$7,025 pp (USD)
2 travelers on Start dateArrival
Arrival
Day 1
Welcome to Tanzania
Welcome to Tanzania
Karibu Tanzania! Your two-week adventure begins the moment you land at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where your driver-guide will be waiting to welcome you for the short transfer – around 45 minutes to an hour – into Arusha, the lively safari capital that serves as the gateway to everything that lies ahead.
With such a full itinerary in front of you, today is deliberately unhurried. After check-in, take the time to relax beside the pool, enjoy a leisurely lunch, and let the journey's excitement settle in as Mount Meru looms on the horizon. This is the calm before two weeks of adventure – savour it.
In the evening, your guide will join you for a briefing covering the safari days ahead, the logistics of your internal flight to Zanzibar, and anything else you would like to know before setting off in the morning.
- Main Destination:
- Arusha (City)
- Accommodation:
- Under the Shade Safari Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 2
Transfer to Tarangire National park
Transfer to Tarangire National park
This morning you head south-west to Tarangire National Park, around two hours' drive from Arusha. As you enter the park, the landscape transforms into a scene of ancient, swollen baobab trees standing sentinel over golden grassland – one of the most distinctive landscapes in Tanzania.
Tarangire takes its name from the river that sustains the ecosystem through the dry months, drawing some of the largest elephant herds found anywhere in the country to its banks. Family groups numbering in the dozens are a common sight, bathing, drinking and interacting in full view of the safari vehicles.
Beyond elephants, keep an eye out for giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and buffalo on the open plains, lion and leopard in the riverine woodland, and an impressive array of birdlife – the park and its surrounding ecosystem are home to several hundred recorded species, including the striking lilac-breasted roller.
- Main Destination:
- Tarangire National Park
- Accommodation:
- Oliver's Camp
Wildlife in Tarangire NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 3
Transfer to central serengeti
Transfer to central serengeti
Today's journey is one of the most scenic of the trip, climbing from Tarangire's baobab woodlands into the highlands of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area – with views into the crater itself along the way – before descending onto the short-grass plains that lead to Naabi Hill, the eastern gateway to the Serengeti.
The Serengeti needs little introduction: a UNESCO World Heritage Site and arguably Africa's most famous national park, its name is often translated from the Maasai as ‘the place where the land runs on forever’. Endless golden grasslands, scattered granite kopjes and iconic flat-topped acacia trees create one of the most evocative landscapes on the continent – and one that supports an extraordinary density and diversity of wildlife.
Depending on your arrival time, the afternoon offers a first game drive en route to camp, with the chance to spot lion, cheetah and the resident herds of zebra and wildebeest that call the central Serengeti home.
- Main Destination:
- Central Serengeti National Park
- Accommodation:
- Baobab Serengeti Camp
Wildlife in Serengeti NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 4
Full adventure in Central Serengeti
Full adventure in Central Serengeti
With a full day to explore the central Serengeti, your guide will weave between open plains, woodland and riverine forest in search of the region's resident wildlife. The area around Seronera is renowned for its year-round game viewing and is often considered the heart of the ecosystem.
Lion prides are a near-daily sighting here, while leopard – often resting in the shade of sausage trees and figs along the Seronera River – reward patient searching. Cheetah favour the more open plains, and large herds of buffalo, elephant, zebra and giraffe move throughout the landscape. Lunch is enjoyed out in the bush at a scenic spot, or back at camp.
This central area also offers a wonderful introduction to the Serengeti's smaller residents – dwarf mongoose and agama lizards on the kopjes, and a dazzling variety of birdlife throughout, from secretary birds striding across the grass to vultures riding the thermals overhead.
- Main Destination:
- Central Serengeti National Park
- Accommodation:
- Baobab Serengeti Camp
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 5
Transfer to northern Serengeti National Park
Transfer to northern Serengeti National Park
Today you head north, deep into the wilder, less-visited reaches of the Serengeti towards the Mara River – a region that sees a fraction of the visitor traffic found further south, and rewards travellers with a real sense of remoteness and discovery.
The drive itself is a game drive in its own right, crossing a changing landscape of rolling hills, riverine forest and open plains as you make your way towards the area famous for the Great Migration's dramatic Mara River crossings. While crossings themselves depend heavily on the season and the herds' movements – typically occurring between roughly July and October, though timing can vary from year to year – the northern Serengeti offers superb game viewing at any time, often with far fewer vehicles around each sighting.
On arrival, settle into camp and enjoy the late afternoon light over a landscape that feels worlds away from anywhere else on this journey.
- Main Destination:
- Northern Serengeti National Park
- Accommodation:
- Northern Serengeti Moyo Migration Camp Mara
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 6
Adventure in the Northern Serengeti
Adventure in the Northern Serengeti
A full day awaits in the northern Serengeti, with your guide focusing on the river itself and the surrounding plains and woodland. The Mara River is home to large pods of hippo and some of the biggest crocodiles in East Africa, often seen basking on the riverbanks or lurking in the shallows.
Beyond the river, this region supports healthy populations of lion, elephant, giraffe and topi, along with resident herds of zebra and buffalo. If the Great Migration herds are in the area, this is the stage for one of nature's greatest spectacles – tens of thousands of wildebeest and zebra building up courage along the riverbanks before plunging across in chaotic, adrenaline-charged crossings.
Even outside of crossing season, the sheer remoteness and beauty of this part of the Serengeti – rolling hills, acacia woodland and far horizons – make for a memorable day of exploration, often without another vehicle in sight.
- Main Destination:
- Northern Serengeti National Park
- Accommodation:
- Northern Serengeti Moyo Migration Camp Mara
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 7
Return to central Serengeti
Return to central Serengeti
This morning you begin the journey back south towards the central Serengeti, with a game drive along the way that offers one more chance to take in the landscapes and wildlife of the north before re-entering the busier, but no less spectacular, heart of the park.
The route passes through a variety of habitats, and your guide will use the journey to search for any sightings that may have been missed earlier in the trip – whether that's a elusive leopard, a pride of lion on the move, or simply a final look at the plains stretching to the horizon in every direction.
By the time you arrive back at camp in the central Serengeti, you will have completed a loop through some of the most diverse and rewarding wildlife country on the continent – with one more iconic destination still to come.
- Main Destination:
- Central Serengeti National Park
- Accommodation:
- Baobab Serengeti Camp
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 8
Transfer to Ngorongoro crater
Transfer to Ngorongoro crater
Today brings one of the undisputed highlights of any Tanzania safari Ngorongoro Crater. Often described as Africa's Eden, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is the world's largest unbroken, unflooded volcanic caldera formed when a vast volcano collapsed in on itself around two to three million years ago. Its walls rise roughly 600 metres above a floor spanning in the region of 250 square kilometres.
A guided descent onto the crater floor reveals a self-contained world of grassland, acacia woodland, swamp and a shimmering soda lake, with one of the densest concentrations of wildlife found anywhere in Africa. This is one of the continent's best locations to see the black rhino, prides of lion, clans of spotted hyena, and elephant bulls of remarkable size.
On Lake Magadi, flocks of flamingo add a splash of pink against the dramatic crater walls. After a full day on the crater floor, you will climb back to the rim and continue to your lodge your final night.
- Main Destination:
- Ngorongoro Crater
- Accommodation:
- Ngorongoro Farm House
Wildlife in Ngorongoro Crater
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 9
Fly to zanzibar
Fly to zanzibar
After a relaxed breakfast, you will drive back towards Arusha – a journey of around two hours – to connect with a scheduled flight to Zanzibar. Flight times vary depending on routing (some services route via Dar es Salaam), but the journey typically takes in the region of one and a half to two hours in total.
As you step off the aircraft on Zanzibar, often nicknamed the Spice Island, the contrast could not be more striking: the dust and golden grasslands of the past week give way to swaying palms, turquoise water and the warm, humid air of the Indian Ocean coast. A short transfer brings you to your beachfront accommodation on the island's northern tip.
The remainder of the day is yours to settle in, walk along the beach and simply begin to unwind – the next four nights are dedicated entirely to relaxation, culture and the natural beauty of Zanzibar.
- Main Destination:
- Zanzibar Island (Tanzania Beaches)
- Accommodation:
- Amaan Beach Bungalows
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 10
Stone town visit and SPice farm visit
Stone town visit and SPice farm visit
You will start with with a guided tour of Stone Town the historic heart of Zanzibar City and a UNESCO Site. Wander through a maze of narrow alleyways lined with buildings that reflect centuries of Swahili, Arab, Persian, Indian and European influence, their famously intricate carved wooden doors a highlight in themselves.
Highlights typically include the House of Wonders, Old Fort, and the bustling waterfront at Forodhani Gardens, alongside the markets and alleys that have made Stone Town a centre of trade for centuries. Your guide will bring this layered history to life, from Zanzibar's role in the historic spice and trade routes to its more recent past.
In the afternoon, a visit to a local spice farm reveals why Zanzibar earned its nickname as the ‘Spice Island’. Walk among plantations of clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla and black pepper, touching, smelling and tasting as you go – a fragrant and engaging introduction to one of the crops that shaped the island's history and economy.
- Main Destination:
- Zanzibar Island (Tanzania Beaches)
- Accommodation:
- Amaan Beach Bungalows
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 11
Island exploration
Island exploration
After the cultural immersion of Stone Town, today is left intentionally free for you to enjoy Zanzibar's natural highlight: its beaches. Spend the morning relaxing on the soft white sand, swimming in the warm, clear waters, or simply reading in the shade of a palm tree.
For those wanting to explore further, a range of optional activities can be arranged through your lodge – snorkelling or diving on the nearby coral reefs, a sunset dhow cruise aboard a traditional wooden sailing vessel, or a deep-sea fishing excursion. Nungwi is also known for its traditional dhow-building yards, where skilled craftsmen still construct these iconic boats by hand using techniques passed down through generations.
However you choose to spend the day, this is your time to slow down completely – a well-earned contrast to the early starts and long drives of the safari portion of your journey.
- Main Destination:
- Zanzibar Island (Tanzania Beaches)
- Accommodation:
- Amaan Beach Bungalows
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 12
Island exploration
Island exploration
Your final full day on Zanzibar can be shaped entirely around your interests. Some guests choose one last day of pure beach relaxation, while others use the time for one of the island's other notable excursions.
A popular option is a boat trip to Prison Island (Changuu), a short distance from Stone Town, home to a colony of giant Aldabra tortoises that were introduced to the island in the late nineteenth century – some individuals are believed to be well over a century old. Alternatively, Jozani Forest, in the south of the island, is the best place to see the Zanzibar red colobus monkey, a strikingly coloured primate found nowhere else in the world.
Whichever you choose – or if you choose nothing at all – today is about making the most of your final hours on this beautiful island before tomorrow's departure.
- Main Destination:
- Zanzibar Island (Tanzania Beaches)
- Accommodation:
- Amaan Beach Bungalows
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 13
Departure
Departure
After breakfast, and depending on your flight time, enjoy one final morning on the beach before your transfer to the airport for your departure flight from Zanzibar.
As you leave the island behind, take a moment to reflect on everything this journey has held – the elephant herds of Tarangire, the endless plains and dramatic river crossings of the Serengeti, the otherworldly Ngorongoro Crater, and four days of pure relaxation on one of the world's most beautiful coastlines.
Safari njema – safe travels – and we hope this has been the trip of a lifetime. We would be delighted to welcome you back to Tanzania and Zanzibar in the future.
- Main Destination:
- Zanzibar Island (Tanzania Beaches)
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks:
