Tanzania’s north-to-south overland self-drive is the most ambitious single-country road trip in East Africa. Beginning in Arusha in the north and ending in Dar es Salaam on the coast — covering Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara, Tarangire, the Dodoma corridor, Ruaha, and Nyerere — the full north-to-south Tanzania circuit covers approximately 2,800 to 3,200km of driving over 21 days. No comparable country in Africa offers this scale of connected wildlife-rich landscape accessible by hire vehicle on a single road trip. This guide provides the day-by-day itinerary, the fee breakdown for each park, the fuel logistics for remote sections, and the practical one-way vehicle hire considerations.
The 21-Day Route Overview
- Days 1-2: Arusha arrival, permit collection, Tarangire National Park (overnight campsite)
- Days 3-4: Lake Manyara National Park (1 night), tree-climbing lions, floodplain hippo
- Days 5-6: Ngorongoro Conservation Area (1 night inside the crater rim lodge or campsite)
- Days 7-9: Serengeti National Park — Central Seronera circuit (2 nights), Grumeti area if possible
- Day 10: Serengeti exit, overnight Karatu or Arusha (vehicle refuel and resupply)
- Days 11-12: Drive Arusha to Dodoma (430km, 6 hours) and on to Iringa (total 720km, 2 days)
- Days 13-15: Ruaha National Park (3 nights, river campsite or mid-range camp)
- Day 16: Ruaha exit, drive Iringa toward Mikumi
- Days 17-18: Mikumi National Park (1 night, park campsite) — lion, giraffe, elephant accessible from the highway
- Day 19: Drive from Mikumi south toward Kibiti (Nyerere approach road)
- Days 20-21: Nyerere National Park north gate (1 night Mtemere camp, Rufiji River boat safari), drive to Dar es Salaam (4 hours)
One-Way Vehicle Hire for Tanzania
A north-to-south Tanzania circuit is best handled as a one-way hire — pickup in Arusha, drop-off in Dar es Salaam. Most Arusha hire companies offer one-way hire with a drop fee of USD 200 to 400. The alternative is a circuit that returns to Arusha, adding 2,800km and 7 days. For a 21-day trip, confirm the one-way drop terms, the drop-off location in Dar (airport or city), and the mileage cap or unlimited mileage option. Unlimited mileage is essential for a Tanzania north-south circuit — the distance is too large for a daily kilometre cap to be cost-effective.
Park Entry Fees: Full North-South Circuit Estimate
- Tarangire 2 days: 2 adults USD 57 x 2 = USD 228 + vehicle USD 40 x 2 = USD 308
- Lake Manyara 1 day: USD 57 x 2 = USD 114 + vehicle USD 40 = USD 154
- NCA access fee: USD 70 x 2 adults x 2 days = USD 280 + vehicle USD 40 x 2 = USD 360
- Serengeti 3 days: USD 60 x 2 adults x 3 = USD 360 + vehicle USD 40 x 3 = USD 480
- Ruaha 3 days: USD 29 x 2 adults x 3 = USD 174 + vehicle USD 40 x 3 = USD 294
- Mikumi 1 day: USD 29 x 2 = USD 58 + vehicle USD 40 = USD 98
- Nyerere 2 days: USD 52 x 2 adults x 2 = USD 208 + vehicle USD 40 x 2 + boat trip USD 70 = USD 358
- Total park fees for two adults: approximately USD 2,052
Fuel Planning: Arusha to Dar es Salaam
The north-south circuit covers approximately 3,000km. A Land Cruiser Prado at 13L/100km uses 390 litres. Tanzania fuel prices in 2027 are approximately TZS 3,400 to 3,600/litre (around USD 1.45/litre). Total fuel cost: approximately USD 565. Key fuel stops and distances:
- Arusha: fill before entering Tarangire
- Karatu town: fill after Ngorongoro, before Serengeti (265km Arusha-Karatu)
- Seronera (inside Serengeti): no fuel — carry 20L jerry can from Karatu
- Arusha or Makuyuni: fill on Serengeti exit day for the southern leg
- Dodoma city: fill midway on the Arusha-Ruaha drive (430km from Arusha)
- Iringa: fill before entering Ruaha (165km from Dodoma)
- Mikumi town: fill on exit from Ruaha toward Mikumi park
- Kibiti: last fill before Nyerere entry (90km from Nyerere gate)
- Dar es Salaam: arrive with fuel reserve
Vehicle Hire Cost
- Land Cruiser Prado 150 (unlimited km, CDW, one-way drop): USD 145 x 21 days = USD 3,045
- One-way drop fee: USD 300
- Total vehicle: USD 3,345
- Per person (two adults): USD 1,672
What Makes Ruaha and Nyerere Worth the Southern Detour
The northern circuit (Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire) is Tanzania’s most visited and most-discussed. The southern parks — Ruaha and Nyerere — receive a small fraction of the visitor numbers despite holding comparable or greater wildlife density in the dry season. Ruaha has Tanzania’s largest lion population, excellent leopard frequency, rare greater kudu and sable antelope, and virtually no vehicle crowding. Nyerere (former Selous) has the Rufiji boat experience, wild dog, and hippo density that is simply unmatched elsewhere in East Africa. The 21-day north-south circuit connects the greatest diversity of Tanzania wildlife habitats available to a self-drive visitor.
