Safari & Zanzibar
Safari first, Zanzibar second. Start with game drives in northern Tanzania, then finish on the coast where there is nothing left to do on a schedule.
- Private safari vehicle and guide
- Serengeti and Ngorongoro timed to the season
- Flights between safari regions rather than long road transfers
- Zanzibar stay matched to the right side of the island
Build the safari around the season, not a fixed map
Tanzania is not one itinerary all year. Where you stay in the Serengeti should follow the wildlife movement, the road conditions and the month you are traveling. That can mean the southern plains in one season and the northern Serengeti in another.
Ngorongoro is usually worth adding for one night or two because the crater gives you a very different landscape and a dense concentration of wildlife. Tarangire can be excellent too, but it should earn its place rather than being added automatically.
Use private guiding where it actually changes the trip
A private vehicle matters on safari because it controls the pace of the day. You decide when to stop, how long to stay with a sighting and whether to leave camp early. That is more valuable than adding another property simply to make the itinerary look longer.
We choose camps for location first, then service. A beautiful lodge in the wrong part of the ecosystem can make every game drive harder.
Fly to Zanzibar after the safari
After several early mornings, Zanzibar works because the pace drops immediately. The right beach depends on what you want from the water. Some parts of the island have dramatic tides, while others are better for swimming throughout more of the day.
We normally put Stone Town at the beginning or end rather than interrupting a beach stay in the middle. A private guide makes a few hours there much more useful than wandering without context.
How we would pace twelve days
- 2 nights Ngorongoro or nearby highlands
- 4 to 5 nights in the right Serengeti region for your dates
- 4 nights Zanzibar
- Domestic flights used where they save a full day on the road
The exact route changes with migration patterns and lodge availability. Read our Tanzania guide and Zanzibar guide, or send us your month and party size.