18 Days Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Vacation

The long version: an unhurried northern safari followed by a full week on Zanzibar.

18 days Safari & beach Northern Tanzania & Zanzibar From $3,204 per person

18 Days Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Vacation · 18 days

Package Overview

For travellers who want time on both sides of the trip. You start with three easy days near Arusha, then follow the same private safari route as our 15-day trip through Tarangire, three days in the Serengeti, which can be timed for the wildebeest migration, and the Ngorongoro Crater. After that comes a full week on Zanzibar, long enough for the reef at Mnemba, the forest at Jozani, Stone Town and plenty of days doing nothing at all.

Highlights

Three full days in the Serengeti
Can be timed for the wildebeest migration
Ngorongoro Crater
Seven nights on Zanzibar
Snorkelling at Mnemba and diving on request

Route map

Day 1 Kilimanjaro International Airport → Day 2 Arusha → Day 3-4 Arusha National Park → Day 5 Tarangire National Park → Day 6-8 Central Serengeti (Seronera) → Day 9 Ngorongoro Crater → Day 10 Zanzibar Airport → Day 11 Kwale Island (Menai Bay) → Day 12 Stone Town → Day 13 Kiwengwa → Day 14 Jozani Forest → Day 15 Mnemba Atoll → Day 16 Prison Island → Day 17 Kiwengwa → Day 18 Zanzibar Airport

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1 • Arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport

Arusha

Your guide meets you at Kilimanjaro International Airport and drives you to your lodge on the outskirts of Arusha, about an hour away. The rest of the day is free to rest after the flight.

Day 1 Accommodation, Arusha Meal Plan: Bed and breakfast

Options based on your package:

Comfort — Ahadi Lodge
Premium — Giraffe Manor Tanzania
Luxury — Giraffe Manor Tanzania

Arusha

Day 2 • A relaxed day in Arusha

Arusha

A free day to get over the journey. Stay at the lodge, or let us arrange a city tour, a mountain-bike ride or a visit to the Maasai market.

Day 2 Accommodation, Arusha Meal Plan: Bed and breakfast

Options based on your package:

Comfort — Ahadi Lodge
Premium — Giraffe Manor Tanzania
Luxury — Giraffe Manor Tanzania

Arusha

Day 3 • Arusha National Park

Arusha National Park

Your first game drive, in a small park on the slopes of Mount Meru. Look for black-and-white colobus monkeys in the forest, giraffe and buffalo in the Ngurdoto Crater and flamingos on the Momella Lakes.

Day 3 Accommodation, Arusha Meal Plan: Bed and breakfast

Options based on your package:

Comfort — Ahadi Lodge
Premium — Giraffe Manor Tanzania
Luxury — Giraffe Manor Tanzania

Arusha

Day 4 • Relax or hike to the Mount Meru waterfalls

Mount Meru

Take it easy at the lodge, or walk with a ranger through the forest to the Napuru waterfall on the lower slopes of Mount Meru for a swim in the pool below.

Activity · WATERFALL HIKE (Optional)

A guided half-day walk with an armed park ranger to the waterfall, with time to swim.

Day 4 Accommodation, Arusha Meal Plan: Bed and breakfast

Options based on your package:

Comfort — Ahadi Lodge
Premium — Giraffe Manor Tanzania
Luxury — Giraffe Manor Tanzania

Arusha

Day 5 • Tarangire National Park

Tarangire

Drive west to Tarangire, where herds of up to 250 elephants gather along the river in the dry season between ancient baobab trees. Lion, giraffe and huge flocks of birds are common, and the park is far quieter than the Serengeti.

Day 5 Accommodation, Tarangire / Lake Manyara Meal Plan: Full board

Options based on your package:

Comfort — Manyara Best View Lodge and Spa
Premium — Ang'ata Tarangire Camp
Luxury — Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge by Wellworth

Tarangire

Day 6 • Into the Serengeti

Serengeti

Cross the Ngorongoro highlands and descend onto the open plains of the Serengeti, game-driving all the way to your camp in the central Seronera area, where lion, leopard and cheetah are seen year-round.

Day 6 Accommodation, Central Serengeti Meal Plan: Full board

Options based on your package:

Comfort — Serengeti Sound of Silence Tented Camp
Premium — Signature Serengeti Luxury Tented Camp
Luxury — Serengeti Sametu Camp by Karibu Camps and Lodges

Serengeti

Day 7 • Serengeti full day

Serengeti

A full day of game drives with a picnic lunch. Your guide follows the migration herds when they are nearby and the big cats of the Seronera valley when they are not.

Day 7 Accommodation, Central Serengeti Meal Plan: Full board

Options based on your package:

Comfort — Serengeti Sound of Silence Tented Camp
Premium — Signature Serengeti Luxury Tented Camp
Luxury — Serengeti Sametu Camp by Karibu Camps and Lodges

Serengeti

Day 8 • Serengeti full day

Serengeti

A full day of game drives with a picnic lunch. Your guide follows the migration herds when they are nearby and the big cats of the Seronera valley when they are not.

Day 8 Accommodation, Central Serengeti Meal Plan: Full board

Options based on your package:

Comfort — Serengeti Sound of Silence Tented Camp
Premium — Signature Serengeti Luxury Tented Camp
Luxury — Serengeti Sametu Camp by Karibu Camps and Lodges

Serengeti

Day 9 • Ngorongoro Crater

Ngorongoro Crater

Descend 600 metres to the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive in the densest concentration of wildlife in Africa. This is the most reliable place in the north to see black rhino, along with lion, hyena, elephant and huge herds of zebra and wildebeest.

Day 9 Accommodation, Ngorongoro / Lake Manyara Meal Plan: Full board

Options based on your package:

Comfort — Manyara Best View Lodge and Spa
Premium — Manyara Best View Lodge and Spa
Luxury — Ngorongoro O'ldeani Mountain Lodge by Wellworth

Ngorongoro

Day 10 • Flight to Zanzibar

Zanzibar

Your guide drives you to Arusha airport for the short flight to Zanzibar, which is included. A driver meets you on arrival and takes you to your beach resort.

Note: Lunch and dinner on Zanzibar depend on your hotel plan. Breakfast is always included.

Day 10 Accommodation, Zanzibar beach resort Meal Plan: Bed and breakfast

Options based on your package:

Comfort — Fun Beach Resort
Premium — Legendary Zanzibar Beach Resort
Luxury — Qambani Luxury Resort

Zanzibar beachfront

Day 11 • Safari Blue dhow trip

Menai Bay

Sail by traditional dhow into Menai Bay for a day of snorkelling, a swim on a sandbank and a seafood barbecue on Kwale Island.

Note: Excursions on beach days are optional. Book them with your trip or once you arrive.

Activity · SAFARI BLUE (Optional)

A full-day dhow cruise with snorkelling gear, fresh fruit and a seafood lunch. Collection from your hotel is included.

Day 11 Accommodation, Zanzibar beach resort Meal Plan: Bed and breakfast

Options based on your package:

Comfort — Fun Beach Resort
Premium — Legendary Zanzibar Beach Resort
Luxury — Qambani Luxury Resort

Zanzibar beachfront

Day 12 • Stone Town walking tour

Stone Town

Explore the UNESCO-listed old town with a local guide: the House of Wonders, the Old Fort, the former slave market and Freddie Mercury's birthplace, ending at the Forodhani night food market.

Activity · STONE TOWN TOUR (Optional)

A three-hour guided walk through the alleys and markets of Stone Town.

Day 12 Accommodation, Zanzibar beach resort Meal Plan: Bed and breakfast

Options based on your package:

Comfort — Fun Beach Resort
Premium — Legendary Zanzibar Beach Resort
Luxury — Qambani Luxury Resort

Zanzibar beachfront

Day 13 • Beach day

Zanzibar

A free day on the beach. Swim, read, walk the shore at low tide or try kitesurfing, paddleboarding or a spa treatment at the resort.

Day 13 Accommodation, Zanzibar beach resort Meal Plan: Bed and breakfast

Options based on your package:

Comfort — Fun Beach Resort
Premium — Legendary Zanzibar Beach Resort
Luxury — Qambani Luxury Resort

Zanzibar beachfront

Day 14 • Jozani Forest

Jozani Forest

Visit Zanzibar's last indigenous forest, home to the rare red colobus monkey found only on the island, and walk the boardwalk through the mangroves.

Activity · JOZANI FOREST (Optional)

A half-day guided walk in Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park, about two hours from the north coast.

Day 14 Accommodation, Zanzibar beach resort Meal Plan: Bed and breakfast

Options based on your package:

Comfort — Fun Beach Resort
Premium — Legendary Zanzibar Beach Resort
Luxury — Qambani Luxury Resort

Zanzibar beachfront

Day 15 • Snorkelling at Mnemba Atoll

Mnemba Atoll

A boat trip to the reef around Mnemba Atoll, with some of the clearest water off Zanzibar, turtles, reef fish and often dolphins on the way.

Activity · MNEMBA SNORKELLING (Optional)

A half-day boat trip with snorkelling gear and a guide. Diving can be arranged instead.

Day 15 Accommodation, Zanzibar beach resort Meal Plan: Bed and breakfast

Options based on your package:

Comfort — Fun Beach Resort
Premium — Legendary Zanzibar Beach Resort
Luxury — Qambani Luxury Resort

Zanzibar beachfront

Day 16 • Prison Island

Prison Island

A short boat ride from Stone Town to Changuu, the old quarantine island, now home to giant Aldabra tortoises, a small beach and good snorkelling.

Activity · PRISON ISLAND (Optional)

A half-day boat trip with snorkelling and a visit to the tortoise sanctuary.

Day 16 Accommodation, Zanzibar beach resort Meal Plan: Bed and breakfast

Options based on your package:

Comfort — Fun Beach Resort
Premium — Legendary Zanzibar Beach Resort
Luxury — Qambani Luxury Resort

Zanzibar beachfront

Day 17 • Beach day

Zanzibar

A free day on the beach. Swim, read, walk the shore at low tide or try kitesurfing, paddleboarding or a spa treatment at the resort.

Day 17 Accommodation, Zanzibar beach resort Meal Plan: Bed and breakfast

Options based on your package:

Comfort — Fun Beach Resort
Premium — Legendary Zanzibar Beach Resort
Luxury — Qambani Luxury Resort

Zanzibar beachfront

Day 18 • Departure from Zanzibar

Zanzibar

A last morning on the beach before your driver takes you to Zanzibar Airport (ZNZ) for your flight home. You can also extend your trip with a few nights on Mnemba, Pemba or Mafia.