Northern vs Southern Safari Circuit
Safaris · 2026-06-18 · 6 min read
Two very different trips
Tanzania's safari industry is built around two circuits. The northern circuit is famous, busy and easy to reach. The southern circuit is larger, wilder and far quieter. Neither is better - they suit different travellers.
Northern circuit at a glance
- Parks: Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, Lake Manyara
- Access: short flights or a drive from Arusha, close to Kilimanjaro airport
- Best for: first-time visitors, the Great Migration, crater scenery
- Trade-off: the highest visitor numbers and peak-season prices
Southern circuit at a glance
- Parks: Nyerere (Selous), Ruaha, Mikumi
- Access: road or light aircraft from Dar es Salaam
- Best for: boat safaris, wild dog, low-density wilderness
- Trade-off: longer transfers and fewer lodges to choose from
How to choose
- If the Great Migration is the goal, go north and pick the season carefully.
- If you want to see hardly another vehicle, go south.
- If you are combining safari with Kilimanjaro, the north is the natural fit.
- If you are combining safari with Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar, the south keeps you closer.
You can do both. Dar es Salaam to Ruaha or Nyerere is a short flight, so a north-then-south trip is only a little more complex to plan.