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5 Days Northern Circuit Budget Basic Camping Safari

5 Days Northern Circuit Budget Basic Camping Safari

Trip Overview

Follow the mighty footprints of giants and witness Africa’s legendary wildlife in its untamed natural glory.

This compact adventure is designed for travelers who want to get an taste of African wildlife in a short time. This safari is short and sweet, as the name suggests, but promises to leave you with unforgettable memories. In just 4 days, you'll visit Lake Manyara National Park, with its tree climbing lions, Serengeti with its endless plains and unparallelled wildlife, and the Ngorongoro Crater where it is possible to complete your sightings of the ‘Big 5’ with the highly endangered black rhino.

5 Days Northern Circuit Budget Basic Camping Safari
5 Days Northern Circuit Budget Basic Camping Safari
5 Days Northern Circuit Budget Basic Camping Safari
5 Days Northern Circuit Budget Basic Camping Safari

Highlights

  • Big Five animal sightings
  • Serengeti endless plains safari
  • Ngorongoro Crater game drive
  • Scenic drives and landscapes
  • Expert local safari guides

At a glance

  • 6 Nights
  • Tanzania
  • Safari

View Full Safari Plan

Download the detailed itinerary to explore day-by-day plans, wildlife highlights, travel logistics, and insider tips to prepare for your unforgettable Big Five Tanzania safari adventure.

Safari Spots

  • Serengeti National Park
  • Ngorongoro Crater
  • Arusha (Arrival/Departure Base)

Tree Planting initiatives for Every Guest on the Safari Tour in Tanzania

Supporting Renewable Energy and Low-Impact Travel Choices

Empowering Local Communities Through Eco-Conscious Tourism

Details Itinerary

Day 1: Moshi -Tarangire

Breakfast at 07:00 am. Pick up from your hotel in Moshi at 0800am and drive on tarmac road 120km to Tarangire National Park (2,850 sq km or 1,005 sq mile’s) for game drives. Lunch picnic there after lunch continue with afternoon game viewing in the park, a home to Lion, Leopard, Elephant, buffalo, Python, Zebra, Oryx, Impala and more… Over 450 species of birds have been observed. Later at 4pm you will exit and heading to Karatu for overnight.

Dinner  & overnight  Pembeni Tented Camp Karatu

DAY 2: Serengeti National Park

Today’s drive takes you to the famous Serengeti National Park, home of the Great Wildebeest Migration. This exciting drive up the highlands provides a spectacular bird’s-eye view of the Ngorongoro Crater. As you crest the hillside, as far as the eyes can see, the vast expanse of the 6,900 sq. ml (18,000 sq. km) Serengeti is spread out before you.

Serengeti, defined as “endless plains” in Kiswahili, is inhabited by more than two million large mammals including more than a million wildebeest, hundreds of thousands of plains zebra, and Thomson’s gazelle. Large predators including lion, cheetah and hyena are drawn to the area by the abundance of prey which migrate throughout the park. Smaller animals like rock hyrax, bat eared fox, mongoose, honey badger, jackals, monkey, baboon and African hare, with nearly 500 species of bird, also inhabit the area.

Dinner  & Overnight @ Thorn Tree Tented Camp in Central Serengeti

Day 3: Full days Serengeti National Park

Today you’re off to the famous Serengeti National Park, home of the Great Migration. Your drive today is spectacular as you drive up the crater highlands, stopping at the rim for a birds-eye view of the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater. Continuing on, as you crest the hillside, spread out before you, as far as the eyes can see, is the vast Serengeti. Serengeti mean “endless plains” in Kiswahili and this 6,900 sq. mile (18,000 sq. km) park is inhabited by more than 2 million large animals including more than a million wildebeest, hundreds of thousands of plains zebras, and Thomson’s gazelles. Large predators including lions, cheetahs, and hyenas are drawn to the area by this abundance of prey which migrate throughout the park. Many smaller animals like rock hyrax, bat eared foxes, mongoose, honey badger, jackals, monkeys, baboons and African hares also inhabit the area along with nearly 500 species of birds. On the way into the Serengeti you will stop at the famous Oldupai Gorge, where Dr. Louis and Mary Leakey made their discovery of the first man that walked the earth. After attending a short lecture describing the archeological digs and geology of the gorge, you’ll have time to visit the small museum. After enjoying lunch, you will depart on an afternoon game drive in the Serengeti.  

Dinner  & Overnight @ Thorn Tree Tented Camp in Central Serengeti

Day 4: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation

Today you will wake up very early to do an early morning safari before breakfast, to spot the animals when they are more active and also to have a fantastic sun rise in front of you. The sunrise in the african Savannah is one of the most beautiful experiences one can have. After the game drive , return to the camp  for brunch.

In the afternoon, transfer to Ngorongoro, the 8th natural wonder of the world. With walls 2,000 ft high and a crater floor that spreads for 102 sq. miles, the crater is a virtual Noah’s Ark, inhabited by almost every species of wildlife indigenous to East Africa including the rare black rhino. In fact, the crater has the greatest concentration of wild life in the planet. It contains a river, several swamps, a soda lake that, from the top, looks like steam, full of flamingoes , a forest and open plains. The large bull elephants that reside here have extremely large tusk, due to the rich mineral content of the volcanic soil and its grasses. They are the most incredible elephants you’ll ever see in your life.

Overnight at Rhino  Lodge inside the Ngorongoro Crater.

Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater – Departure

Very early in the morning, descend down to the crater floor for a day of wildlife viewing in one of the most incredible places on Earth. After a stop for a picnic lunch near the hippo lake, and more wildlife viewing in the afternoon, drive up the steep road out of the crater and return to Arusha or Moshi at your Lodge.

Included & Excluded

  • Accommodation as specified in the itinerary
  • All meals at lodges and tented camps
  • Experienced English speaking guide
  • Unlimited kms, Toyota Landcruiser 4x4 Safari vehicle with pop up roof, 6 window seats, power adapters, and refrigerator
  • Drinking water
  • All park entry fees and 18% VAT
  • International Flights
  • Visa
  • Medications
  • Medical / Travel Insurance
  • Serengeti Hot Air Balloon Ride $650 Per person in Serengeti
  • Alcoholic and soft drinks
  • Extra night before fly out  $ 200 per room of 2 people
  • Tip for Your Driver ($40 per Car per day )

Trip Map

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What Our Guests Say

TripAdvisorAfrican Scenic Safaris #1 on TripAdvisor
Hannah W
Hannah W / Sep 2022

The best company out there!

African Scenic Safaris were Amazing. We were a large group of students who climbed Kilimanjaro with them and went on a safari in Tarangire National Park.

Johanna S
Johanna S/ Apr 2025

Great experience on Safari.

The guide was absolutely fantastic. Emanuel was present answering questions and not least telling a lot like the animals.

Gabriella M
Gabriella M/ Feb 2025

Amazing experience

We relied on African Scenic Safaris for organising a 5 days safari. Nembris provided us with suggestions for the itinerary through Serengeti.

Your Safari Questions Answered

Every great safari starts with a question—ask boldly, travel confidently, and return with wild stories.

Thinking about joining one of our Tanzania Safari Tours? This section answers common questions about our Tanzania Big Five Safaris—so you know exactly what to expect and how to prepare.

The design of our Big Five Tanzania Safari Package is such that it makes it more likely that you will see a lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, or rhino all in one trip.

Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater are two of the best places in Tanzania to see wildlife, and they are both part of this safari package.

Yes. For first-timers, it's perfect because it offers comfort, expert advice, and unforgettable wildlife watching in parks that are well run.

Of course. Wildebeests, cheetahs, hippos, hyenas, giraffes, and many kinds of birds will be among the animals you may see on the Tanzania Big Five Safari Package.

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