Join a fixed-date departure and split the cost of your guide, vehicle, and fuel with a small group of fellow travellers — the same Northern Circuit itineraries as a private safari, at a lower price per person. Ideal for solo travellers, couples on a budget, and anyone who enjoys sharing the experience. Full departure calendar, pricing, and everything you need to know for 2026/2027.
What a group safari is
A group safari runs on a fixed departure date with a set itinerary, and the cost of the guide, 4x4 vehicle, and fuel is shared between everyone booked onto that departure rather than covered by a single traveller or couple. The route, parks, and daily schedule are the same ones used on our private safaris — nothing about the wildlife experience is scaled down.
What you give up is full control over your exact dates and pace; what you gain is a meaningfully lower price per person, no single-traveller supplement, and — for many people — the appeal of sharing sightings and evenings with others on the same journey. We cap every vehicle at 6 travellers, so it never feels like a large-coach tour.
Every group departure covers the Northern Circuit — Tarangire, Lake Manyara, the Ngorongoro Crater, and the Serengeti — using the same guides and vehicles as our private departures, just on set dates that fill up as more travellers join.
The mechanics
You choose a departure date from the calendar below and book your seat. As more travellers book the same date, the per-person price is confirmed once the group reaches a viable size — we never run a group of just one traveller at the group rate, so if numbers don't build up, we'll either shift you to a nearby date or offer a private rate instead.
From there, everything runs exactly like a private safari: the same guide for the whole trip, the same vehicle, the same lodges or camps at your chosen tier. The only shared element is the group itself.
Pick a confirmed or filling departure from the calendar, or ask us about upcoming dates.
Once enough travellers join, the departure is locked in and the per-person price is finalized.
One guide, one vehicle, the same itinerary as a private safari, shared with your group.
Weighing it up
Choose your itinerary
All three of our core Northern Circuit itineraries run as group departures. Prices below reflect the group rate, based on a full vehicle.
4 Days · Group
6 Days · Group
8 Days · Group
Confirmed & filling departures
Below is a snapshot of upcoming departures. New dates are added regularly — contact us if your preferred window isn't listed yet.
| Departure date | Itinerary | Seats filled | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2026 | 6-Day Northern Circuit Classic | 2 of 6 | Open |
| September 19, 2026 | 4-Day Tarangire, Manyara & Ngorongoro | 4 of 6 | Filling |
| October 10, 2026 | 8-Day Serengeti Migration | 3 of 6 | Open |
| October 24, 2026 | 6-Day Northern Circuit Classic | 5 of 6 | Filling |
| January 9, 2027 | 6-Day Northern Circuit Classic | 1 of 6 | Open |
| February 13, 2027 | 4-Day Tarangire, Manyara & Ngorongoro | 2 of 6 | Open |
Making the choice
| Factor | Group Safari | Private Safari |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | Lower | Higher |
| Solo traveller supplement | None | Usually applies |
| Departure dates | Fixed calendar | Any date you choose |
| Daily pace & stops | Set itinerary | Fully flexible |
| Vehicle | Shared, max 6 travellers | Private to your group |
| Best suited to | Solo travellers, couples, budget-conscious | Families, flexible schedules, full customization |
What it costs
Prices are per person, per day, based on a full group departure. All tiers include park fees, a shared guide and 4x4 vehicle, and full board meals.
Shared camping accommodation, the most affordable way to see the Northern Circuit.
Comfortable shared lodges, en-suite rooms, full board meals.
Higher-end lodges or permanent tented camps, still on a shared group departure.
Not included in any tier: international flights, the Tanzania tourist visa (approx. $50), travel and medical insurance, and gratuities for your guide (approx. $20–25 per traveller, per day, as a general guideline).
When to go
| Months | Conditions | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun – Oct | Dry, peak season | Excellent | Most departures on the calendar; groups fill fastest and most reliably |
| Nov | Short rains | Good | Fewer scheduled departures; contact us to confirm dates |
| Dec – Mar | Dry, calving season | Excellent | Strong departure calendar, especially around the February calving season |
| Apr – May | Long rains | Limited | Fewest scheduled group departures of the year |
In their words
"Travelling solo, I was worried about the single supplement on other operators' safaris. Joining a group departure here meant I paid a fair price and made two friends I still message."
"Our group was just four people plus us, and it honestly felt like a private safari most of the time. Great guide, no crowding, real value."
"We booked the 6-day group departure to save money for our honeymoon and ended up preferring it — sharing that first lion sighting with strangers who became friends made it better, not worse."
Expert answers
Tell us your preferred dates and we'll match you to the next open departure — no payment required to enquire.
