Northern Tanzania
Tanzania's 'Northern Circuit' is a vast wildlife region made up of National Parks, reserves, conservation areas and wildlife concessions. These include the world famous Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater and Highlands, and the lesser known Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Park. All exist to protect an incredible abundance of seasonal and resident wildlife, including the world's largest annual migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra. This area has become increasingly busy, but if you know where to go, you can get away from the crowds to enjoy the best of this impressive region.
Planning your Northern Circuit SafariA Northern Circuit safari is an incredible wildlife adventure, but your personal itinerary will depend on how long you have, how many of you there are, the season you will travel and your budget…then factor in whether you want to walk, whether you want to drive, and hence understand why our itineraries are tailormade.Most people visit three out of the four main parks, usually the Crater, Manyara and either the Serengeti or Tarangire depending on the season. Whatever the holiday duration, the smaller parks only ever deserve a night or two, and you can never spend enough time in the Serengeti! Unlike southern Tanzania, all northern safaris require time; you cannot rush a safari across these distances. A breakdown of your options...
A driving safari circuit:
The joy of driving the northern circuit, in the old-fashioned way, is that it is a cost-effective method of seeing many of these regions with your own driver-guide, especially if there are more of you to share the cost. We only book private safaris, and plan the park combinations according to season. The benefit of having your own vehicle is that you can stay in the less-expensive hotels that do not have their own vehicles, and your private driver-guide will be ready to show you the best of the region the next day. However, a driving safari will not get you up into the truly remote and glorious northern reaches of the Serengeti, which can only be accessed by flying. You must also be aware that drives are long in all regions of the northern circuit. The minimum recommended time for a northern driving circuit is 5 nights, although we strongly recommend 6 to 8 to make the most of the area, spending the majority of your time in the Serengeti. A flying safari circuit: Some of the best bits of the Serengeti can only be reached by flying, which is expensive, but thoroughly worthwhile if you can afford it. Certain fantastic camps are well worth flying to, notably Asilia's Sayari Mara and Nomad's Lamai, in the Lamai Wedge, or any of the migrational mobile camps from July to September. You can opt to fly between all the parks, or potentially drive into the Crater, Manyara and Tarangire, and simply fly into and out of the Serengeti. Walking and Hiking - Off the beaten Track: With a few exceptions, no walking is allowed in the northern parks and game viewing is by closed-sided vehicle, however, it is now possible to take good - albeit short - safari walks in the Serengeti with Serian and Nomads from their mobile camps and from Sayari, in the Lamai Wedge. If you would like to walk or hike properly, it is well worthwhile getting off the beaten track, out of the National Parks and into less rigorously ruled concession areas. The best of these for walking are around Nduara Lodge in the Loliondo region, or with the Hadzabe hunter gatherers near Eyasi. Guided walks, often led by Maasai, are also rewarding along the top of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, overlooking Manyara. 
The Serengeti National Park is one of the most celebrated wildlife reserves in the world. Game viewing in the Serengeti is outrageously good at all times of the year; it is one of those rare places that never fails to live up to all the hype.
The Ngorongoro Crater is one of Africa’s most famous sites and is said to have the highest density of wildlife in Africa. It is often described as the ‘eighth wonder of the world’. There is nowhere else in Africa like Ngorongoro! 
The Crater Highlands are an ideal location for enjoying longer walks or treks, free from the restrictions of the National Parks. Walks here savour the impressive volcanic landscape and cultural interest of the local Maasai. 
Lake Manyara is a pretty National Park alongside the soda waters of Lake Manyara, in the shadow of an impressive escarpment of the Great Rift Valley. This is a picturesque safari destination with a diverse landscape and varied resident game.
Tarangire is home to one of the largest elephant migrations in Africa! Other game here includes unique species of antelope such as eland and oryx, along with good predators. 
Arusha is more than just a safari stop off town; superb views of Kilimanjaro are close by and there are a number of coffee plantations around the edge of town that provide great accommodations for a day or two before a safari. Arusha National Park is also certainly worth a visit.
Recommended in this area:
Serengeti
Fifteen spacious house-like tents, raised up on platforms, with wooden floors, en suite bathrooms with a king size bed and a private verandah with a overlooking the Serengeti.
Serengeti, Loliondo
The outcome of this heady mix of culture, style, comfort and wilderness, is one of the most amazing camps you will ever see! Certainly the most attractive of the mobile camps working in the Serengeti Loliondo area.
Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is spectacular, opulent, rich and wonderfully quirky. With an unparalelled location on the Crater rim, this flagship &Beyond property sets out to blur the boundaries between reality and dream.
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