Zanzibar
Zanzibar
High end
Wildlife, Beach, Fly in safari
Honeymoon, Couples, Luxury travellers
Fly from Zanzibar to Serengeti and return to Zanzibar
Zanzibar, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, Zanzibar
This 12-day safari follows a practical route between Zanzibar and Northern Tanzania, balancing time in the bush with a slower finish back on the Spice Island.
The program begins in Zanzibar before flying to the mainland. Tarangire introduces the safari with large elephant concentrations and old baobab country, followed by longer game viewing sessions in the Serengeti and a full day in Ngorongoro Crater. Accommodations on offer vary from tented safari settings to coastal resorts, giving the itinerary an interesting change of pace.
Arrival at Zanzibar International Airport is followed by a private transfer to your hotel in Stone Town or by the beach depending on the accommodation category and availability. The first day is intentionally unstructured, allowing you time to settle in and recover before your safari on the mainland begins.
If time allows, a short evening walk through the old quarter or along the waterfront can be arranged before dinner. If you are staying along the coast, you may prefer a relaxing afternoon by the beach before the program continues inland on the following day.
Dinner
Zanzibar hotel or beach resort
A morning flight from Zanzibar to Arusha shortens the travel day considerably, allowing enough time to continue directly to Tarangire National Park for an afternoon game drive.
Covering roughly 2,850 sq km, Tarangire is widely known for its elephant population, giant baobabs, and seasonal concentration of wildlife near the Tarangire River. The park also offers consistent sightings of giraffes, buffaloes, impalas, warthogs, and large predators during productive months.
The drive inside the park follows a mixture of river valleys and open bush country with several elevated viewpoints overlooking the landscape below. Lunch is served at the lodge after arrival, followed by more game viewing later in the afternoon before continuing to camp or lodge for dinner and overnight.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodge or tented camp in Tarangire
Today involves one of the longer drives of the safari, though the changing terrain makes the route considerably more engaging than the distance suggests. After breakfast, the journey continues through the Ngorongoro highlands before entering Serengeti National Park through Naabi Hill Gate. Covering approximately 14,763 square kilometres, Serengeti remains Tanzania’s best known wildlife area due to its predator population and seasonal migration movements.
The afternoon game drive begins immediately after entering the park, with possible sightings including lions resting near kopjes, cheetahs scanning open grasslands, and hyenas gathering near carcasses left behind by larger predators. Lunch is served at a designated picnic site en route. Arrival at camp is usually in the late afternoon with enough time for showers, drinks around the fire, and dinner under canvas.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Tented camp in Central Serengeti
The central section of Serengeti supports wildlife throughout the year due to permanent water sources and steady prey concentrations, making this one of the strongest locations for extended game viewing.
The day is flexible and can be adjusted according to recent wildlife activity reported by guides and ranger communication inside the park. Travellers interested in a hot air balloon safari depart before dawn for the optional flight, which requires advance booking due to limited availability. The remainder of the morning continues with game drives through the Seronera region where leopards are occasionally seen near riverine vegetation and rocky outcrops.
Lunch may be served back at camp or at a picnic site depending on the day’s route. Later in the afternoon, the pace slows with a final drive before returning to camp for dinner.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Tented camp in Central Serengeti
The morning begins with a final game drive in Central Serengeti before gradually heading southeast toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Wildlife activity is often productive during the cooler morning hours, particularly around drainage lines and short grass sections where predators remain active longer into the day. After several hours inside the park, the route continues toward Naabi Hill Gate for exit formalities before proceeding to the crater highlands. Lunch is served en route at a picnic area overlooking the plains.
The scenery changes noticeably during the ascent, with cooler temperatures and thicker vegetation replacing open savannah. Arrival at the lodge usually takes place in the late afternoon, leaving enough time to rest, enjoy views over the forested slopes, and prepare for the crater descent scheduled the following morning.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodge on the Ngorongoro Highlands
The safari section concludes today with a scheduled flight from Arusha back to Zanzibar. Depending on flight timing, the morning may allow a slower start at the hotel before airport transfer arrangements begin. Upon arrival in Zanzibar, a representative transfer you to the selected beach property along the northern or eastern coastline.
Compared to Stone Town, these coastal sections present a quieter atmosphere with tidal beaches, fishing villages, and smaller waterfront restaurants specialising in fresh seafood. The remainder of the afternoon is free for rest after several consecutive safari days and road transfers. Some travellers choose to remain near the hotel, while others take short walks along the beach during low tide. Dinner is served at the resort followed by an overnight stay beside the Indian Ocean.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Beach resort in Zanzibar
The next several days are intentionally unstructured, allowing time to enjoy Zanzibar at a slower pace after the safari circuit. Morning hours can be spent near the beach or pool before temperatures rise later in the day.
Depending on location, optional activities may include reef excursions, traditional dhow trips, snorkelling, diving, spice tours, or visits to nearby fishing communities. The eastern coastline is shaped heavily by tidal movement, exposing stretches of coral and seaweed farms during low tide, while the northern beaches generally allow swimming throughout the day.
Lunch is available at the resort or nearby restaurants specialising in Swahili and seafood dishes. The afternoon remains open for personal activities before dinner at the hotel and another overnight stay along the coast.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Beach resort in Zanzibar
A free day on Zanzibar gives time to experience sections of the island beyond the resort grounds. Travellers interested in local culture may arrange a guided visit to Stone Town, where former merchant houses, old mosques, and narrow trading alleys reflect centuries of Indian Ocean commerce.
Others may prefer marine activities such as snorkelling near Mnemba Atoll or a traditional sailing excursion using locally built dhows. Coastal villages continue daily fishing activity regardless of tourism, particularly during the early morning and late afternoon when wooden boats return with fresh catches. Lunch can be taken independently or at the resort depending on the day’s plans. By evening, many beachfront hotels organise low key seafood dinners near the water before the overnight stay continues on the island.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Beach resort in Zanzibar
Today remains open without scheduled transfers or long drives, giving flexibility for rest or independent exploration. Travellers staying on the southeast coast often spend time near Paje or Jambiani where strong afternoon winds attract kite surfers during certain seasons, while quieter northern areas provide calmer swimming conditions.
Zanzibar’s food scene also becomes more noticeable during longer stays, particularly through smaller restaurants preparing octopus curry, grilled lobster, cassava, coconut beans, and fresh tropical fruit sourced from local markets. Optional spa treatments and wellness sessions are available through many higher category resorts. The slower pace after several days inside safari vehicles creates a natural contrast within the itinerary and allows time to absorb the trip without rushing between locations before dinner and overnight at the resort.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Beach resort in Zanzibar
The final full day on the island can remain completely open or include one last excursion depending on energy levels and departure timing the following day. Some travellers use this time for souvenir shopping in Stone Town, while others prefer a final day near the beach without scheduled activities.
Tidal changes continue shaping daily life along the coast, particularly in villages where seaweed farming and small-scale fishing remain important local industries. Hotels along the beachfront usually provide flexible dining options, allowing lunch by the water or private dinners arranged within the property grounds. As the trip nears its conclusion, the slower island setting provides a clear contrast to the structure and movement of the safari portion earlier in the itinerary. Dinner and overnight remain at the beach resort.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Beach resort in Zanzibar
Depending on your international flight schedule, the morning may remain free for breakfast and final time at the hotel before transfer to Zanzibar Airport. Travellers with later departures sometimes choose a short visit to Stone Town for last minute shopping or lunch near the waterfront before continuing to the terminal.
Hotel check out timing varies by property category, though luggage storage and day room arrangements can usually be organized when required. Airport transfer is arranged according to flight details to allow adequate time before departure formalities. This concludes the Tanzania Safari and Indian Ocean Route.
Breakfast and Lunch
Not Included
