Wildlife Safari
14-Day Ultimate Grand Tanzania Wildlife Circuit
Fourteen days is enough to stop making choices. Most Tanzanian itineraries are exercises in what to leave out; this one includes the northern circuit in full, four nights in the Serengeti across two sectors, and both major southern parks, with internal flights doing the heavy lifting between regions.
The northern week covers Tarangire, Lake Manyara, four Serengeti nights and the Ngorongoro Crater. Four Serengeti nights is the point at which you can work two different sectors properly, which for most of the year means the central Seronera area plus either the south for calving or the north for the crossings.
The southern week is a deliberate change of pace. Ruaha, at over 20,000 square kilometres, is Tanzania’s largest park and holds exceptional lion densities along with sable, roan and both kudu species. Nyerere brings the Rufiji River, boat safaris and walking safaris, neither of which is available in the north.
The final structure is flexible. Guests frequently convert the last two nights into a Zanzibar extension, which we are happy to arrange. Others prefer to add a night to Ruaha. Fourteen days gives enough room that the itinerary can be shaped around what you actually want rather than what fits.
Planning your trip
Practical planning. The itinerary runs over 14 days, which sets the pace: each additional day reduces transfer pressure and gives the guide room to respond to conditions rather than follow a fixed schedule. We quote fees at the tariff period current at the time of booking, since park, conservation and crater charges are revised periodically and are a significant share of the total cost. Yellow fever certification is required if you are arriving from or transiting a country with risk of transmission, and travel insurance covering medical evacuation is a condition of travel on all our programmes.
Season. June to October is the classic dry season, when vegetation thins, water sources concentrate wildlife and roads are at their most reliable. December to March brings green landscapes, calving on the southern plains and lower rates. April and May are the long rains, when some tracks become difficult and a number of seasonal camps close.
In the parks. Stay in the vehicle unless your guide confirms a stop is authorised, keep noise low near wildlife, never feed animals and take all rubbish out with you. Off-road driving, drones and unsupervised walking are prohibited or restricted across the national parks and conservation areas. These rules exist because visitor pressure is the main long-term threat to the places you have come to see.
Where this trip goes
Read the full destination guides for every protected area covered by this itinerary before you travel. Each one sets out habitat, seasonality, access and the managing authority in detail.
- Tarangire National Park
- Lake Manyara National Park
- Serengeti National Park
- Ngorongoro Conservation Area
- Ruaha National Park
- Nyerere National Park
Compare similar packages
If the length, pace or budget of this itinerary is not quite right, these alternatives cover comparable ground:
- 5-Day Best of Tanzania Wildlife Safari
- 6-Day Northern Circuit Wildlife & Cultural Safari
- 8-Day Family Adventure Safari (Tarangire, Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro)
- 10-Day Complete Tanzania Safari & Southern Parks (Ruaha & Nyerere)
You can also browse the full package catalogue or the destination directory to build a custom itinerary with us.
Highlights
- Complete northern circuit plus both major southern parks
- Four Serengeti nights across two different sectors
- Boat safari and walking safari on the Rufiji in Nyerere
- Ruaha’s large lion prides, sable and roan antelope
- Internal flights linking the regions with no wasted transfer days
Trip itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Arusha
Airport collection, transfer to an Arusha lodge, and an evening briefing covering the full fourteen days.
Day 2: Arusha to Tarangire
Morning departure and a full day on Tarangire’s northern river circuit among the elephant herds and baobab woodland. Overnight in the Tarangire area.
Day 3: Tarangire to Lake Manyara and Karatu
A morning drive in Tarangire, then a transfer to Lake Manyara for an afternoon in the groundwater forest and along the lake shore.
Climb the escarpment to Karatu for the night.
Day 4: Karatu to the central Serengeti
Through the Ngorongoro highlands with a rim viewpoint stop, down past Oldupai Gorge and into the Serengeti at Naabi Hill, game driving to Seronera.
Day 5: Full day central Serengeti
A full day on the Seronera circuits with a picnic lunch, working the kopjes and river course for resident leopard and lion.
Day 6: Move to a second Serengeti sector
A transfer within the park, north towards Kogatende or south towards Ndutu depending on the season and herd position, game viewing throughout.
Day 7: Full day in the second sector
A full day working the new sector, which in the right months means the Mara River crossing points in the north or the calving concentrations in the south.
Day 8: Serengeti to the crater highlands
A final Serengeti morning before working east across the plains, with a guided stop at Oldupai Gorge, arriving at a crater rim lodge in the afternoon.
Day 9: Ngorongoro Crater floor
First light descent for the full crater game drive with lunch at Ngoitokitok Springs, ascending in the afternoon for a second rim night or a transfer to Arusha.
Day 10: Fly south to Ruaha
Transfer to the airstrip and fly south to Ruaha, arriving at camp for an afternoon game drive along the Great Ruaha River.
Day 11: Full day Ruaha
A full day in Ruaha’s river and miombo country, looking for the large resident lion prides, sable, roan, greater and lesser kudu, and wild dog where they are ranging.
Day 12: Ruaha to Nyerere
A morning drive before the flight east to Nyerere, landing on a Rufiji airstrip.
Afternoon boat safari on the river among hippo pods, crocodile and drinking elephant.
Day 13: Full day Nyerere
A guided walking safari in the cool of the morning, then a vehicle drive or second boat outing in the afternoon around the Rufiji lake system.
Day 14: Nyerere to Dar es Salaam and departure
A final morning activity, then the flight to Dar es Salaam for onward international connections, or a direct hop to Zanzibar for a beach extension.
Included
- All internal flights between circuits
- Thirteen nights accommodation on full board
- Private 4x4 with driver-guide in the north; camp guiding in the south
- All park and conservation area entry fees
- Crater service and vehicle descent fees
- Boat safari and guided walking safari in Nyerere
- All meals, bottled water and all transfers
Excluded
- International flights and Tanzania visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance
- Optional hot air balloon safari
- Drinks, laundry and personal purchases
- Tips for guides and camp staff
Accommodation
Thirteen nights on full board across six areas. In the Serengeti the four nights are usually split between two camps in different sectors, which is the point of a longer itinerary.
Southern camps are smaller and more remote, with camp-based guiding rather than a travelling guide. We can hold the tier consistent across the trip or concentrate the budget on the Serengeti and crater rim nights, which is what most guests choose.
FAQs
Is fourteen days too long for a safari?
It is long, and the change of region halfway through is what prevents fatigue. Guests who do fourteen days in a single circuit often tire of it. Splitting north and south, with a flight between them, keeps it fresh.
Can I swap the southern week for Zanzibar?
Yes, and a fair number of guests do. That produces something close to our bush to beach itinerary with an extra Serengeti night. Tell us which you would prefer and we will price both.
Why four Serengeti nights?
Because it allows two sectors. One sector for four nights becomes repetitive; two sectors of two nights each shows you how different the north, centre and south of the park actually are.
When is the best time for a fourteen day trip?
June to October works everywhere including the south, which is the deciding factor. January and February are excellent in the north for calving but less reliable in the south, where several camps close from around March to May.
Will I see the big five on this trip?
Lion, elephant, buffalo and leopard are all realistically possible on the northern circuit, and rhino are seen in the Ngorongoro Crater with reasonable frequency though usually at distance. No operator can guarantee sightings of wild animals and we will not pretend otherwise.
Is a private vehicle included?
Road-based itineraries use a private 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof, exclusively for your party, with a guaranteed window seat. Fly-in itineraries use camp-based vehicles shared with a small number of other guests, and a private vehicle can be added at extra cost.
What should I pack for a safari?
Neutral coloured layers, a warm fleece for early morning game drives, sun protection, binoculars and a camera with more storage than you expect to need. Soft-sided bags are required on any itinerary involving light aircraft, where the limit is typically 15 kilograms.
How much should I budget for tips?
Guidance rather than obligation: around 20 to 30 US dollars per vehicle per day for the driver-guide, and 5 to 10 dollars per guest per day for camp staff, pooled. We will give you a specific breakdown for your itinerary before departure.
How far in advance should I book 14-Day Ultimate Grand Tanzania Wildlife Circuit?
For peak months, meaning July to October and the Christmas and New Year period, six to twelve months ahead. Camps and mountain permits in those windows genuinely sell out. For green season travel, two to three months is usually sufficient.
Can this itinerary be customised?
Yes. Every itinerary we publish is a starting point. Days can be added or removed, accommodation tiers changed, internal flights substituted for road transfers, and extensions to Zanzibar or the southern parks attached. Tell us the constraint and we will build around it.
