8 Days Nothern Circuit
This honeymoon is designed for couples who want iconic wildlife without rushing. You’ll start with the wide-open magic of the Serengeti, timing game drives for golden-hour moments, big cats, and those “just us and the plains” views. A romantic highlight can be added with a sunrise balloon safari and champagne breakfast. Next comes Ngorongoro Crater, where wildlife is dense and sightings are fast-paced-lions, elephants, hippos, and a strong chance of rare encounters. You finish in Karatu, the calm green highlands: coffee estates, fresh air, quieter lodges, spa time, and slow mornings perfect for reconnecting before heading
Click any destination to explore it on the map.
Multiple parks, several days -- and no wasted transfers. Every drive doubles as a game drive.
03°22′S 36°41′ETouch down at JRO/Arusha and meet your private guide for a smooth transfer to your lodge. The first day is all about slowing down freshen up, enjoy the gardens or pool, and toast the start of your honeymoon with sunset drinks. Later, settle into a relaxed dinner and an early night so you wake up refreshed for safari.
02°20′S 34°40′ETravel to the Serengeti today either fly-in for maximum comfort and time on the plains, or drive via the Ngorongoro Highlands for scenic viewpoints along the way. After arrival and check-in, head straight out for your first Serengeti game drive. Expect classic savannah scenes, early big-cat chances, and a golden-hour sunset that feels made for honeymoon photos. Return to camp for a cozy dinner under the stars
02°19′S 34°37′EWake up to the sounds of the bush and head into Seronera, one of the Serengeti’s best wildlife areas. Today is all about a relaxed, romantic rhythm track lions and cheetah in the morning, enjoy a picnic lunch in the wild (or return to camp for a softer midday break), then continue in the late afternoon when predators become active again. With rivers, kopjes, and open plains, you’ll have endless photo moments plus time to simply enjoy being together out in the wilderness.
02°21′S 34°40′EStart pre-dawn for the optional hot air balloon safari, floating over the plains as the sun rises then celebrate with a champagne bush breakfast, one of the most iconic honeymoon moments in Tanzania. Later, enjoy a relaxed afternoon at camp (pool, nap, or just quiet time together), then head out again when the light turns golden for an easy sunset game drive before dinner under the stars
03°13′S 35°31′EAfter breakfast, begin your scenic journey toward the Ngorongoro Highlands with game viewing en-route you never know what you’ll catch on the way out of Serengeti. As you climb into the cooler highlands, the landscape changes from open plains to green hills and misty viewpoints. Arrive in time to enjoy fresh crater air, a calm evening, and a romantic night with highland views.
03°11′S 35°35′EDescend early into Ngorongoro Crater while the wildlife is most active. Expect a high-density safari day—lion pride encounters, elephants, hippos, hyenas, and a strong rhino chance (sightings depend on luck and timing). After a picnic lunch inside the crater, drive to Karatu for a softer evening in the coffee highlands—perfect for honeymoon calm after an exciting day.
03°20′S 35°40′EToday is intentionally slow. Enjoy a guided coffee tour (from bean to cup), a farm-to-table lunch, and relaxed lodge time spa, gardens, pool, or just quiet honeymoon hours. Optional add-ons include Lake Manyara viewpoints for scenery and photos, or a short cultural stop for a gentle local touch without making the day feel busy.
03°23′S 36°41′EAfter breakfast, drive back to Arusha for your onward flight. If you want to end your honeymoon on the beach, this is the perfect connection day to Zanzibar for a few nights of oceanfront relaxation.
Optional extras to add to your honeymoon, including a beach finish.
A sunrise flight over the plains and a champagne breakfast in the bush. Weather-dependent and booked in advance.
A light-aircraft flight from Arusha instead of the road saves most of day 2 for game viewing.
A short visit to Lake Manyara from Karatu, for the lake views and birdlife, if you want something more on the quiet day.
Fly from Arusha to Zanzibar on day 8 and spend a few nights on the coast before flying home from there.
The plains of the Serengeti, the crater, and quiet days in the coffee highlands.
The Serengeti is a vast area of open plains, kopjes and rivers. The Seronera area in its centre has lions, leopards and cheetahs all year, and the great herds pass through it during the year.
The crater is a large collapsed volcano with grassland, swamp and a soda lake on its floor. It holds a dense population of animals, including lions, elephants, hippos and black rhino.
Karatu is a farming town in the green highlands between Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater. The area is known for its coffee estates and cooler air.
The wildebeest and zebra herds circle the Serengeti through the year, spending the wet months on the southern plains and the dry months in the far north. This route spends three nights in the central Serengeti, so how near the herds are depends on the month of your honeymoon.
Price on request — contact us for a quote for this trip.
The dry season brings clear skies, cool mornings and easy driving. Seronera in the central Serengeti has resident lions, leopards and cheetahs all year, and in the dry season they are easier to find. Karatu and the crater rim are cool and fresh in the evenings.
The country is green and the migration is usually on the southern Serengeti plains, within reach of the route on day 2 or day 5. Days are warm and showers usually pass quickly. A good option if you are marrying in the northern winter.
The long rains bring heavy storms and some lodges close for a few weeks. Prices are lower and the parks are quiet, but a honeymoon tends to suffer more from lost afternoons than most trips.
Fly into Kilimanjaro International (JRO). Day 1 is only the transfer to your lodge in Arusha and an evening of rest, so any arrival time works, even late at night. On day 2 you either fly to the Serengeti from Arusha or drive there through the Ngorongoro Highlands.
Day 8 is the drive from Karatu back to Arusha, about 140 km, then on to JRO. An afternoon or evening flight works well. If you are adding Zanzibar, this is the day to fly to the coast from Arusha instead. Most passports need a Tanzania visa. Apply online at the official immigration portal well before you travel rather than queueing on arrival.
Day 1 is only arrival and sunset drinks in Arusha, so you start the safari rested rather than straight off a long flight.
Days 2 to 4 give you the plains at an unhurried pace, with time for long breakfasts, a balloon flight and the golden-hour drives.
After a full early morning on the crater floor on day 6, you are only 25 km from Karatu, so the evening is quiet and the next day is yours.
Day 7 has no game drive. A coffee tour, the spa or simply time at the lodge before you head home.
Answers to common questions about this honeymoon safari.
Tell us when you would like to travel and we will send you a tailored quotation.
