5 Days: Northern Safari
Arusha, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, and a short Serengeti experience.
Tanzania destination sites
Use this page to choose the parks, mountains, beaches, and cultural places you want in your Tanzania travel program.
Main tourism sites
Best for the great migration, lions, cheetahs, leopards, hot air balloon safaris, game drives, and wildlife photography.
Best for crater game drives, black rhino viewing, flamingos, Maasai cultural visits, and scenic crater rim viewpoints.
Best for climbing routes, day hikes, waterfalls, coffee tours, Chagga culture, and mountain photography around Moshi.
Best for Stone Town, spice farms, snorkeling, diving, dhow cruises, seafood, beach resorts, and cultural history tours.
Best for elephant herds, baobab trees, bird watching, seasonal river wildlife, and quieter safari days near Arusha.
Best for tree-climbing lions, hippo pools, forest drives, lake birds, hot springs, and short safari programs.
Kenya tourist sites
Kenya combines open savanna, mountain views, soda lakes, coastal beaches, rhino sanctuaries, and famous wildlife reserves that connect well with Tanzania tours.
Best for lions, cheetahs, leopards, migration herds, balloon safaris, Maasai culture, and wide open plains.
Best for large elephant herds, Kilimanjaro views, wetland wildlife, birding, and classic Kenya safari photos.
Best for red elephants, lava flows, Mzima Springs, wide wilderness, scenic drives, and safari routes to the coast.
Best for rhino viewing, flamingos, lake scenery, leopards, Rothschild giraffes, and short safaris from Nairobi.
Best for white sand, snorkeling, diving, dhow trips, kite surfing, seafood, and relaxing after safari.
Best for trekking, alpine scenery, forest wildlife, waterfalls, mountain lodges, and adventure programs.
Arranged program
Arusha, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, and a short Serengeti experience.
Arusha, Tarangire, Ngorongoro, central Serengeti, optional migration area, and return flight.
Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Kilimanjaro foothills, Stone Town, and beach days.
Serengeti National Park package
Serengeti National Park is Tanzania's most famous safari destination, known for endless plains, the Great Migration, big cats, elephants, giraffes, hyenas, and powerful sunrise game drives.
The package focuses only on Serengeti National Park: central Seronera wildlife, open grassland, rocky kopjes, migration routes, predator areas, and optional balloon safari experiences.
Best for travelers with limited time who still want the feeling of a real Serengeti adventure. This program focuses on fast access, strong game drives, and one memorable night in or near the park.
A balanced Serengeti program with enough time to explore the Seronera Valley, river areas, kopjes, and open plains. This is one of the best choices for reliable wildlife viewing.
Recommended for travelers who want more time to follow seasonal wildlife movement and increase the chance of seeing predators. The exact route changes depending on the month and migration location.
Best for slow travel, photography, honeymoon safaris, and premium wildlife watching. This program reduces rushing and gives enough time to visit both central Serengeti and a seasonal remote area.
Serengeti is excellent all year. December to March is popular for calving in the southern plains, June to July for migration movement, and August to October for northern Serengeti river crossings. Central Serengeti is strong for wildlife in most months.
Serengeti pictures
Ngorongoro programs
Ngorongoro is ideal for concentrated wildlife viewing, crater scenery, black rhino chances, flamingos, and Maasai cultural experiences.
A strong option for travelers based in Arusha or Karatu who want one powerful safari day.
This program adds more breathing room with crater rim views and cultural time around the conservation area.
A deeper conservation-area program with wildlife, landscapes, and history.
Ngorongoro can be visited all year. Dry months from June to October are excellent for wildlife visibility, while green season from November to May gives dramatic scenery and good birding.
Ngorongoro pictures
Kilimanjaro programs
Kilimanjaro programs can be short scenic visits around Moshi or full summit climbs with mountain crews, permits, and acclimatization planning.
A gentle cultural and nature day near the Kilimanjaro foothills.
A slower program with waterfalls, hot springs, villages, and mountain viewpoints.
A full mountain expedition using routes such as Machame, Lemosho, Marangu, or Rongai.
Clearer climbing months are usually January to early March and June to October. Day visits around Moshi can be arranged all year, with morning views often clearer than afternoons.
Kilimanjaro pictures
Zanzibar programs
Zanzibar combines beach rest, Swahili history, spice farms, snorkeling, diving, dhow sailing, and seafood experiences after safari or Kilimanjaro.
A short cultural program for travelers with limited beach time.
A balanced island program with Stone Town, spice farms, beach relaxation, and ocean activities.
A fuller island experience with time for culture, beaches, ocean trips, and slower resort days.
Zanzibar is popular from June to October and December to February. Ocean activities depend on tide, wind, and beach location, so the route should match your preferred activity.
Zanzibar pictures
Tarangire programs
Tarangire is loved for elephant herds, baobab trees, birdlife, seasonal river wildlife, and quieter safari routes close to Arusha.
A practical safari day from Arusha with strong wildlife potential and beautiful baobab scenery.
A more relaxed program with evening and morning wildlife movement.
Best for guests who want deeper routes in the park and less rushing between destinations.
June to October is excellent because animals gather near the Tarangire River. Green season is beautiful for birds, landscapes, and fewer vehicles.
Tarangire pictures
Lake Manyara programs
Lake Manyara is compact and varied, with forest, lake views, hippos, birds, hot springs, and easy connections to Mto wa Mbu village.
A short, scenic safari that works well between Arusha, Tarangire, and Ngorongoro.
This combines wildlife with community tourism and local food experiences.
A compact northern circuit using Lake Manyara as the soft start to bigger safari parks.
Lake Manyara is good all year for scenery and short safaris. Birding is especially rewarding in wet and green seasons, while dry months can make wildlife easier to spot.
Lake Manyara pictures
Masai Mara programs
Masai Mara is Kenya's most famous safari reserve, known for big cats, migration herds, balloon safaris, and Maasai cultural experiences.
A short but exciting program from Nairobi for travelers with limited time.
The best balanced option for reliable wildlife viewing and a full day inside the reserve.
A deeper Mara program with more time for migration areas and optional hot air balloon safari.
Masai Mara is excellent all year. July to October is popular for migration crossings, while other months are strong for big cats, fewer crowds, and green scenery.
Masai Mara pictures
Amboseli programs
Amboseli is famous for elephant herds and views of Mount Kilimanjaro, making it one of Kenya's most photogenic safari parks.
A long but possible safari day from Nairobi for travelers short on time.
A better-paced program with sunset and sunrise game drives.
More time for wetlands, elephant behavior, birding, and relaxed lodge stays.
June to October and January to February are often clear and dry. Early mornings give the best chance of seeing Kilimanjaro before clouds build.
Amboseli pictures
Tsavo programs
Tsavo East and Tsavo West create one of Kenya's largest wilderness areas, with red elephants, lava scenery, springs, and routes toward Mombasa or Diani.
A short safari that works well from Mombasa, Diani, or Nairobi.
A balanced route covering open plains and volcanic scenery.
A slower safari for deeper exploration of both parks and scenic lodges.
Tsavo is good most of the year, with dry months making animals easier to spot around water sources. It pairs especially well with Kenya coast holidays.
Tsavo pictures
Lake Nakuru programs
Lake Nakuru is a compact park known for rhinos, lake views, flamingos, Rothschild giraffes, leopards, and short trips from Nairobi.
A focused wildlife day from Nairobi or Naivasha.
A scenic Rift Valley program with wildlife and lake activities.
A fuller route linking Nakuru, Naivasha, and nearby viewpoints.
Lake Nakuru is a year-round destination. Bird numbers and lake conditions vary by season, but rhino viewing is usually strong throughout the year.
Lake Nakuru pictures
Diani Beach programs
Diani is one of Kenya's best beach destinations, perfect for relaxing after safari with turquoise water, white sand, seafood, and ocean activities.
A quick coastal reset after safari or before flying home.
A balanced program with beach time and marine activities.
A fuller beach holiday with ocean, culture, and slow resort days.
Diani is warm all year. June to October and December to March are popular beach periods, while ocean activities depend on tide, wind, and sea conditions.
Diani pictures
Mount Kenya programs
Mount Kenya offers scenic trekking, alpine lakes, forest wildlife, waterfalls, and mountain lodges for travelers who want adventure beyond safari.
A light adventure for travelers who want scenery without a full climb.
A short trek using lower-altitude routes with mountain scenery and forest zones.
A proper mountain adventure aiming for Point Lenana with acclimatization support.
January to March and June to October are popular trekking windows. Mountain weather can change quickly, so layered clothing and guide planning are important.
Mount Kenya pictures