9 Day Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Extension

OVERVIEW

This journey combines Tanzania’s most iconic wildlife experiences with time on the Indian Ocean. After exploring the Serengeti plains and the Ngorongoro Crater, a short flight carries you to Zanzibar where white‑sand beaches and turquoise water replace the savannah.

It’s one of East Africa’s most popular safari combinations — dramatic wildlife encounters followed by a relaxed coastal finale.

Your Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival in Arusha

Arrival in Arusha marks the beginning of your Tanzanian journey. After meeting your guide you are transferred to your lodge beneath Mount Meru where tropical gardens and distant mountain views set the tone for the adventure ahead.

The remainder of the day is free to rest after your international flight.

Accommodation Options

Luxury

  • Gran Meliá Arusha

Mid‑Range

  • Arusha Serena Hotel

Budget

  • Ilboru Safari Lodge

Meals: Dinner

Day 2 – Fly to Serengeti

A light aircraft flight carries you across northern Tanzania revealing volcanoes, rivers and endless plains from the air before landing on a remote Serengeti airstrip.

From the moment you arrive the safari begins as your guide moves through the savannah searching for wildlife across the vast ecosystem.

Accommodation Options

Luxury

  • Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti

Mid‑Range

  • Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge

Budget

  • Serengeti Heritage Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3-4 – Serengeti Safari Experience

Across two days in the Serengeti, the rhythm of the ecosystem reveals itself slowly to those who spend time watching the plains. At first light lions return from the night hunt while hyenas patrol the grasslands and cheetahs climb termite mounds to scan the horizon for movement. As the day unfolds the scale of the landscape becomes clear. Vast herds of wildebeest and zebra drift across the plains, elephants gather around seasonal waterholes, and vultures circle patiently above the savannah.

With time to explore different sectors of the ecosystem, your guide follows fresh tracks in the dust, distant alarm calls, and circling birds that often reveal predator activity long before animals are visible. Every drive reveals another moment unfolding across the plains. A lion pride resting beneath acacia shade, cheetahs stalking antelope through tall grass, or giraffes moving slowly across the horizon in the warm glow of the Serengeti evening.

Accommodation: Same as Day 2

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 – Serengeti to Ngorongoro

Leaving the plains behind, the journey climbs into the cooler Ngorongoro Highlands where forests and volcanic ridges dominate the scenery.

Your lodge sits along the crater rim overlooking the vast caldera below.

Accommodation Options

Luxury

  • Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

Mid‑Range

  • Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge

Budget

  • Rhino Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 – Ngorongoro Crater Safari

Early morning descent into the crater reveals a wildlife‑rich environment where lions, elephants, buffalo and black rhino roam the grasslands.

The enclosed ecosystem creates remarkable wildlife density making it possible to see numerous species within a single day.

Accommodation: Same as Day 5

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 – Fly to Zanzibar

A short flight carries you from the mainland to Zanzibar where the landscape transforms completely. Palm trees, white beaches and warm Indian Ocean waters replace the savannah.

The afternoon is spent settling into your beach resort while ocean breezes and the rhythm of the waves signal a slower pace ahead.

Accommodation Options

Luxury

  • Zuri Zanzibar

Mid‑Range

  • Zanzibar Serena Hotel

Budget

  • Tembo House Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8 – Zanzibar Beach Experience

The island offers time to unwind completely. Swim in the warm ocean, explore the beach or simply relax beneath the palms as traditional dhow boats pass slowly along the horizon.

For those interested in exploring further, excursions to Stone Town or spice plantations reveal the island’s rich cultural history.

Accommodation: Same as Day 7

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 9 – Departure

Transfer to Zanzibar International Airport for your onward journey.

Meals: Breakfast

What to expect

Includes

Excludes

Start your journey

More journeys

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12 Day Northern Circuit Tanzania Safari

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This is a staging environment