Choosing a safari route

The northern circuit

The northern circuit is the route most first-time visitors take: the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, and Lake Manyara. The Serengeti is widely associated with open plains and, in season, with the wildebeest migration; the Ngorongoro Crater is a distinct caldera managed by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority. The national parks are managed by Tanzania National Parks.

The migration is a natural movement whose timing varies year to year, so treat any month you read as indicative rather than a schedule.

Verify at source: Park status and access through Tanzania National Parks, and crater rules through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority.

The southern and western parks

The south and west — areas such as Nyerere and Ruaha, and further west Katavi and Mahale — tend to be larger, more remote, and quieter, and are often reached by light aircraft. They suit travellers who want fewer vehicles or a second, different trip rather than a first quick sampler.

Verify at source: Which authority manages a specific park and its current access through Tanzania National Parks.

How to narrow it down

If it is your first safari and you want the recognisable highlights, the northern circuit is the usual choice. If you want remoteness and fewer crowds, the south or west is worth researching, with the trade-off of more flying. And if you plan to add Kilimanjaro or Zanzibar, factor that into the route — the sequencing page covers it.