NORTHERN SAFARI & ZANZIBAR BEACH ADVENTURE
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Destination to Visit
Arusha, Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro crater and Zanzibar
Start / Finish in
Start in Arusha & End in Zanzibar
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Overview
A safari across northern Tanzania followed by time on the coast offers a balanced way to experience both wildlife and the slower pace of the Indian Ocean. The tour begins in Arusha and moves through Tarangire, the Serengeti plains, and the Ngorongoro Crater, each location offering a unique experience of wildlife viewing.
Travel days are arranged to allow enough time for game drives without turning the safari into a rush between parks. After the mainland tour, a short flight connects you to Zanzibar, where the focus shifts to rest and open schedules before departure. The combination suits travellers who want meaningful wildlife experiences together with time to unwind at the end of the trip.
Day By Day
Day 1: Arrival - Pick Up and Transfer to Arusha
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met by our driver and transferred to your hotel in Arusha. The drive gives a first impression of northern Tanzania, passing small towns, local activities, and views of Mount Meru depending on weather conditions. After check in, the remainder of the day is left open so you can rest, adjust to the time zone, or simply settle into the hotel.
Later in the evening, you will meet our safari manager for a short briefing covering the plan for the coming days, travel expectations, and practical preparations for the safari. Enjoy a relaxed evening afterwards.
Day 2: Arusha - Tarangire National Park
Following breakfast, you leave Arusha and drive toward Tarangire National Park, arriving late morning as the safari officially begins. The park is known for its open landscapes, seasonal swamps, and large herds of elephants.
This is Tanzania’s third largest National park is also known for its majestic baobab trees that dot the landscape, dwarfing the animals that feed beneath them. Wildlife activity often concentrates near the Tarangire River, especially elephants, giraffes, zebras, and various antelope species.
A picnic lunch is taken at a designated area inside the park before continuing with an afternoon game drive. Toward evening, you exit the park and head to your lodge or camp for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 & 4: Tarangire - Serengeti National Park
The safari continues with a drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area toward Serengeti National Park, where the scenery gradually opens into wide plains stretching toward the horizon. Wildlife sightings often begin well before reaching your camp, turning the transfer itself into an extended game drive.
Over these two days, you explore different sections of the park through morning and afternoon drives, adjusting routes based on wildlife patterns and seasonal conditions. Time is spent observing animals in their natural settings, whether following grazing herds, watching predators at rest, or simply taking in the scale of the landscape.
Meals are enjoyed either as picnic lunches in the field or back at camp, and evenings are quiet, allowing space to reflect on the day’s sightings before the next day’s activities.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Serengeti - Ngorongoro Conservation Area
After breakfast, you enjoy a final morning game drive in the Serengeti while making your way toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The return route passes once again through changing landscapes, from open plains to the cooler highlands of the Ngorongoro. There is no rush on this day, and stops may be made along the way depending on wildlife sightings.
As you ascend toward the crater rim, temperatures become noticeably cooler and the scenery shifts to forested slopes and farmland. You arrive at your lodge in the Ngorongoro or Karatu area later in the afternoon, with time to rest and prepare for the crater visit scheduled for the following morning.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater - Transfer to Arusha
An early breakfast is followed by a 610-meter (2,000 ft) descent into the crater floor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the African Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo. Spanning more than 20 kilometres in diameter, the Ngorongoro Crater is the largest non-flooded caldera in the world. It is the largest intact volcanic caldera in the world and is inhabited by some 25,000 animals, often referred to as “Africa’s Garden of Eden.”
Enjoy a picnic lunch in the afternoon surrounded by Ngorongoro’s flora and fauna. Afterwards, the drive continues back to Arusha, arriving later in the day. The evening is free to relax at the hotel, offering a comfortable pause between the safari part of the tour and the coastal extension that follows.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Fly to Zanzibar – Stone Town
After breakfast, you transfer to the airport for your scheduled flight to Zanzibar. The change from mainland landscapes to the island atmosphere becomes clear soon after arrival, with warm coastal air and a slower daily pace. Upon landing, you are met and transferred to your beach hotel. The rest of the day is open, allowing time to settle in, walk along the shoreline, or simply rest after the safari days.
No structured activities are planned, giving flexibility depending on arrival time and personal preference. Dinner and overnight take place at the hotel, with the sound of the ocean setting a different tone from the previous days spent on safari.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Free Time In Zanzibar
This day is intentionally left without a fixed schedule so you can experience Zanzibar at your own pace. You may choose to relax by the beach or pool, swim in the ocean, or arrange optional activities such as a visit to Stone Town, a spice tour, or a boat excursion depending on your interests. The focus here is rest and personal choice after several active safari days.
The island’s atmosphere encourages slow mornings and unplanned afternoons, whether spent reading under shade, walking along the beach at low tide, or enjoying fresh coastal cuisine. Overnight remains at your beach hotel.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9: Departure
Depending on your flight schedule, you will be transferred from your hotel to Zanzibar International Airport for your onward travel. The morning is free for a final walk along the beach or a relaxed breakfast before check out.
Our team will coordinate transfer timing to match your departure arrangements, ensuring a smooth conclusion to the trip. With both wildlife experiences and time by the ocean completed, the tour comes to an end as you continue to your next destination or return home.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch
LOOKING FOR A PRIVATE SAFARI FOR YOUR DATES?
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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