Classic drive safari – Round trip northern Tanzania
Explore all the wondrous terrain and animals on offer throughout the parks of the northern Circuit from the open rooftop of a 4×4 safari vehicle.
Experience the best of the open road on this once in a lifetime adventure into the Tanzanian wilderness. The journey in a 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof can be tailored to your liking as the options are endless. Starting and ending in Arusha, you can design your dream adventure or let one of our safari consultants create the perfect 4×4 safari itinerary according to your specification.
Trip summary:
Day 1: Pick up in Arusha area – Transfer to Africa Safari Lake Manyara for overnight.
Day 2: Full-day safari game drive Tarangire National Park – Overnight Africa Safari Lake Manyara.
Day 3: Full-day safari game drive Lake Manyara National Park – Overnight Africa Safari Lake Manyara.
Day 4: Safari transfer drive to Africa Safari Lake Natron for overnight.
Day 5: Visit the Hominid Footprint site – Ngare Sero waterfall walk – Overnight Africa Safari Lake Natron.
Day 6: Flamingo lake walk – Road trip to Africa Safari Maasai Boma for overnight.
Day 7: Full-day game drive Serengeti National Park – Overnight Africa Safari Serengeti Ikoma.
Day 8: Full-day game drive Serengeti National Park – Overnight Africa Safari Serengeti Ikoma.
Day 9: Half-day safari game drive Serengeti National Park – Safari transfer through Ngorongoro Conservation Area with an optional stop at a Maasai boma – Overnight Africa Safari Lake Manyara.
Day 10: Safari game drive Ngorongoro Crater – Overnight Africa Safari Lake Manyara.
Day 11: Transfer to Arusha area (JRO, ARK, Town hotel or City centre).
SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
The best-known wildlife sanctuary in the world
Endless plains and stunning savannah
With vast open plains and an abundance of wildlife as far as the eye can see, the Serengeti is a safari maker’s dreamland. As the park is so expansive, it is ideally recommended to spend several days exploring. Serengeti National Park spans across 14,763 square kilometres and is easily the largest and arguably most popular of the northern circuit National Parks. The Serengeti is host to the annual Wildebeest migration, when some six million hooves pound the open plains, as more than 200,000 zebra and 300,000 Thomson’s gazelle join the wildebeest’s trek for fresh grazing. Buffalo, elephant, giraffe, lion, hippo and hyena are also frequently sighted throughout the Serengeti.
PARK – SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
SERENGETI NORTH & MARA RIVER
Serengeti National Park
Northern Serengeti is where the great migration crosses the Mara River
Witness the most amazing wildlife spectacle in Africa at the Mara River. The Mara River is most famous for the legendary wildebeest crossing, a dramatic event, which is featured in countless wildlife documentaries. One of Tanzania’s best- kept secrets is the fact that nearly half of the Mara River is situated in the northern Serengeti versus the Masai Mara’s segment in Kenya. While there are hordes of vehicles just a few miles upriver in the Masai Mara, the Serengeti side is virtually devoid of tourists. Not only the Mara River is an essential part of this area of the Serengeti, but it is also a lush and idyllic spot hidden away in the remote reaches of the north. Many varieties of colourful birds can be found here including kingfishers, hoopoes and rollers. The flourishing resources support some unusual antelope species including Mountain reedbuck and Steenbok. The nearby Larelemangi salt lick is a haven for wildlife and large herds of buffalo and elephant are regular visitors.
PARK – SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK NORTHERN AREA & MARA RIVER
SERENGETI CENTRAL / SERONERA AREA
Serengeti National Park
Big cat capital
Serengeti’s Seronera area is located in the south-central region of the park and is well known for being the habitat of a large number of big cats; the lion, leopard and cheetah are often spotted here. However, the elephant, giraffe, hippo, crocodile, buffalo and impala are also well-known visitors. The area is very popular as it is one of the most likely spots to watch a kill. The landscape is dotted with ‘’kopjes’’, rocky granite or Gneiss outcrops, over 550 million years old and in high favour by some of the cats as look-out points while hunting.
LAKE NATRON
The main breeding site for 2.5 million lesser flamingos
Fabulous flamingos
Shimmering amid the sun-scorched Kenyan border northeast of Ngorongoro Conservation Area, this 58 km-long but just 50cm-deep alkaline lake should be on every adventurer’s itinerary. The drives from Mto wa Mbu or the northern Serengeti are remote, with a desolate, other-worldly beauty and an incomparable feeling of space and antiquity. The roads pass through untravelled Maasai land, with small bomas and big mountains often in view in a wild, cauterised landscape. From June to November at the lake itself, around two million flamingos gather – it’s one of East Africa’s most stirring wildlife spectacles. And close to the southern end of the lake, the views of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano are splendid.
PARK – LAKE NATRON NATIONAL PARK
NGORONGORO CRATER
The world’s largest, inactive, intact and unfilled caldera
Is commonly referred to as the 8th wonder of the world
Nothing can prepare you for the breathtaking beauty that is the Ngorongoro Crater. As you stand at the viewpoint looking out over the crater, clouds hovering around the tip of the rim with the cool mountainous breeze in the air, there is no mistaking the divinity of mother nature. The Ngorongoro Crater is a world heritage site, the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera and is commonly referred to as the 8th wonder of the world. Due to its natural borders, there is an abundance of wildlife throughout the conservation area which is home to the Big Five including the African Black Rhino as well as hyena, zebra and elephants to name a few. The Ngorongoro Crater is an absolute must on any northern circuit itinerary.
LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK
Tree-climbing lions and over 400 species of birds
Large ecological variety in a small area
Lake Manyara National Park, an underestimated gem of the safari parks, offers a large ecological variety in a small area. The alkaline soda of the lake appeals to impressive numbers of birds thriving on its water. More than 400 species have been identified and one of the highlights are the thousands of strolling flamingo’s. From the entrance of the park, the road winds through a groundwater forest area where baboon troops can be seen hanging about on the roadside and in the trees. On the grassy banks of the lake the wildebeest, giraffe, zebra and the large buffalo can be seen grazing the day away. The mahogany and acacia trees are inhabited by the famous tree-climbing lions, if you’re lucky you might spot them lazing on a tree branch.
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK
Home of the elephants
The highest concentration of wildlife outside Serengeti
Tarangire National Park is a fun and easy park to explore. Wildlife is abundant and exposed due to the park’s more compact and open terrain making it easier to see wildlife both up close and from a distance. The park is only a short 2 hour drive from Arusha and in close proximity to Lake Manyara. It is is 2850 square kilometres making it the sixth largest park in Tanzania and offering the highest concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti. Tarangire is known for its large herds of elephants, which can be viewed at close range. Other animals likely to be seen throughout Tarangire are; wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, gazelle, rhino, warthog, impala, python, lion, leopard and over 50 species of birds.
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