5-Day Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater
The great northern circuit in five days: from Tarangire via Lake Manyara into the Serengeti and finally down into the crater. Four nights, privately guided.
5 days
Tanzania Round Trips
The big loop through the north: five to seven days from Arusha.
A round trip links several parks into one route, with a new destination every day. With us it lasts five, six or seven days and starts in Arusha City or, with a flight beforehand, on Zanzibar. There are six routes to choose from, from the classic loop through the north to the week with a flight into the Serengeti.
In short
How long should a Tanzania round trip be?
Our round trips last five to seven days, and every extra day widens the loop. Five days include Tarangire, the Serengeti and the crater, six add Arusha National Park, and a week is enough for all five parks in the north, including three Serengeti days. If you have less time, you will find the shortest overland route into the Serengeti on the 4-day page.
01 At a glance
Round trips at a glance
- 6round trips to choose from
- 5 to 7days travel time
- 5protected areas in the north
- 3Serengeti days on four of the routes
02 Key points
Key points about Tanzania round trips
Several parks in one trip
A round trip links several parks into one route, from Tarangire via the Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Crater. Both week-long routes and one of the 6-day routes include all five parks in the north.
Every day counts
Five days for the classic loop, six with Arusha National Park at the start, seven for all five parks and three Serengeti days.
Starting in Arusha City
All six round trips begin in Arusha City or, with a flight, on Zanzibar. One of the week-long routes flies into the Serengeti on the very first day.
All round trips compared
5-Day Tarangire, Serengeti (3 days) & Ngorongoro Crater
Five travel days, three of them in the Serengeti: a start in Tarangire, a finish in the Ngorongoro Crater, four nights from Arusha City.
5 days
6-Day Arusha National Park, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater
Six days right across the north, from the Momella Lakes to the crater floor, with two full days in the Serengeti and five nights.
6 days
6-Day Arusha National Park, Tarangire, Serengeti (3 days) & Ngorongoro Crater
Six days with the focus on the Serengeti: three days in a row in the park, framed by Arusha National Park, Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater.
6 days
7-Day Arusha National Park, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti (3 days) & Ngorongoro Crater
Seven days, the whole of the north: first Arusha National Park, Tarangire and Manyara, then three Serengeti days, and finally the crater.
7 days
7-Day Fly-in Serengeti (3 days), Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Tarangire & Arusha National Park
Seven days, Serengeti first: fly in, stay three days, then back via the crater, Manyara and Tarangire all the way to Arusha National Park.
7 days
5, 6 or 7 days: what each extra day adds
Five days is the shortest round trip with the Serengeti: Tarangire to begin with, the Serengeti in the middle, the crater at the end. The only open question is whether Lake Manyara fits in between or the Serengeti gets a third day.
The sixth day goes at the beginning. It belongs to Arusha National Park, with its mountain forest, lakes and Mount Meru, right on the city's doorstep. After that, the trip continues as with five days, again with or without Manyara.
With seven days, you no longer have to choose. Both week-long routes include all five parks and three Serengeti days. The only difference is the direction: overland from Arusha, or by plane into the Serengeti and from there back park by park.
Every round trip is booked through us, at a fixed price confirmed in writing. It is run by a licensed partner on the ground, and the vehicle and guide are there for your travel group alone for the entire trip.
In focus: Arusha, where every round trip begins
Arusha lies below Mount Meru, has around 600,000 inhabitants and is considered the country's safari capital. Almost every safari in the north starts or ends here. Thanks to the altitude, it is pleasant even in the warm months, and in the evening you often need a jacket.
If you have a day to spare before or after your round trip, there is plenty to do in the city. The Central Market is all about fruit, vegetables and spices; for souvenirs, the Maasai Market is the better bet. Coffee grows in the surrounding area, and a coffee tour shows you the journey from bush to roasted bean.
Most travellers arrive via Kilimanjaro International Airport, around 55 kilometres east of the city; depending on traffic, the transfer takes one to one and a half hours. For domestic flights there is also the small Arusha Airport, only around 15 minutes from the centre.
Best time for round trips: dry seasons and rain
Round trips cover many kilometres overland, and the tracks inside the parks are unpaved. That is most comfortable in the dry months: June to October, plus the short dry season from late December to February. The animals then gather around water, and the tracks are easy to drive.
You can still travel in the rainy season, because the northern parks are accessible all year. The rain usually comes as heavy showers, often in the morning, in the evening or at night. In April and May, however, some lodges and camps are closed; in return, the parks are much quieter.
Good to know: combining a round trip with the beach
You can start any of our round trips on Zanzibar or wind down there afterwards. The flight from Arusha to the island takes around 80 minutes. It is warm there all year, at around 27 °C on average, and only in April and May do you need to expect heavier showers.
How many beach days you add is up to you. In the trip planner you can put the combination together yourself, or tell us what you have in mind: safari first, then beach, or the other way round?
05 Fact check
Setting things straight
Myth
„A round trip needs at least two weeks.“
The round trips in our programme already link Tarangire, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater in five days.
Myth
„Round trips only ever happen on the road.“
One of the two 7-day routes opens with a flight straight into the Serengeti and drives the loop back afterwards.
Frequent questions
How many days in the Serengeti does a round trip include?
Two or three. Four of the six round trips have three consecutive Serengeti days; the two routes with Lake Manyara, at five and six days, have two. All of them go to the central Serengeti around Seronera; Ndutu in the calving season and the river crossings in the north are not part of the fixed routes.
Which round trip suits me?
Mainly a question of time. With five days you see the three best-known destinations; with six you start more gently in Arusha National Park. If you want all five parks and three Serengeti days, take a week, if you like with a flight that puts the Serengeti right at the start.
Will I see the Big Five on a round trip?
The prospects are good, yes. All six round trips include the Ngorongoro Crater, the best place in the north to spot a rhino, and the Serengeti days help with leopards. With wild animals, however, not a single sighting can be promised.
Is a round trip with children feasible?
Yes. The national parks have no minimum age, and the longer the round trip, the better the drives can be spread out. With children, places to stay with a pool and a quiet afternoon in between are well worth it. We clarify the age limits of individual places to stay or excursions before you book.
Can I combine the round trip with Zanzibar?
Of course, with any of the six. All round trips end in the Arusha area, and from there it is a flight of around 80 minutes to the island. Or you turn it round and start on Zanzibar; the number of safari nights stays the same.
Safari: prefer to plan it yourself?
Are five to seven days not enough for you, or would you like to add beach days? In the trip planner you can put together your own round trip and see the price as you plan.
Send us a message
You know roughly how long you want to travel, but not yet which loop? Send us your number of days and the month you plan to travel. You will receive a suggestion the same day, often even faster via WhatsApp.
Prefer to talk? Dominic Dreiner is happy to help.
Alle Preise sind unverbindliche Richtpreise pro Person bei zwei gemeinsam reisenden Personen, einschließlich der in der Leistungsübersicht genannten Leistungen und ohne Flüge nach Tansania. Bei größeren Gruppen sinkt der Preis pro Person. Der endgültige Preis richtet sich nach Reisezeitraum, Gruppengröße, gewählten Unterkünften und Verfügbarkeit; er wird Ihnen im individuellen Angebot verbindlich genannt. Angebote sind bis zur abschließenden Verfügbarkeitsprüfung freibleibend. Es gelten unsere AGB.