# 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. 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. - **Length:** 10 days, 9 nights - **Route:** Tarangire National Park → Serengeti National Park → Ngorongoro Crater → Zanzibar - **Style:** Private - **Comfort:** Mid-range - **Pace:** Balanced - **Best months:** January, February, June, July, August, September, October ## 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](/travel-guide/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. ## Day by day ### Day 1: 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. - Meals: Lunch, Dinner - Driving: about 2 h 30 min ### Day 2: 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. - Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner - Driving: about 7 h 30 min ### Day 3: 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. - Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner ### Day 4: 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. - Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner ### Day 5: 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. - Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner - Driving: about 5 h 30 min ### Day 6: 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. - Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner - Driving: about 2 h ### Day 7: 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. - Meals: Breakfast - Driving: about 3 h ### Day 8: 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. - Meals: Breakfast ### Day 9: 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. - Meals: Breakfast ### Day 10: 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 - Driving: about 1 h 30 min ## 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 ### 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. --- Source: https://untamedsafariexperience.com/safaris/10-day-tanzania-safari-and-zanzibar Last updated: 2026-10-25 Plan a journey: https://untamedsafariexperience.com/plan-your-safari