9-Day Tanzania Safari and Zanzibar Escape with Serengeti and Crater

9 Days Kilimanjaro Airport to Zanzibar Airport Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Explore Tarangire National Park's iconic baobab trees and large elephant herds
  • 02 Search the Serengeti's vast plains for lions, cheetahs, giraffes, and wildebeest
  • 03 Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for exceptional wildlife viewing and a chance to spot the endangered black rhino
  • 04 Discover Lake Manyara National Park's varied habitats, hippos, monkeys, and abundant birdlife
  • 05 Enjoy expert-guided game drives through Northern Tanzania's most celebrated safari destinations
  • 06 Fly to Zanzibar for a laid-back Indian Ocean beach escape after your safari
  • 07 Relax on Zanzibar's beautiful beaches with free time to enjoy the island at your own pace
  • 08 Independently explore options like Stone Town, spice tours, snorkelling, diving, and boat excursions

Combine Tanzania's greatest safari parks with a laid-back Zanzibar beach finish on this 9-day adventure. Travel from Arusha through Tarangire's baobab-dotted landscapes, the vast Serengeti plains, the wildlife-rich Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara's varied habitats in search of elephants, big cats, hippos, and abundant birdlife. After your mainland safari, fly to Zanzibar for a few blissful days at your own pace, with accommodation and breakfast arranged so you can relax by the Indian Ocean or independently explore Stone Town, spice tours, snorkelling, and boat excursions.

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 9 Days
Tour type Private
Activity level Moderate
Accommodation Included · Luxury
Transport Included
Wheelchair access Yes
Cities Arusha, Zanzibar, Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara, Tarangire National Park
Languages English, French, Spanish, Swahili

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Tarangire National Park Game Drive

After breakfast, you meet your safari guide and drive to Tarangire National Park for your first game drive. Tarangire is famous for its ancient baobab trees, large elephant populations, and wildlife gathering along the Tarangire River. Look for elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, lions, and numerous bird species. After your game drive, you will continue to your accommodation for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay.

2
Day 02

Journey Through Northern Tanzania to Serengeti

After breakfast, you depart for Serengeti National Park, travelling through the beautiful landscapes of northern Tanzania. As you enter the Serengeti, you'll enjoy a game drive across its famous plains while searching for lions, elephants, giraffes, cheetahs, wildebeest, and other wildlife. You'll continue exploring until later in the day before heading to your accommodation for dinner and a relaxing evening.

3
Day 03

Full-Day Serengeti Wildlife Exploration

You spend a full day exploring Serengeti National Park, one of Africa's most celebrated wildlife areas. Your guide will choose the best wildlife-viewing areas based on wildlife movements and seasonal conditions. You search for big cats, elephants, buffalo, giraffes, wildebeest, zebras, and many other species while enjoying the vast Serengeti landscapes. You return to your accommodation in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay.

4
Day 04

Serengeti Safari and Transfer to Karatu

You enjoy another morning and early afternoon exploring the Serengeti, giving you additional opportunities to encounter wildlife and photograph the open plains. After lunch, you begin your journey toward Karatu, travelling through the spectacular landscapes of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. You arrive at your accommodation in Karatu in the evening for dinner and a well-earned rest.

5
Day 05

Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive

After an early breakfast, you drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and descend into the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive. The crater supports an extraordinary concentration of wildlife, including lions, elephants, buffalo, hippos, zebras, wildebeest, and the endangered black rhino. You'll enjoy lunch during your excursion before returning to your accommodation later in the day for dinner and an overnight stay.

6
Day 06

Lake Manyara Safari and Flight to Zanzibar

After breakfast, you travel to Lake Manyara National Park for a game drive through its diverse landscapes of groundwater forest, woodland, and open plains. Look for elephants, giraffes, buffalo, monkeys, hippos, and abundant birdlife. After the safari, you drive back to Arusha and continue to Arusha Airport for your flight to Zanzibar. On arrival, you transfer to your hotel for an overnight stay.

7
Day 07

Free Day on Zanzibar Island

You'll enjoy your first full day in Zanzibar at your own pace. Your accommodation and breakfast will be arranged for you, while the rest of the day is completely free for you to choose how you would like to spend it. You may relax at the hotel, visit the beach, explore Stone Town, arrange an island excursion, or simply enjoy Zanzibar independently. Activities, lunch and dinner, local transport, and other personal expenses will be at your own expense.

8
Day 08

Leisure Day in Zanzibar

Today is yours to enjoy Zanzibar according to your own interests and schedule. You may spend the day relaxing on the beach, swimming in the Indian Ocean, or independently arranging activities such as a spice tour, Stone Town visit, snorkelling, diving, or a boat excursion. Only your accommodation and breakfast are included for this day; lunch and dinner, activities, transfers, and other personal expenses will be at your own expense.

9
Day 09

Zanzibar Departure Transfer

You enjoy your final morning in Zanzibar, depending on your international flight schedule. You may have time to relax at your hotel, enjoy the beach, or purchase some last-minute souvenirs. At the appropriate time, your driver will transfer you to Zanzibar International Airport for your departure flight, marking the end of your 10-day Tanzania safari and Zanzibar holiday.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Kilimanjaro Airport to Zanzibar Airport 7 cities · 9 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Always included
  • Private 4x4 and driver-guide
  • All park and conservation fees
  • All accommodation (unless listed as an upgrade)
  • Full board and bush shower
  • All transportation (unless labelled as optional)
  • Flights during the tour and airport transfers

What's Not Included

  • Excluded
  • International flights (from/to home)
  • Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
  • Tips (tipping guideline: US$10.00 pp per day)
  • Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
  • Government-imposed increases of taxes and/or park fees

What to bring

  • Bring essential travel documents like a passport, visa documents, travel insurance, and copies of important papers.

  • Bring clothing in neutral colors, long-sleeve shirts, long trousers, a warm jacket, comfy walking shoes, sandals, underwear, socks, swimwear, and a rain jacket.

  • Don't forget sun protection, like sunscreen, sunglasses, and lip balm. Also bring insect repellent, hand sanitizer, wipes, toiletries, medications, and maybe a basic first aid kit. For gear, bring a camera or smartphone, extra batteries, memory cards, binoculars, chargers, a power bank, and a travel adapter.

  • Day-to-day extras include a daypack, a reusable water bottle, a flashlight, a notebook, a small scarf or buff for dust, a credit card, some cash, and optionally a bird-watching guidebook or travel pillow. Pack light where possible, avoid plastic bags, follow current local rules on permitted packaging.

Know before you go

  • Game drives can start early, and some drives are long.
  • Cultural etiquette, like greeting people respectfully and asking before taking photos, is important.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Hotel in Arusha
Tour start
Kilimanjaro Airport
Tour end
Zanzibar Airport
End of the journey

Your 9 days run from Kilimanjaro Airport to Zanzibar Airport.

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Starting from

USD 3,000 /person
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Estimated room rates

Single Room $3,400.00
Double Sharing $3,200.00
Triple Sharing $3,000.00

When

Travellers

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