Northern Circuit

LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK:
Nestling under the wall of the Great Rift Valley , is like a perfect cut gemstone. Viewed from any direction, it affords a striking spectacle. The 325 sq km park consists of 5 distinct vegetation zones; ground water forest with tower mahogany and fig trees; and the characteristic scrub land on the face of the Rift Valley. It is famous for its numerous buffaloes, elephants, leopards and tree-climbing lions. There are over 350 species of birds, the most profuse and lovely being the flamingo which, at certain seasons, form a solid line of pink for many kilometres down the lake. At the Southern end of the Park are the hot sulpher springs called Majimoto.

SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK :
Serengeti, an area of 14,763 sq km encompasses the largest migratory concentration of Plains Game in the world. Here, the annual migration starts in May/June when the herds of game led by wildebeests start to move to new grazing grounds. Hundreds of thousands of them are etched against the skyline as they move in a steady stream, interspersed with small groups of Zebras, which use the wildebeest as water diviners. Moving westwards, lowing incessantly, the herds are followed by predators and scavengers such as lions, hyenas, jackals and hunting dogs. Overhead the ever-present vultures glide and wait for the chance to play their role in the cycle of life and death enacted everyday on the vast plains below. Kopjes, rocky island-like outcrops, each with their own wildlife communities, dot the grassland at irregular intervals. Rivers flow through the park, providing habitats for a variety of birds, mammals and reptiles. A sense of evolution extending back beyond the imagination pervades the scene.

NGORONGORO CRATER:
Known as the eight wonder of the World, this caldera, 610 meters deep and 20 km in diameter, is the home of hundreds of thousands of animals and birds. The largest intact crater in the world, Ngorongoro was an active volcano some 8 million years ago whose cone collapsed leaving a caldera of 311 sq km. The crater rim where lodges perch at an altitude of 2286 m, is wooded and so able to support a year around residential population of animals. The sheer physical beauty and abundance of unusually docile game animals make a visit to the crater an unforgettable experience.

TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK:
It is the vast number pf Baobabs that first capture the eye as you enter Tarangire National Park. The gently rolling countryside is dotted with these majestic trees, which seem to dwarf the animals that feed beneath them.
The park is spectacular in the dry season when many of the migratory wildlife species come back to permanent waters of the Tarangire river. Huge herds of wildebeests, Zebras, Elephants, Eland and Oryx gather again at the good grazing areas. The Park covers approximately 2600 sq km and, in the dry season, is second only to Ngorongoro Crater in the concentrations of wildlife to be seen here. Its name is derived from the Tarangire River, which provides the only permanent water for wildlife in this area.

ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK:
This is the second smallest park in Tanzania, with a total area of 137 sq km. The major attractions in the park include: the Momella Lakes, Ngurdoto Crater, Meru Crater and Cone, as well as the Rare Black and White Colobus Monkey.

KILIMANJARO NATIONAL PARK:
Kilimanjaro National Park was officially opened by President Nyerere in June 1977. it has been established to preserve and protect Kilimanjaro and the surrounding nature and wildlife for furure generations. The major attraction is the Mount Kilimanjaro (19340 ft/5895 m) the highest peak in Africa and one of the highest volcanos in the world. The base of this immense mountain has a diameter of about 40 miles.

OLDUVAI GORGE:
Olduvai Gorge acquired its name from the Sanseviera plant that grows profusely in the area, named Oldupai by the Maasai. The gorge is about 50 km long and in some places 90m deep. It was first entered by a German entomologist name Professor Kattwinkel who found many fossils, and inspired an expedition before the first world war by Professor Hans reck. The search was then taken up by Dr. Louis Leaky and his wife Mary who in 1959 found humanoid remains, including the first human skull. There is a small but very interesting museum at the site overlooking the gorge.

ITINERARY NC1     1night/2days – Lake Manyara/Ngorongoro Crater

 

Day 1
Pick up from place of stay or airport and drive towards Ngorongoro Crater. With picnic lunch, descend the crater and experience a crater game drive. 
Dinner and overnight at lodge in Ngorongoro Crater/Karatu. 

Day 2
Breakfast at your lodge. With packed lunch drive to Lake Manyara National Park. Game drive and then drive towards Arusha or Kilimanjaro airport. 

Please note that from 22^nd December to 31^st December is peak season

ITINERARY NC2     1night/2days – Tarangire

 

Day 1
Pick up from place of stay or airport and drive towards Tarangire with picnic lunch.  Game drive for the day in Tarangire National Park.
Dinner and overnight at a Tarangire Lodge.  

Day 2
Breakfast at your lodge in Tarangire. Game drive in Tarangire National Park with picnic lunch. Drive back towards Arusha or Kilimanjaro for drop off.

Please note that from 22^nd December to 31^st December is peak season

ITINERARY NC3     2nights/3 days – Ngorongoro + Tarangire

 

Day 1
Pick up from place of stay or airport and drive towards Ngorongoro Crater with picnic lunch for crater tour. Dinner and overnight at a lodge in Ngorongoro Crater.

Day 2
After breakfast, drive to Tarangire National Park with picnic lunch and game drive. Dinner and overnight at Lodge in Tarangire.

Day 3
After breakfast, morning game drive and transfer back towards Arusha or Kilimanjaro airport.

Please note that from 22^nd December to 31^st December is peak season

ITINERARY NC4     3nights/4 days – Lake Manyara + Ngorongoro + Tarangire

 

Day 1
Pick up from place of stay or Airport. With picnic lunch drive towards Lake Manyara for game drive.  Dinner and overnight at Lake Manyara lodge.

Day 2
After breakfast, descend with picnic lunch in to the crater for crater tour. Picnic lunch at the hippo pool picnic site. Afternoon game drive and dinner and overnight at a lodge in Ngorongoro Crater or similar.

Day 3
After breakfast, drive to Tarangire National Park for game drive and picnic lunch. Dinner and overnight at Tarangire Lodge.

Day 4
After breakfast, with picnic lunch take a morning game drive and proceed towards Arusha or airport.

Please note that from 22^nd December to 31^st December is peak season

ITINERARY NC5     3nights/4 days – Ngorongoro + Serengeti + Lake Manyara

Day 1
Pick up from place of stay or Airport. Drive to the Ngorongoro Crater with picnic lunch for crater tour. Picnic lunch at the hippo pool picnic site. Afternoon game drive and dinner and overnight at a lodge in Ngorongoro Crater on the rim or similar.

Day 2
After breakfast, drive to Serengeti with picnic lunch. Optional visit to Olduvai Gorge and Masaii Village. Entry fees payable direct for this. Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Lodge.

Day 3
After breakfast, with picnic lunch with enroute game drive proceed towards Lake Manyara. Game drive in Lake Manyara National Park. Dinner and overnight at Lake Manyara Lodge.

Day 4
After breakfast, proceed towards Arusha after morning game drive with picnic lunch. Transfer to Arusha or airport.

Please note that from 22^nd December to 31^st December is peak season

ITINERARY NC6     4 nights/5 days – Ngorongoro + Serengeti + Lake Manyara

Day 1
Pick up from place of stay or Airport. Drive to the Ngorongoro Crater with picnic lunch for crater tour. Picnic lunch at the hippo pool picnic site. Afternoon game drive and dinner and overnight at a lodge in Ngorongoro Crater on the rim or similar.

Day 2
After breakfast, drive to Serengeti with picnic lunch.  Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Lodge.

Day 3
After breakfast, drive to Serengeti with picnic lunch. Optional visit to Olduvai Gorge and Masaii Village. Entry fees payable direct for this. Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Lodge.

Day 4
After breakfast, with picnic lunch with enroute game drive proceed towards Lake Manyara. Game drive in Lake Manyara National Park. Dinner and overnight at Lake Manyara Lodge.

Day 5
After breakfast, proceed towards Arusha after morning game drive with picnic lunch. Transfer to Arsuha or airport.

Please note that from 22^nd December to 31^st December is peak season

ITINERARY NC7     5 nights/6 days – Ngorongoro + Serengeti + Lake Manyara + Tarangire

 

Day 1
Pick up from place of stay or Airport. Drive to the Ngorongoro Crater with picnic lunch for crater tour. Picnic lunch at the hippo pool picnic site. Afternoon game drive and dinner and overnight at a lodge in Ngorongoro Crater on the rim or similar.

Day 2
After breakfast, drive to Serengeti with picnic lunch.  Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Lodge.

Day 3
After breakfast, drive to Serengeti with picnic lunch. Optional visit to Olduvai Gorge and Masaii Village. Entry fees payable direct for this. Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Lodge.

Day 4
After breakfast, with picnic lunch with enroute game drive proceed towards Lake Manyara. Game drive in Lake Manyara National Park. Dinner and overnight at Lake Manyara Lodge.

Day 5
After breakfast proceed with picnic lunch to Tarangire National Park for game drive. Dinner and overnight at Tarangire Lodge.

Day 6
After breakfast, proceed towards Arusha after morning game drive with picnic lunch. Transfer to Arusha or airport.

Please note that from 22^nd December to 31^st December is peak season