The trip at a glance
| Day | Stop | Programme |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arusha Arrival | Arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, drive with your guide to Arusha, time to settle in |
| Day 2 | Arusha National Park | Game drive in Arusha National Park, Momella Lakes and Mount Meru, picnic in the park |
| Day 3 | Arusha → Tarangire | Drive to Tarangire National Park, baobabs and the Tarangire River, game drive in the afternoon |
| Day 4 | Tarangire | Full-day game drive in Tarangire, elephants by the river, leopard and greater kudu |
| Day 5 | Tarangire → Lake Manyara → Karatu | Game drive at Lake Manyara, groundwater forest and lake, onward journey to Karatu |
| Day 6 | Karatu → Serengeti | Drive to the Serengeti, first game drive across the plains, night in the park |
| Day 7 | Serengeti | Game drives in the morning and afternoon, Seronera, lions and cheetahs, with luck a rhino |
| Day 8 | Serengeti → Karatu | Last game drive in the Serengeti in the morning, return journey to Karatu |
| Day 9 | Ngorongoro | Descent into the Ngorongoro Crater, flamingos at Lake Magadi, picnic on the crater floor |
| Day 10 | Karatu → Arusha → Zanzibar | Return journey to Arusha, domestic flight to Zanzibar, transfer to the beach hotel |
| Day 11 | Zanzibar | Beach day at your leisure |
| Day 12 | Zanzibar | Day at your leisure |
| Day 13 | Zanzibar | Free day at the beach |
| Day 14 | Zanzibar Return flight | Last breakfast on the beach, transfer to Zanzibar airport, journey home |
This sample itinerary combines nine nights on the mainland in northern Tanzania with four nights on the beach on Zanzibar. The route leads through Arusha National Park, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, after which a domestic flight takes you to Zanzibar.
This trip is right for you if you want to see the great parks of the north and their wildlife and then relax by the sea. Nothing is fixed: the team in Arusha will adjust the duration, parks and accommodation category in line with your enquiry. The page on the Zanzibar holiday shows how safari and beach can be combined.
Itinerary
Day 1
Your guide will meet you at Kilimanjaro Airport and drive with you to Arusha. The town is the starting point of your safari through the north. You spend the rest of the day resting at your accommodation and settling in at your own pace.
Day 2
Your first game drive leads into Arusha National Park, about half an hour from town. Montane forest, open grassland and the Momella Lakes alternate, with Mount Meru towering above. Giraffes, buffalo and zebras graze on the open plains, while the black-and-white colobus monkeys keep to the forest. You have lunch as a picnic in the park, and in the evening you return to Arusha.
Day 3
After breakfast you drive with your guide to Tarangire National Park. Mighty baobabs characterise the savannah, and the Tarangire River provides the animals with water even in the dry season. On the afternoon game drive you look out for elephants, buffalo, zebras and lions. In the evening you reach your accommodation near the park.
Day 4
The whole day belongs to Tarangire. You drive through the baobab savannah into the quieter corners of the park. In the dry season, hundreds of elephants often gather by the river, while buffalo, zebras and wildebeest are on the move all year round. With a bit of luck, a leopard will be resting on an acacia. The rare greater kudu also lives in this park. You spend the second night at your accommodation.
Day 5
You leave Tarangire and drive to Lake Manyara National Park on the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley. On the game drive, groundwater forest, open grassland and the lakeshore alternate. Elephants move through the forest, hippos lie in the swamp, and the tree-climbing lions rest in the acacias. After lunch you continue to Karatu and your lodge.
Day 6
From Karatu you continue to the Serengeti, Tanzania's best-known national park. Its name comes from the language of the Maasai and means "endless land". The drive through the vast plains is already your first game drive: lions, elephants, giraffes and the herds of wildebeest and zebra live here all year round. In the evening you reach your accommodation in the park.
Day 7
A full day in the Serengeti, with game drives in the morning and afternoon, when the light is soft and the animals are particularly active. Around Seronera in the centre of the park, plenty of game is at home all year round: lions, leopards along the rivers, cheetahs on the open plains, plus elephants and buffalo herds. With a lot of luck you may even see a rhino.
Day 8
In the morning you set off on a final game drive in the Serengeti, looking out for the animals you have missed so far. Afterwards you begin the return journey to Karatu with your guide. You rest at your lodge before heading to the Ngorongoro Crater the next day.
Day 9
In the morning you descend to the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater. The caldera, covering around 260 km², holds one of the highest densities of wildlife in Africa: lions, elephants, buffalo, zebras and wildebeest live between grassland and swamps, and flamingos gather at Lake Magadi depending on the water level. You also stand a good chance of spotting the rare black rhino. After the picnic on the crater floor, you drive back to your lodge in Karatu.
Day 10
After breakfast you drive back to Arusha. From there, a domestic flight takes you to Zanzibar. The team will pick you up at Zanzibar airport and take you to your hotel on the beach. The rest of the day belongs to the beach and the Indian Ocean.
Day 11
The first full day on Zanzibar is all about the beach. You swim in the Indian Ocean, rest and let the safari days sink in. Excursions such as snorkelling or a boat trip on a traditional dhow are not part of the programme; if you wish, the team can book them for you at extra cost.
Day 12
This day is also at your leisure. You can book an optional trip to Stone Town through the narrow alleys to the markets, or a spice tour on which you see and smell vanilla and cinnamon right there in the garden. Or you can simply try the island's cuisine with fresh fish, spicy curries and tropical fruit.
Day 13
The last full day on the island is at your leisure; stay on the beach and enjoy the last hours by the sea. You can book snorkelling around Mnemba Island, diving, kitesurfing or a sailing tour separately.
Day 14
After a final breakfast on the beach, the transfer takes you to Zanzibar airport. There you begin your journey home. If you want to stay longer, the team will extend the island days exactly as you wish.
Accommodation and price
| 2 people | 4 people | 6 people |
|---|---|---|
| 4,687 USD | 3,663 USD | 3,322 USD |
per person, Classic category
Prices are per person in USD, rounded up, based on the Classic category. Larger groups pay less per person. Every trip is possible in all three categories: Classic, Premium and Exclusive. On request, you will receive a proposal tailored to your wishes and your preferred category. Dates, route and accommodation determine the final price.
Accommodation categories
- Classic: Tented camps and simple lodges
- Premium: Lodges and tented camps with private bathroom
- Exclusive: Luxury lodges and private camps
Regions with overnight stays
- Arusha Lodges
- Tarangire Lodges
- Karatu Lodges
- Central Serengeti Lodges
- Ngorongoro Lodges (alternative to Karatu)
- Zanzibar Lodges
Services
What is included
Included- Private transfers from and to the airport in Tanzania
- Costs for accommodation and overnight stays
- Full board plus meals en route on safari, breakfast on Zanzibar
- Safaris with a private, English-speaking driver/guide
- High-quality vehicles, maintained before every safari, spare tyre on board
- Domestic flights from and to Zanzibar
- Game drives set out in the itinerary
- All national park entry and concession fees
- Two pairs of binoculars per vehicle (on loan)
- 24/7 service
- Flying Doctor for emergencies
Not included
- International flights
- Visa costs for Tanzania
- Tips
- Meals/drinks not listed
- Mandatory travel insurance for Tanzania / Zanzibar
Before you travel: Read the articles on the visa for Tanzania, vaccinations for Tanzania and safety in Tanzania.
Frequently asked questions
Can I adjust the number of days?
Can I switch accommodation?
Is the trip suitable for children?
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Updated on October 12, 2026
