Quick Facts
| Duration | 13 days / 12 nights |
|---|---|
| Safari Type | Fully customized, exclusive-use safari — no group tours, no shared vans |
| Vehicle | Dedicated 4x4 pop-up roof Landcruiser with your own driver-guide |
| Route | Arusha → Tarangire → Lake Manyara/Mto wa Mbu → Central Serengeti (Seronera) → Ngorongoro Crater → Zanzibar (Stone Town + Nungwi/Kendwa) |
| Best For | Couples, honeymooners, families, and small groups travelling together |
| Price From | USD 2,690–4,690 pp depending on season and group size |
This 13-day itinerary pairs Tanzania's premier northern safari circuit with the white sand of Zanzibar — no group vans, no fixed departure dates, no sharing your game drives with strangers. Every day runs in a dedicated 4x4 Landcruiser with a pop-up roof, driven by your own driver-guide, on a schedule built around your pace.
The first seven days cover Tarangire, Lake Manyara or Mto wa Mbu, Central Serengeti, and the Ngorongoro Crater floor — the core of Tanzania's Big Five territory and the annual wildebeest migration corridor. Game drives are exclusive to your group, timed for early-morning and late-afternoon wildlife activity, with flexible stops for photography.
From Day 8, the trip shifts from safari dust to Indian Ocean coastline. A short flight from Arusha to Zanzibar (ZNZ) puts you in Stone Town's UNESCO-listed alleys by lunchtime, followed by four full days on the Nungwi or Kendwa coast — reef swimming, a spice tour, sunset dhow cruises, or simply doing nothing at all.
Every route, lodge tier, and pace on this itinerary is customizable. Send us your dates and group size, and we'll build a tailored quote around them.
Highlights
- Big Five game drives across Tarangire, Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro
- Three full nights based in the Serengeti migration corridor
- A half-day Ngorongoro Crater floor tour on the way back to Arusha
- Tarangire's baobabs and elephant herds
- A guided Stone Town UNESCO site tour
- Four nights on Zanzibar's Nungwi or Kendwa white-sand beaches
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) / Arusha Transfer
- Airport pickup at JRO, transfer to Arusha (~1 hour)
- Meet your driver-guide and review the trip route
- Overnight: Arusha lodge (mid-range or luxury)
Day 2: Tarangire National Park — Elephant Kingdom & Baobabs
- Drive Arusha to Tarangire (~2 hours) in your dedicated 4x4 Landcruiser
- Full-day game drive: large elephant herds, iconic baobab trees, tree-climbing lions, over 550 bird species
- Overnight: Tarangire lodge/tented camp
Day 3: Lake Manyara National Park or Cultural Mto wa Mbu
- Choice of Lake Manyara game drive (flamingos, hippo pools, groundwater forest) OR a cultural walk through Mto wa Mbu village
- Afternoon drive toward the Serengeti via the Ngorongoro Highlands (~4–5 hours)
- Overnight: Karatu or Ngorongoro Highlands lodge
Days 4–6: Serengeti National Park — Central Serengeti (Seronera) Game Drives
- Enter the Serengeti via Naabi Hill Gate; drive into Central Serengeti/Seronera (~3 hours from Karatu)
- Three full days of game drives, exclusive to your vehicle, across the Serengeti's short-grass and riverine habitats
- Big Five territory, resident predator prides, and seasonal migration herds (timing depends on month)
- Overnight: Seronera-area lodge/tented camp (3 nights)
Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater Floor Tour & Transit to Arusha
- Early departure from Serengeti back through Ngorongoro Conservation Area
- Descend to the Ngorongoro Crater floor for a half-day game drive — one of Africa's highest wildlife densities in a single bowl
- Continue transfer to Arusha (~4–5 hours)
- Overnight: Arusha lodge
Day 8: Flight to Zanzibar (ZNZ) & Stone Town Tour
- Morning transfer to Arusha (ARK) or Kilimanjaro (JRO) airport for a scheduled flight to Zanzibar (ZNZ)
- Guided walking tour of Stone Town's UNESCO-listed Old Town: House of Wonders, the old fort, spice markets
- Transfer north to your beach hotel
- Overnight: Nungwi or Kendwa beach resort
Days 9–12: Zanzibar Beach Relaxation — Nungwi/Kendwa Coast & Spice Tour
- Four days at leisure on the Nungwi or Kendwa coastline
- Optional add-ons: Zanzibar spice tour, sunset dhow cruise, Mnemba Atoll snorkelling, Jozani Forest red colobus monkey walk
- Fully flexible — beach days can be left unstructured or built around excursions
- Overnight: Nungwi/Kendwa beach resort (4 nights)
Day 13: Departure Transfer to Zanzibar Airport (ZNZ)
- Transfer to Zanzibar International Airport for your onward or international flight
- End of services
Tour Cost & Pricing
Pricing depends on three things: season, group size, and accommodation tier. Rates below are per person, sharing, in a mid-range lodge/tented camp tier. Larger groups reduce the per-person vehicle and guide cost; luxury lodge upgrades are quoted separately.
Private Safari & Zanzibar Rates (Per Person)
| Season | 2 Persons | 4 Persons | 6 Persons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Season | $3,450 | $2,980 | $2,690 |
| High Season | $4,150 | $3,590 | $3,240 |
| Peak Season | $4,690 | $4,050 | $3,680 |
What's Included & Excluded
| ✓ | Dedicated 4x4 pop-up roof Landcruiser for the full safari duration, exclusive to your group |
| ✓ | Professional English-speaking driver-guide |
| ✓ | All park entrance fees and Ngorongoro Crater service fees |
| ✓ | Accommodation as per itinerary (lodges/tented camps, room only or full board as specified) |
| ✓ | Arusha–Zanzibar domestic flight |
| ✓ | All ground transfers listed in the itinerary |
| ✓ | Bottled drinking water during game drives |
| ✗ | International flights to/from Kilimanjaro (JRO) and from Zanzibar (ZNZ) |
| ✗ | Tanzania visa fees |
| ✗ | Travel and medical insurance |
| ✗ | Tips for driver-guide and lodge staff |
| ✗ | Optional Zanzibar excursions (spice tour, Mnemba snorkelling, dhow cruise) unless requested in advance |
| ✗ | Personal expenses (laundry, alcoholic beverages, phone/Wi-Fi where not included by the lodge) |
Getting There & Travel Logistics
Arrival airport: Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), Arusha, Tanzania. Departure airport: Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ).
Visa & Vaccinations
A Tanzania e-Visa or visa-on-arrival is required for most nationalities — apply in advance where possible. A yellow fever certificate is required if arriving from an endemic country, and malaria prophylaxis is recommended for the mainland safari portion.
Best Time to Visit
The dry season offers the strongest wildlife viewing in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, along with sunny, dry conditions in Zanzibar. The wetter, greener months bring lower rates and quieter parks, with occasional rain showers.
Currency
Tanzanian Shilling (TZS); USD is widely accepted for park fees and lodges.
