6-Day Northern Circuit Camping Safari

Arusha → Lake Manyara → Serengeti → Ngorongoro → Arusha, Tanzania

This is the sweet spot for budget travelers who want real wildlife viewing without the price tag of lodges. You get Lake Manyara's groundwater forest and flamingos, two full days in the Serengeti, and a crater floor game drive in Ngorongoro. You sleep in public campsites with basic facilities. The vehicle is a shared 4x4 with a pop-up roof. Your guide cooks your meals. No lodge prices. No frills. Just wildlife.

Why This Camping Safari

Camping is the most affordable way to see the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. You're sleeping under the African sky, not in a hotel room. You're closer to the wildlife. The campsites are basic but safe, with shared toilets and cold showers. Your guide does the cooking.

This 6-day version gives you more time than the standard 4-day camping safari. You get a full day in Lake Manyara, two full days in the Serengeti, and a full morning in the crater. The extra day means you're not rushing. You can actually sit and watch a lion pride without having to drive to the next campsite. No middleman. No hidden fees. You're booking directly with the people who drive the truck.

Tour Features & Specifications

6 Days / 5 Nights

Group Safari (2 – 7 Guests)

Shared 4x4 Land Cruiser

Public Campsites

Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

English-Speaking Guide

Unlimited Bottled Water

Crater & Serengeti Game Drives

Free Arusha Hotel Pickup

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Your guide picks you up at your Arusha hotel around 8:00 AM. The drive to Lake Manyara takes about two hours. Lake Manyara is different from the other Northern Circuit parks. It has groundwater forest, acacia woodland, and a soda lake. You'll drive through the forest looking for baboons, monkeys, and elephants. Then you'll open up to the lake area where flamingos, pelicans, and hippos gather. Look for tree-climbing lions (they're common here). Overnight at a public campsite near Mto wa Mbu. Meals: Lunch & dinner.

After breakfast, you drive toward the Serengeti. The route takes you through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The landscape changes from acacia woodland to highland plains to open savannah. You enter the Serengeti through the Naabi Hill Gate. Your first game drive in the park focuses on finding big cats and large herbivore herds. The guide will set up camp at a public campsite in Central Serengeti. Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

You leave camp at sunrise, when predators are most active. The guide knows the territory and will take you to areas where lions are known to hunt and where leopards rest in the trees. The afternoon is spent on the plains tracking wildebeest and zebra herds. If you're visiting during the migration months, the herds can stretch to the horizon. Packed lunch in the bush. Return to camp for dinner. Overnight at Central Serengeti campsite. Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

A second full day in the Serengeti gives you flexibility. You can explore a different section of the park or return to areas where you saw interesting wildlife. The Serengeti is massive, and one day is never enough. Your guide will plan the day based on what you want to see and where the wildlife is moving. If the Great Migration is in the area, you'll spend the day tracking the herds. Overnight at Central Serengeti campsite. Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

After breakfast, enjoy a morning game drive while leaving Serengeti. Continue toward Ngorongoro and reach the crater area later in the day. You'll camp at a public campsite on the crater rim or in Karatu. The views from the rim are spectacular. Overnight at Ngorongoro public campsite. Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

You leave the campsite early to descend into the Ngorongoro Crater. The crater floor is 600 meters below the rim and contains grassland, woodland, and several water sources. In a single morning, you can see elephants, buffaloes, lions, hippos, hyenas, and the endangered black rhino. The crater is one of the few places in Tanzania where you have a good chance of seeing rhino. After a picnic lunch inside the crater, you ascend and drive back to Arusha. Drop-off at your hotel or the airport. Meals: Breakfast & lunch.

Best Time to Visit the Northern Circuit

The Northern Circuit is accessible year-round. The dry season is the best time for wildlife viewing, but the green season has its own advantages.

June to October: Dry season. The roads are dry, the grass is shorter, and wildlife is easier to spot. This is the best time for game viewing in the Serengeti and Lake Manyara.
November to May: Green season. The landscape is lush and green. Fewer tourists, lower rates. The calving season in the southern Serengeti happens between January and February.
January to February: Calving season in the southern Serengeti. Over 500,000 wildebeest calves are born in a few weeks. Predators are active and visible.
July to September: Great Migration river crossings in the northern Serengeti. Wildebeest and zebras cross the Mara River, often with crocodiles waiting below.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in the $1,800 per person price?

Park fees, Ngorongoro Crater entry fee, shared 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof, professional English-speaking guide, public campsites, full board meals, unlimited bottled water, and free Arusha hotel pickup. International flights, camping gear, and personal expenses are not included.

Is this a private or group safari?

This is a group safari. You share the vehicle with other travelers, but the group is small (2-7 people). The vehicle is not shared with strangers outside your group.

What type of vehicle do you use?

We use custom-built Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4s with pop-up roofs. The vehicles have fridges, charging ports, and upgraded suspension for rough roads.

What are the campsites like?

You stay in public campsites with shared toilets and cold showers. You sleep in your own tent (which you bring or rent). Your guide cooks your meals. The campsites are safe and located inside or near the parks.

Do I need to bring my own camping gear?

You can bring your own tent and sleeping bag, or you can rent gear from us. Contact us for rental rates and availability.

Can I add a Zanzibar beach extension to this safari?

Yes. Many travelers combine a Northern Circuit safari with a Zanzibar beach holiday. Contact us for a combined quote and itinerary.

Explore More Safaris

Looking for a different style or a longer trip? Check out these related safaris:

3-Day Serengeti Safari

7-Day Northern Circuit Lodge Safari

4-Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro Safari

5-Day Tarangire & Serengeti Mid-Range Safari

8-Day Northern Circuit Safari

8-Day Southern Tanzania Safari

Extend with Zanzibar Beach Holiday

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Booking & Payment Conditions

Pickup from Arusha hotel, JRO Airport, or Kilimanjaro Airport.

10% Low-Season discount available (April–May & November–early December).

Comprehensive vehicle and spectator insurance included.

Supported Direct Payments

6-Day Northern Circuit Camping Safari

Arusha → Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara → Serengeti National Park

Full Day Game Drive in Serengeti