The Great Northern Discovery Safari is a five-day journey through Tanzania’s most iconic landscapes — a seamless circuit combining forests, plains, and craters. From the emerald canopy of Lake Manyara to the boundless Serengeti and the awe-inspiring Ngorongoro Crater, every stop reveals a different facet of East Africa’s beauty.
You’ll begin at Lake Manyara, famed for its tree-climbing lions, flocks of flamingos, and lush groundwater forests. Continue into the legendary Serengeti, home to vast herds and predator action like nowhere else on Earth. Then descend into Ngorongoro Crater for an unforgettable encounter with the Big Five before wrapping up your safari in Tarangire, land of ancient baobabs and immense elephant herds.
This itinerary is perfect for travelers who want a rich and varied experience of Tanzania’s top wildlife parks in just under a week — ideal for photographers, first-time visitors, or anyone seeking an immersive yet well-paced adventure.
Arusha City
6 AM (EAT)
Expect a well-paced safari that combines diverse habitats and wildlife encounters. Lake Manyara offers lush scenery and birdlife; Serengeti brings endless plains and predators; Ngorongoro delivers unmatched Big Five sightings; and Tarangire adds majestic elephants and baobabs.
Accommodations are in mid-range lodges or tented camps offering private en-suite bathrooms, hot showers, and local hospitality. Travel is in a 4×4 vehicle with a pop-up roof for panoramic viewing and photography.
This itinerary blends scenic drives, full-day game viewing, and comfortable rest each evening — a complete Northern Tanzania experience in just five days.
Your safari begins after breakfast as your driver-guide picks you up from your Arusha hotel or airport. Drive through scenic farmlands and the Great Rift Valley to Lake Manyara National Park, a beautiful park famous for its tree-climbing lions and abundant birdlife.
Enjoy a leisurely game drive through the park’s diverse habitats — from dense forests to open plains and the lake’s shimmering shoreline. Spot elephants, hippos, blue monkeys, and a variety of colorful birds. Enjoy a picnic lunch inside the park, followed by an afternoon game drive before heading to your lodge or tented camp for dinner and overnight.
After breakfast, drive across the highlands of Ngorongoro towards the open plains of Serengeti National Park. Along the way, stop for breathtaking views of the crater rim and perhaps visit a traditional Maasai village (optional).
You’ll enter the Serengeti by midday and enjoy your first game drive across its iconic savannah. Watch herds of wildebeest and zebras stretching to the horizon, and look out for lions resting beneath the acacia trees. Arrive at your camp or lodge by sunset for dinner and overnight stay surrounded by the sounds of the wild.
Spend the day exploring different regions of the Serengeti. Early morning and late afternoon drives offer the best light for photography and high chances of seeing predators such as lions, leopards, and cheetahs.
Depending on the season, you may witness the Great Migration — an awe-inspiring movement of wildebeest and zebras across the plains. Between game drives, enjoy a picnic lunch and optional visit to a hippo pool or the Seronera Visitor Center. Evening relaxation by the campfire completes a perfect day in the heart of the Serengeti.
After breakfast, depart Serengeti and drive toward Ngorongoro, game viewing along the way. Upon reaching the crater rim, descend 600 meters into the world’s largest unbroken volcanic caldera.
The crater’s fertile floor is home to nearly every species of East African wildlife — lions, elephants, zebras, wildebeest, buffalo, flamingos, and the rare black rhino. Enjoy a picnic lunch beside a hippo pool before ascending the rim in the late afternoon. Overnight at a lodge on or near the rim, offering panoramic views of the crater.
After breakfast, drive to Tarangire National Park, known for its ancient baobab trees and massive elephant populations. The park is especially beautiful during the dry season when animals congregate around the Tarangire River.
Enjoy a game drive spotting giraffes, buffalo, lions, and over 500 bird species. Have lunch at a scenic picnic site before continuing your exploration. Later, drive back to Arusha, arriving in the late afternoon — marking the end of your unforgettable Great Northern Discovery Safari.
