11-Day Northern Circuit Wildlife Experience & Beach

After breakfast, we’ll continue our journey through the fertile highlands where the Iraqw people cultivate wheat and corn. As we make our way, we’ll pass through the misty, lush rainforests of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. If luck is on our side, you may spot baboons, elephants, or even elusive leopards hidden within the dense foliage. As we pass through this conservation area, you’ll catch a glimpse of the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater before heading onward to the legendary Serengeti National Park.

By midday, we’ll arrive at the Serengeti, Tanzania’s largest national park, known for its diverse landscapes, from grassy plains and swamps to lakes, savannahs, and mountains. We’ll embark on an extensive game drive, exploring the incredible wildlife that calls this park home. As the day draws to a close, we’ll journey to the Seronera Valley, where you’ll enjoy an evening meal and a relaxing overnight stay at your accommodation.

This entire day is dedicated to exploring the Serengeti on exhilarating game drives. The Serengeti is renowned for its abundant wildlife, including impalas, buffalo, crocodiles, and hippos, but it’s perhaps best known for the vast migrating herds of zebras, antelopes, and wildebeest. The animals’ movements are driven by rainfall, and their journey changes year to year. From November to December, they migrate from the northern woodlands and hills to the grassy plains of the south. During the longer rainy season, from April to June, they make their way back to the north.

In addition to the great migration, we may encounter the Serengeti’s resident predators—leopards, cheetahs, and lions—fulfilling their roles in the circle of life. After an extensive game drive through this iconic landscape, we’ll return to our accommodation for a hearty dinner. The evening offers a perfect moment to unwind by the fire, enjoying conversation and the splendor of a star-filled African night over the ‘Endless Plain’.

After breakfast, we’ll set off for the final destination of our epic safari—Lake Manyara National Park. Though relatively small, this park, located 120 km west of Arusha, is incredibly diverse. It is named after the shallow salt lake that covers much of the park, which floods and recedes with the seasons, creating a haven for thousands of flamingos and over 500 other bird species.

As we explore, you’ll encounter a variety of wildlife, including monkeys, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, buffaloes, elephants, and, if we’re lucky, the famous tree-climbing lions. The park’s landscapes are equally varied, with open grassy plains, primate-filled woodlands, and towering cliffs dotted with ancient baobab trees.

After enjoying lunch amidst this beautiful setting, we’ll begin our journey back to Arusha, arriving late in the afternoon for your onward flight to Zanzibar (Stone Town).

At the time of your choice, you will transfer to Nungwi. This large village at Zanzibar Island’s northernmost tip was once best known as a dhow-building center. Today it’s a major tourist destination, thanks in part to the beautiful beach and stunning sunsets. Diving, snorkeling, fishing and other water sports are the main attraction here. From Nungwi, frequented dive sites are mainly down the east coast or to Mnemba Island and reefs near Tumbatu Island. For swimmers, Nungwi’s local geography and tidal pattern mean that swimming is possible at any time. Other activities available include yoga, cycling and guided tours of the village. You will spend 4 nights at this incredible place.

Today, we bring our incredible adventure to a close with a final breakfast at our hotel. You will then be transferred to the airport or seaport, depending on your departure schedule. As you head back home, you’ll carry with you a heart full of unforgettable memories and lasting images of the African wilderness, from breathtaking landscapes to the remarkable wildlife encounters that made this journey so special.