Long-haul
Tanzania safari: the Serengeti, Ngorongoro and the Great Migration
More than a million wildebeest on the move, and a volcanic crater full of lions and rhinos. How to plan a Tanzania safari, with the route, the seasons and the lodges along the way.
Serengeti roughly means “endless plains” in the Maasai language, and it is no exaggeration. You drive for hours seeing nothing but grass, acacias and animals in every direction. Then a kopje appears, a pile of granite boulders, and on top a lioness lies in the sun.
Tanzania may be the best safari country in Africa. It has both the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, and one of the largest animal migrations on earth. Here is the route, the seasons and where to stay.
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The northern circuit: a typical Tanzania safari
Most trips start in Arusha, a short drive from Kilimanjaro International Airport. From there the classic route heads west.
Tarangire: baobab trees and big elephant herds, especially in the dry season.
Lake Manyara: a shallow lake with birdlife and forest along its edge.
Ngorongoro Crater: one of the largest intact volcanic calderas in the world, with wildlife on the crater floor all year.
Serengeti: the great plains, with the migration and some of Africa’s densest lion populations.
A good route is two nights in Arusha or Karatu, two nights at the crater and three to four nights in the Serengeti. Many people fly from the Serengeti back to Arusha to avoid the long drive.
Book the experience: See safari tours from Arusha
Where to stay on a Tanzania safari
The lodges sit where the animals are, but they are very different. Some perch on the crater rim with views straight down into Ngorongoro, others sit in the middle of the Serengeti plains.
Arusha
Gran Meliá Arusha sits in green surroundings on the edge of town.
Arusha: Gran Meliá Arusha
Most travellers spend their first and last night in Arusha. Gran Meliá is on the edge of town, with a pool, gardens and several restaurants, and it is a calm place to land after the flight.
Guests praise the staff, and it is a good place to leave your luggage while you are on safari.
Book your lodge: See rooms at Gran Meliá Arusha
Ngorongoro
Ngorongoro Serena sits on the rim of the crater.
Ngorongoro: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
The lodge is built of stone into the crater rim, and the rooms look straight down to the crater floor. In the morning the mist lies like a lid over the crater before it lifts.
It is a short drive down to the floor, so you can be among the first vehicles in the morning.
Book your lodge: See rooms at Ngorongoro Serena
Karatu: Neptune Ngorongoro Luxury Lodge
For something greener and quieter, Neptune Ngorongoro sits in the hills around Karatu, between Lake Manyara and the crater. The cottages have fireplaces and private terraces, and there is a spa.
It is a longer drive to the crater, but you get more space and a good base for both Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro.
Book your lodge: See rooms at Neptune Ngorongoro
Serengeti
Four Seasons Safari Lodge sits in the central Serengeti.
Serengeti: Four Seasons Safari Lodge
The central Serengeti around Seronera has wildlife all year and is the safest choice if you do not want to gamble on the migration being exactly where you are. The lodge overlooks a waterhole, and elephants often wander past the pool.
After a long day of game drives there is a spa, several restaurants and a deck looking out over the plains.
Book your lodge: See rooms at Four Seasons Safari Lodge
When can you see the Great Migration?
The migration moves in a great loop through the year, driven by rain and grass. Around January and February the herds are in the southern Serengeti, where the calves are born. Towards summer they move north, and from roughly July to October they cross the Mara River on the Kenyan border.
The dry season from June to October is high season and the easiest time for a safari. The long rains in April and May are green and quiet, and many lodges close.
When should you book?
July to October: book six to twelve months ahead, the best camps in the north fill up early.
Calving season in February: popular, ideally book half a year ahead.
Add a beach: fly from the Serengeti or Arusha on to Zanzibar.
Check entry requirements, visas and health advice for Tanzania well before you travel.
Tanzania safari FAQ
When is the best time for a Tanzania safari?
June to October is the dry season and high season, when animals are easiest to see. For the Mara River crossings travel between July and October. The calving season in the southern Serengeti is around January and February.
How many days do I need for a Tanzania safari?
Seven to ten days gives time for Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Crater and three to four nights in the Serengeti. With only five days, focus on the crater and the Serengeti.
Can you see the Big Five in the Ngorongoro Crater?
Yes, the crater is one of the few places in East Africa where you have a good chance of seeing all five, including black rhino. The animals live on the crater floor all year.
Is the Serengeti or the Masai Mara better?
They are the same ecosystem on either side of the border. The Serengeti is much larger and hosts the migration for most of the year, while the Masai Mara is smaller, easier to reach and has the river crossings from July to October.
Where should I stay on a Tanzania safari?
Spend a night or two in Arusha, for example at Gran Meliá Arusha, then stay on the crater rim at Ngorongoro Serena and finish in the Serengeti, for example at Four Seasons Safari Lodge.