This ten-day trip pairs our standard northern circuit, Tarangire, the Serengeti, and the Ngorongoro Crater, with a four-night finish on the beaches of Zanzibar. The first six days are spent tracking elephants, big cats and the Big Five across three of Tanzania's best-known parks, then it's a short flight to the coast to swap dust for white sand and warm, calm water.
Trip HighlightsYour guide picks you up from your Arusha hotel or Kilimanjaro International Airport and drives southwest to Tarangire National Park for an afternoon game drive among the baobabs, following the Tarangire River where the park's elephant herds tend to gather.
🏨 Overnight: Tarangire TreetopsLeave early and drive west across the Ngorongoro Highlands, stopping at the crater rim for the view, before continuing across the Ngorongoro Conservation Area into the Serengeti, arriving in time for an afternoon game drive.
🏨 Overnight: Serengeti Pioneer CampSpend the whole day in the Seronera Valley and the kopjes around it, home to a resident population of lion, leopard and cheetah, plus a chance of crossing paths with the migrating herds depending on the time of year.
🏨 Overnight: Serengeti Pioneer CampAfter a final morning game drive, head back east to the Ngorongoro Highlands. You'll reach your crater-rim lodge in the afternoon, with time to settle in and take in the views before tomorrow's descent.
🏨 Overnight: Escarpment Luxury LodgeDescend at dawn into the Ngorongoro Crater for a morning of game viewing among dense concentrations of lion, elephant, rhino and buffalo, with a picnic lunch beside the Lerai Forest. In the afternoon, drive to Arusha for your flight to Zanzibar, timed to arrive in time to check into your Stone Town hotel.
🏨 Overnight: Kiponda Heritage HouseExplore Stone Town on foot with a local guide, taking in the House of Wonders, the Old Fort and Forodhani Gardens, plus a spice farm tour in the countryside. In the afternoon, transfer across the island to Michamvi Beach.
🏨 Overnight: Baraza Beach RetreatA full free day at the resort, with its white sand beach and calm, shallow lagoon. Kayaking, paddleboarding and diving trips are available if you'd rather stay active.
🏨 Overnight: Baraza Beach RetreatSet sail on a traditional wooden dhow along the reef-fringed coastline, with time to snorkel over the coral gardens before heading back to shore as the sun goes down over the Indian Ocean.
🏨 Overnight: Baraza Beach RetreatA final unhurried day by the ocean. Swim, relax by the pool, or book a spa treatment, then finish with a farewell dinner overlooking the water.
🏨 Overnight: Baraza Beach RetreatA final relaxed breakfast by the ocean, then the transfer to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport for your onward flight.
✈ Transfer to Zanzibar Airport| Season | Per Person (sharing) | Group of 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Peak Season (Jul–Sep, late Dec) | $8,550 | $43,600 |
| High Season (Jun, Oct) | $7,490 | $38,200 |
| Low Season (Mar–May) | $6,240 | $31,820 |
June through October brings the driest conditions across the northern circuit and the calmest seas in Zanzibar, which makes it the most popular window for this combined trip. December through February also works well, with greener scenery on safari and warm, sunny days on the coast. The long rains from March to May bring the lowest rates of the year on both legs of the trip, along with more frequent, though usually brief, afternoon showers.
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