Tarangire National Park * Lake Natron * Serengeti National Park * Ngorongoro Crater
Hidden Tanzania with Lake Natron is an adventurous and richly rewarding journey through Northern Tanzania, Β designed for people who want more than a classic circuit safari. Alongside iconic wildlife destinations, this itinerary reveals the dramatic scenery and cultural textures that are often missed on fly-in safaris.
Travelling by road allows you to absorb the shifting landscapes of the Great Rift Valley, Maasai homelands and remote volcanic terrain around Lake Natron. It offers a genuine sense of place that air transfers simply cannot replicate. This is Tanzania experienced in depth.
Hidden Tanzania with Lake Natron at a Glance (9 nights):
- 2 nights Tarangire, Mbali Mbali Tarangire River Camp, Full Board & Activities
- 2 nights Lake Natron, Lake Natron Camp, Full Board & Activities
- 3 nights Northern Serengeti, Serengeti Wilderness Camp. Full Board & Activities
- 2 nights Ngorongoro Crater, Bougainvillea Safari Lodge or similar, Full Board & Activities
Β In Hidden Tanzania, you head via Lake Natron and the Rift Valley escarpment up to the northern reaches of the Serengeti. Not only is this scenic alternative route to the north. But it also allows you to break your safari with time for either adventure activities, hiking or relaxation at Lake Natron.
Β Important Note: Adding in a flight
This itinerary operates as a circular route from Arusha. It can be reconfigured to end in the Serengeti with a scheduled flight back to Arusha, though this involves an alternative routing to include the Ngorongoro earlier and also adds additional costs as the vehicle returns separately. So expect that the costs will change. Contact us for a quote.
Safari Description
Your safari begins with two nights in Tarangire National Park, staying at Mbali Mbali Tarangire River Camp or similar. Known for its majestic baobabs and large elephant herds, Tarangire offers a relaxed yet wildlife-rich introduction.
From here, journey north via the Rift Valley escarpment to Lake Natron, one of Tanzania’s most striking and lesser-visited landscapes. Set beneath the active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai, Lake Natron Camp provides a remote and atmospheric base. This pause in your safari allows time for guided walks to waterfalls, cultural encounters with Maasai communities, or simply absorbing the vast, otherworldly beauty of the soda lake β often tinged pink by flamingos.
Continuing up and over the Rift Valley escarpment, you reach the Northern Serengeti for three nights at Serengeti Wilderness Camp. This quieter region is particularly rewarding when the Great Migration moves through the central and northern plains, typically from mid-June to September and again in October. Vast horizons, river crossings (season permitting) and superb predator sightings define your time here.
The safari ends with two nights near the Ngorongoro Crater, staying at Bougainvillea Safari Lodge or similar. A descent into the Crater reveals one of Africa’s most concentrated wildlife environments β a fitting finale to a safari that has combined drama, scenery and substance.
Tailor-made options
As with nearly all our sample safaris, you can tailor this to suit you by adding nights where you wish. Including – probably – an overnight stay in Arusha at the start. But we will quote that when we know your flight arrangements.
As mentioned above, if you change the routing to fly back from the Serengeti, there will be additional (vehicle) costs, but it is possible.
Time of Year to visit
Given the routing and climate, this safari is best undertaken from mid-June to September, and also works well in May, June and October. Lake Natron can be extremely hot from November to April.
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Good to Know
- 9 nights: 2 Tarangire, 2 Lake Natron, 3 Northern Serengeti, 2 Ngorongoro
- Circular road safari from Arusha (alternative fly-back option available for a supplement)
- Best from mid-June to September; also good May, June and October
- Lake Natron can be extremely hot from November to April
- Pricing varies by group size (2, 4 or 6+ travellers). We show the price for 2 and 4 people below
- Pricing is indicative and based on peak season with typical seasonal variations
