This twelve-day route gives you unhurried time in three of northern Tanzania's better-known parks, Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Central Serengeti, with an extra day built in for deeper exploration and better odds with the migrating herds, before flying to Zanzibar for a five-night beach finish. It suits travellers who don't want to rush either half of the trip.
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 TreetopsAfter a final morning game drive, continue across the Ngorongoro Highlands to your lodge on the crater rim, arriving in time to settle in and enjoy the views before tomorrow's descent.
🏨 Overnight: Escarpment Luxury LodgeDescend at dawn into the Ngorongoro Crater for a full day of game viewing among dense concentrations of lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and wildebeest, with a picnic lunch beside the Lerai Forest.
🏨 Overnight: Escarpment Luxury LodgeDrive across the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Serengeti's short-grass plains to the Seronera region, with a game drive along the way as the landscape opens out into the Serengeti's wide horizons.
🏨 Overnight: Serengeti Pioneer CampSpend the day in the Seronera Valley, the Serengeti's most reliable big-cat territory year-round, with strong resident populations of lion, leopard and cheetah among the river courses and granite kopjes.
🏨 Overnight: Serengeti Pioneer CampA second full day in the Serengeti, with room to range further afield in search of the migrating herds depending on their position for your travel dates, plus an optional sundowner picnic on the plains.
🏨 Overnight: Serengeti Pioneer CampAfter a final morning game drive, transfer to the airstrip for your flight to Zanzibar via Arusha, timed to arrive in time to check into your Stone Town heritage hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure.
🏨 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 RetreatSpend a final restful day at the beach, or take the optional half-day trip to Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park to walk among red colobus monkeys, before returning for a farewell dinner overlooking the ocean.
🏨 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) | $10,770 | $54,930 |
| High Season (Jun, Oct) | $9,430 | $48,090 |
| Low Season (Mar–May) | $7,860 | $40,090 |
June through October brings the driest conditions across the northern circuit and generally the best odds of encountering the migrating herds in Central Serengeti, along with calm seas and sunny days in Zanzibar. December through February also works well for both legs of the trip. The long rains from March to May bring the lowest rates of the year on both the safari and beach portions, with lush green landscapes and more frequent, generally brief, afternoon showers.
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