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Traveler greeting the sunset from an infinity pool over the Indian Ocean

Private Tanzania safari

11-Day Serengeti & Zanzibar Private Safari

11 daysPrivate safariTanzaniaIndividually quoted

Trade dust for white sand without backtracking: a light-aircraft flight carries you from the Serengeti to Zanzibar, where warm water, spice farms and the alleys of Stone Town are waiting.

Customize This Journey
Duration11 days · 10 nights
Best monthsJune – October and December – February
Comfort levelsComfort · Premium · Luxury · Ultra-Luxury
RouteArusha · Tarangire · Ngorongoro Crater · Central Serengeti · Zanzibar
Best forCouples, honeymooners and first-timers who want a complete safari followed by real beach time
Trip typePrivate safari

Many travelers who come this far want both the Serengeti and the sea, and this route delivers them in the right order. The safari half follows the northern circuit west — a night in Tarangire among elephants and baobabs, a few quiet afternoon hours down in the Ngorongoro Crater, then three nights in the central Serengeti — with no pre-dawn starts unless you want them.

Then a light-aircraft flight takes you from the plains to the Indian Ocean, where four nights on Zanzibar let the week settle. Depending on your comfort level, that might be a boutique hotel on the east coast, a private villa with its own pool or an island retreat on Mnemba. Our safari and Zanzibar guide compares the island’s coasts in more detail.

Why this route works

Safari first and beach second is the order that works: you arrive fresh for early game drives and leave with days to unwind rather than rushing home from the bush. The route heads steadily west, from Tarangire to the crater to the Serengeti, so no road is driven twice. Folding the crater into the Tarangire transfer day means the drive onto the Serengeti plains can be slow and scenic. From Seronera, a scheduled flight reaches Zanzibar in about 2.5–3.5 hours, usually with a stop, which avoids a day of backtracking through Arusha.

Itinerary

Day by Day

A suggested flow — every day can be reshaped around you.

  1. A giraffe beside a lone acacia tree on the open savanna

    Day 1 · Arusha

    First Night Under Mount Meru

    Drive · Kilimanjaro International Airport → Arusha · about 1 hour

    Your guide is waiting when you clear customs at Kilimanjaro International Airport, and within an hour you are in Arusha, having passed roadside stalls selling roasted maize and your first glimpses of Mount Meru. Arusha sits at roughly 1,400 meters, so evenings are pleasantly mild. Your first stay is set in quiet gardens, and dinner is the only fixed point of the day. If you are celebrating a honeymoon or an anniversary, let us know when you book, and a few thoughtful touches can be arranged here and throughout the trip.

    • Private airport transfer
    • Evening at leisure in the gardens
    Overnight
    Arusha
    Meals
    Dinner
  2. Elephant herd gathered beneath acacia woodland in Tarangire

    Day 2 · Tarangire

    Baobab Country

    Drive · Arusha → Tarangire National Park · about 2–2.5 hours

    A drive of about 2–2.5 hours brings you to Tarangire by late morning, as the heat builds and elephants start walking toward the river. You spend the rest of the day in the park, with lunch at your camp or lodge and a long afternoon drive. Tarangire is where many travelers meet their first elephant herd up close, and it rarely disappoints: dozens of animals, calves tucked between their mothers’ legs, dust rising in the low sun. The park’s giant baobabs are worth a stop too, many scarred where elephants have stripped the bark for moisture.

    • Late-morning game drive
    • Lunch at your camp or lodge
    • Afternoon drive along the river valley
    Overnight
    Tarangire
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch & dinner
  3. View across the Ngorongoro Crater floor from the forested rim

    Day 3 · Ngorongoro Crater

    Rift Valley to the Crater Floor

    Drive · Tarangire → Ngorongoro Crater · about 2.5–3 hours

    Leave after an early breakfast, watching for wildlife as you exit the park, and climb the Rift Valley escarpment toward the Ngorongoro highlands, about 2.5–3 hours in all. After a picnic lunch on the crater rim, you descend in the early afternoon, when the floor is often quieter than in the morning. The caldera holds a concentrated cast: lion and spotted hyena on the grassland, hippos in the swamps, flamingos on the soda lake and, with luck, a black rhino. You climb out before the gate closes for a quiet evening in the cool highlands.

    • Exit game drive through Tarangire
    • Picnic lunch on the crater rim
    • Afternoon descent to the crater floor
    Overnight
    Ngorongoro highlands
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch & dinner
  4. A male lion resting in golden grass in the Serengeti

    Day 4 · Central Serengeti

    Down to the Endless Plains

    Drive · Ngorongoro highlands → Central Serengeti (Seronera) · about 3–4 hours with game viewing

    The morning is unhurried: breakfast with a view, then a scenic drive across the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, past Maasai herders and giraffes browsing the whistling thorn. A stop at Olduvai Gorge can be added on request. The Serengeti begins at Naabi Hill, where a short climb reveals grass stretching to the horizon, and from there you drive north toward Seronera with game viewing all the way. Cheetahs often use the termite mounds on these plains as lookouts. You reach camp in time for a late lunch and an afternoon drive.

    • Scenic drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
    • View stop at Naabi Hill
    • Afternoon game drive around Seronera
    Overnight
    Central Serengeti
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch & dinner

  5. Day 5–6 · Central Serengeti

    Kopjes, Rivers and Sundowners

    With two full days, you can mix long drives with unhurried time at camp. One morning might go to the Seronera River, where leopards often rest up in the riverine trees, and the next out on the open plains looking for cheetahs or following a lion pride between kopjes. From December, depending on rainfall, the migration herds may be within a long day’s reach to the south. On your final evening, your guide finds a safe vantage point for sundowners: a cold drink, the plains turning gold and the first calls of the night starting up.

    • Morning and afternoon game drives
    • Sundowner drinks on the plains
    • Optional balloon flight and bush breakfast
    Overnight
    Central Serengeti
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch & dinner
  6. Palm-fringed white beach meeting turquoise water from above

    Day 7 · Zanzibar

    From the Plains to the Ocean

    Flight · Seronera airstrip → Zanzibar · about 2.5–3.5 hours, usually with a stop — The road transfer to the coast takes about 1–1.5 hours; Mnemba guests continue by boat.

    After a final early drive, it is a short run to the Seronera strip, where a scheduled light aircraft carries you to Zanzibar in about 2.5–3.5 hours, usually with a stop along the way. The change is abrupt in the best way: grassland and volcanoes below, then the coast, then suddenly turquoise water. A driver collects you at the airport for the transfer to the north or east coast, typically 60–90 minutes. Dinner is by the sea, and nothing at all is planned for tomorrow.

    • Final early game drive
    • Light-aircraft flight to Zanzibar
    • Transfer to your beach stay
    Overnight
    Zanzibar coast
    Meals
    Breakfast & dinner

  7. Day 8–10 · Zanzibar

    Island Time on Zanzibar

    Three full days on the island are yours to shape. The north coast around Nungwi offers swimming at most states of the tide, while the east coast around Paje and Matemwe has wide lagoons that drain and refill dramatically. You can snorkel the reef near Mnemba, sail a traditional dhow at sunset or visit a spice farm to see cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon growing. A half-day guided walk through Stone Town’s carved doorways, markets and waterfront is included, timed around your beach days. Or do nothing at all.

    • Beach and pool time
    • Guided half-day Stone Town walk
    • Optional snorkeling, dhow cruise or spice-farm visit
    Overnight
    Zanzibar coast
    Meals
    Breakfast & dinner

  8. Day 11 · Zanzibar

    Leaving the Spice Island

    Drive · Zanzibar coast → Abeid Amani Karume International Airport · about 1–1.5 hours

    Take a last swim and a slow breakfast before your transfer to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, roughly 60–90 minutes from the main beach areas. Some international airlines connect Zanzibar with hubs in the Gulf, Europe and East Africa, or you can fly to Kilimanjaro or Dar es Salaam for a long-haul connection. If your flight leaves late, a later checkout or a few final hours in Stone Town can often be arranged, so the last day never feels like a wait.

    • Final morning on the beach
    • Transfer to Zanzibar’s international airport
    Meals
    Breakfast

Lodges

Where You’ll Stay

Choose a comfort level to see the stay style for each part of the journey. We match specific camps to your dates and availability.

Spacious, characterful camps in prime locations, with exceptional service and food.

  1. 1 night · Arusha

    Premium

    Arusha · coffee country

    Coffee Estate Lodge

    Farm lodge

    • Spacious cottages or suites set around the gardens
    • Coffee tours of the estate, often from bean to cup
    • Pool and lawns for an easy arrival afternoon

  2. 1 night · Tarangire

    A canvas safari tent set among trees at a private tented campPremium

    Tarangire · river valley

    River-Valley Tented Camp

    Tented camp

    • Spacious en-suite tents with private verandas
    • River-valley views from the lounge and deck
    • Bush breakfasts and sundowners on request

  3. 1 night · Ngorongoro

    Premium

    Ngorongoro highlands · Karatu farmland

    Working Farm Lodge

    Farm lodge

    • Spacious cottages, often with fireplaces for cool evenings
    • Farm-to-table meals from the kitchen gardens
    • Guided walks on the farm and along the forest edge

  4. 3 nights · Central Serengeti

    A canvas safari tent set among trees at a private tented campPremium

    Central Serengeti · Seronera

    Classic Seronera Tented Camp

    Tented camp

    • Spacious en-suite tents with private verandas
    • Family tents with interconnecting rooms at some
    • Campfire drinks and dinners under the stars

  5. 4 nights · Zanzibar

    Turquoise water off Nungwi beach with a boat offshorePremium

    Zanzibar · north coast

    North Coast Beach Resort

    Beach resort

    • Sea-view rooms and family suites
    • Pools, spa and several restaurants
    • Kids’ activities and babysitting at many

Price

Price

Every private safari is priced for your dates, party and choices — here is what moves the number.

Individually quoted

Custom pricing based on your dates, comfort level, party size and routing.

Get my quoteHow Tanzania safari pricing works
  • SeasonPeak months (July–October, the festive season) sit at the top of the range; the green season (April–May) is noticeably softer.
  • Party sizeYour private vehicle and guide are shared across your party — the per-person cost typically falls as your group grows from two to four or six.
  • Comfort levelMoving from Comfort to Ultra-Luxury changes the nightly rate more than any other choice.
  • RoutingFlying the long legs saves hours on the road and adds light-aircraft fares; driving keeps costs lower.

What’s Included

  • Private 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof and a professional driver-guide
  • Accommodation at your chosen comfort level
  • Meals as listed day by day
  • Park, conservation and crater fees for the itinerary
  • Airport meet-and-greet and all road transfers
  • Drinking water on game drives
  • On-the-ground support from our Tanzania team
  • Scheduled light-aircraft flight from the Serengeti to Zanzibar
  • Four nights on Zanzibar’s coast with breakfast and dinner
  • Half-day guided walk through Stone Town
  • Sundowner drinks on the Serengeti plains
  • Private afternoon game drive on the Ngorongoro Crater floor

Not Included

  • International flights
  • Visa fees
  • Travel and medical insurance (strongly recommended)
  • Gratuities for guides and camp staff
  • Premium drinks and personal expenses
  • Snorkeling, diving, dhow cruises and spice-farm visits on Zanzibar
  • Hot-air balloon flight and bush breakfast (optional add-ons)
  • Zanzibar’s mandatory inbound travel insurance, if still required when you travel

A typical inclusion list — your written proposal itemizes exactly what is and isn’t included.

Activities

Activities & Add-Ons

Included experiences and optional upgrades for this journey.

Palm-fringed white beach meeting turquoise water from aboveIncluded

Extensions

Zanzibar Beach Extension

Four beach nights are built in, with the coast matched to your level.

Open safari vehicle with guests on the savanna beneath a dramatic sunsetIncluded

Bush dining

Sundowners

A drink at dusk on the plains during your final Serengeti evening.

Tented camp glowing at sunrise over golden hillsOptional

Bush dining

Bush Breakfast

Pairs naturally with the balloon, or with a long morning drive.

Map

Route Map

Route map: Arusha · Tarangire · Ngorongoro Crater · Central Serengeti · ZanzibarTanzania1Kilimanjaro Airport2Arusha3Tarangire4Ngorongoro Crater5Central Serengeti6Zanzibar
By roadBy air

Approximate locations — not for navigation.

How This Journey Changes Through the Year

June–October
Dry, sunny safari days with excellent game viewing, and Zanzibar at its most comfortable, with steady breezes and lower humidity. This is peak season, so plan early.
December–February
The Serengeti is green and the migration is usually on the southern plains. Zanzibar is hot and humid, with calm seas that are often ideal for snorkeling.
March–May & November
The long rains, roughly March–May, make this route hard to recommend, and some beach hotels close. November’s short rains are lighter, but expect afternoon showers on both the mainland and the coast.

Make It Yours

  • Add a night in Stone Town before heading to the beach
  • Upgrade to a private beach villa or an island retreat on Mnemba
  • Add a second Tarangire night for a gentler start
  • Add a fourth Serengeti night, or a hop north for the Mara River in July–October
  • Add a dawn balloon flight over the Seronera valley
Customize This Journey

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

Is the safari section rushed before the beach?

Not especially. No day has more than about 3–4 hours of driving, and each drive passes through game-rich country, so it rarely feels like a transfer. The Tarangire and crater nights are single, so if you prefer to unpack less often, adding a night in either place is an easy change.

When is the best time for a Serengeti and Zanzibar trip?

June to October pairs dry-season game viewing with Zanzibar’s most comfortable weather. December to February is also excellent, with green landscapes and calm, warm seas. We generally steer away from March–May, when the long rains affect both halves of the trip.

Which beach stays match each comfort level?

Comfort pairs with a boutique hotel on the east or north coast, premium with a full-service resort on the north coast and luxury with a private villa that has its own pool. Ultra means an island retreat on Mnemba, off the north-east coast, reached by a short boat transfer.

Is this a good honeymoon itinerary?

It is one of the most natural honeymoon shapes in Africa: adventure first, then real rest. For couples, we can add a private dinner in the bush, a balloon flight and a villa with a plunge pool. Our honeymoon guide has more ideas.

Can we fly from the Serengeti straight to Zanzibar?

Yes. Scheduled light-aircraft services link Seronera with Zanzibar, usually with at least one stop, and take about 2.5–3.5 hours. Baggage allowances on these small planes are typically around 15 kg (33 lb) per person, in soft-sided bags only, so pack beachwear light.

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Continue exploring

Traveler greeting the sunset from an infinity pool over the Indian Ocean

Customize This Journey

Tell us your dates, who is traveling and your preferred comfort level. A safari specialist will tailor this route around you — nothing is booked until you approve every detail.

Customize This Journey