Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Zanzibar
Northern Circuit Bush Safari + Zanzibar Beach
10 Days — Northern circuit safari and the Zanzibar coast
overview
Bush then beach. Five days across Tarangire, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, then a flight to Zanzibar for Stone Town and four nights on the coast. The honeymoon trip, and the one people come back raving about.
Highlights
- Tarangire, Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater
- Internal flight from Arusha to Zanzibar — no long transfer
- A night in historic Stone Town
- Three nights on the beach with nothing scheduled
- Optional spice tour, snorkelling and Prison Island
- Ideal for honeymoons and longer first trips
Day-by-day
Day 1
Arrival & Arusha
JRO → Arusha
Airport pick-up, transfer to Arusha and your safari briefing.
Overnight: Gold Crest Hotel
Day 2
Tarangire National Park → Karatu
Arusha → Tarangire → Karatu
A game drive among the elephants and baobabs of Tarangire, then up into the Karatu highlands.
Overnight: Marera Valley
Day 3
Karatu → Serengeti
Via the Ngorongoro rim & Olduvai Gorge
Over the crater rim and past Olduvai Gorge onto the Serengeti plains.
Overnight: Kon Tiki Serengeti Camp
Day 4
Serengeti
Full day of game drives
A full day following the wildlife across the plains — predators early, plains game through the day, migration herds in season.
Overnight: Kon Tiki Serengeti Camp
Day 5
Serengeti → Ngorongoro Crater
Early start, crater descent, on to Karatu
An early start to game drive your way out of the Serengeti and into the Ngorongoro Crater for the descent onto the floor. Overnight back in the Karatu highlands.
Overnight: Marera Valley
Day 6
Karatu → Arusha → Zanzibar
Drive to Arusha, fly to Zanzibar, transfer to Stone Town
A morning drive to Arusha and the short flight across to Zanzibar, where we meet you and transfer you into Stone Town. The afternoon is free to wander the alleys, the old fort and the night market at Forodhani.
Overnight: Tembo House Hotel
Day 7
Stone Town → the beach
Transfer to the coast
A relaxed morning in Stone Town before transferring to your beach hotel. The rest of the day is yours.
Overnight: Smile Beach Hotel
Day 8
Zanzibar
Free day
Nothing scheduled. If you want to fill it, a spice farm tour, snorkelling trip or the boat out to Prison Island can be arranged at extra cost.
Overnight: Smile Beach Hotel
Day 9
Zanzibar
Free day at leisure
A second free day on the coast — the one almost everybody says they wish they had made longer.
Overnight: Smile Beach Hotel
Day 10
Departure
Transfer to Zanzibar airport
Transfer to Zanzibar airport in time for your flight home.
Travel times are approximate and lodges are subject to availability. Where a listed lodge is full we substitute a property of the same standard and tell you before you confirm.
The Arusha to Zanzibar flight is included in your quote. Airline fares move constantly, so we confirm the exact amount at the time of booking rather than hold a price we cannot honour.
Where you'll stay
Night 1 — Arusha
Gold Crest Hotel
Comfortable city hotel in central Arusha for your arrival night.
Nights 2 & 5 — Karatu
Marera Valley
Highland lodge in the farmland below the Ngorongoro crater rim.
Nights 3-4 — Serengeti
Kon Tiki Serengeti Camp
Tented camp on the plains — canvas rooms, proper beds, dinner under the stars.
Night 6 — Stone Town
Tembo House Hotel
Historic seafront house in the heart of Stone Town.
Nights 7-9 — Zanzibar coast
Smile Beach Hotel
Beachfront rooms a few steps from the sand.
Photographs show the style and standard of each property. The exact lodge depends on availability on your dates.
Glimpses
What's included
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- English-speaking driver-guide
- All park and conservation fees
- Accommodation as listed in the itinerary
- Packed lunches on game-drive days
- Bottled water throughout the safari
- Internal flight Arusha to Zanzibar
Not included
- International flights
- Visas
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Personal items
- Optional activities (balloon safari, walking safari, cultural visits)