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A dhow sailing in silhouette against an orange sunset off Zanzibar

Tanzania · Private · Mid-range

10-Day Tanzania Safari and Zanzibar

Six days on the northern circuit, then three nights on Zanzibar: dust and early starts first, the Indian Ocean after.

9 nights
10 days
places on the route
4

A private safari through Tarangire, the central Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, with two nights on the highlands so the crater day ends without a long drive. Then a flight to Zanzibar for three nights on the coast. Comfort level, with a luxury option.

About this journey

The shape of the trip

Six days on safari, then three nights on Zanzibar. You start in Tarangire, spend three nights in the central Serengeti and two on the Ngorongoro highlands with a day in the crater, then fly to the coast on day 7.

Why this order

Bush first, beach after. Early starts and dusty tracks are easier while you're fresh, and three slow days by the sea are a better ending than a long drive.

The second night on the highlands matters too. Most short safaris drive straight back to Arusha after the crater, which makes a long day. Here you return to your lodge in the afternoon and fly to Zanzibar the next morning, from the Lake Manyara airstrip or from Arusha depending on flight schedules.

Day 2 is the long one, about 6 to 8 hours from Tarangire to the central Serengeti with game viewing at the end. The rest of the safari has shorter days or none at all.

Comfort and luxury versions

As written, this is a comfort-level trip: mid-range tented camps and lodges on safari, and a comfortable mid-range beach hotel on Zanzibar.

The luxury option upgrades both halves. On safari you stay in smaller camps and on the crater rim. On Zanzibar you move to a smaller boutique beach hotel or a villa-style stay. Some luxury versions also fly between the Serengeti and the coast to save driving, which changes the order of the safari; ask if that appeals.

Choosing your part of Zanzibar

Zanzibar's coasts differ more than people expect. On the east coast the tide goes out a long way over the reef flats, so swimming depends on the time of day. Some beaches on the north coast keep deeper water for more of the tide. Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is worth a morning or a night of its own. Read more in Zanzibar after safari.

When to go

June to October is dry on both the mainland and the island, with Tarangire at its best. January and February are warm and generally dry. The long rains, roughly April and May, are heavy on Zanzibar as well as on safari, and some camps and hotels close or scale back. November brings the short rains, usually as passing showers.

The journey at a glance

  1. Day 01

    Arusha to Tarangire

    Tarangire National Park · about 2h 30m driving

  2. Day 02

    Tarangire to the central Serengeti

    Serengeti National Park · about 7h 30m driving

  3. Day 03

    The central Serengeti

    Serengeti National Park

  4. Day 04

    Another Serengeti day

    Serengeti National Park

  5. Day 05

    Serengeti to the Ngorongoro highlands

    Serengeti National Park · about 5h 30m driving

  6. Day 06

    Ngorongoro Crater

    about 2h driving

  7. Day 07

    Fly to Zanzibar

    Zanzibar · about 3h driving

  8. Day 08

    Zanzibar

  9. Day 09

    Zanzibar

  10. Day 10

    Departure from Zanzibar

    Zanzibar · about 1h 30m driving

Best months for this journey

Best months for this journey: January, February, June, July, August, September, October

Day by day

A large baobab tree standing in green Tarangire bush

Day 01 · Tarangire National Park · 2h 30m drive

Arusha to Tarangire

The first day is short on road and long on elephants. After a morning pick-up in Arusha, you reach Tarangire in about 2 to 3 hours and begin your first game drive, with lunch at a picnic site in the park. The Tarangire River is the focus in the dry months, when elephants, zebra and buffalo crowd its banks. Look up into the baobabs for nesting birds, and down at the termite mounds for dwarf mongooses. You leave the park in the late afternoon for your camp nearby.

Overnight
Mid-range tented camp or lodge near Tarangire; a smaller camp inside or beside the park on the luxury version
Meals
Lunch, Dinner
A lioness resting on a granite kopje above the Serengeti plains

Day 02 · Serengeti National Park · 7h 30m drive

Tarangire to the central Serengeti

Today crosses most of the northern circuit in one go. From Tarangire you drive through Mto wa Mbu, up the escarpment to the highlands and along the Ngorongoro crater rim, where a viewpoint looks down over the crater you'll visit later in the trip. Beyond the rim, the road falls to the plains and Naabi Hill Gate. The afternoon drive to Seronera is your introduction to the Serengeti. It's a long day, about 6 to 8 hours, but much of the second half is spent game viewing.

Overnight
Mid-range tented camp in the central Serengeti; a smaller, more secluded camp on the luxury version
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Good to know: The road beyond the crater rim is unsealed and dusty. Keep a light jacket and sunglasses within reach.

A lioness resting on a granite kopje above the Serengeti plains

Day 03 · Serengeti National Park

The central Serengeti

A full day in the central Serengeti, with no transfer. Seronera makes a good base because its rivers hold water for much of the year, so wildlife stays in the area and lions, leopards and cheetahs are resident. You might start at the Seronera River looking for leopards in the sausage trees, then head out to the kopjes in the afternoon. Your guide plans the day around recent sightings and what you most want to see. Lunch can be in camp or out on the plains.

Overnight
Mid-range tented camp in the central Serengeti; a smaller, more secluded camp on the luxury version
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A lioness resting on a granite kopje above the Serengeti plains

Day 04 · Serengeti National Park

Another Serengeti day

With a second free day, you can go further. Depending on the month, your guide may suggest a long drive towards the migration herds, a trip out to the Moru Kopjes with their old Maasai rock paintings, or time on the open plains east of Seronera, where cheetahs hunt. A dawn balloon flight is another option, subject to availability and booked ahead. Or keep it simple: an early drive, a long lunch and an evening drive when the light softens.

Overnight
Mid-range tented camp in the central Serengeti; a smaller, more secluded camp on the luxury version
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Good to know: Balloon flights are optional and not included. Book them with your safari so a seat is held.

A lioness resting on a granite kopje above the Serengeti plains

Day 05 · Serengeti National Park · 5h 30m drive

Serengeti to the Ngorongoro highlands

A last morning drive, then east across the plains towards the highlands. You can break the drive at Olduvai Gorge, where fossils of early human ancestors were found, before climbing to the crater rim and down the far side towards Karatu. The drive takes about 5 to 6 hours with stops. You have two nights on the highlands, so tomorrow's crater day won't end with a long drive.

Overnight
Mid-range lodge in the Karatu area of the Ngorongoro highlands; a lodge or camp on the crater rim on the luxury version
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The Ngorongoro Crater floor with Lake Magadi, seen from the crater rim

Day 06 · Ngorongoro Crater · 2h drive

Ngorongoro Crater

Your last full safari day is in Ngorongoro Crater. You drive down early and spend the morning on the floor among resident wildebeest, zebra and buffalo, with lions and spotted hyenas never far away. Ask your guide to look for black rhino; there are a few here, though sightings aren't certain. After a picnic lunch you climb out and return to your lodge with the afternoon free. It's a good moment to repack for the beach.

Overnight
Mid-range lodge in the Karatu area of the Ngorongoro highlands; a lodge or camp on the crater rim on the luxury version
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Good to know: Light aircraft to Zanzibar have luggage limits. Pack into soft bags tonight.

Wooden fishing boats pulled up on a white Zanzibar beach under palm trees

Day 07 · Zanzibar · 3h drive

Fly to Zanzibar

After breakfast your guide drives you to the airstrip for the flight to Zanzibar. Depending on the schedule, you fly from the Lake Manyara airstrip near Mto wa Mbu or from Arusha, about 3 hours from Karatu by road. Flights may stop on the way. You're met at Zanzibar's airport and driven to your hotel, on the beach or in Stone Town. Swap the fleece for sandals. The rest of the day is yours.

Overnight
Mid-range beach hotel on Zanzibar; a smaller boutique beach hotel or villa-style stay on the luxury version
Meals
Breakfast

Good to know: Flight times decide where you fly from. The drive is shorter if you leave from the Lake Manyara airstrip.

Wooden fishing boats pulled up on a white Zanzibar beach under palm trees

Day 08 · Zanzibar

Zanzibar

A day to do as much or as little as you like. You might spend a morning in Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of narrow lanes, carved wooden doors and old merchant houses facing the harbour. A spice farm visit shows you where the island's cloves and nutmeg grow. Both are optional and can be arranged locally. Or stay on the beach. After six days of early starts, nobody will blame you.

Overnight
Mid-range beach hotel on Zanzibar; a smaller boutique beach hotel or villa-style stay on the luxury version
Meals
Breakfast

Good to know: Cover shoulders and knees in Stone Town, where most residents are Muslim.

Wooden fishing boats pulled up on a white Zanzibar beach under palm trees

Day 09 · Zanzibar

Zanzibar

Another free day on the coast. On the east coast the tide pulls back a long way over the reef flats at low water, which is good for walking and poor for swimming, so check the tide times. Snorkelling trips, a sunset dhow sail or a visit to Jozani Forest, home of the Zanzibar red colobus monkey, can all be arranged as optional extras. Tonight is your last evening on the island.

Overnight
Mid-range beach hotel on Zanzibar; a smaller boutique beach hotel or villa-style stay on the luxury version
Meals
Breakfast
Wooden fishing boats pulled up on a white Zanzibar beach under palm trees

Day 10 · Zanzibar · 1h 30m drive

Departure from Zanzibar

After breakfast, and depending on your flight time, you transfer to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport for your flight home. Some international airlines fly to Zanzibar directly; others connect through Dar es Salaam, Nairobi or a Gulf hub, so check connection times when you book your flights. If your flight leaves late in the day, ask your hotel about a late check-out or a day room before you travel.

Meals
Breakfast

Good to know: Allow about 1 to 1.5 hours from the north or east coast to the airport.

Price

Priced to your dates and group

Length
10 days, 9 nights
Pace
Balanced
Effort
Easy
Group
1–6 guests
Comfort
Mid-range
Route
Tarangire National Park → Serengeti National Park → Ngorongoro Crater → Zanzibar

Ask about this journey

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Is this journey right for me?

Who will love it

Couples, honeymooners and families who want a proper safari and a beach week in one trip, without a long drive at the end of the safari.

Who might prefer another journey

Travellers who want the migration at its best, or more than three nights on the coast; ask us to build a longer beach stay or a migration-led route.

Pace

Easy physically.

  • Day 1 2h 30m
  • Day 2 7h 30m
  • Day 3 —
  • Day 4 —
  • Day 5 5h 30m
  • Day 6 2h
  • Day 7 3h
  • Day 8 —
  • Day 9 —
  • Day 10 1h 30m

What is included

Included

  • Private safari vehicle with pop-up roof and driver-guide for days 1 to 7
  • Park and conservation fees for the itinerary
  • Accommodation as listed in the itinerary
  • Meals as listed in the itinerary
  • Drinking water in the vehicle
  • Flight from the Lake Manyara airstrip or Arusha to Zanzibar
  • Airport transfers in Arusha and on Zanzibar

Not included

  • International flights
  • Visas
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips for your guide, camp, lodge and hotel staff
  • Drinks unless stated
  • Lunches and dinners on Zanzibar unless stated
  • Optional activities such as hot-air balloon flights and Zanzibar excursions
  • Excess luggage charges on the flight to Zanzibar
  • Your hotel night in Arusha before day 1

Questions travellers ask

How do we get from the safari to Zanzibar?

By a short scheduled flight on day 7. Depending on the timetable, you fly from the Lake Manyara airstrip, close to the highlands, or from Arusha, about 3 hours by road from Karatu. Some flights stop on the way. Light aircraft have luggage limits and need soft bags, so pack with the flight in mind from the start.

Which part of Zanzibar should we stay in?

It depends on how you like the sea. On the east coast the tide goes out a long way, so swimming depends on the time of day, but the beaches are long and quiet. Some beaches on the north coast keep deeper water for more of the tide. Stone Town suits a night or two if you like history and food.

What changes on the luxury option?

Both halves move up a level. On safari you stay in smaller camps and on the crater rim, which gives you an earlier start on the crater day. On Zanzibar you move to a smaller boutique beach hotel or a villa-style stay. The route and private vehicle stay the same, and you can also add nights to either half.

Can we add more beach days?

Yes. Three nights is a good minimum after a safari, but many travellers want longer once they arrive. Adding nights on Zanzibar is simple and doesn't change the safari. Tell us how long you'd like on the coast when you enquire, and if you want to split it between Stone Town and a beach.

Places on this journey

  1. Stop 1 · Day 1

    Tarangire National Park

    National park / reserve

    Baobab country south of Arusha, where the Tarangire River draws some of northern Tanzania's largest elephant gatherings in the dry season, along with oryx, lesser kudu and a long bird list.

    About Tarangire National Park

  2. Stop 2 · Days 2–5

    Serengeti National Park

    National park / reserve

    Short-grass plains, granite kopjes and river woodland across north-western Tanzania, with resident big cats all year and the wildebeest migration moving through in a loop that follows the rains.

    About Serengeti National Park

  3. Stop 3 · Day 6

    Ngorongoro Crater

    Area

    A collapsed volcano about 600 metres deep, its floor a closed world of grassland, soda lake, swamp and the Lerai forest, with black rhino, lion and big buffalo herds within a single game drive.

    About Ngorongoro Crater

  4. Stop 4 · Days 7–10

    Zanzibar

    Island

    The main island of the Zanzibar Archipelago, off Tanzania's coast: Stone Town's carved doors and alleys, spice farms, coral reefs and white-sand beaches. A beach extension after safari, not a safari destination.

    About Zanzibar

Other ways to see these places

This 10-day journey is a starting point

Make it yours

Every journey can change. Tell us what matters and we will shape it with you.

Plan your own version

  1. More nights where you love it

    Slow down in the place that matters most to you, or add a day between long drives.

  2. A different camp

    Swap a stay for one that suits your comfort level, your budget or the season.

  3. A beach extension

    Finish with a few days by the sea before you fly home.

10 daysPriced to your dates

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