8-Day Classic Tanzania Safari
Eight days is the right number for the Northern Circuit. Long enough for three nights in the Serengeti (which is what separates a real safari from a rushed loop) and a full day on the crater floor. Tarangire for the elephants and the baobabs. Serengeti for scale and predators. Ngorongoro Crater because nothing else puts you inside a collapsed volcano alongside 120 lions and 50 black rhino. Private vehicle, private guide, full-board lodges. This is the one.
Safari Overview
The route covers three parks: Tarangire, central Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater. Total driving from Arusha and back is roughly 1,200 km. The parks are different enough that eight days never feels repetitive. Tarangire is dense bush, ancient baobabs, and the Silale Swamp drawing elephants from across the region. In the dry season (June through October), herds of 200 or more are common along the Tarangire River. The Serengeti is the opposite: open short-grass plains, 600-million-year-old kopjes rising from the ground, and the best predator density in Africa. Ngorongoro is a world apart. The caldera walls drop 600 metres and the animals inside rarely leave, which is why the lion and black rhino densities here are higher than anywhere else on the continent. Which part of the Serengeti you see depends on when you travel. January through March, the herds are on the southern plains near Ndutu for calving season, roughly 8,000 wildebeest calves born per day at peak. June through July, the Western Corridor and the Grumeti River crossings. August through October, the northern Serengeti and the Mara River. November through December, the herds drift south again. Your guide tracks current conditions and positions you accordingly.
Your Itinerary
Activities
Pickup from your Arusha hotel at 7:30am. The drive to Tarangire takes about two hours, heading southeast through Maasai village country before the scrub thickens into acacia woodland and the first baobabs appear. Enter through the main gate and head for the Tarangire River. In the dry season, every elephant in the ecosystem converges here. Some mornings you count 150 in a single hour. Afternoon game drive along the river before sunset check-in.
Accommodation
Tarangire Safari Lodge or similar
Meals
Lunch, Dinner
Prices
Green season (April–May)
| Tier | 2 guestsper person | 4 guestsper person | 6 guestsper person |
|---|---|---|---|
Comfort Comfortable tented camps and lodges, full board. Our best value, and still fully private. Tortilis mobile camps, Mawe Karatu | $3,415 | $2,620 | $2,355 |
Premium Built lodges and upgraded camps in prime locations near the park gates. Ang'ata Camps, Turaco Ngorongoro Valley (built lodge) | $4,430 | $3,630 | $3,365 |
Comfortable tented camps and lodges, full board. Our best value, and still fully private.
Tortilis mobile camps, Mawe Karatu
- 2 guests (pp)
- $3,415
- 4 guests (pp)
- $2,620
- 6 guests (pp)
- $2,355
Built lodges and upgraded camps in prime locations near the park gates.
Ang'ata Camps, Turaco Ngorongoro Valley (built lodge)
- 2 guests (pp)
- $4,430
- 4 guests (pp)
- $3,630
- 6 guests (pp)
- $3,365
Peak season (June–October)
| Tier | 2 guestsper person | 4 guestsper person | 6 guestsper person |
|---|---|---|---|
Comfort Comfortable tented camps and lodges, full board. Our best value, and still fully private. Tortilis mobile camps, Mawe Karatu | $4,115 | $3,320 | $3,055 |
Premium Built lodges and upgraded camps in prime locations near the park gates. Ang'ata Camps, Turaco Ngorongoro Valley (built lodge) | $5,530 | $4,735 | $4,465 |
Luxury Premium tented camps and a crater-rim lodge, the top of our range. Lemala Camps, Ngorongoro rim lodge | $6,020 | $5,225 | $4,960 |
Comfortable tented camps and lodges, full board. Our best value, and still fully private.
Tortilis mobile camps, Mawe Karatu
- 2 guests (pp)
- $4,115
- 4 guests (pp)
- $3,320
- 6 guests (pp)
- $3,055
Built lodges and upgraded camps in prime locations near the park gates.
Ang'ata Camps, Turaco Ngorongoro Valley (built lodge)
- 2 guests (pp)
- $5,530
- 4 guests (pp)
- $4,735
- 6 guests (pp)
- $4,465
Premium tented camps and a crater-rim lodge, the top of our range.
Lemala Camps, Ngorongoro rim lodge
- 2 guests (pp)
- $6,020
- 4 guests (pp)
- $5,225
- 6 guests (pp)
- $4,960
Per person sharing, US dollars. The 'from' price is the Comfort tier with six guests sharing in green season. Price drops as your group grows because the private vehicle and guide are shared across more people. Luxury camps close in April–May, so green season shows Comfort and Premium only. Every figure is built from real lodge rates, our own vehicle, and current park fees, not marked-up reseller prices.
What's Included
Included
- All park entrance fees and Ngorongoro crater vehicle fee ($295 per vehicle)
- Private 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
- Professional English-speaking guide, Arusha-based
- 7 nights accommodation as specified
- All meals full-board (lunch on Day 1 through breakfast on Day 8)
- Bottled water and soft drinks on game drives
- Airport and hotel transfers in Arusha
- AMREF Flying Doctors emergency evacuation insurance
Not Included
- International flights
- Tanzania e-visa ($50 for most nationalities)
- Travel insurance
- Guide gratuity (suggested $25 per day)
- Lodge staff gratuity (suggested $5-7 per day via lodge tip box)
- Hot air balloon safari ($599 per person, booked in advance)
- Alcoholic beverages
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
Common Questions
Which part of the Serengeti will we visit?
It depends on when you travel and your guide will position you accordingly. January through March: southern plains near Ndutu for wildebeest calving season. April through May: Seronera and the central valley, reliable for resident predators year-round. June through July: Western Corridor, Grumeti River crossings. August through October: northern Serengeti, Mara River crossings at Kogatende. November through December: herds drifting south again, central Serengeti. The 8-day classic uses Seronera as its base, with your guide tracking the best action for your specific dates.
What is the best time of year?
There is no bad time, but the experience changes significantly by season. June through October is the dry season: short grass, animals concentrated around water, easiest spotting. January through March is calving season on the southern Serengeti plains, one of the most dramatic wildlife events in Africa. November and December bring the short rains, lush green landscapes, and nearly empty parks at lower rates. April and May are the long rains: some roads become challenging but prices drop and you will have the Serengeti largely to yourself.
What is the Ngorongoro crater vehicle fee?
Ngorongoro charges a separate $295 fee per vehicle per crater descent, on top of the standard conservation area entrance fees. This covers one full day on the crater floor. All vehicles must leave by 6:00pm. The fee is included in your Jumbo Safaris package price.
How much should I tip?
The standard in Tanzania is $25 per day for your driver-guide and $5-7 per day for lodge staff, placed in the tip box at reception. For a 7-night safari with one guide, that is roughly $175 for the guide and $40-50 for lodge staff across the trip. Tipping is genuinely appreciated and forms a meaningful part of guide income.
Is this suitable for children?
Yes, with a minimum age of 5. Children under 12 need a booster seat in the vehicle. Let us know at booking. The crater descent is steep but entirely by vehicle. None of the parks on this route require walking. Most lodges can arrange early dinner service for younger children.
Can I add Lake Manyara or extend the trip?
Lake Manyara can be added as an overnight on Day 2 or 3, extending the itinerary to 9 days. It is worth adding specifically for tree-climbing lions, which are a Manyara speciality rare elsewhere. Additional nights in the Serengeti are always worthwhile. Contact us and we will adjust the route.
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