NORTHERN CIRCUIT & ZANZIBAR RETREAT
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Destination to Visit
Arusha, Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro crater, Mahale and Zanzibar
Start / Finish in
Start in Arusha & End in Zanzibar
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Overview
This tour connects several of Tanzania’s most distinct environments, moving from the northern savannah parks to the remote western forests and finishing along the Indian Ocean.
The itinerary is designed for travellers who want more than the standard northern circuit, adding chimpanzee trekking in Mahale Mountains National Park, one of the most isolated wildlife areas in East Africa. Travel includes scheduled light aircraft flights that reduce long road distances and make access to remote regions practical.
Each destination offers a different perspective on wildlife and landscape, showing how varied Tanzania’s protected areas are beyond the well known safari routes.
Day By Day
Day 1: Arrival – Pick Up and Transfer to Arusha
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Arusha for overnight. The day is intentionally left open to allow time to rest after international travel and adjust before continuing west the following morning.
Arusha serves mainly as a transit town for safaris, sitting at the base of Mount Meru and functioning as the operational centre for many northern and western Tanzania trips. In the evening, you will meet a safari representative for a briefing covering practical expectations for the tour ahead.
Day 2: Arusha - Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, you drive to Tarangire National Park, known for seasonal wildlife movement centered around the Tarangire River. During dry months, thousands of animals rely on this water source, creating reliable wildlife viewing opportunities. Elephants are especially common here, and herds often move slowly between riverbanks and baobab trees that can live for over a thousand years.
The game drive continues through varied terrain, offering sightings of antelope species, predators, and abundant birdlife. Following a picnic lunch inside the park, you continue exploring before transferring to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Tarangire - Serengeti via Ngorongoro Highlands
Today’s drive crosses the Ngorongoro Conservation Area before entering the Serengeti ecosystem. The route passes through highland scenery and gradually opens into expansive plains where visibility stretches for kilometres.
Serengeti National Park protects one of the last large scale migratory systems on Earth, supporting vast populations of grazing animals that move in response to rainfall patterns. Wildlife viewing begins during the drive itself, with stops made whenever sightings occur. Arrival at camp is later in the afternoon, allowing time to settle in before evening.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 & 5: Serengeti National Park
Two full days are dedicated to exploring the Serengeti, allowing flexibility to follow wildlife activity rather than rushing between areas. With nearly 15,000 square kilometres of protected land, animal distribution changes daily depending on season and water availability.
Game drives take place in the cooler morning and late afternoon hours, often revealing predators resting after nighttime hunts or herbivores grazing across open plains. Your safari guide may adjust routes based on recent sightings and conditions, creating a combo of different experiences. Time between drives allows rest at camp while remaining immersed in the natural settings.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater
After departing the Serengeti, you travel toward Ngorongoro Crater and descend to the crater floor for a game drive. Formed roughly two to three million years ago after a volcanic collapse, the crater now functions as a natural enclosure supporting diverse wildlife within a relatively small area.
Permanent water sources attract animals throughout the year, increasing the likelihood of sightings within a single day. You explore wetlands, grasslands, and wooded areas before ascending in the afternoon and continuing toward your lodge in Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Return to Arusha
Today is primarily a transfer day back to Arusha, allowing time to rest after several consecutive safari days. The drive passes rural communities and agricultural landscapes that contrast with the protected areas visited earlier. Arrival in Arusha is usually in the afternoon, leaving time to reorganize luggage ahead of the flight to western Tanzania the following day. Overnight stay provides a comfortable pause before entering a much more remote region of the country.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Flight To Mahale Mountains National Park
You transfer to the airport for a scheduled light aircraft flight to Mahale Mountains National Park, located along the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika. Access to Mahale is possible only by air and boat, which helps keep visitor numbers low.
The park covers about 1,650 square kilometres of forested mountains rising directly from the lake. Upon arrival, a boat transfer brings you to camp where the remainder of the day is spent settling in and receiving a briefing about chimpanzee tracking guidelines and park regulations.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9: Chimpanzee Trekking
Chimpanzee tracking begins with a guided forest walk led by experienced trackers who locate habituated groups through calls and fresh signs. Mahale is home to one of Africa’s largest known wild chimpanzee populations, and sightings depend on daily movements within the forest.
The trek can vary in length and terrain, sometimes requiring several hours of walking before encounters occur. Once located, time is spent observing social interactions, grooming behaviour, and movement through the forest canopy. After returning to camp, the afternoon is free for rest or swimming along the clear waters of Lake Tanganyika.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10: Flight to Zanzibar
After breakfast, you depart Mahale by boat and board a scheduled flight connecting to Zanzibar. The transition from forested mountains to coastal island life is noticeable immediately upon arrival. You transfer to your beach accommodation where the rest of the day is free to relax and adjust to the slower coastal pace following the active safari and trekking days.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
Day 11: Zanzibar Leisure
A full day at leisure allows time to experience Zanzibar according to personal interests. Guests may relax by the ocean, explore nearby villages, or arrange optional cultural or marine activities. The island’s history as a trading centre has shaped its architecture, cuisine, and daily life, offering a different perspective from mainland Tanzania. Overnight is at the beach resort.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12: Departure
Depending on your departure time, you are transferred to Zanzibar International Airport for your onward flight. The morning remains free for a final swim, breakfast by the sea, or quiet time before travel. This marks the end of your 12-day safari adventure.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
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RECOMMENDED FOR
- Anyone looking to immerse themselves in Tanzania wilderness.
- People who want an authentic safari adventure.
- Nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts.
PRICE INCLUSION
- All Game Drives;
- Accommodation At Lodges/Tented Camps
- English Speaking Driver/Guide;
- All Food; Drinking Water;
- 18% VAT Tax;
- At Least 1 Pair Of Binoculars;
- Accommodation In Moshi/Arusha;
- Airport Transfers;
PRICE EXCLUSIONS
- International flights
- Tanzania visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities (guide, driver, lodge staff)
- Personal expenses (laundry, phone calls, souvenirs)
- Alcoholic and soft drinks (unless stated)
- Optional activities