The short answer
The northern circuit — Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Lake Manyara — is Tanzania’s classic, with the migration, the crater and easy road links from Arusha. The southern circuit — Ruaha and Nyerere — is wilder and far quieter, with walking and boat safaris reached by light aircraft. First-timers usually choose the north; returning travellers fall for the south.
Key facts
- North
- Migration, crater, drive or fly
- South
- Walking, boats, fly-in
- Best months north
- All year
- Best months south
- June – October
The northern circuit
Arusha is the gateway, with international flights into Kilimanjaro Airport. Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro are linked by good roads, and the Serengeti can be reached by road or a short flight. This is where you find the Great Migration and the crater’s black rhino, and the widest choice of lodges at every price point.
The southern circuit
Ruaha and Nyerere are vast, remote and lightly visited. You fly in from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar, walk with armed rangers, glide past hippos by boat and often spend a whole morning without seeing another vehicle. The dry season, June to October, is best; several camps close in the long rains.
Combining both
With 12–14 days, a north–south combination is the most complete safari Tanzania offers: migration and crater in the north, walking and boating in the south, and the beach on Zanzibar as an easy finish.
Questions, answered
Which circuit is cheaper?
The north has the widest range of prices and can be done by road. The south relies on flights and has fewer lodges, so it is usually similar to or slightly more than a comparable northern trip.
Published 24 September 2026 · Updated 1 October 2026
