Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro & Serengeti
Private Northern Circuit Classic Safari WithThe Woven Experience
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What's included
- Unlimited bottled water
- Visa arrangements
Tree-Climbing Lions & Pink Flamingo Shores
Lake Manyara boasts the world’s most reliable tree-climbing lions – entire prides rest high in sausage trees. Soda-lake waters flash pink with thousands of flamingos. Buffalo super-herds and hippo pods pack the groundwater forest. Escarpment lodges offer infinity-pool views over the entire rift valley.
Resident Big Cats & Endless Plains Drama
Seronera guarantees year-round black-maned lion action darker than anywhere else. Leopards hang kills in full view from riverine trees. Cheetahs sprint across grasslands while hyena clans shadow every predator. Tented camps place you in the heart of the legendary “endless plains”.
Daily River-Crossing Explosions
The Kogatende corridor explodes with 1–3 massive Mara River crossings per day from July to October. Thousands of wildebeest plunge down 8 m banks into crocodile jaws. Lion prides feast on exhausted stragglers. Hippo pods and giant crocs up to 6 m long own the water. Pure migration adrenaline.
Planet’s Highest Wildlife Concentration
Ngorongoro packs 25,000+ animals into one 600 m-deep volcanic bowl. Black rhinos graze openly – Tanzania’s easiest sightings. Tusker elephants roam Lerai Forest. Black-maned crater lions dominate year-round. Rim lodges with fireplaces overlook this natural wildlife amphitheatre.
Private 4×4 & Unlimited Game Drives All Year
Your dedicated pop-up roof 4×4 with an expert guide never shares space. Unlimited mileage means sunrise-to-sunset drives without rush. Mid-range comfort lodges feature en-suite rooms, hot showers, and gourmet meals. Perfect wildlife balance in every season.
- Day 1
- Day 2
- Day 3
- Day 4
- Day 5
- Day 6
Arusha to Central Serengeti – Seronera Wildlife Gateway
Depart Arusha after breakfast for a 5-6 hour road journey (~245 km) to Central Serengeti’s Seronera region, designed as a game-rich transfer with wildlife stops. Entering via Naabi Hill Gate, the route weaves through migration staging grounds, with a 3-hour arrival game drive in Seronera to spot lion prides, leopards, and buffalo herds.
Distance/Time: ~245 km, 5-6 hour transfer with 2-3 hours of game drives.
Detailed Activities:
Depart Arusha for a transfer with stops for gazelles or ostriches in Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Enjoy a bush picnic lunch at Olduvai Gorge overlook.
Arrive in Seronera for a 3-hour game drive targeting lions, cheetahs, and migration herds (calving in Jan–Mar, central gatherings in Apr–Jun).
Check into a tented camp for a private dinner with a guide briefing on Serengeti’s seasonal migration.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Accommodation:
Full-Day Central Serengeti – Migration & Big Cats
Stay in Central Serengeti for a transfer-free day, dedicating 7 hours to game drives in the migration’s heart. Track wildebeest herds (central/western in Apr–Jun, northern push in Jul–Oct, southern calving in Jan–Mar), lions, and rhinos across Seronera’s golden plains.
Distance/Time: Full day in-park (no transfers).Detailed Activities:
Embark on a 4-hour morning game drive for lion prides, cheetah hunts, and migration herd movements.
Enjoy a bush picnic lunch near a waterhole, spotting buffalo or elephants.
Continue with a 3-hour afternoon drive for leopard sightings in kopjes and birdwatching (rollers, vultures).
Return to camp for a private dinner with guide insights on seasonal predator-prey dynamics.
Meals: full board.
Accommodation: Same as Day 2.
Full-Day Central Serengeti – Deep Migration Immersion
Remain in Central Serengeti for another transfer-free day, maximizing your Great Migration adventure with 7 hours of game drives. Flexible pacing allows tracking of herds and predators, with seasonal highlights like northern-bound herds (Jun–Oct) or calving season action (Jan–Mar).
Distance/Time: Full day in-park.
Detailed Activities:
Opt for a hot-air balloon ride (dawn ascent over herds, champagne landing).
Conduct a 4-hour morning game drive tracking hyena clans and migration stragglers.
Enjoy a bush picnic lunch with a private migration video recap.
Pursue rhinos and antelope herds on a 3-hour afternoon drive.
Conclude with sundowners and a private dinner with guide tales of Serengeti’s ecological cycles.
Meals: All.
Accommodation: Same as Day 2.
Central Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater – Full-Day Caldera Safari
Head to Ngorongoro Crater via a 3-4 hour road transfer (~145 km), designed as a game-rich journey through the central Serengeti plains. Descend into the UNESCO-listed crater for a 6-hour game drive, spotting black rhinos, lions, hippos, and flamingo-flocked lakes in this natural wildlife amphitheater.
Distance/Time: ~145 km, 3-4 hour transfer with 2 hours of game drives; 6-hour crater game drive.
Detailed Activities:
Start with a 2-hour farewell drive in Central Serengeti, recapping migration sightings.
Transfer with a 2-hour game drive through the Serengeti plains, spotting buffalo or giraffes; enjoy a bush picnic at Seronera viewpoint.
Descend into Ngorongoro Crater for a 6-hour game drive targeting black rhinos, lions, and birdlife.
Check into lodge for a private dinner with guide insights on the crater’s unique ecosystem.
Meals: All.
Accommodation:
Ngorongoro to Lake Manyara – Tree-Climbing Lions & Flamingos
Travel from Ngorongoro to Lake Manyara National Park via a 1.5-hour road transfer (~60 km), incorporating wildlife stops. Spend the afternoon on a 4-hour game drive in Manyara, famed for its rare tree-climbing lions and flamingo-flocked soda lake. Explore groundwater forests and acacia woodlands, tracking lions in trees, elephants, and over 400 bird species.
Distance/Time: ~60 km, 1.5-hour transfer with 1-hour game viewing; 4-hour afternoon game drive.
Detailed Activities:
Depart Ngorongoro for a short transfer with stops for zebras or baboons.
Arrive at Lake Manyara for a bush picnic lunch near the hippo pool.
Conduct a 4-hour game drive targeting tree-climbing lions, buffalo herds, and birdlife (fish eagles, flamingos).
Check into lodge for a private dinner with guide insights on Manyara’s seasonal shifts (e.g., flamingo flocks in Jun–Oct).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Accommodation:
Lake Manyara to Arusha/Airport – Departure
Conclude with a 2-3 hour road transfer (~130 km) back to Arusha, with an optional stop for Maasai crafts. Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport for your international departure, carrying memories of the Northern Circuit Classic safari.
Distance/Time: ~130 km, 2-3 hour transfer.
Detailed Activities:
Depart Lake Manyara after breakfast for a scenic transfer to Arusha.
Stop optionally at Arusha markets for Maasai woven souvenirs.
Arrive at Kilimanjaro Airport for a private drop-off with itinerary recap and photo sharing.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation:
More about Lake Manyara National Park Discover Lake Manyara National Park
More about Ngorongoro Conservation Area
More about Serengeti National Park Discover Serengeti National Park
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Location Overview
This private 6-day mid-range classic safari explores the heart of Tanzania’s UNESCO World Heritage Northern Circuit – a breathtaking mosaic of rift-valley parks, endless plains, and the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, all within 120–250 km west and northwest of Arusha (1,400 m/4,600 ft), East Africa’s most stylish safari gateway beneath Mount Meru. The route combines permanent comfort lodges with unlimited game drives, delivering the perfect all-year balance of Big Five action, dramatic landscapes, and authentic bush immersion.
Tarangire National Park (2,850 km²): 140 km southwest of Arusha. Undulating baobab-studded hills and the seasonal Tarangire River create Tanzania’s ultimate dry-season elephant spectacle – herds of 3,000+ animals from June to October – plus outstanding leopard and lion sightings among ancient trees.
Lake Manyara National Park (330 km²): 120 km west of Arusha. A slender emerald ribbon squeezed between the shimmering soda waters of Lake Manyara and the towering 600 m Gregory Rift escarpment. World-famous for tree-climbing lions, vast buffalo herds, blue monkey troops, and seasonal pink flamingo carpets.
Serengeti National Park – Central/Seronera sector (14,763 km² total): 200–250 km northwest of Arusha. The iconic “endless plains” dotted with granite kopjes and riverine forests. Year-round resident black-maned lions, leopards, cheetahs, and elephants meet the Great Migration’s central gatherings (April–June) and early river dramas, framed by cinematic African sunsets.
Ngorongoro Crater (260 km² floor): 180 km west of Arusha within the 8,300 km² Ngorongoro Conservation Area. A 600 m-deep, 19 km-wide unbroken volcanic caldera – the planet’s most concentrated wildlife arena. Permanent water supports 25,000+ large mammals year-round, including the Big Five, black rhinos, and Tanzania’s densest lion population.
Geography & Access
Terrain: Baobab savannah, rift-valley soda lakes, acacia woodlands, granite kopjes, short-grass plains, and highland crater-rim forests.
Altitude Range: 950–2,400 m (3,100–7,870 ft).
Travel Times (from Arusha, private 4×4): Tarangire 2–2.5 hrs; Lake Manyara 1.5–2 hrs; Central Serengeti 4.5–5.5 hrs; Ngorongoro Crater 3–3.5 hrs.
Gateway: Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) → Arusha (45 min private transfer).
Year-round access via private pop-up roof 4×4; dry season (June–October) delivers dust-free visibility and peak wildlife concentrations, while the green season (November–May) paints landscapes emerald, brings newborn calves, migratory birds, and fewer visitors for intimate mid-range lodge exclusivity.
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