4-Day Northern Circuit Safari: Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti

Serengeti National Park•moderate

Difficulty

moderate

Duration

4 days

Fitness Level

Moderate fitness; you should be comfortable sitting for long ground transfers and climbing in/out of 4x4s several times per day.

Overview

Four days across Tanzania’s northern circuit compresses the continent’s wildlife spectacle into an intense, accessible loop: Lake Manyara’s birdlife, Serengeti plains, and the crater’s concentrated fauna. Expect long drives, pop-up-roof 4x4 game viewing, and nights under canvas.

4-Day Northern Circuit Safari: Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti

Jeep

Bus Tour

Wildlife

Select participants and date

Date

Thu, Oct 30

Travelers

The Land Cruiser hums to life before dawn and the Rift Valley light pulls the horizon into color. On day one you set off from Moshi or Arusha, trading town roofs for acacia silhouettes; by late afternoon the shallow mirror of Lake Manyara begins to catch flocks of flamingos and the trees along its edge host macaques and colobus, as if the park arranged a welcome party.

Adventure Photos

4-Day Northern Circuit Safari: Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti photo 1

Adventure Tips

Rise with the park

Morning drives see predators and grazers at their most active—set alarms and aim to be on the road at first light.

Layer for temperature swings

Ngorongoro rim nights can be cold while daytime plains are hot—bring a warm midlayer and breathable outerwear.

Carry snacks and water

Although meals are provided, keep 1–2 liters of water and energy snacks in the vehicle for long drives between parks.

Use a lens cloth

Dust is constant on savanna roads—clean optics between sightings to avoid missed shots.

Local Insights

Wildlife

Lion
African elephant

History

Olduvai Gorge in the eastern Serengeti is one of the world’s most important paleoanthropological sites where early human fossils were unearthed.

Conservation

Conservation here balances tourism revenue with community programs; visitors should stick to trails, avoid feeding wildlife, and support local guides and conservation fees.