Elephants, the crater and the Serengeti, then the Indian Ocean
A dhow off Zanzibar at sunset.
The classic Tanzania holiday in one booking: the best of the northern parks with your own guide, a short flight from the Serengeti to Zanzibar, and four slow days on the north coast.
You arrive at Kilimanjaro airport and spend five nights on safari: Tarangire for its elephants and baobabs, the green highlands around Karatu, the Ngorongoro Crater and two nights in the central Serengeti. The pace is gentle, with one short travel day in the middle so nobody gets worn out.
From the Serengeti you fly straight to Zanzibar, so there is no long drive back to Arusha. On the island you stay on the north coast at Nungwi or Kendwa, where the tide stays in and you can swim for most of the day.
Prices are per person sharing a room. A single traveller is priced on request.
No drive back: you fly from the Serengeti to the beach
A calm pace that suits families and couples
North-coast beach where the sea stays swimmable most of the day
Mid-range lodges and hotels, all transfers and the inland flight included
Kilimanjaro International Airport → Arusha
Your guide meets you at Kilimanjaro International Airport and drives you about an hour to a lodge near Arusha. The day is for resting after the flight; in the evening your guide joins you to go through the plan.
Arusha → Tarangire National Park
About two hours' drive brings you to Tarangire, famous for big elephant families, especially in the dry months, and for its ancient baobabs. You stay out on game drives with a picnic lunch and reach your lodge near the park in the late afternoon.
Tarangire → Mto wa Mbu → Karatu
An easy day. Take an early drive in Tarangire if you like, then travel through Mto wa Mbu and up the Rift Valley wall to Karatu, a farming town of coffee and wheat below the crater. You arrive with time to rest, swim if the lodge has a pool, or visit a coffee farm or village (extra cost).
Ngorongoro Crater → Central Serengeti
An early descent into the crater, when the light is soft and there are fewer vehicles. Buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, hippos and lions are seen on most days, and it is one of the best places in the country to look for black rhino, usually far off.
After a picnic you climb out and drive west into the Serengeti, watching for animals on the way to your camp in the middle of the park. It is a long day with breaks along the way.
Central Serengeti
The central Serengeti around Seronera keeps its lions, leopards and cheetahs all year, and the grass plains seem to have no end. Plan the day with your guide: an early start and a long lunch at camp, or a picnic and a whole day out. A sunrise balloon flight can be added for about US$599 per person; the balloon companies set their own minimum age for children.
Seronera airstrip → Zanzibar → Nungwi or Kendwa
A last morning drive, then your guide drops you at the Seronera airstrip. The scheduled small plane usually makes a stop or two, so allow a few hours. On Zanzibar our driver meets you and takes you to your beach hotel on the north coast.
Nungwi or Kendwa, Zanzibar
Free days on white sand and clear water. Swim, read, or walk the beach at sunset. If you would like to see more of the island, we can book a spice farm visit, a Stone Town walk or a snorkelling trip at extra cost.
Nungwi or Kendwa → Zanzibar Airport
After breakfast you are driven to Zanzibar Airport for your flight home.
Lodges are confirmed when you book; each is the kind of place shown in the itinerary, or one like it. The small plane to Zanzibar allows about 15 kg per person in a soft bag.
The line shows the order of the trip, not the exact road. Press ↻ to play it again.
| Season | 1 Person | 2 People | 3 People | 4 People | 5 People | 6 People |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High SeasonJune – October · 20 Dec – February | On request | $4,220 | $3,960 | $3,760 | $3,620 | $3,520 |
| Low SeasonMarch – May · 1 Nov – 19 Dec | On request | $3,900 | $3,640 | $3,440 | $3,300 | $3,200 |
High Season: June to October and 20 December to the end of February. Low Season: March to May and 1 November to 19 December.
Private trip for your group only: the more of you share the vehicle and guide, the lower the price per person. For 7 or more people we send a quote.
How booking works: a 30% deposit confirms your trip and the balance is paid on arrival in Tanzania, before the trip starts. We reply within 3 hours. Booking terms
Yes. The days are shorter than on most safaris, there is a rest day in Karatu, and the flight saves the long drive back. Some camps have few family rooms, so book early and tell us the children's ages.
Single travellers pay a single-room supplement in every lodge and hotel and carry the whole vehicle cost alone, so we price it for your dates on request.
Yes. The price is for a mid-range hotel at Nungwi or Kendwa. If you have a favourite hotel or want something more special, tell us and we will price it.
About 15 kg per person including hand luggage, in a soft bag. Extra bags can usually be sent ahead or stored; ask us.
Seven nights on safari, four on the beach.
Bush dinner in the Serengeti, sunset dhow on Zanzibar.
Beach first, then fly to the Serengeti and the crater.
Tell us your dates, where you are staying and how many of you are travelling. We reply within 3 hours.
