Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar

Day 1: Day 1: Arrival in Arusha

Location: Arusha

Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where your representative welcomes you and transfers you to Arusha, a lively town beneath Mount Meru and the gateway to Tanzania's northern safari circuit. After check-in, the rest of the day is at leisure: relax at your accommodation, enjoy the gardens or take a gentle stroll, depending on your arrival time. Meet your safari guide, review the route and prepare for several days of wildlife exploration.

Stay: Accommodation in Arusha

Day 2: Day 2: Arusha – Tarangire National Park

Location: Tarangire

After breakfast, drive to Tarangire National Park, famous for its ancient baobab trees, open savannah, seasonal swamps and large elephant herds. Spend the full day exploring with your guide, looking for elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes and antelope; lions and leopards may also be spotted. The Tarangire River draws animals, especially in the dry season. Pause for a picnic lunch at a designated site, subject to confirmed arrangements, before the afternoon game drive and the journey to your accommodation.

Stay: Accommodation in Tarangire

Day 3: Day 3: Tarangire – Ngorongoro Crater Safari

Location: Ngorongoro

After breakfast, travel to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a dramatic region of volcanic highlands and open grasslands. Descend into the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive across its wildlife-rich floor, home to zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, hippos, hyenas and lions; a sighting of the endangered black rhinoceros is possible but never guaranteed. Your guide explains how the crater supports such a remarkable concentration of wildlife. Afterwards, ascend to the rim and continue to your accommodation in the Ngorongoro area.

Stay: Accommodation in Ngorongoro

Day 4: Day 4: Ngorongoro – Serengeti Half-Day Game Drive

Location: Serengeti

After breakfast, travel to Serengeti National Park through changing highland and savannah scenery, with wildlife often visible along the way. Renowned for its vast plains and the Great Migration, the Serengeti is one of Africa's most celebrated safari destinations; the herds move through different parts of the ecosystem across the year. On arrival, enjoy a half-day game drive, scanning the grasslands and rocky kopjes for giraffes, elephants, zebras, wildebeest, antelope and predators, before settling into your accommodation in or near the park.

Stay: Accommodation in Serengeti

Day 5: Day 5: Serengeti Full-Day Game Drive

Location: Serengeti

Spend a full day in the Serengeti's immense grasslands, riverine areas and scattered kopjes, with your guide planning the route around recent sightings and seasonal movements. Look for lion prides resting in the shade, cheetahs in open grassland, leopards in riverine trees, and herds of wildebeest and zebra. You may encounter part of the Great Migration, though its location and river crossings cannot be guaranteed. Enjoy a picnic lunch at a designated site, subject to confirmed arrangements, before the afternoon safari.

Stay: Accommodation in Serengeti

Day 6: Day 6: Serengeti – Lake Manyara

Location: Lake Manyara

After breakfast, depart the Serengeti and travel towards the Lake Manyara area through Tanzania's distinctive landscapes, with occasional wildlife viewing along the route. If Lake Manyara National Park entry is included, explore its groundwater forest, woodlands, grasslands and lakeshore, known for baboons, elephants, giraffes, hippos and many bird species, with flamingos when conditions suit and the park's famous tree-climbing lions. The exact sightseeing programme depends on your confirmed package. Spend a relaxed evening before continuing to Zanzibar.

Stay: Accommodation in Lake Manyara

Day 7: Day 7: Lake Manyara – Fly to Zanzibar

Location: Zanzibar

After breakfast, check out and transfer to the airport for your scheduled flight to Zanzibar; the departure airport depends on your confirmed flight arrangements. On arrival, your local representative meets you and transfers you to your island accommodation. Zanzibar welcomes you with turquoise waters, white-sand beaches, swaying palms and a rich Swahili heritage shaped by African, Arab, Indian and European influences. Spend the rest of the day settling in after the safari.

Stay: Accommodation in Zanzibar

Day 8: Day 8: Leisure Day in Zanzibar

Location: Zanzibar

Enjoy a day discovering Zanzibar at your own pace: relax on the beach, swim where conditions are safe or enjoy your accommodation's facilities. The island's clear waters, coral reefs and beautiful coastline make it ideal for unwinding after the early starts of the safari. Optional experiences include a Stone Town visit, a spice farm tour, a dhow cruise or snorkelling, depending on your interests, the weather and tides; these can be arranged separately if not already included.

Stay: Accommodation in Zanzibar

Day 9: Day 9: Turtle Watching in Zanzibar

Location: Zanzibar

After breakfast, set out for your turtle-watching experience, which may include a visit to a recognised marine conservation site or turtle sanctuary, depending on the excursion booked. Learn about sea turtle species, their life cycle, the threats they face and local efforts to protect them, following the staff's guidance and observing the animals respectfully. Sightings depend on location, season and sea conditions. Return to your accommodation and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Stay: Accommodation in Zanzibar

Day 10: Day 10: Departure from Zanzibar

Enjoy a leisurely final breakfast at your accommodation and check out according to your flight schedule. At the arranged time, transfer to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport for your onward flight, allowing plenty of time for the transfer and check-in, particularly during busy periods. Your journey concludes with memories of Tanzania's remarkable wildlife, from the Ngorongoro Crater to the Serengeti plains, and the relaxing beaches and marine experiences of Zanzibar.