NORTHERN CIRCUIT & ZANZIBAR RETREAT
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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
This tour brings together Tanzania’s northern safari circuit with time on the coast, allowing you to experience the best of both worlds. The safari part of this program takes you through destinations that vary greatly in landscape and wildlife density, from Tarangire, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater.
After several days focused on game drives, the pace shifts toward Zanzibar, where the Swahili culture and coastal life provide a natural contrast to the mainland.
Day By Day
Day 1: Arrival – Pick Up and Transfer to Arusha
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), you are welcomed by our driver and transferred to your hotel in Arusha. The drive into town offers a first glimpse of daily life in northern Tanzania, with views of small farms, local markets, and the distant views of Mount Meru depending on weather conditions.
The remainder of the day is left open for rest, giving you time to settle in, adjust to the climate, and prepare for the days ahead. In the evening, you will meet our safari manager for a briefing that covers the structure of the safari, and expected travel times. informal meeting also provides an opportunity to ask questions and ensure everything is clear before the safari officially begins the following morning.
Day 2: Arusha - Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, you drive to Tarangire National Park, covering roughly 2,850 square kilometres and known for its concentration of elephants, particularly during the dry season when animals gather along the Tarangire River.
The landscape feels open and quiet compared to other northern parks, with large baobab trees scattered across rolling terrain. Game viewing unfolds gradually as you explore different tracks, often spotting giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and birdlife adapted to the semi arid environment.
A picnic lunch is taken inside the park before continuing the afternoon game drive. Toward evening, you proceed to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Tarangire - Lake Manyara National Park
Today’s trip to Lake Manyara National Park introduces a completely different setting. Though relatively small at about 330 square kilometres, the park contains several habitats within a compact area, including groundwater forest, open grassland, and the alkaline lake itself. The forest section is home to troops of baboons and blue monkeys, while elephants are often encountered moving quietly between trees.
The lake attracts thousands of water birds at certain times of year, including flamingos whose numbers change with water levels. Your game drive moves slowly through these environments, allowing time to observe details often missed in larger parks before continuing to accommodation in the Karatu or Ngorongoro highlands.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Lake Manyara - Serengeti via Ngorongoro Highlands
After breakfast, you travel through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, climbing into cooler highlands before descending toward the Serengeti plains. The change in scenery is gradual and noticeable, shifting from cultivated hills to wide grasslands that stretch beyond the horizon.
Serengeti National Park covers nearly 15,000 square kilometres, making it one of Africa’s largest protected ecosystems. Wildlife sightings begin along the way as your drive naturally becomes a game viewing experience. You arrive at your camp or lodge later in the afternoon, with time to settle in and observe the surroundings before dinner.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Serengeti - Full Day
A full day in the Serengeti allows flexibility to explore different areas depending on wildlife movement and seasonal conditions. The park supports one of the largest remaining wildlife populations on the continent, including more than a million wildebeest that move through the ecosystem during the annual migration cycle.
Game drives take place in the morning and afternoon, with breaks arranged around wildlife activity and weather conditions rather than a fixed schedule. Lions, hyenas, and cheetahs are often seen using open plains for hunting, while smaller details such as birdlife and changing landscapes become more noticeable over time. You return to camp in the evening for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Serengeti - Ngorongoro Conservation Area
An early start allows for a final morning game drive in the Serengeti, a time when animals are often active before the day warms. Following breakfast, you continue exploring while making your way toward Ngorongoro.
The drive back retraces part of the earlier route but often feels different due to changing light and new wildlife encounters along the way. The afternoon is more relaxed, allowing time to settle into your lodge near the crater rim or in the surrounding area.
This slower pace provides a natural transition before the next day’s crater descent, with opportunities to enjoy the scenery and prepare for the final wildlife experience of the safari.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater - Return to Arusha
After an early breakfast, you descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a half-day game drive on the crater floor. The enclosed ecosystem supports a high concentration of wildlife sustained by permanent water sources and fertile grazing areas.
Over the course of the morning, you explore grasslands, swamps, and acacia woodland while observing a variety of animals that remain within the crater year-round. After a picnic lunch, you ascend the crater walls and begin the drive back to Arusha, arriving in the late afternoon where you spend the night before continuing to Zanzibar.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Flight to Zanzibar
After breakfast, you transfer to the airport for your scheduled flight to Zanzibar Island. The flight offers aerial views of the mainland coastline before landing in Stone Town, a historic trading centre shaped by African, Arab, and Indian influences. Upon arrival, you are transferred to your beach hotel.
The remainder of the day is free to relax, walk along the shore, or simply rest after several days of safari activities. Zanzibar’s pace feels slower compared to the mainland, providing a natural transition from structured game drives to unplanned leisure time.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
Day 9: Zanzibar Leisure
Today is free for personal exploration or rest by the ocean. Zanzibar’s coastline stretches for more than 1,300 kilometres when smaller islands and inlets are included, creating diverse beaches shaped by tides and coral reefs.
Guests may choose optional activities such as visiting Stone Town, spice farms, or taking short boat excursions, though many prefer to enjoy a quiet day at the hotel. The changing tides reveal different views of the shoreline throughout the day, offering a simple but interesting glimpse into daily coastal life. Overnight is at the beach resort.
Meal Plan: Personal Arrangement
Day 10: Zanzibar Leisure
Another day at leisure allows time to experience Zanzibar at your own pace. Early mornings are often calm and suitable for swimming or walking along the beach before temperatures rise. Local fishing boats move along the horizon, reflecting the island’s continued reliance on small scale fishing communities.
Those interested may arrange cultural visits or snorkeling trips, while others may simply rest and enjoy the coastal environment. Keeping these days flexible allows travellers to recover fully after the safari portion while still having opportunities to explore if desired.
Meal Plan: Personal Arrangement
Day 11: Departure
Depending on your flight schedule, you will be transferred to Zanzibar International Airport for your onward travel. The morning remains free for packing, a final walk along the beach, or breakfast overlooking the ocean. This marks the end of the tour.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
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