11 Day Luxury Safari
An eleven-day luxury Tanzania safari and Zanzibar holiday covering Lake Manyara, the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire, finishing with Stone Town and beach days.
- Duration
- 11 days
- Route
- Arusha – Lake Manyara – Olduvai Gorge – Serengeti – Ngorongoro Crater – Tarangire – Arusha – Zanzibar (Stone Town and coast)
- Start / end
- Starts in Arusha and ends at Zanzibar Airport.
- Best time
- Tanzania can be visited year-round; rates may vary by season, so contact us for advice and current prices for your travel dates.
- Trip style
- A seat-in-vehicle safari in a 4x4 vehicle with photo roof (maximum seven clients, guaranteed window seat) with an English-speaking driver-guide, staying in luxury lodges, followed by a beach stay on Zanzibar.
Tour overview
This luxury Tanzania safari and Zanzibar holiday visits four of the most outstanding and varied wildlife areas in northern Tanzania: Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Tarangire National Park. Along the way you will encounter some of the most breathtaking scenery and animal and bird life in Africa.
You will also have the opportunity to visit the local market in Karatu, a colorful cultural experience, and to stop at Olduvai Gorge on the way to the Serengeti.
After the safari you fly to Zanzibar for a night in historic Stone Town, followed by relaxing days at a beach club on the white sands and crystal-clear waters of the coast.
Highlights
- Tree-climbing lions and large baboon families in Lake Manyara National Park
- A stop at Olduvai Gorge on the way to the Serengeti
- Morning and afternoon game drives in search of the Big Five in the Serengeti
- Two days of game drives inside the Ngorongoro Crater
- A night in Stone Town on Zanzibar
- Beach days on the Zanzibar coast, with options for Pemba or Mafia Island
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1Lake Manyara National Park
Depart Arusha in the morning for Lake Manyara, followed by an afternoon game drive. Set beneath the cliffs of the Manyara Escarpment on the edge of the Rift Valley, Lake Manyara National Park offers varied ecosystems, incredible birdlife and breathtaking views. The park's famous tree-climbing lions are another reason to visit; they make the ancient mahogany and elegant acacia trees their home during the rainy season and are a well-known but rather rare sight. The park is also home to the largest concentration of baboons anywhere in the world, which makes for entertaining viewing of large primate families.
Day 2Serengeti National Park
After breakfast you depart for the Serengeti, passing Olduvai Gorge on the way. This is where the Leakey family discovered fossils of human and animal ancestors dating back almost two million years. You continue across the plains into Serengeti National Park, arriving at your lodge in time for dinner and overnight, ready for a full day of game drives on the plains tomorrow.
Day 3Serengeti National Park
Spend a full day on the Serengeti plains in search of the Big Five, with morning and afternoon game drives. The Serengeti is Tanzania's most famous and largest national park, with 14,763 square kilometers of protected land bordering Kenya's Masai Mara. It is perhaps best known for the migration: over a million wildebeest and about 200,000 zebras move south from the northern hills to the southern plains for the short rains in October and November, then swirl west and north after the long rains in April, May and June. So strong is the instinct to move that no drought, gorge or crocodile-infested river can hold them back.
Day 4Ngorongoro Crater
Today starts early, at 7:00 am, with a game drive and picnic lunch inside the Ngorongoro Crater. Because very few animals migrate in and out of the crater, with its 2,000 ft high walls, you can expect to see lions, elephants, zebras, hippos, flamingos, jackals, rhinos, antelopes, many birds and other species. Your driver-guide stays in contact with other safari drivers and will amaze you with his skill at locating hidden animals. Meals and overnight are at your lodge on the crater rim.
Day 5Ngorongoro Crater
Another early start at 7:00 am, with a packed picnic lunch, for a second game drive inside the crater, home to around 25,000 large animals. This is reputedly the highest density of mammalian predators in Africa, and the crater has the highest known populations of mountain reedbuck, zebra, gazelle and wildebeest, as well as the Big Five: rhino, lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo. Birdlife is prolific, with up to 100 species seen in a day, and the central lake is fringed pink by hundreds of flamingos. As the East African sunset colors take your breath away in the late afternoon, you leave the crater and return to the lodge.
Day 6Tarangire National Park
After breakfast you leave the Ngorongoro highlands and drive to Tarangire National Park, arriving in time for lunch at your lodge. In the afternoon you set out on a game drive through the park, the last of the four wildlife areas on this safari, before returning to the lodge for dinner and your final night on safari.
Day 7Zanzibar (Stone Town)
Today you return to Arusha for lunch and then take the domestic flight to Zanzibar, with taxes and surcharges included. You spend the night in Stone Town, the island's historic heart, where you can stretch your legs after the safari and enjoy your first evening on the Indian Ocean coast.
Day 8Pemba/Zanzibar coast
After breakfast you travel from Stone Town to your beach accommodation on the coast, where your stay is fully inclusive. If you would like to go further afield, some options include flights to Pemba or Mafia Island instead. The rest of the day is free to settle in and enjoy the white sands and crystal-clear water.
Day 9–10Pemba/Zanzibar coast
Two free days on the coast to relax after your safari. Enjoy the beach and the activities offered by your beach accommodation, with your stay on a fully inclusive basis. Whether you spend your time swimming in the warm water, lounging on the white sand or exploring what the beach club has to offer, these days are yours to enjoy at your own pace.
Day 11End of the safari
Your luxury safari and beach holiday comes to an end today. After breakfast you are transferred to Zanzibar Airport for your onward arrangements. If you chose to stay on Pemba or Mafia Island, the transfer includes your flight back to Zanzibar if needed. We wish you a safe journey home. Karibu tena, welcome back again!
What is included
- Seat-in-vehicle safari in a 4x4 vehicle with photo roof (maximum seven clients per vehicle)
- Guaranteed window seat
- Services of an English-speaking driver-guide
- Game drives and crater tour
- All accommodation and meals as specified
- All park fees and government taxes
- One bottle of mineral water per person per day during game drives
- Domestic flight from Arusha to Zanzibar, including applicable taxes and surcharges
Not included
- International flights
- Visas
- Airport tax (paid directly)
- Gratuities for the driver-guide or local escorts
- Drinks, dining room tips and porterage
- Personal travel and baggage insurance
- Telephone bills, laundry and any items of a personal nature
Good to know
- This is a seat-in-vehicle safari, so you may share the vehicle with other travelers, with a maximum of seven clients and a guaranteed window seat.
- Beach stays can be switched to Pemba or Mafia Island, with flights arranged as needed.
- Airport tax is paid directly and is not included in the tour price.
- Serengeti Joy Tours can help you choose international flights, but you will need to book them yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a private safari?
No, it is a seat-in-vehicle safari, so you may share a 4x4 vehicle with other travelers. There is a maximum of seven clients per vehicle, and every guest is guaranteed a window seat.
Is the flight to Zanzibar included?
Yes. The domestic flight from Arusha to Zanzibar, including applicable taxes and surcharges, is included. International flights are not.
Can I stay somewhere other than Zanzibar for the beach part?
Yes. Options include flights to Pemba or Mafia Island for your beach stay. At the end of the trip, the transfer includes a flight back to Zanzibar Airport if needed.
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