Arusha Hostel
Hostel
Day 1
Crater & Serengeti — 6 days (Arusha, Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Crater floor & Ndutu)
Eight days on the northern circuit, flying out. Six days without Tarangire, in lodges outside the Ngorongoro gate and driving back rather than flying.
Dust & Thorn
Runs this trip
Wildlife safari
Eight days on the northern circuit, flying out
Group Tour
Join a fixed-date departure with other travellers
Top Highlights
ArushaEight days on the northern circuit — Tarangire, the crater, and the Serengeti, which this catalogue somehow did not have. Tarangire riverIn the dry season the Tarangire river is the only water for miles and the elephant numbers along it are the highest in northern Tanzania. Ngorongoro rimThe rim is 2,300 m and cold at night. Crater floorVehicles are limited to six hours on the floor and the descent road is one-way. Olduvai GorgeOlduvai is where the Leakeys found the hominin material that pushed human origins back by a million years, and the road runs past it. Seronera riverThe Seronera valley holds resident lion and one of the highest leopard densities anywhere — the kopjes and the river figs are where they… Fly back to Arusha, and outFlying out saves a full day of driving back the way you came, and the view over the crater on the way is worth the fare.
Itinerary
Eight days on the northern circuit — Tarangire, the crater, and the Serengeti, which this catalogue somehow did not have.
ArushaHow the day runs
- 1 hrsTransfer from Kilimanjaro airport
- MealsDinner
- AccommodationArusha Hostel
Included Activities
- Airport transfer
- Lodge night
- Safari briefing
LANDMARKS Arusha Mount Meru Start point Arusha, Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), Arusha 00:00 - 23:59In the dry season the Tarangire river is the only water for miles and the elephant numbers along it are the highest in northern Tanzania.
Arusha, TarangireHow the day runs
- 3 hrs7:30 AM — south-west to the park
- 5 hrs10:30 AM — the river circuit with a packed lunch
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- AccommodationTarangire Hostel
Included Activities
- Park fees
- Lodge with all meals
LANDMARKS Tarangire river Baobabs Elephant herds The rim is 2,300 m and cold at night. The floor is six hundred metres below and about twenty kilometres across.
Tarangire, NgorongoroHow the day runs
- 4 hrs8:00 AM — west and up onto the highlands
- 2:00 PM — the rim viewpoint, which is where the scale lands
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- AccommodationNgorongoro Hostel
Included Activities
- Conservation area fees
- Rim lodge with all meals
LANDMARKS Ngorongoro rim Crater viewpoint Highland forest Vehicles are limited to six hours on the floor and the descent road is one-way. It is the most reliable place left to see black rhino.
Ngorongoro, Crater floorHow the day runs
- 6 hrs6:00 AM — down the descent road at opening
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- AccommodationNgorongoro Hostel
Included Activities
- Crater descent fee
- Rim lodge with all meals
LANDMARKS Crater floor Lerai forest Black rhino Lake Magadi Olduvai is where the Leakeys found the hominin material that pushed human origins back by a million years, and the road runs past it.
Ngorongoro, Ndutu, SeroneraHow the day runs
- 3 hrs7:30 AM — west past the Olduvai gorge turn
- 5 hrs11:30 AM — the drive north, which is the game drive
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- AccommodationSeronera Hostel
Included Activities
- Park fees
- Camp with all meals
LANDMARKS Olduvai Gorge Short-grass plains Seronera The Seronera valley holds resident lion and one of the highest leopard densities anywhere — the kopjes and the river figs are where they are.
SeroneraHow the day runs
- 4 hrs6:00 AM — the morning circuit along the river
- 3 hrs3:30 PM — the kopjes in the afternoon
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- AccommodationSeronera Hostel
Included Activities
- Two drives
- Camp with all meals
LANDMARKS Seronera river Kopjes Leopard Lion prides The migration is not an event, it is a continuous circuit — where it is depends entirely on when you come, and the guides follow it rather than promise it.
Seronera, NdutuHow the day runs
- 10 hrs6:00 AM — a full day towards wherever the migration is
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- AccommodationSeronera Hostel
Included Activities
- Full-day drive
- Camp with all meals
LANDMARKS Migration herds Short-grass plains Ndutu Flying out saves a full day of driving back the way you came, and the view over the crater on the way is worth the fare.
Seronera, ArushaHow the day runs
- 2 hrs10:00 AM — the airstrip hop back
- 1 hrs12:30 PM — on to Kilimanjaro airport
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationNot included — onward travel
Included Activities
- Domestic flight and transfer
- Day 1Airport transfer
- Day 1Lodge night
- Day 1Safari briefing
- Day 2Park fees
- Day 2Lodge with all meals
- Day 3Conservation area fees
- Day 3Rim lodge with all meals
- Day 4Crater descent fee
- Day 5Camp with all meals
- Day 6Two drives
- Day 7Full-day drive
- Day 8Domestic flight and transfer
- Day 1 · 1 nightArusha Hostel
- Day 2 · 1 nightTarangire Hostel
- Day 3 · 2 nightsNgorongoro Hostel
- Day 5 · 3 nightsSeronera Hostel
- Day 1Arusha to ArushaTransfer from Kilimanjaro airport
- Day 2Arusha to Tarangire7:30 AM — south-west to the park
- Day 3Tarangire to Ngorongoro8:00 AM — west and up onto the highlands
- Day 5Ngorongoro to Ndutu7:30 AM — west past the Olduvai gorge turn
- Day 8Seronera to Arusha10:00 AM — the airstrip hop back
- Day 8Arusha to Arusha12:30 PM — on to Kilimanjaro airport
Where you'll stay
All accommodations are subject to change
Tarangire Hostel
Hostel
Day 2
Ngorongoro Hostel
Hostel
Days 3, 4
Seronera Hostel
Hostel
Days 5–7
What you'll eat
7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 dinners across 8 days, at camp. It opens with dinner on day 1 and closes with breakfast on day 8.
- DinnerServed on days 1–7
- BreakfastServed on days 2–8
- LunchServed on days 2–7
20 meal services named in the itinerary. Vegetarian and vegan covered; Jain, gluten-free and allergies on notice at booking
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Customer reviews
Overall rating
4.5/5
Based on 10 reviews
Review summary
Food4.3/5
Guide4.2/5
Itinerary4.7/5
Transport4.4/5
Accommodation3.9/5
Tour operator4.5/5
Sort by:Recommended
4
K
Karan Shah – Bengaluru2025-11-26 · Verified booking
Early starts, but that's where the wildlife is. Well run. Recommended.
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4
N
Nina Hoffmann – Dubai2025-11-26 · Verified booking
Excellent sightings and the guides clearly knew the area. Solid operator.
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5
R
Rahul Menon – Mumbai2025-11-26 · Verified booking
Early starts, but that's where the wildlife is. Well run. Nothing fancy about the beds, and nothing wrong with them either. Worth every rupee.
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4
V
Vikram Bose – Jaipur2025-11-26 · Verified booking
Excellent sightings and the guides clearly knew the area. Recommended.
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5
D
Daniel Okafor – Dubai2025-11-26 · Verified booking
Northern Tanzania was quieter than I expected and the camp was comfortable. Dorms were tidy and the common areas were where the group actually gelled. Never went hungry, and the tea appeared exactly when it was needed.
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5
M
Meera Iyer – Delhi2025-07-20 · Verified booking
Northern Tanzania was quieter than I expected and the camp was comfortable. Crew were professional without being stiff about it. No hesitation recommending them.
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4
R
Rohit Verma – Indore2025-07-20 · Verified booking
Early starts, but that's where the wildlife is. Well run. Worth every rupee.
Reply from Dust & Thorn
Appreciate the honest feedback; we're looking at the pacing on that section.
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5
C
Carla Mendes – Melbourne2025-07-20 · Verified booking
Early starts, but that's where the wildlife is. Well run. Hostel nights are basic but clean, and that's what the price says. Recommended.
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Questions people ask
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