Serengeti
Vast, and the reason most people come. It needs four days at least to be more than a long drive — but it is the one that stays with you.
Northern Tanzania
Tanzania safari
The Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire — all within reach of Arusha, where most climbs begin and end.
You have already done the hard part: getting to northern Tanzania. The parks are the short part of the journey.
The northern circuit parks sit on the same side of Tanzania as Kilimanjaro. Most climbers fly halfway around the world, summit, and go straight home without seeing any of it.
After a week of walking, several days in a vehicle with somebody else driving is close to ideal recovery — and you are already in the country.
Closer than it looks
The northern parks are on the same side of Tanzania as Kilimanjaro, within reach of Arusha. You have already made the long journey; this is the short one.
Recovery with a view
After a week of walking and one very long night, several days in a vehicle with somebody else driving is close to ideal — and you still see everything.
Something to think about
Park fees are charged per person, per day, exactly as on the mountain. And if the migration matters to you, it decides when you climb — so decide early.
Trip lengths
How long to add
Every extra day buys less driving and more time in one place. These are the lengths that make sense after a climb.
The minimum worth doing
2 days
Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater
Less driving each day
3 days
Adds Lake Manyara, or more time in the crater
The first length at which the Serengeti works
4 days
Reaches the Serengeti
Migration timing or photography
5+ days
The Serengeti properly, with time in one area
Places to visit
Where to go
Four parks on the northern circuit, all within reach of Arusha — the same town most climbs start from.
Ngorongoro Crater
A collapsed caldera about twenty kilometres across, with animals living on the crater floor all year. A great deal to see in a single day.
Lake Manyara
A groundwater forest, a soda lake with flamingos when the water suits, and good birdlife. Usually added as a half day.
Tarangire
Baobabs and big elephant herds, with far fewer vehicles. Often the first stop, and often the one people enjoyed most.
When to go
Month by month
The dry months overlap with the best climbing windows, which is the other reason a safari fits so neatly after the mountain. The rains shift a little every year, so treat this as a guide.
- Dry, usually easiest for game
- Short rains or changing
- Long rains
January
Short dry spell
Usually a drier break between the rains. The herds are typically on the southern Serengeti plains, where calving tends to begin.
February
Calving season
Often the peak of calving in the southern Serengeti, which brings predators with it. Warm, green and generally good for game.
March
Rains arriving
The long rains usually start during the month. Fewer vehicles, lush scenery, and some tracks that become harder going.
April
Long rains
Typically the wettest month. Some camps close and roads can be difficult. Quiet, green, and a gamble on the weather.
May
Long rains easing
The rains usually ease towards the end of the month and the herds start moving north-west.
June
Dry season begins
The long dry season begins. Grass shortens and animals gather near water, which makes them easier to find.
July
Dry season
Dry and cool. The herds are usually moving through the western and northern Serengeti. A busy month in the parks.
August
Dry season
Dry, clear and busy. In the far north of the Serengeti the herds are often crossing rivers.
September
Dry season
Still dry, often very good for game viewing, and a little quieter than August.
October
Late dry season
The end of the long dry season. Dusty, warm, and animals concentrated around the remaining water.
November
Short rains
The short rains usually arrive as afternoon showers. The herds tend to start moving back south.
December
Short rains
Showers that rarely last all day, green landscapes, and the herds usually returning to the southern plains.
Wildlife
What you are likely to see, and where
No guide can promise a sighting. These are the animals and landscapes each park is best known for.
Elephant
Tarangire, in big herds
Lion
Serengeti and the crater
Wildebeest
Serengeti, moving with the rains
Zebra
Serengeti, alongside the herds
Flamingo
Lake Manyara, when the water suits
Baobab country
Tarangire’s landscape
Planning guides
Read before you go
Travel insurance for Kilimanjaro
Standard policies do not cover 5,895 m. Check the altitude clause.
Flights, JRO airport and transfers
Kilimanjaro International sits between Moshi and Arusha.
After your climb
Recovery, and the rest of Tanzania.
Climbing Mount Meru
Tanzania's second mountain, and the best acclimatisation climb before Kilimanjaro.
Safari after Kilimanjaro
You have already done the hard part. Two to five days, and the rest of Tanzania.
Serengeti
Open grassland to the horizon, resident big cats, and a migration that is somewhere in the...
Ngorongoro Crater
A collapsed volcano about twenty kilometres across, with animals living on its floor all y...
Tarangire
Baobabs, big elephant herds and far fewer vehicles — the nearest northern park to Arusha.
Lake Manyara
Forest, grassland and a soda lake beneath the Rift Valley wall, on the road to the crater.
Tanzania safari
Frequently asked questions
How many days should I add for a safari?
Two days covers Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater and is the minimum worth doing. Four days is the first length at which the Serengeti is more than a long drive. Five or more lets you stay in one area and time it around the migration.
Should the safari come before or after the climb?
After, for two reasons. A safari is mostly sitting down, which is what your body wants after the mountain. And climbers who go straight from a comfortable lodge to the high camps generally find the adjustment harder. If you are adding Mount Meru for acclimatisation, Meru comes first and the safari still comes last.
Do I need a rest day between the mountain and the safari?
If you can. One night is enough, and you will value it.
What do I need to pack for the safari?
Almost nothing new. Light clothing, a hat and sunscreen — all of which you already have for the lower slopes of the mountain.
When is the best time to see the migration?
There is no single moment. The migration is a continuous movement, and where the herds are depends on the month and on that year’s rains. Use the month-by-month guide above as a starting point, and tell us what you want to see so we can plan the climb around it.
Why are park fees such a large part of the cost?
Tanzania’s national parks and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area charge per person, per day — exactly as Kilimanjaro National Park does. It is why a longer safari costs noticeably more, and why the choice of parks matters.
Can I arrange the safari after I finish climbing?
It is possible, but it is usually more expensive and less good than booking it with the climb, when the dates, transfers and rest day can be planned together.