This itinerary gives the complete northern circuit — Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater — genuine unhurried time, then closes with several real days on Zanzibar’s beaches, combining Tanzania’s best-known wildlife destinations with its most famous coastal escape.
Detailed Itinerary
DAY 1
Your driver-guide meets you at Kilimanjaro International Airport for the drive to Tarangire, about two hours south-west of Arusha, arriving with time for an afternoon game drive among its dense elephant population.
Arusha to Tarangire National Park
Accommodation Options
BudgetTarangire Sopa Lodge
Mid-rangeTarangire River Camp
LuxuryOliver’s Camp
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
DAY 2
Exploring Tarangire’s riverine landscape and baobab-studded plains.
Full Day Tarangire Game Drives
Accommodation
As above
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 3
The drive to the Serengeti climbs through the Ngorongoro highlands and descends onto the plains via Naabi Hill gate.
Transfer to Serengeti National Park
Accommodation Options
Mid-rangeSerengeti Serena Safari Lodge
LuxuryFour Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4
A full day across the plains for lion, leopard, elephant and, seasonally, the Great Migration.
Full Day Serengeti Game Drives
Accommodation
As above
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5
A further day exploring different sectors of the park.
Second Serengeti Game Drive Day
Accommodation
As above
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 6
The drive back toward the crater rim, arriving with dramatic views into the caldera below.
Transfer to Ngorongoro Crater
Accommodation Options
Mid-rangeNgorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
LuxuryNgorongoro Crater Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 7
An early descent onto the crater floor for a full day of game viewing — one of the highest wildlife densities anywhere in Africa within a collapsed volcanic caldera.
Ngorongoro Crater Descent
Accommodation
As above
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 8
A domestic flight via Arusha or Kilimanjaro to Zanzibar, roughly ninety minutes in the air, the change from open savannah to turquoise water and white sand striking even from the plane window on approach.
Fly to Zanzibar
Accommodation Options
Mid-rangeZanzibar Bay Resort
LuxuryBaraza Resort & Spa
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 9
A guided walking tour of Stone Town’s winding streets, markets and historic architecture, a UNESCO World Heritage Site blending Arab, Persian, Indian and European influences built up over centuries as a trading port.
Stone Town Cultural Tour
Accommodation
As above
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 10
A free day on Zanzibar’s white-sand beaches, with optional snorkelling over the reef just offshore or a spice farm tour inland, walking through plantations of cloves, vanilla and nutmeg that once made Zanzibar one of the world’s most valuable trading posts.
Beach Day at Leisure
Accommodation
As above
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 11
A further beach day with optional diving, sailing or a sunset dhow cruise, the traditional wooden boats still used by local fishermen doubling as a relaxed way to watch the sun go down over the water.
Second Beach Day, Optional Watersports
Accommodation
As above
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 12
Transfer to Zanzibar’s airport for your onward international flight.
Departure
Meals: Breakfast
Permits & Costs
| Tarangire park entry | ~$60 per person per day |
| Serengeti park entry | ~$82 per person per day |
| Ngorongoro Conservation Area fee | ~$70 per person per day, plus crater descent |
| Domestic flight to Zanzibar | Quoted separately |
Who This Itinerary Suits
Travellers wanting the complete Tanzania experience — classic safari plus a genuine, unhurried beach close, not a rushed final beach day tacked on.Tour Includes
- Travel in a 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof hatch
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- All accommodation per itinerary
- Meals as specified
- Park entry, crater descent & Stone Town tour fees
Tour Excludes
- Domestic flight to Zanzibar
- International flights
- Visas
- Tips & gratuities
- Travel insurance
- Watersports at the coast