2 weeks Tanzania | Northern Circuit - Off the Beaten Track

Welcome to Arusha

Arusha town is a pleasant introduction to East Africa. It is a green, orderly town with several nice coffee bars and restaurants. Being considered the safari capital of Africa, it's bustling with Landcruisers, safari guides and the like, but you're a trendsetter when going on a self-drive safari! 

Our preferred choice: 

Ilboru Safari Lodge (mid-range with swimming pool)

Start: Arusha
Destination: Tarangire National Park
Drive: 150 km | 2,5 hours

As Tarangire National Park is conveniently located near Arusha, it is a wonderful first safari stop on your Tanzania self-drive roadtrip. It's an easy and scenic 2-hour journey on a smooth asphalt road. 

The game viewing tracks are well signposted, and the public facilities like toilets and picnicsites are well maintained. There are even food trucks (bush baristas) nowadays. 

A glimpse of our lodge selection:

• Comfort: Burunge Tented Lodge (cottage, swimming pool - inside Wildlife Management Area, close to Tarangire gate)
• Combo: set up your roof tent or ground tent at a campsite within Tarangire National Park. There is a fenced dining mess, a basic sanitary block, and a ranger who can also help you start your campfire.

Enjoy: Tarangire National Park

Attention elephant lovers - during the dry season, Tarangire boasts the largest concentration of elephants in the world! Additionally, the park is known for its abundance of baobab trees and beautiful stands of acacia tortilis trees - those flat-topped acacias you'll probably know from films like 'The Lion King' or 'Out of Africa'. Check our Tarangire Destination Guide for more information and tips on what to see and do. 

The amount of wildlife in Tarangire is world-class. We recommend a minimum stay of 2 nights. If time is not on your side, you can stay 1 night and continue your travels to Lake Eyasi. 

Start: Tarangire
Destination: Lake Eyasi
Drive: 140 km | approx. 3,5 hours 

Start: Lake Eyasi
Destination: Karatu or Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Drive: 55 km | approximate 1,5 hours

After a morning of unique cultural experiences at Lake Eyasi, you continue your road trip to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Karatu is the last village before entering the NCA and the Serengeti. Karatu is a good place to refuel your car and stock up on supplies. 

A glimpse of our lodge selection 

• Comfort: Karatu Tented Lodge, furnished en-suite safari tent, pool. 
• Combo: self-camping on the Ngorongoro Crater rim. 

Start: Karatu / Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Destination: Serengeti - Seronera 
Drive from Naabi Hill gate:  70 km | approx. 2 hours. 

Few safari destinations deliver the same experience as the Ngorongoro Crater. There are bigger and wilder parks, but if you want some of the easiest and most rewarding game viewing in East Africa, a safari in the Ngorongoro Crater will not disappoint. It is the only place in the world where you have a very high chance of seeing the 'Big 5' in one day. In half a day, you can cover most of the game-viewing tracks. Check our Ngorongoro Destination Guide for more travel tips. 

Today involves a lot of driving and game drives. We advise entering the NCA very early morning for your Crater safari. You exit the NCA at Naabi Hill Gate. From there, it's another 2 hours to your lodge in the Serengeti. 

A glimpse of our lodge selection: 

Comfort & Combo: Africa Safari Ikoma, furnished en-suite safari tent or self camping.

Enjoy: Serengeti

Serengeti is rattling with wildlife. Enjoy plenty of game drives on your self-drive safari in the Serengeti.

Check our Serengeti Guide for more travel tips. 

Start: Serengeti, Seronera section
Destination: Serengeti Lobo, Kleins Gate.  

Start: Serengeti Lobo, Kleins gate. 
Destination: Engare Sero, Lake Natron 
Drive: 160 km | approximate 4 -5 hours. 

Explore: Lake Natron 

You can walk across the baked mud to the shores of Lake Natron, where flamingos line the lake’s shore. And you can enjoy a walk up to the Engero Sero Waterfalls. After a few hours, you’ll reach a beautiful natural swimming pool surrounded by steep rock walls and palm trees.

Optional: enjoy another day at Lake Natron 

The fit and brave might like to try and climb Oldoinyo Lengai, an active volcano. This climb usually starts at midnight to avoid the heat, and you climb for around six hours through the night to reach the spectacular views of the top by sunrise. Oldoinyo Lengai is not a climb to take lightly, it's tough.

Start: Engare Sero, Lake Natron 
Destination: Matadi, West Kilimanjaro
Drive: 300 km | approx. 7 hours. 

Today involves picturesque drives on lesser-known back roads. The dry Msaai plains and remote villages of Longido, Oldonyosambu and Engare Nanyuki make way for the fertile landscapes of the West Kilimanjaro foothills. 

Our lodge selection:

For an authentic, cultural experience, we recommend a stay at Africa Amini Lodge. This well-run lodge is entirely managed by Maasai.

Enjoy: Kilimanjaro area

Get acquainted with Masaai culture through your stay at this authentic Maasai-managed Lodge. The foothills of the Kilimanjaro are also a great starting point for outdoor activities and further exploration; 

• Simba Farm offers one-day hikes up to the Kilimanjaro
• You can rent good mountain bikes at Rivertrees Country Inn
• Moshi town is a nice place to visit and also a good place to arrange cultural tours such as visiting a coffee farm or banana plantation.
• If you like scenic drives, drive around Kilimanjaro and visit small, lively towns.

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.  

Start: Matadi, West Kilimanjaro
Destination: Kilimanjaro International Airport
Drive: 60 km | approx.1,5 hours

From West Kilimanjaro, it's only a 1.5-hour drive to Kilimanjaro International Airport.