Getting around — Northern

The Northern Circuit revolves around two complementary transport modes: 4x4 and internal Cessna flights.

The 4x4 Land Cruiser with driver-guide is the foundation of every northern safari. Vehicles, usually customised Land Cruiser 70 or 78 with open roof, come with a certified driver-guide and fuel for €60-100/day (excluding accommodation and park fees). Distances between parks are significant: Arusha → Tarangire 130 km (2h30), Tarangire → Manyara 120 km (2h30), Manyara → Ngorongoro Lodge 90 km (2 hrs), Ngorongoro → Seronera (central Serengeti) 145 km (4 hrs), Seronera → Lobo (north) 75 km (2h30), Lobo → Mara River 60 km (2 hrs). On a pure transfer day, you rarely cover more than 4-5 hours of effective track plus photo stops.

Internal Cessna 208 flights are the great accelerator of the circuit. Three companies cover the network: Coastal Aviation, Auric Air, and Regional Air Services. Serengeti bush airstrips (Seronera, Lobo, Kogatende, Kusini, Ndutu) are served several times a day. Count on 200-400 USD per segment depending on distance. The recommended formula for 8 days and more: 4x4 outbound (Arusha → Tarangire → Manyara → Ngorongoro → central Serengeti), Cessna return (Serengeti → Arusha or Serengeti → Zanzibar directly via Dar es Salaam).

Entry fees are the big budget variable. 2026 rates for non-resident adults: Tarangire 53 USD/day, Lake Manyara 53 USD/day, Ngorongoro 70.80 USD/day + 295 USD crater fee per vehicle to descend into the crater, Serengeti 70 USD/day. Tanzanian VAT (18%) has been applied since 2022 across all safari services. For a 7-day Northern Circuit, park fees alone represent 500-700 USD/person.

Local operators are numerous and quality varies enormously. The most established (Asilia, Nomad Tanzania, &Beyond, Wayo Africa, Tanganyika Expeditions, Roy Safaris) offer a high level of service with experienced guides and quality camps. Budget operators (Shrike Safari, Tanzania Bush Camps, Wild Tanzania) are 30-50% cheaper and remain acceptable for a first safari without luxury demands. Book through a serious European broker or directly with a referenced local operator — beware abnormally low prices that often hide degraded services.