5-Day Serengeti & Northern Circuit Tanzania Safari

Classic Tanzania Safari — Northern “Golden Circle”

Embark on a private Tanzania safari through the country’s most iconic wildlife destinations. This carefully planned 5-day Northern Circuit safari takes you across Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park, and Lake Manyara — combining Tanzania’s most famous landscapes and wildlife with the opportunity to encounter the Big Five in the wild in one journey.

Depending on the season, this itinerary can follow parts of the Great Migration route, one of the most spectacular wildlife events in Africa.

With a dedicated local safari driver-guide and a fully private setup, your safari is managed from start to finish — ensuring smooth logistics, realistic travel times, and a well-paced experience on the ground.

Starting and ending in Arusha, this journey offers a complete introduction to Tanzania’s Northern Circuit — from open savannah to volcanic crater and lake ecosystems.

A private, tailor-made safari in Tanzania, planned around your travel dates — not a fixed package. Tell us your idea and we’ll prepare a clear plan, availability, and exact price based on your trip.

Is this safari right for you?

This safari is a great fit if you:

• want to experience Serengeti and Ngorongoro in one trip  
• are interested in the Great Migration (depending on season)  
• prefer a private safari, not a group tour  
• want a realistic, well-paced itinerary  

Safari Highlights

• Duration: 5 days / 4 nights
• Route: Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, Lake Manyara
• Accommodation: Lodges and tented camps (based on comfort level)
• Transport: Private 4x4 safari vehicle Toyota Land Cruiser with a Pop-Up Roof and safari driver-guide
• Type: Private, customizable 5-day Tanzania safari tour
• Big Five: Opportunity to see lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard in the wild
• Great Migration: Parts of the migration route, depending on season

Your safari can be adapted to your travel pace, interests and priorities.

Behind your safari

Your safari is organised by Tanzania Safari Experts – ROM & DACE SAFARIS, a licensed Tanzanian tour operator specialising in tailor-made private safaris – from planning your itinerary to making sure everything works smoothly on the ground. Behind every safari is a local team with knowledge, experience and a deep understanding of Tanzania and its wildlife.

Our company is led by Roman and Dace. Dace brings a European traveller’s perspective, while Roman brings deep, first-hand knowledge of Tanzania, its places and people, and how safari works on the ground. Dace and Roman do not accompany every safari – they are the people behind the company and the journeys it organises. When you are in Tanzania, they are available if you need assistance or support.

Your safari is led by our local safari driver-guides, and you travel in your own Toyota Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof.

A private safari means you do not share the vehicle with other travellers – you have your own vehicle and driver-guide, and the pace of each day can be adapted to the conditions in the wild and to your interests.  

Your safari booking starts with a conversation. Once the programme and travel dates have been agreed, the safari booking is confirmed with the first 50% payment. Once we receive it, we begin booking the accommodation and organising your safari. The remaining 50% must be paid no later than one month before the start of the safari.

5-Day Private Serengeti & Northern Tanzania Safari – Pricing:

This safari is available with two accommodation options: Comfort and Luxury. The safari itinerary, services and inclusions are the same for both options — the only difference is the level of accommodation.

Comfort Option: Mid-range lodges in Karatu and safari-style tents in Serengeti. Safari-style tents are furnished like rooms with private bathrooms and showers.

Luxury Option: Luxury lodges and premium tented camps throughout the safari.

Price depends on your group size and accommodation option — but this safari is always planned individually, not booked as a fixed package. Send us your dates and we’ll confirm availability and exact pricing.

Safari tour price includes:

Safari tour price does not include:

Looking for a different Northern Tanzania safari?

• Looking for a shorter safari? → Explore our 3-Day Serengeti Safari — a shorter route focused on Serengeti wildlife and the Great Migration (seasonal).
• Looking for wildlife and cultural experiences in one trip? → Explore our 3-Day Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Hadzabe Safari — combining Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater and cultural experiences with the Hadzabe, Datoga and Maasai.

5-Day Serengeti & Northern Circuit Tanzania Safari – Day-by-Day Itinerary

Plan your Serengeti safari. Tell us your travel dates and what you’re looking for — we’ll reply with a clear, realistic safari plan. No pressure, no obligation.

This safari is planned based on real routes, timing, and on-the-ground experience — so everything runs as expected.

Start Planning This Safari

About the Parks You’ll Visit

Serengeti National Park

Tanzania’s oldest and most iconic national park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its endless plains and the Great Migration — vast herds of wildebeest and zebra moving year-round across the ecosystem. At the 2025 World Travel Awards, Serengeti was named both Africa’s Best National Park and Top Big Five Destination, while Tanzania was recognized as Africa’s Leading Destination.

The Great Migration 

One of the largest wildlife movements in the world, involving over two million animals — mainly wildebeest and zebras — moving year-round across the Serengeti ecosystem in search of fresh grass and water. The migration never stops, but two key periods stand out: the dramatic river crossings in the north (July–September) and the calving season in the south (January–February), when thousands of wildebeest are born.

Ngorongoro Crater

The world’s largest intact volcanic caldera and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Africa. Recognized as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area
A large protected area that includes the Ngorongoro Crater within it, along with surrounding highlands, plains, and Maasai communities. Unlike a national park, this is a multi-use area where wildlife and local people coexist. Ngorongoro was awarded Africa’s Leading Tourist Attraction at the 2025 World Travel Awards.

Tarangire National Park

A scenic park shaped by the Tarangire River, famous for large elephant herds and iconic baobab trees. Especially during the dry season, wildlife gathers along the river, creating excellent viewing conditions. Awarded Africa’s Leading Elephant Paradise at the 2025 World Travel Awards.

Lake Manyara National Park

A compact but diverse park at the base of the Great Rift Valley, known for tree-climbing lions, rich birdlife, and varied landscapes — from forest to lake. Home to over 350 bird species, including flamingos, along with elephants, giraffes, and more.

Want to understand how this safari fits into the bigger picture?

Explore Tanzania safari planning → Practical info
See how we plan and manage safaris → Why us

Still deciding? Send us your travel idea — we’ll help you understand if this safari is the right fit or suggest a better option.