This 11 Days Northern Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Holiday takes you on an African adventure covering the main highlights of the northern safari areas followed by a relaxing beach holiday on Zanzibar Island. This exciting adventure to Tanzania starts with arrival in Arusha where you will relax after long international flights.
The next morning meet your private guide and start with an initial safari in Lake Manyara National Park famous for its birdlife and populations for tree-climbing lions, then descend into Ngorongoro Crater – one of the natural wonders in Africa the following day.
Then head to Serengeti to enjoy three nights at a fantastic tented camp or lodge in the heart of the park, there is always something to see in Serengeti – a wildlife rich area but depending on the time of year the Great Migration might also be passing through the endless plains.
After your Tanzania wildlife safari itinerary you can relax and enjoy uninterrupted leisure on the idyllic white sands of Zanzibar.
Highlights of 11 Days Northern Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar
- Day 1 – Airport transfer & rest day in Arusha
- Day 2 – On safari in Lake Manyara
- Day 3 – Enjoy a full day in the Ngorongoro Crater
- Day 4 – Drive to the Serengeti
- Days 5 & 6 – Enjoy two days on safari in the Serengeti
- Day 7 – Fly to Zanzibar
- Days 8, 9 & 10 – Relax and enjoy Zanzibar
- Day 11 – Transfer back to Zanzibar Airport
Detailed itinerary of 11 Days Northern Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar
Day 1 – Airport transfer & rest day in Arusha
Upon arrival into Kilimanjaro International Airport you will be met by our guide and transferred to your lodge in Arusha.
Depending on your time of arrival you may have time to enjoy the ample ground of the lodge and relax at the swimming pool, have dinner and overnight at Arusha Coffee Lodge.
Meal Plan: Dinner
Day 2 – On safari in Lake Manyara
Your guide will meet your after breakfast and then start your privately guided safari, your today’s destination is near to the town of Karatu and on the way you will visit Lake Manyara National Park, for your first safari experience.
The western wall of the Great Rift Valley acts as the backdrop as you drive through the dense forest with its teeming primate population including olive baboons, common monkey, vervet monkey and the nocturnal bush babies.
Lake Manyara itself is a shallow, alkaline lake covering around 230 square kilometers. Ernest Hemingway once described the lake as “the loveliest I had seen in Africa”. The lake is home to resident hippo pods as well as wonderful birdlife.
In the afternoon, you will leave the lake and head to your lodge where you will stay for the night a head of tomorrows early morning descend to the caldera floor of the Ngorongoro Crater.
Overnight stay: Rhotia Valley Tented Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3 – Enjoy a full day in the Ngorongoro Crater
After an early breakfast, you will depart the lodge and pass through the entrance gates of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area before steadily climb the windy road up the crater’s side. From the viewpoint on the rim you will enjoy the scenic views of the crater, before descending to the wildlife Eden that is caldera floor.
Ngorongoro Crater is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a unique natural phenomenon. Have a full day of exploring the different environments of the crater and enjoy the abundant wildlife including large numbers of plain game such as hyenas, lions and an elusive black rhino population.
Enjoy a chance to stretch your legs and a lakeside picnic lunch before you continue exploring the Crater in the afternoon. As the sunsets, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight stay: Rhotia Valley Tented Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4 – Drive to the Serengeti
Depart from Ngorongoro and drive to the southern reaches of Serengeti National Park with en-route game drive, this area is known as Ndutu and it is quite a long drive of around 5 hours, however it may be longer depending on what you see along the way.
Today, you have the flexibility to choose what you would like to do, whether this is a morning and afternoon game drive or explore further and head out for the while day with a picnic lunch .
Overnight stay: Kiota Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Days 5 & 6 – Enjoy two days on safari in the Serengeti
Have these two full days exploring deep into the heart of the park. if you are on the hunt for the Big 5, then Serengeti’s vast, fertile expanse is the perfect place as lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhinos can all be found, although rhinos are mostly found in the northern region of the park.
Throughout the year, the Central Serengeti offers great wildlife viewing however in the months of April- June and November you may have a chance of seeing thousands of zebras and wildebeests as they take part in the Great Migration. However, the herds tend to be more spread out as there are moving between areas.
Day 7 – Fly to Zanzibar
Depending on the time of your flight, you may have an opportunity for a final game drive in Serengeti. Head to the airstrip to catch your flight from Serengeti to Zanzibar which is an incredible adventure in its own right.
On arrival at Zanzibar Airport, you are met by our representative and driven to your beach hotel which is approximately 1 hour away.
Spend the rest of the relaxing at your beach hotel.
Overnight stay at Pongwe Beach Hotel
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Days 8, 9 & 10 – Relax and enjoy Zanzibar
Spend these three days free to explore Zanzibar at your leisure, you can do as much or as little as you please.
There are many activities on offer such as visits to the Prison Island and its tortoise sanctuary or Jozani Forest to search for the endangered Zanzibar Red Colobus Monkey. Also you can visit the historic Stone Town for a day or visit a local spice plantation for a really hands-on experience, tasting and smelling the spices for which Zanzibar is infamous for, as well as enjoying a fresh, locally cooked lunch as part of your tour.
Day 11 – Transfer back to Zanzibar Airport
Checkout of your hotel and are driven to Zanzibar Airport where you check-in for your return international flight. This brings your adventure in Tanzania and Zanzibar to an end.
End of 11 Days Northern Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Holiday.