miles, and elephant herds concentrate around it in numbers you will not see in the Serengeti. Baobabs, tree-climbing pythons, huge birdlife. Consistently our guests' surprise favourite.
Lake Manyara: the short one
A narrow strip between the Rift escarpment and the lake. Famous for tree-climbing lions, which are genuinely hit and miss, and superb for birds, baboon troops and forest scenery. One day is right.
Lake Eyasi: the cultural day
A morning hunt with Hadzabe men and a visit to the Datoga blacksmiths. Done properly it is one of the most memorable days on the circuit; done badly it is a photo stop. We go out before dawn and stay with the group.
Lake Natron and Empakai: for a second trip or a longer one
Natron is otherworldly - soda flats, lesser flamingos and the active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai. Empakai is a steep forested descent to a flamingo lake at the bottom, on foot with an armed ranger, with Kilimanjaro on the horizon on a clear morning.
How to combine them
| Trip length | Route |
|---|---|
| 3 days | Tarangire, Ngorongoro |
| 5 days | Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro |
| 7 days | Tarangire, Serengeti (2 sectors), Ngorongoro |
| 9 to 10 days | Add Lake Eyasi, Empakai or Lake Natron, or extend the Serengeti |
| 12+ days | Northern Circuit plus Zanzibar |
And Zanzibar
Sixty to ninety minutes by air from the safari circuit. Three to five nights on the east or north coast after the bush is the classic finish, and it is why so many of our itineraries end at the beach.
“Tarangire is the park guests never plan for and never stop talking about. Three hundred elephants around one swamp in September, and hardly a vehicle in sight.”
Ready to turn this into a trip?
FAQ
Which parks should I visit on a first Tanzania safari?+
Tarangire, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Those three cover elephants, the migration and big cats, and black rhino, and fit comfortably into seven days.
Is Lake Manyara worth visiting?+
For one day, yes, especially in the green season for birdlife and the forest scenery. If your trip is short, spend that day in the Serengeti instead.
Where can I see the Big Five in Tanzania?+
Lion, elephant, buffalo and leopard across the Serengeti and Tarangire, and black rhino in Ngorongoro Crater. A Serengeti and Ngorongoro combination is the standard Big Five itinerary.
What is the Northern Circuit?+
The cluster of parks reachable from Arusha: Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, the Serengeti, plus Lake Eyasi, Lake Natron and Empakai. It is the route we operate exclusively.
Where can I do a walking safari in Tanzania?+
Empakai Crater, the Lake Natron area, parts of Lake Eyasi and designated walking zones outside the national parks, always with an armed ranger.
