TANZANIA BUSH TO BEACH SAFARI EXPERIENCE
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Destination to Visit
Arusha, Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro crater, Mahale and Zanzibar
Start / Finish in
Start in Arusha & End in Zanzibar
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Overview
Combining northern Tanzania’s classic wildlife areas with the quieter environments of the south and the coastline of Zanzibar creates a well-rounded safari that moves gradually from inland plains to the Indian Ocean. The itinerary brings together Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro with Nyerere National Park before finishing with time at the beach. Each location introduces a different environment and wildlife concentration.
Serengeti alone covers nearly 15,000 square kilometres of grassland ecosystem, while Ngorongoro Crater forms a natural enclosure supporting one of the highest wildlife densities in Africa. The final days in Zanzibar provide space to slow down after days spent on safari vehicles and flights between regions.
Day By Day
Day 1: Arrival in Arusha - Transfer to Hotel
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you are welcomed and transferred to your hotel in Arusha. The town sits at the base of Mount Meru and serves as the starting point for most northern safaris. In the evening, a short briefing meeting is provided to review the upcoming schedule and everything you need to expect.
Day 2: Arusha - Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, you drive to Tarangire National Park, known for its concentration of elephants and distinctive baobab trees that can live for more than a thousand years. The park covers roughly 2,850 square kilometres and is centred around the Tarangire River, a permanent water source that attracts wildlife especially during the dry season.
Game drives focus on riverine areas where herds of elephants, zebras, and giraffes are frequently seen. Lions are present though often spotted resting in shaded areas during midday heat. A picnic lunch is taken inside the park before continuing exploration and later transferring to accommodation for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Tarangire - Serengeti National Park via Ngorongoro
Today’s drive crosses the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, climbing into cooler highlands before descending toward the Serengeti plains. The change in scenery is gradual, moving from cultivated slopes to open grassland where wildlife sightings begin even before entering the park. Stops may be made at viewpoints overlooking the Ngorongoro Crater, which measures about 19 kilometres across.
Upon entering Serengeti National Park, a game drive continues toward camp. The Serengeti ecosystem supports more than two million large herbivores, forming one of the largest remaining wildlife systems on Earth, and the afternoon drive offers a first introduction to this vast landscape.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Serengeti National Park Full Day
The day is spent exploring the Serengeti through morning and afternoon game drives adapted to wildlife movement and seasonal conditions. Large herds of wildebeest and zebra move across the plains throughout the year, followed by predators such as lions, cheetahs, and hyenas. The openness of the terrain allows long viewing distances, making it possible to observe animal behaviour rather than brief sightings alone.
Breaks are taken for meals and rest at suitable picnic areas or back at camp depending on location. By evening, you return to camp where the quieter surroundings highlight the remoteness of the park after vehicles disperse.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Serengeti National Park Full Day
A second full day allows exploration beyond the previous day’s routes, increasing chances of varied sightings and different landscapes within the park. Guides often adjust plans based on recent wildlife activity, weather, and road conditions. Serengeti lions are among the most studied populations in the world, with decades of behavioural research conducted here.
Time spent in one area helps visitors notice smaller details such as birdlife, changing light across the plains, and interactions within animal groups. The pace remains flexible, balancing driving with time to observe quietly before returning to camp for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Serengeti - Ngorongoro Crater
After breakfast, you depart Serengeti and travel toward Ngorongoro Crater, descending approximately 600 metres to the crater floor for a game drive. The enclosed ecosystem spans about 260 square kilometres and supports a dense concentration of wildlife including buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, and one of Tanzania’s remaining populations of black rhino.
Permanent water sources allow animals to remain year round, making sightings relatively consistent. A picnic lunch is taken near a hippo pool before ascending the crater walls in the afternoon and continuing to accommodation in the highlands where cooler temperatures provide a noticeable change from the plains.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Return to Arusha
Following breakfast, you drive back to Arusha through the Ngorongoro highlands and rural communities along the way. The return day offers a slower pace after several active safari days, with opportunities to observe local farming landscapes and small towns that support the wider region.
Arrival in Arusha is expected in the afternoon, allowing time to rest, repack, or prepare for the next stage of the safari. Overnight in Arusha provides a practical break between northern parks and the flight south scheduled for the following day.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Fly to Nyerere National Park
After breakfast, you transfer to the airport for a scheduled light aircraft flight to Nyerere National Park. From the air, rivers and woodland stretch across vast areas, illustrating the scale of southern Tanzania’s protected land. Upon arrival, you transfer to camp for lunch followed by an afternoon activity, typically a game drive or boat safari depending on timing.
Nyerere’s landscape differs noticeably from the north, with thicker vegetation and strong influence from the Rufiji River. Wildlife sightings often include elephants, giraffes, and large numbers of hippos along water channels.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9: Nyerere National Park Activities
The day includes a combination of activities that may involve game drives, a boat safari, or a guided walk led by an armed ranger. The Rufiji River system creates lagoons and channels that attract birds and animals throughout the day.
Boat safaris allow close observation of crocodiles and waterbirds, while walking safaris focus on tracks, insects, and plant life rarely noticed from vehicles. Nyerere remains less visited than northern parks, covering an area larger than Switzerland, which contributes to a quieter atmosphere and slower pace of wildlife viewing before returning to camp in the evening.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10: Fly to Zanzibar
After breakfast, you transfer to the airstrip for your flight to Zanzibar. The transition from inland wilderness to coastline is noticeable as the landscape shifts from woodland to turquoise waters and coral coastline.
Upon arrival, you are transferred to your beach hotel where the remainder of the day is free. This change of setting marks the final stage of the safari, allowing time to rest after several days of wildlife viewing and travel between parks.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11: Zanzibar Leisure Day
Today is left open for relaxation or optional activities. Guests may choose to spend time on the beach, swim in the ocean, or explore Stone Town and nearby villages independently or with local guides. Zanzibar’s history reflects centuries of trade linking Africa, Arabia, and Asia, influences still visible in architecture and cuisine. The slower pace allows recovery after the safari portion of the trip, with flexibility to shape the day according to personal interests.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12: Departure
Depending on flight time, you are transferred to Zanzibar Airport for your onward departure. The morning remains free for a final walk along the beach or time at the hotel before check out. Airport transfer is arranged according to flight schedule, marking the end of the safari combining wildlife areas of northern and southern Tanzania with time along the coast.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
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RECOMMENDED FOR
- Anyone looking to immerse themselves in Tanzania wilderness.
- People who want an authentic safari adventure.
- Nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts.
PRICE INCLUSION
- All Game Drives;
- Accommodation At Lodges/Tented Camps
- English Speaking Driver/Guide;
- All Food; Drinking Water;
- 18% VAT Tax;
- At Least 1 Pair Of Binoculars;
- Accommodation In Moshi/Arusha;
- Airport Transfers;
PRICE EXCLUSIONS
- International flights
- Tanzania visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities (guide, driver, lodge staff)
- Personal expenses (laundry, phone calls, souvenirs)
- Alcoholic and soft drinks (unless stated)
- Optional activities