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4-Day Budget Northern Circuit Safari
Safari

4-Day Budget Northern Circuit Safari

Four days exploring Lake Manyara, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro on a budget-friendly safari.

4 Days / 3 Nights
1-6 Guests
Easy
From $650 pp
Duration 4 Days / 3 Nights
Accommodation Budget
Group Size 1-6 Guests
Tour Type both

Safari Overview

This four-day budget safari takes you through the highlights of Tanzania's famed northern circuit, visiting Lake Manyara National Park, the Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater. It is an excellent choice for budget-conscious travelers who want to experience the best of Tanzania without compromising on the quality of wildlife viewing. Your adventure begins with a game drive through Lake Manyara National Park, famous for its tree-climbing lions and flocks of flamingos. From there, you continue to the Serengeti, crossing the Ngorongoro highlands and descending into the endless plains. A full day in the Serengeti gives you ample time to seek out lions, cheetahs, elephants, and during migration season, the vast herds of wildebeest and zebra. The final full day is spent exploring the Ngorongoro Crater floor, where the concentration of wildlife is simply extraordinary. Budget camping safaris use designated public campsites within or near the parks, with sturdy dome tents, comfortable sleeping arrangements, and freshly prepared meals by your safari cook. Your experienced guide and cook travel with you throughout, ensuring a safe, informative, and well-fed adventure.

Tour Highlights

  • Lake Manyara tree-climbing lions
  • Full-day Serengeti game drive
  • Ngorongoro Crater exploration
  • Professional safari guide
  • All meals included

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Depart Arusha and drive two hours to Lake Manyara National Park, descending the Rift Valley escarpment with panoramic views of the lake below. Spend the afternoon on a game drive through the park's diverse habitats, from the groundwater forest at the entrance to the open grasslands along the lakeshore. Look for tree-climbing lions, large elephant herds, troops of baboons, and flocks of flamingos.
Accommodation: Migombani Public Campsite
After breakfast, drive through the Ngorongoro highlands and descend into the vast Serengeti plains. The transition from highland forest to open savannah is dramatic and exciting. Arrive in the central Serengeti by lunchtime and begin your first game drive in the Seronera valley, where resident wildlife includes large lion prides, leopards, elephants, and vast herds of plains game.
Accommodation: Seronera Public Campsite
Enjoy a full day of game driving in the Serengeti with morning and afternoon drives. Your guide will navigate to the most productive wildlife areas based on current conditions. The central Serengeti around Seronera is known for its kopjes, rocky outcrops where lions rest and cheetahs survey the plains. Watch for leopards in the sausage trees along the Seronera River and hippos in the river pools.
Accommodation: Seronera Public Campsite
Depart the Serengeti early and drive to the Ngorongoro Crater for a morning game drive on the crater floor. Descend into the caldera and spend four to five hours searching for rhino, lion, elephant, and buffalo among the 25,000 animals that inhabit this natural amphitheater. After a picnic lunch, ascend the crater and drive back to Arusha, arriving in the evening.

What's Included & Excluded

Included

  • Park entrance fees for all national parks
  • Professional English-speaking safari guide
  • 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
  • All accommodations as listed
  • All meals during safari (full board)
  • Drinking water in the vehicle
  • Airport transfers
  • Government taxes and fees

Excluded

  • International flights
  • Visa fees
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Personal expenses and souvenirs
  • Optional balloon safari

Pricing

Prices are per person and vary by group size and season. All rates include park fees, accommodations, meals, and transport as listed above.

Tier Season Per Person Single Supplement
Budget Low $650 $80
Budget Shoulder $720 $90
Budget Peak $780 $100

Prices are in USD per person. Children aged 5-12 receive a 25% discount. Children under 5 are free. Request an exact quote for your group.

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