★★★★★
"That second Serengeti day made all the difference. We moved north on day five and caught a crossing that our friends on a 6-day trip completely missed."
RACHEL & JAMES O. — CANADA · AUGUST SAFARI
Why this itinerary works
The extra day that changes your Serengeti odds
"One extra day in the Serengeti sounds small on paper. In practice it's the difference between passing through one region and actually following where the migration is that week."
Our 6-day Northern Circuit Classic covers Tarangire, Lake Manyara, the Ngorongoro Crater, and a single day in the Serengeti. This 7-day version keeps that exact same foundation and adds one further full day in the Serengeti — timed to a different region of the park depending on where the migration or resident wildlife is concentrated in your travel month.
That second Serengeti day is the single highest-leverage change we can make to a Northern Circuit itinerary. It allows your guide to actually chase conditions — moving from central Seronera toward the northern Mara River crossings in July through September, or toward the southern plains during the February calving season — rather than being locked into whichever region you land in on day one.
01
Same strong foundation as the 6-day trip
Tarangire, Manyara, and the crater are covered identically, with no time cut from any of them.
02
A second Serengeti region, not a repeat day
The extra day moves to a different part of the park, chosen for where wildlife is concentrated that month.
03
Still one day short of our fullest migration trip
Travellers who want maximum time chasing the migration should look at our 8-day itinerary instead.
Want the fullest possible migration experience?
Compare the 8-day safari
Our 8-day Serengeti Migration Safari adds one further Serengeti day on top of this itinerary, for the maximum time following the herds.
Trip intelligence
7 days against every other Northern Circuit option
Every itinerary reaches strong wildlife viewing. What differs is how much time you get in the Serengeti specifically, and how well that lines up with the migration.
| Itinerary | Duration | Serengeti days | Migration odds | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarangire, Manyara & Crater | 3 days | 0 days | — | No Serengeti time at all |
| Northern Circuit Classic | 6 days | 1 day | Good | Balanced first safari |
| Extended Northern Circuit | 7 days | 2 days | Excellent | Genuinely better migration odds without a longer trip |
| Serengeti Migration Safari | 8 days | 3 days | Excellent | Migration as the absolute top priority |
Approximate industry figures based on multi-operator data. Migration position varies by month regardless of trip length.
Day by day
Trace the safari
Seven days, mapped stage by stage. The tracker in the corner follows your place on the itinerary as you scroll — and your booking details are right here whenever you're ready.
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Day 1 · Elephant countryMoshi/Arusha → Tarangire · ~2.5 hr drive, full-day game drive
Moshi or Arusha to Tarangire National Park
An early pickup from your hotel starts the drive to Tarangire, arriving in time for a full day of game driving. Tarangire holds Tanzania's largest elephant herds, especially through the dry season, alongside ancient baobab trees and strong predator sightings along the river.
06:30Hotel pickup in Moshi or ArushaYour guide collects you in a 4x4 safari vehicle for the drive to Tarangire's gate.
09:00Full-day game driveGame viewing along the Tarangire River, the park's main draw for wildlife.
18:00Overnight near Tarangire or KaratuDinner and rest ahead of the drive toward Manyara the next morning.
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Day 2 · Tree-climbing lion countryManyara morning game drive · Transfer to the Ngorongoro highlands
Lake Manyara Game Drive, Transfer to Karatu
A short transfer to Lake Manyara National Park, one of only a few parks in Africa where lions are regularly seen resting in trees. Forest, woodland, and lake-shore habitats are all covered in a single morning drive before the climb up the Rift Valley escarpment.
07:30Morning game drive at Lake ManyaraForest, woodland, and lake-shore habitats — watch for tree-climbing lions and flamingos.
13:00Transfer to KaratuA scenic drive up the escarpment toward the Ngorongoro highlands.
16:00Overnight at a Karatu or crater rim lodgeAn early night ahead of tomorrow's full day inside the crater.
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Day 3 · The crater, then onwardFull-day crater floor drive · Transfer to the Serengeti
Ngorongoro Crater, Transfer to the Serengeti
A full morning inside the crater floor, one of the densest concentrations of wildlife anywhere in Africa, before ascending the rim and continuing on toward the Serengeti in the afternoon, game-viewing along the way.
Why the crater still earns a full day hereEven on a longer itinerary, the crater's contained ecosystem delivers more sightings per hour than almost anywhere else — it's never worth shortening.
07:00Descend to the crater floorThe coolest, most active hours of the day for game viewing.
13:00Ascend and depart for the SerengetiA game-viewing drive across the Ngorongoro highlands and into the Serengeti ecosystem.
17:30Arrive at your Serengeti campDinner and an early night ahead of two full Serengeti days.
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Day 4 · Serengeti, first full dayFull-day game drive · Central Serengeti (Seronera)
Full-Day Game Drive, Central Serengeti
A full day exploring the Seronera Valley, the Serengeti's central hub and one of its most reliable areas for resident predators year-round. Morning and afternoon game drives cover riverine forest, kopjes, and open plains.
06:30Early morning game driveThe best window for predator activity around the Seronera Valley.
13:00Picnic lunch, midday restA break during the hottest, quietest hours for wildlife.
16:00Afternoon game driveContinued exploration of the central plains and kopjes.
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Day 5 · Serengeti, the extra dayFull-day game drive · A second Serengeti region, timed to the migration
Full-Day Game Drive, Second Serengeti Region
The day that separates this itinerary from our 6-day trip. Depending on your travel month, this day moves toward the northern Mara River region for July through September crossings, or toward the southern plains for the February calving season — wherever the migration or resident wildlife concentration is strongest that week.
Why this single day matters mostA one-day Serengeti stop locks you into whichever region you happen to land in. This second day lets your guide actually chase conditions rather than accept whatever's nearby.
06:30Depart for a second Serengeti regionTiming and direction depend on the migration's position in your travel month.
12:30Picnic lunch in the fieldA break wherever the day's game viewing has taken you.
17:00Return to campDinner and rest after the day's fullest game-viewing stretch.
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Day 6 · Final Serengeti morningMorning game drive · Transfer back toward the Ngorongoro highlands
Final Serengeti Drive, Transfer Toward Karatu
One final game-viewing drive through the Serengeti before departing, retracing the route back toward the Ngorongoro highlands with further sightings along the way.
07:00Final Serengeti morning game driveA last look at whichever region offered the best sightings on day five.
12:00Depart for the Ngorongoro highlandsA game-viewing drive back across the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
17:00Overnight near KaratuA final night before the return transfer to Moshi or Arusha.
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Day 7 · Departure dayTransfer to Moshi or Arusha · End of safari
Transfer to Moshi or Arusha
The final leg of the journey, returning you to Moshi or Arusha with time to connect to your next flight or the next stage of your trip, whether that's a Kilimanjaro climb, a Zanzibar beach stay, or your international departure.
08:00Depart for Moshi or ArushaA final scenic drive back, with stops as needed along the way.
12:00–13:00Drop-off at your hotel or the airportThe safari concludes here. Asante sana — thank you for travelling with us.
Accommodation tiers
Choose your safari package
Identical itinerary across all three — the difference is accommodation quality, vehicle exclusivity, and guiding.
Package
Standard$2,650
Comfort$3,350
Private Premium$4,650
Accommodation
Standard lodge/camp, shared
Comfortable lodge, en-suite room
Premium lodge or tented camp
Vehicle
Shared scheduled group vehicle
Private vehicle, your group only
Private vehicle, flexible pace
Guide
Certified English-speaking guide
Certified guide, dedicated to your group
Senior guide, fully flexible schedule
Meals
Full board, picnic lunches
Full board, upgraded picnic lunches
Full board, premium dining
What's covered
Inclusions and exclusions
Included, all packages
- Tarangire, Lake Manyara, and Serengeti National Park entry fees
- Ngorongoro Conservation Area and crater descent fees
- Certified, English-speaking safari guide throughout
- 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof for photography
- 6 nights accommodation, per tier
- Full board meals, breakfast Day 1 to breakfast Day 7
- Bottled and purified drinking water throughout
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Moshi or Arusha
Not included
- International flights to JRO / ARK
- Tanzania tourist visa, approx. $50 online
- Travel and medical insurance
- Personal safari gear and clothing
- Guide tips, approx. $20–25 per traveller, per day
- Alcoholic and bottled soft drinks
- Optional balloon safari or cultural add-ons
Preparation
What to pack
A week-long safari needs a little more than a short trip — enough clean layers to last the distance, plus good optics for the Serengeti's open plains.
Clothing
- Lightweight, neutral-coloured shirts and trousers (4–5 sets)
- A warm layer for early crater and Serengeti mornings
- Wide-brimmed sun hat and sunglasses
- Comfortable closed-toe shoes
Health & sun
- High-SPF sunscreen and lip balm
- Insect repellent with DEET
- Anti-malarial medication, prescribed before travel
- A basic personal first-aid kit
Gear
- Binoculars — one pair per person is worth it
- Camera with a zoom lens, plus spare batteries
- Power bank for long days in the vehicle
- Cash in small USD or TZS notes for tips
When to go
Best months, by conditions
| Months | Conditions | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun – Oct | Dry, peak season | Excellent | Mara River crossings possible in the north from July; Tarangire herds at their strongest |
| Nov | Short rains | Good | Migration moves south, quieter camps, lush scenery |
| Dec – Mar | Dry, calving season | Excellent | Wildebeest calving on the southern Serengeti plains in February |
| Apr – May | Long rains | Fair | Heaviest rainfall; still workable but not the strongest window |
The second Serengeti region on day five is chosen specifically to match wherever the migration or resident wildlife is concentrated that month.
In their words
What our 7-day safari travellers say
★★★★★
"Seven days felt like exactly the right length — enough time in the Serengeti without stretching the trip into a second week."
FELIX N. — GERMANY · SEPTEMBER SAFARI
★★★★★
"Our guide clearly knew exactly where to take us on day five based on where the herds had moved that week. That kind of local knowledge is worth the extra day alone."
AISHA K. — KENYA · FEBRUARY SAFARI
Expert answers
Frequently asked questions
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The 6-day Northern Circuit Classic includes one day in the Serengeti. The 7-day version adds a second full day there, covering a different region of the park, which meaningfully improves the odds of a strong migration sighting.
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The itinerary covers Tarangire, Lake Manyara, a full day inside the Ngorongoro Crater, and two full days across different regions of the Serengeti, before the return transfer to Moshi or Arusha.
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Pricing starts at $2,650 per person for the Standard Lodge package and rises to $4,650 per person for a Private Premium package. All packages include park fees, six nights' accommodation, a private guide, transport, and full board meals.
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Seven days gives two full Serengeti days across different regions, enough time to follow where the migration is positioned in your travel month. For the fullest possible migration experience, our 8-day itinerary adds one further Serengeti day.
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Choose 7 days if you want a strong, well-rounded Serengeti experience without extending your trip further. Choose 8 days if the migration is your top priority and you want the maximum time across multiple Serengeti regions.
Other Tanzania safari lengths
