Tanzania Safari – Northern Circuit with Zanzibar

Melia Beach, Zanzibar

13 Days/11 Nights

From $6,749 per person

(Dbl. Occupancy, Not Incl. Airfare)

Daily Departures Throughout the Year

Overview

Combine the wildlife rich parks of northern Tanzania with exotic Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean on this classic African Safari. Beginning in Arusha, you will visit Tarangire National Park, with its Baobab trees and elephants, the predator-rich floor of the Ngorongoro Crater, and the endless plains of the Serengeti. These parks offer some of the largest concentrations of animals on Earth and should not be missed. The last part of the trip takes you to Zanzibar, where you can unwind on the beach, explore Stone Town, or take a spice tour.

Lodging and Meals: This tour includes accommodations for 11 nights (2 nights in Arusha, 2 nights in Tarangire National Park, 2 nights in Karatu/Ngorongoro, 2 nights in Serengeti National Park, and 3 nights in Zanzibar) and 32 meals (11 breakfasts, 10 lunches, and 11 dinners).

Best Time to Go: June-October.

Destinations: Africa and Tanzania.

Interests: Adventure, Culture & History, Sun & Beach, and Wildlife Viewing.

Places Visited: Arusha, Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Serengeti National Park, and Zanzibar.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arusha.

Depart to Arusha via overnight flight.

Day 2: Arusha.

Arrival to Kilimanjaro International Airport. After passing through immigration and customs, proceed to the reception area, where our inbound services representative will be holding a sign with your name on it. You will be greeted and then transferred to your hotel. Known as the ‘Geneva of Africa’ for its surrounding mountains and its reputation as a diplomatic hub, Arusha is a thriving city of approximately 620,000 residents. Situated close to many of Tanzania’s most celebrated natural and wildlife attractions, it provides the perfect gateway to Tanzania’s northern national parks, while its diversity of cultures makes it a very welcoming city for travelers. Overnight in Arusha. (D)

Day 3: Arusha National Park-Game Drive.

After breakfast, you depart for Arusha National Park for a half-day game drive. Encompassing Mount Meru, Africa’s fifth-highest peak and the second tallest in Tanzania, the park’s small size belies an impressive array of landscapes. These range from alkaline lakes favored by flamingos and other wading birds to savanna grassland. The latter offers your first glimpse of everything from elephant and giraffe to blue monkey and leopard.

Your game drive is followed by lunch at Hatari Lodge, after which you return to your lodge and an afternoon at leisure. While you might like to relax in the confines of the hotel, you might also like to check out the lively markets in central Arusha. Overnight in Arusha. (B,L,D)

Day 4: Arusha-Tarangire National Park-Game Drive.

Depart from Arusha for Tarangire National Park for a game drive with picnic lunch. The name Tarangire is derived from the Tarangire River which provides permanent water for wildlife. Known for high densities of elephant wandering landscapes dotted with ancient baobabs, the months of June through November also promise huge herds of wildebeest and zebra who migrate here in search of Tarangire’s fresh water. In addition to a wide variety of mammals, over 300 species of birdlife have been recorded in this park. Overnight in Tarangire National Park. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Tarangire National Park-Game Drive.

Enjoy a full day game drive with a picnic lunch in Tarangire. An internationally recognized Lion Conservation Unit since 2005, today’s game viewing gives you another chance to catch sight of the king of the jungle, alongside a list of predators which includes leopard, cheetah, Cape wild dog, and caracal. Overnight in Tarangire National Park. (B,L,D)

Day 6: Tarangire National Park-Karatu.

Final morning game drive in Tarangire National Park en route to Karatu. Colorful Karatu provides the perfect rest stop between Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater and is ringed by a selection of high-end lodges amid verdant farmland producing aromatic coffee among its crops. Overnight in Karatu. (B,L,D)

Optional/Extra Cost: Enjoy a walk-through of the Mto Wa Mbu village for a cultural experience with a knowledgeable English-speaking guide who grew up in the area. Thought to be one of the only places in Tanzania to have residents from all the country’s 120 tribes, you’ll be guided around the village’s schools, mills, and plantations to gain a better understanding of Tanzania’s people and their way of life.

Day 7: Karatu-Ngorongoro Crater-Game Drive.

After breakfast, you’ll descend 2,000 feet into the Ngorongoro Crater from its rim for a full day of game viewing with a picnic lunch. Here you can see a spectacular concentration of wildlife, including the Big Five. One of the most spectacular settings for a safari anywhere in Africa, the day’s game viewing will take you from open plains to dense forest and on to a soda lake to enjoy a variety of bird life. Overnight in Karatu. (B,L,D)

Day 8: Karatu-Ngorongoro Crater-Serengeti National Park.

Depart Karatu to Serengeti National Park for a game drive with picnic lunch. Famed for the annual Great Wildebeest Migration, it’s a truly amazing sight to witness some six million hooves pound the open plains as 200,000 zebra and 300,000 Thomson’s gazelle join up to one million wildebeest trekking for fresh grazing. Yet even without the thrill of the migration, the Serengeti offers arguably the most scintillating game-viewing in Africa.

Year-round, its grasslands host great herds of buffalo, elephant and giraffe, and thousands upon thousands of eland, topi, hartebeest, impala, and Grant’s gazelle. Golden-maned lion prides feast on the abundance of plain grazers, and solitary leopards haunt the acacia trees lining the Seronera River, while a high density of cheetahs prowl the southeastern plains. Overnight in Serengeti National Park. (B,L,D)

Day 9: Serengeti National Park.

Enjoy a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch in the Serengeti. Your experienced driver will use lifelong skills to track the park’s most-loved species, from its 3,000 lions to its 500 different species of bird. Along the way, your guide will also try to introduce you to the Little Five, a grouping of smaller creatures created to highlight the importance of the entire Serengeti ecosystem. Overnight in Serengeti National Park. (B,L,D)

Day 10: Serengeti National Park-Arusha-Zanzibar.

Final game drive in Serengeti National Park en route to Seronera Airstrip. Depart for Arusha and then Zanzibar by light aircraft, flying over the Ngorongoro Crater, Great Rift Valley, and the Indian Ocean. The flight may make one or more intermediary stops to pick up or drop off other passengers.

With extraordinary Indian Ocean beaches and a fascinating culture combining elements from Africa, India, and the Middle East, a trip to Zanzibar offers the chance to do as much or as little as you want. Upon arrival, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Zanzibar. (B,L)

Day 11: Zanzibar.

Day at leisure. Head to the white sands of Zanzibar’s pristine beaches to soak up the tropical sun, take a dip in an infinity pool, delve beneath the warm waters on a snorkeling or scuba diving excursion, or simply relax in the refined ambience of your all-inclusive hotel. Overnight in Zanzibar. (B,L,D)

Day 12: Zanzibar.

Day at leisure. Suggestions for potential activities for today include tours of the medieval Zanzibari capital Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site rich in the scent of spices and the braying of donkeys, discovering the clove and nutmeg plantations which gave Zanzibar its alternative name of the Spice Islands, or delving into mangroves in search of endangered colobus monkeys. Overnight in Zanzibar. (B,L,D)

Day 13: Zanzibar.

After breakfast at the resort, check out and transfer to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport just south of Stone Town for your return flight to your final destination. (B)

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

Prices & Dates

Price per Person

Category 2 Passengers 4 Passengers 6 Passengers
4 Star – Low Season
(5/1-5/15/24)
$6,749 $5,819 $5,539
4 Star – High Season
(1/3-1/7/24)
$8,239 $7,299 $7,019
5 Star – Low Season
(4/1-5/15/24)
$9,539 $8,629 $8,359
5 Star – High Season
(7/1-9/30/24)
$11,629 $10,719 $10,449
** The prices shown above are in U.S. Dollars. See the cost of this tour in your currency at xe.com.

Notes:

  1. The above prices are valid until December 16, 2024.
  2. The cost of travel between low and high season will be based on a weighted average.
  3. There is a maximum of 6 passengers per vehicle.

Departure Dates

Daily departures throughout the year.

What's Included

Price Includes

  • South American Vacations’ expert pre-departure planning services and documentation.
  • Flight from Serengeti Seronera to Arusha to Zanzibar.
  • Airport/hotel transfers including baggage handling.
  • Accommodation in lodges including service fees and taxes.
  • Game drives and private safari experiences.
  • Park fees, government taxes, and service charges.
  • Bottled water while on safari.
  • Meals as indicated on the itinerary.
  • Game drives conducted by English-speaking naturalist guides.

Price Does Not Include

  • International airfare.
  • Optional Mto Wa Mbu Lake Manyara Village walk.
  • Laundry services.
  • Gratuities to driver/guides ($20/person/day).
  • Gifts and personal items.
  • Travel insurance.

We will be happy to quote the cost of airfare and travel insurance and to make these arrangements for you.

Accommodations

Arusha

Tarangire National Park

Karatu

Ngorongoro Crater

Serengeti National Park

Zanzibar

Additional Details

Group/Private: All services included in this tour are private.

Elevations: Arusha is 4,600 feet above sea level, Tarangire National Park ranges from 2,952 to 4,101 feet, Karatu is 4,660 feet, and Serengeti National Park ranges from 3,020 to 6,070 feet.

Passport/Visa: U.S. citizens must apply for a Multiple Entry Visa online at visa.immigration.go.tz. The cost is $100 per person and takes approximately two weeks for approval. While Multiple Entry Visas will be issued with a validity of 12 months, the maximum stay duration is three months. Citizens of other countries are advised to contact the Tanzanian embassy in their country before traveling.

Travel Insurance: In order to protect your travel investment from unforeseen circumstances that may arise before or during your trip, we strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance. We offer Allianz Global Assistance’s Classic Comprehensive and other plans. The Benefits and Coverage Limits are summarized on our Travel Insurance page. Call your travel counselor if you have any questions or to purchase a plan.

To Book This Trip: Call or email us to confirm the availability of hotels, lodges, and camps for your desired dates of travel. Once we have confirmed availability, you will need to pay a non-refundable deposit based on number of travelers and travel dates plus the cost of the international airfare (if we arrange it for you). The balance of the trip cost is due 60 days prior to departure.

Have Questions? Call 1-888-268-9753 to Speak to An Expert.