The Northern Circuit of Tanzania, which includes Arusha, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, and Serengeti, is often the primary emphasis of a Tanzania self-drive vacation lasting two weeks. Lake Natron or Mount Kilimanjaro are frequently included for cultural and scenic purposes. The Big Five, migrating wildebeest (seasonal), tree-climbing lions, and magnificent landscapes are some of the highlights of the parks, which typically conclude with Zanzibar for beaches or Dar es Salaam. But in order to visit the parks, you will need a dependable four-wheel-drive vehicle and permits.
2 weeks Tanzania | Northern Circuit – Off the Beaten Track
This off-the-beaten-path trip mixes Tanzania’s most popular safari areas with hidden beauties that have not yet been widely known. Beautiful treks, breathtaking trips on less traveled routes, and cultural experiences that will stay with you forever are all part of this adventure.
Trip overview
- Visit Tarangire, famous for its elephant population and baobab trees.
- Near Lake Eyasi live the traditional nomadic bushmen of the Hadzabe and Dagota tribes. Get to know their neighborhoods and learn about their culture.
- When it comes to accessible safari paths and world-class game watching, the Ngorongoro Crater is hard to beat.
- You may expect to see a wide variety of animals on your self-drive safari across the iconic Serengeti.
You can reach the distant lake of Natron by traveling along beautiful back roads. You can go up to the waterfalls and view flamingos at the lakeshore. - As you make your journey to West Kilimanjaro on this Tanzanian road trip, you’ll pass through beautiful rural areas and lush vegetation. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to stay in a traditional Masaai camp and enjoy a visit to the Maji Moto hot springs, an absolutely breathtaking spot to conclude your adventure.
Summary Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Arusha
Day 2: Drive to Tarangire from Arusha
Day 3: Game drive at Tarangire National Park
Day 4: drive to Lake Eyasi from Tarangire
Day 5: Drive from Lake Eyasi to Karatu
Day 6: Game drive at crater and transfer to central Serengeti
Day 7 to day 8: Game drive at Serengeti
Day 9: Transfer to Lake Natron
Day 10: Explore lake Natron
Day 11: drive to the western Kilimanjaro
Day 12: Tour the Kilimanjaro region
Day 13: tour Mosh town
Day 14: Transfer to Kilimanjaro airport
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Arusha
The town of Arusha provides a delightful gateway to East Africa. The town is neat and tidy, and there are plenty of good places to eat and drink coffee. Even if it’s jam-packed with safari guides, Land Cruisers, and the like, when you go on a self-drive safari, you’re the one setting the trend!
Recommended Accommodation:
Mid-range: Tulia Boutique Hotel
Mid-range / luxury: Mtoni River Lodge
Day 2: Drive to Tarangire from Arusha
If you are planning a self-drive safari in Tanzania, Tarangire National Park is a great place to start because of its proximity to Arusha. The two-hour drive along the picturesque highway is devoid of any rough patches.
The public amenities, including as restrooms and picnic areas, are kept in good repair, and the game viewing paths are clearly marked. Even “bush baristas” (food trucks) have made an appearance in modern times.
Recommended Accommodation:
- Luxury: Tarangire Babobab Tented Camp
- Comfort: Sangaiwe Tented Lodge
- Campsite: For those interested in camping safari, you can set up your rooftop tent within Tarangire with the help of the park rangers
Day 3: Game drive at Tarangire National Park
Pay heed, elephant enthusiasts – Tarangire is home to the world’s highest population of elephants during the dry season! ‘The Lion King’ and ‘Out of Africa’ both feature stunning stands of acacia tortilis trees, which are flat-topped and abundant in the park. Another reason the park is famous is its baobab trees.
Tarangire is home to an unparalleled variety of animals. A stay of at least two nights is highly recommended. If you are short on time, you can spend the night and then head on to Lake Eyasi.
Day 4: drive to Lake Eyasi from Tarangire
The Great Rift Valley is home to a small salt lake called Lake Eyasi, where pelicans and flamingos congregate during the mating season. Tourists come to learn about the Hadzabe and Dagota way of life, in addition to enjoying the beautiful scenery. Nomadic bushmen subsist on a diet of wild fruits and game shot with bows and arrows. Hunting with the Hadzabe is just one of several community tourism activities you can partake in.
We can put you in touch with reliable community leaders. You can make arrangements for all of the events at the community center when you arrive.
Recommended accommodation:
- Luxury: Kisima Ngeda Camp
- Mid-range and Combo: Lake Eyasi Safari Lodge
Day 5: Drive from Lake Eyasi to Karatu
Your journey to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area continues after a morning of fascinating cultural activities at Lake Eyasi. Just before you reach the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you will pass the settlement of Karatu. You may fill up your gas tank and buy groceries at Karatu.
Recommended Accommodation:
- Luxury: Pakulala Safari Camp
- Mid-range: Baghayo Garden Suite
- Campsite: Simba public campsite A
Day 6: Game drive at crater and transfer to central Serengeti
A limited number of safari places offer an experience comparable to that of the Ngorongoro Crater. On the other hand, if you are looking for some of the easiest and most gratifying wildlife viewing in East Africa, a safari in the Ngorongoro Crater will not let you down. There are parks that are larger and more wild than the Ngorongoro Crater. This is the only location in the entire globe where there is a very high probability of sighting all five of the “Big Five” in a single day. You will be able to traverse the most of the game-viewing paths in under half a day.
There will be a significant amount of driving and game drives today. While you are on your Crater safari, we recommend that you visit the NCA extremely early in the morning. It is at the Naabi Hill Gate that you leave the NCA. After that, it would take you a further two hours to reach your lodge in the Serengeti.
Recommended Accommodation:
- Luxury: Mawe Tented Camp
- Mid-range & Combo tour: Africa Safari Ikoma
Day 7 to day 8: Game drive at Serengeti
There is a plethora of species in the Serengeti. When you go on a safari in the Serengeti, you will have plenty of opportunities to go game driving.
It is not recommended to go from the Seronera region of the middle Serengeti to Lake Natron in a single day by car. Taking a break from the expedition and staying close to Kleins Gate, which is located in the northeastern part of the Serengeti, is the most advantageous alternative. During your journey, you will have the opportunity to take a number of game drives in this stunning region of the Serengeti. The journey to Lake Natron, which you will do the next day, is another four to five hours long and begins at Kleins Gate.
Recommended accommodation:
Mid-range: Africa Safari Masaai Boma
Day 9: Transfer to Lake Natron
The journey from Serengeti to Lake Natron is a beautiful one, as it takes place on back roads. There is gravel on the road that leads from Klein’s Gate to Wasso. There is a brand new asphalt road that runs from Wasso to Sonjo or Malambo, and there is hardly any traffic on it. When you pass Sonjo and head in the direction of Engare Sero, you will be driving on another gravel road. In the final twenty kilometers leading up to Engare Sero, the route becomes more difficult to travel.
Recommended accommodation:
Mid-range and Camping: Maasai Giraffe Eco Lodge, cottage or self-camping.
Day 10: Explore lake Natron
Flamingos can be seen lining the beaches of Lake Natron, which can be reached by walking across the baked mud that has been deposited there. At the same time, you can take pleasure in ascending to the Engero Sero Waterfalls. If you keep going for a few hours, you will eventually arrive at a stunning natural swimming pool that is encircled by steep rock walls and palm palms.
Spend an additional day at Lake Natron, if you so want.
Oldoinyo Lengai is an active volcano that anyone who are physically fit and courageous might want to attempt to climb. You will typically begin this ascent at midnight in order to avoid the heat, and you will ascend for approximately six hours during the night in order to reach the breathtaking vistas of the summit before daylight. Do not underestimate the difficulty of Oldoinyo Lengai; it is not an easy ascent.
Day 11: drive to the western Kilimanjaro
In today’s itinerary, you will be taking scenic drives on less used back roads. The arid plains of the Maasai people and the isolated communities of Longido, Oldonyosambu, and Engare Nanyuki give way to the lush scenery of the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Recommended Accommodation
Mid-range: Simba Farm Lodge
Luxury: Africa Amini Lodge.
Day 12: Tour the Kilimanjaro region
At this genuine Maasai-managed lodge, you will have the opportunity to become familiar with the culture of the Masaai people. Additionally, the foothills of Kilimanjaro are an excellent starting point for activities that take place outside and for doing additional exploration;
- One-day hikes to the summit of Kilimanjaro are available from Simba Farm.
- At Rivertrees Country Inn, you may hire mountain bikes that are of a high quality.
- Moshi town is not only a pleasant site to visit, but it is also an excellent location for organizing cultural trips, such as going to a banana plantation or discovering a coffee farm.
- Take a drive around Kilimanjaro and stop in some of the smaller, more active villages if you enjoy taking scenic drives.
Day 13: tour Mosh town
Visit Moshi town and stroll around the market, souvenir shops and coffee bars. There are several guides / tourist offices who can arrange a banana or coffee plantation tour, or enquire at your lodge.
If you opted for the Combo (camping) tour, we advise a visit to the Maji Moto hot springs and stay for the night.
The hot springs, also known as the Chemka Hot Springs, are a surreal environment adorned with date palms and pleasantly warm waters. You are guaranteed to have a fun afternoon by swinging on the ropes, relaxing in the sun-dappled shade of the trees, and chatting with the friendly locals.
The hot springs can be pretty crowded over the weekend, but hardly anyone stays for the night. If you camp, you can enjoy starry nights and an early morning swim whilst having the hot springs to yourself. Magical.
Day 14: Transfer to Kilimanjaro airport
Kilimanjaro International Airport can be reached by car in just approximately one and a half hours from West Kilimanjaro.