12 Days Tanzania Safari and Zanzibar

Your Tanzania holiday starts when you land at Kilimanjaro International Airport, JRO.

Our representative will meet you at the airport and drive you to your hotel in Arusha. The journey normally takes around one hour, depending on traffic and the location of your hotel.

There is no game drive today. The idea is simple: arrive, rest and get ready for your safari.

If your flight arrives during the day, you can relax at the hotel and enjoy your first evening in Tanzania. If you arrive late, you can go straight to your room and sleep.

Route: Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha
Driving time: About 1 hour
Main plan: Airport transfer and rest

After breakfast, you leave Arusha and start your first real safari day.

You will drive towards Tarangire National Park, one of the best places in northern Tanzania for seeing elephants. Tarangire is also known for its large baobab trees, open grasslands and the Tarangire River.

Once you enter the park, your game drive begins.

Your guide will slowly search for wildlife instead of simply driving from one place to another. Depending on the day, you may see elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffalo, impala, warthogs, monkeys and predators such as lions.

During the dry season, many animals move closer to the Tarangire River because water becomes harder to find in other areas.

This is a good first safari day because Tarangire gives you a proper introduction to Tanzania’s wildlife without immediately putting you on the long road to the Serengeti.

Route: Arusha to Tarangire National Park
Driving time: About 2½ to 3 hours
Main experience: Tarangire game drive
Look out for: Elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras and baobab trees

Today you continue to Lake Manyara National Park.

Lake Manyara is smaller than the Serengeti, but that is exactly why it fits well into this route. You can explore the park without needing a full day.

The landscape changes quickly as you drive through the park. You may pass groundwater forest, open areas, woodland and the shores of Lake Manyara.

Look for baboons, blue monkeys, elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalo and hippos. Flamingos and other birds may also be seen around the lake depending on water conditions and the season.

After your Lake Manyara game drive, you continue uphill towards Karatu, a small town located between Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

You spend the night in Karatu so you are in a good position for the journey to Serengeti the following morning.

Route: Tarangire area to Lake Manyara to Karatu
Main experience: Lake Manyara game drive
Overnight area: Karatu

This is the day you reach the Serengeti National Park.

After breakfast, you leave Karatu and travel through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area towards Serengeti.

The journey itself is part of the safari.

As you move towards the Serengeti, the landscape becomes wider and more open. Eventually you reach the famous plains that have made Serengeti one of the best-known wildlife areas in Africa.

You continue towards Central Serengeti, also known as the Seronera area.

Central Serengeti is a strong wildlife area throughout the year. Rivers, grasslands and woodland create good habitat for both prey animals and predators.

Depending on where animals are moving, your guide may search for lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, giraffes, buffalo, wildebeest, zebras and hyenas.

There is no need to rush through Serengeti. You will also have the whole of tomorrow to explore.

Route: Karatu to Central Serengeti
Driving time: Around 4 hours or more depending on stops and wildlife sightings
Main experience: Serengeti game drive
Overnight: Central Serengeti

Today is completely about the Serengeti.

You have a full day for game drives in Central Serengeti, giving your guide more time to follow wildlife activity instead of worrying about reaching another destination.

Morning is often a good time to start searching for predators because temperatures are cooler and animals can be more active.

You might find lions resting near the road, elephants moving across the plains, giraffes feeding on acacia trees or large groups of zebras and wildebeest.

Central Serengeti is also one of the areas where leopards are regularly searched for around riverine woodland and large trees.

Your exact route will depend on wildlife reports and what your guide finds during the day. Safari is not a zoo. Animals move freely, so every game drive is different.

You return to your camp or lodge later in the day for another night inside the Serengeti area.

Main experience: Full day Serengeti safari
Safari area: Central Serengeti
Possible wildlife: Lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, buffalo, wildebeest and zebras

You leave the Serengeti and travel towards one of Tanzania’s most famous wildlife areas: Ngorongoro Crater.

After reaching Ngorongoro, you descend from the crater rim to the floor of the crater for your game drive.

Ngorongoro Crater contains grasslands, wetlands, woodland and permanent water sources inside a relatively compact area. This allows many different animals to live close to one another.

You may see zebras, wildebeest, buffalo, hippos, elephants, hyenas and lions.

Ngorongoro is also one of the places in Tanzania where travelers hope to see the endangered black rhino. Sightings are possible, but they are never guaranteed.

After your crater game drive, you drive back up the crater wall and continue to Karatu for the night.

It is your final major wildlife day before the beach part of the holiday begins.

Route: Central Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater to Karatu
Main experience: Ngorongoro Crater game drive
Overnight: Karatu

Today the safari vehicle is replaced by an airplane.

After breakfast, you leave Karatu and drive back towards Arusha.

You will be transferred to Arusha Airport for your domestic flight to Zanzibar.

Flying saves you from losing a full day travelling by road and ferry. In a short time, the landscape changes completely from Tanzania’s safari country to the Indian Ocean.

After arriving at Zanzibar Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

The rest of the day is for relaxing.

You have now completed the safari part of your trip and started the Zanzibar part.

Route: Karatu to Arusha Airport to Zanzibar
Main experience: Domestic flight to Zanzibar
Overnight: Zanzibar

Today you explore some of Zanzibar before heading to the beach.

Start with Stone Town, the historic centre of Zanzibar City.

Stone Town is known for its narrow streets, old buildings, carved wooden doors, markets and a long history shaped by African, Arab, Indian and European influences.

After exploring Stone Town, continue by boat to Prison Island, also called Changuu Island.

The island is well known for its giant Aldabra tortoises. You can walk around the island, learn about its history and see the tortoises at close range.

After returning from Prison Island, continue north to Nungwi.

Nungwi is one of Zanzibar’s best-known beach areas. It has restaurants, beach hotels, activities and beautiful Indian Ocean sunsets.

You check into your hotel and begin the relaxing part of your holiday.

Route: Stone Town to Prison Island to Nungwi
Main experiences: Stone Town tour, Prison Island and Zanzibar beach
Overnight: Nungwi

There is no fixed schedule today.

Wake up when you want, have breakfast and enjoy Zanzibar.

You can spend the day swimming, walking along the beach or simply relaxing at your hotel.

If you want more activity, optional Zanzibar experiences can be arranged depending on your interests.

After several days of early safari mornings, this free day gives you time to slow down.

Main plan: Free beach day
Location: Nungwi, Zanzibar

Another full day belongs to you.

You can keep things simple and stay around Nungwi or choose an optional activity.

Some travelers prefer snorkeling or a boat trip. Others simply want a quiet day beside the Indian Ocean.

There is no need to fill every day with tours. The purpose of adding Zanzibar after safari is also to give you time to rest.

Main plan: Free day in Zanzibar

This is your last complete day in Zanzibar.

Enjoy the beach, swim, take photos, have a relaxed lunch or spend your final afternoon watching the Indian Ocean.

It is also a good day to enjoy your hotel without thinking about another long transfer or safari game drive.

Tomorrow you travel home.

Main plan: Final free day in Zanzibar