An elephant herd with calves walking through dusty golden grass

Destinations

Northern Tanzania, park by park

Every Elia itinerary uses the parks of the northern circuit. Here is how they differ, so you can see why a route goes where it does.

The parks at a glance
Park	Known for	Best time	Typical time there
Tarangire National Park	Elephants and baobabs	Dry season, about June to October, when animals gather at the river.	One full day, often the first day out of Arusha.
Lake Manyara National Park	Forest, lake and escarpment	All year. Flamingo numbers vary with lake levels.	Half a day to a full day, easily added between Arusha and the highlands.
Ngorongoro Crater and Highlands	A wildlife world inside a volcano	All year. Go down early to beat the busiest hours.	A half or full day game drive on the crater floor.
Serengeti National Park	The endless plains	All year: choose the region by month.	At least two or three nights. The further north, the more time you need.
Arusha	Where the safari begins	All year.	Usually your first night, and the place you fly out from.

A guide with binoculars overlooking a river where elephants are drinking

Elephants and baobabs

Tarangire National Park

Tarangire is the first stop on most northern circuit safaris. It is known for large elephant herds, giant baobab trees and the Tarangire River, which draws wildlife in the dry season. Lions, giraffes, zebras, buffalo and over 500 bird species are recorded here.

Best time: Dry season, about June to October, when animals gather at the river.
Time needed: One full day, often the first day out of Arusha.

Included in: 08 Days – Wildebeest Crossing Safari, 07 Days Tanzania Icons Safari: Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro, 02 Days Tarangire & Ngorongoro Safari

A lioness asleep along the branch of a tree

Forest, lake and escarpment

Lake Manyara National Park

A smaller park at the foot of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, with groundwater forest, a soda lake that can attract flamingos, baboons, blue monkeys and elephants. Lions here are known for sometimes resting in trees, though sightings are a matter of luck.

Best time: All year. Flamingo numbers vary with lake levels.
Time needed: Half a day to a full day, easily added between Arusha and the highlands.

Not in our example routes yet, but easy to add. Ask us to include it.

A gazelle with long curved horns standing among purple wildflowers

A wildlife world inside a volcano

Ngorongoro Crater and Highlands

The crater is the collapsed caldera of an ancient volcano, with permanent water and grassland on its floor and a high concentration of wildlife. It is one of the best places in northern Tanzania to look for black rhino. Lodges in the cool highlands and around Karatu are the usual base.

Best time: All year. Go down early to beat the busiest hours.
Time needed: A half or full day game drive on the crater floor.

Included in: 08 Days – Wildebeest Crossing Safari, 06 Days Serengeti Fly-In Safari, 07 Days Tanzania Icons Safari: Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro, 02 Days Tarangire & Ngorongoro Safari

Lionesses resting on a red earth mound, one looking straight at the camera

The endless plains

Serengeti National Park

Tanzania's best-known park changes character by region. Central Serengeti, around the Seronera Valley, has good game viewing all year and is known for big cats. The Northern Serengeti is where the herds reach the Mara River, usually from about August to October. The southern plains around Ndutu are where wildebeest calve, usually from about December to March.

Best time: All year: choose the region by month.
Time needed: At least two or three nights. The further north, the more time you need.

Included in: 08 Days – Wildebeest Crossing Safari, 06 Days Serengeti Fly-In Safari, 07 Days Tanzania Icons Safari: Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro

Travellers with suitcases meeting their guide beside an Elia safari vehicle

Where the safari begins

Arusha

Arusha is the starting point for northern Tanzania safaris and home to our office. Most trips begin with a night here after landing at Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport. Arusha National Park, at the foot of Mount Meru, is nearby: forest, colobus monkeys, lakes and the option to walk with an armed ranger.

Best time: All year.
Time needed: Usually your first night, and the place you fly out from.

Included in: 08 Days – Wildebeest Crossing Safari, 06 Days Serengeti Fly-In Safari, 07 Days Tanzania Icons Safari: Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro, 02 Days Tarangire & Ngorongoro Safari

Not sure which parks to choose?

Tell us your dates and interests and we will suggest a route that balances wildlife, driving and comfort.

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