6 Days Tanzania Wildlife Safari

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Our 6 day Tanzania safari is a classic Northern Circuit journey for wildlife and photography lovers. In under a week, you visit four famous parks: Tarangire, the Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara. Together, they offer spectacular scenery and unforgettable wildlife.

Along the way, you can marvel at huge herds of grazers, admire the big cats and look for Africa’s Big Five. In addition, each park has its own character, from the baobabs of Tarangire National Park to the crowded floor of the crater. So, remember to carry your camera and capture every moment as it unfolds.

6 day Tanzania safari highlights

A full day in Tarangire, with picnic lunch near a waterhole or elephant herd.
A full-day game drive in the Serengeti, one of Africa’s greatest wildlife parks.
The Ngorongoro Crater, where you may see lions, elephants and the rare black rhino.
Lake Manyara, a park famous for its tree-climbing lions.
Lunch and souvenir shopping in Arusha before your flight.

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1: Tarangire National Park

You leave your lodge in Arusha and drive to Tarangire National Park. You spend the whole day on a long game drive, exploring the far reaches of the park. At lunchtime, you enjoy a deluxe picnic, perhaps overlooking a waterhole or a big elephant herd.

As on any game drive, the plan is flexible. You can return to camp whenever it suits you. Some guests like to stay out until sunset to watch the herds head home. Others prefer to relax at the lodge in the afternoon and watch animals wander past.

Day 2: Tarangire to Serengeti National Park

After a filling breakfast, you go on a morning game drive for more wildlife sightings. Then, after lunch, you transfer to the Serengeti National Park. It is world famous for its wildlife, including the Big Five and the great wildebeest migration. You arrive in the evening to check in, have dinner and stay the night.

Day 3: Full-day game drive in the Serengeti

After breakfast, you set out on a full-day game drive. The Serengeti covers about 14,000 km², and it offers some of the best game viewing in Africa. With luck, you can see members of the Big Five: lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffaloes. In addition, look for zebras, warthogs, giraffes, gazelles, antelopes and wildebeest.

Depending on the season, you may also witness the great migration. During this event, huge numbers of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles move in long columns in search of fresh grass and water.

Day 4: Transfer to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area

As you travel to the Ngorongoro Crater, you will soon realise that one of Africa’s great experiences lies ahead. The crater is the bowl of an extinct volcano, with a lake in the middle that is often dappled pink with flamingos. As a result, wildlife sightings come almost immediately.

Watch lion prides on the prowl, lone elephant bulls on the move and perhaps the elusive black rhino grazing in the morning breeze. Black rhinos are endangered, and the crater is one of the few places where you can see them. In addition, you will spot big herds of wildebeest kicking up dust as they gallop across the crater floor.

You enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking a pool of hippos. From here, you may see Maasai herders grazing their cattle and, sometimes, tense moments between lions and wildebeest. Then you spend the late afternoon and night at a lovely lodge that wild animals often visit.

Day 5: Travel to Lake Manyara National Park

After an early breakfast, you set off for Lake Manyara National Park. The park is famous for its tree-climbing lions, a behaviour also seen in the Ishasha sector of Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park. You arrive in the afternoon for lunch. Then you head out on a game drive to see the park’s rich wildlife.

Day 6: Return to Arusha and departure

After breakfast, you drive back to Arusha to end your Northern Circuit safari. On arrival, you enjoy lunch at a fine restaurant in town. Then you have time for souvenir shopping at a local craft shop. Finally, in the late afternoon, your driver transfers you to the airport for your flight home.

Who this 6 day Tanzania safari suits

This trip suits first-time safari-goers who want to see a lot in a short time. It also works well for couples, families and keen photographers. Since you watch wildlife from a vehicle, you do not need special fitness. However, the drives between parks can be long, so it helps to be comfortable with a few road days.

Best time to go

You can take this safari all year round. The long dry season, from about June to October, is usually best for game viewing, because animals gather near rivers and waterholes. In particular, Tarangire comes alive with elephants in these months. On the other hand, the green season brings lush scenery, fewer vehicles and newborn animals. The Serengeti herds move with the rains, so we can help you time your trip for the migration.

Tips for your trip

Here are a few tips from our guides to help you enjoy every day:

Pack warm layers. The Ngorongoro highlands can be cold in the early morning.
Bring binoculars. They make distant cats and birds much easier to enjoy.
Wear neutral colours. Khaki, green and brown are ideal for game drives.
Protect yourself from the sun. Pack a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses.
Carry spare batteries and memory cards. You will need them.

The parks on this route are managed by Tanzania National Parks and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority. Since entry fees change from time to time, we will confirm the current rates when you enquire.

Extend or combine your Tanzania safari

If you can add a day, our 7 day Northern Circuit wildlife safari includes more time on the Serengeti plains. Alternatively, you can relax on the beach afterwards with a holiday in Zanzibar. You can also explore more parks in Tanzania to shape a longer trip.

Every trip with Roots Tours & Travel is tailor-made. So, just tell us your dates, group size and interests. Then we will send you a clear itinerary for free. Get in touch today to start planning.

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