11-Day Private Tanzania Safari and Zanzibar Tour Package

Day 1: Arusha – Tanzania

Your private Tanzania safari and Zanzibar tour package begins when you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, the gateway to the Northern Tanzania Safari Circuit. Arusha sits at the base of Mount Meru and is the ideal starting point for your safari adventure.

This private Tanzania safari and Zanzibar experience is one of our most popular 11-Day Tanzania safari and Zanzibar beach holiday packages.

On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is at leisure.

• Accommodation: African Tulip in Arusha (or similar)
• Meals: Breakfast

Day 2: Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Tanzania

After breakfast, meet your driver-guide and journey to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that protects both exceptional wildlife and the traditional Maasai heritage.

Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a 4x4 game drive in one of the world’s greatest natural wildlife arenas. The crater is famous for its high animal density and offers excellent chances of spotting lions, zebras, wildebeest, buffalo, and more (and, with luck, black rhinos).

Later this afternoon, enjoy a cultural visit to a Maasai village before continuing to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

• Accommodation: Ngorongoro Serena Lodge (or similar)
• Included Activities: Ngorongoro Crater Safari & Maasai Village Visit
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Days 3 & 4: Serengeti National Park – Tanzania

After breakfast on Day 3, drive northwest towards the world-famous Serengeti National Park with a packed lunch along the way. Leaving the Ngorongoro Highlands behind, you’ll travel into the legendary Serengeti plains, a wilderness of vast open grasslands and abundant wildlife.

Arrive in time for an afternoon game drive, then enjoy a full day of safari on Day 4. Your guide will focus on the best wildlife areas, with the flexibility that comes from a private Serengeti safari. Expect excellent chances of seeing big cats, large herds of plains game, and a wide variety of birdlife.

An optional hot-air balloon safari is available for spectacular aerial views over the Serengeti (at an additional cost).

• Accommodation: Serengeti Serena Lodge (or similar)
• Included Activities: Serengeti Game Drive & Full-Day Serengeti Safari
• Optional Activities: Hot Air Balloon Safari, Maasai Cultural Tour
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner x2

Day 5: Lake Manyara National Park – Tanzania

Today, you leave the Serengeti behind and travel southeast towards Lake Manyara National Park, located at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment. This beautiful park is known for its lush habitats, diverse wildlife, and excellent birding, with flamingos often seen around the lake.

Enjoy an afternoon game drive in the park, keeping an eye out for elephant, giraffe, hippo, buffalo and (if you’re lucky) the famous tree-climbing lions.

• Accommodation: Lake Manyara Best View Lodge (or similar)
• Included Activities: Game Drive in Lake Manyara
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Days 6 & 7: Tarangire National Park – Tanzania

After breakfast, your driver-guide takes you to Tarangire National Park, a less-visited gem on the Northern Circuit that’s famous for its iconic baobab trees and large elephant herds.

Enjoy game drives across Tarangire’s beautiful landscapes, with excellent chances of spotting lion, leopard, buffalo, giraffe, zebra and more. The Tarangire River attracts wildlife throughout the day, making this a rewarding safari destination.

Day 7 is set aside for more game viewing, with a picnic lunch at a scenic rest stop before returning to the lodge for another relaxed evening under the stars.

• Accommodation: Tarangire Sopa Lodge (or similar)
• Included Activities: Tarangire Safari
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner x2

Day 8: Tarangire to Arusha – Tanzania (Flight to Zanzibar)

Get an early start for your final morning safari in Tarangire National Park before driving back to Arusha through beautiful Great Rift Valley scenery.

From Arusha, you’ll connect to your included flight to Zanzibar, making this a seamless Tanzania safari and Zanzibar package with flight. On arrival, you’ll be transferred to your beach resort to begin your island extension.

• Accommodation: Ocean Paradise Resort & Spa (Zanzibar)
• Included Activities: Arusha to Zanzibar flight connection + Zanzibar transfer
• Meals: Dinner (Half Board begins)

Zanzibar Beach Extension (Ocean Paradise Resort & Spa)

Day 9: Zanzibar Island – Tanzania

Enjoy a full day at leisure in Zanzibar. Relax on the beach, swim in the ocean, or unwind at the resort. Optional excursions can be arranged, including spice tours, snorkeling trips and visits to historic Stone Town.

• Accommodation: Ocean Paradise Resort & Spa
• Meals: Breakfast & Dinner (Half Board)

Day 10: Zanzibar Island – Tanzania

Another day to enjoy the island at your own pace. This Zanzibar stay is the perfect way to end your private Tanzania safari and Zanzibar tour package, combining safari adventure with coastal relaxation.

• Accommodation: Ocean Paradise Resort & Spa
• Meals: Breakfast & Dinner (Half Board)

Day 11: Zanzibar Departure – Tanzania

After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to Zanzibar Airport in time for your onward flight home.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Included Activities: Airport transfer

A Typical Day on Safari in Tanzania

On this private Tanzania safari and Zanzibar tour package, your day is designed around the best wildlife viewing times. While timings can vary depending on park regulations and animal movement, a typical safari day looks like this:

• Early morning: Wake up to tea or coffee, then head out for a sunrise game drive.
• Mid-morning: Return to the lodge for breakfast and time to freshen up.
• Late morning: Relax at camp or enjoy the views between safari activities.
• Lunch: Enjoy lunch at the lodge, or a picnic lunch on full-day safari days in the Serengeti.
• Afternoon: Head out for another game drive when temperatures cool, and wildlife becomes more active.
• Evening: Return to camp for dinner and a relaxed night under the stars.

Tanzania Safari Notes

• This itinerary operates as a private Tanzania safari, meaning you have your own safari vehicle and a dedicated driver-guide throughout the Tanzania portion of the trip.
• Accommodation listed in this itinerary is subject to availability. If a lodge is unavailable, a similar property of the same standard will be booked and confirmed with you at the time of booking.
• Transport is in a comfortable 4x4 safari vehicle suited to Northern Tanzania’s safari circuit and designed for excellent game viewing and photography.
• Optional activities (such as a Serengeti hot-air balloon safari) are available at an additional cost and can be confirmed upon request.
• This popular Tanzania safari and Zanzibar package offers daily departures, making it ideal for flexible travel dates.

Planning your trip? Read our Tanzania travel guide for helpful safari tips.

Prefer safari-only or a shorter itinerary? See our 8-day Tanzania Wildlife Safari.

Zanzibar Beach Extension Notes

• Your Zanzibar beach stay is at Ocean Paradise Resort & Spa for 3 nights, offering a relaxed finish to your safari-to-beach journey.
• Zanzibar is booked on a Half Board basis, including breakfast and dinner each day for easy budgeting, while keeping lunches flexible so you can explore at your own pace.
• Your time on Zanzibar can be as relaxed or as active as you like, with optional excursions available such as snorkeling, spice tours, and visits to Stone Town.
• Transfers in Zanzibar are included in your beach extension (airport-to-resort and return).
• Zanzibar Resort upgrades are available staying at Baraza Resort & Spa or Karafuu beach resort & Spa as alternative options - Contact us for pricing and info

Want help planning your island time? Read our answers to popular Zanzibar travel FAQs or browse our Zanzibar travel guide.

Flights

This 11-day Tanzania safari and Zanzibar beach holiday includes the Arusha-to-Zanzibar flight connection as part of the package, ensuring a smooth transition from safari to island. International flights are not included, giving you the flexibility to choose the best routing and budget for your trip.

FAQs (Quick Answers)

What makes this a private Tanzania safari and Zanzibar tour package?

This itinerary is operated as a private tour, meaning you’ll have your own safari vehicle and dedicated driver-guide throughout the Tanzania safari portion, with a seamless beach extension added in Zanzibar.

Is the Arusha to Zanzibar flight included in this Tanzania safari and Zanzibar beach package?

Yes — this tour includes the flight connection from Arusha to Zanzibar as part of the safari-to-beach combination, along with transfers on arrival in Zanzibar.

Can this private Tanzania Zanzibar tour be customised?

Yes. This itinerary can be tailored based on your travel dates, preferred accommodation style, and how many nights you’d like to spend on safari versus Zanzibar beach time.

Wildebeest Great Migration Explained

Please note that the Wildebeest Great Migration of Kenya’s Masai Mara & Tanzania’s Serengeti is seasonal. As a natural wildlife phenomenon, it is fluid and unpredictable. For this reason, it must be understood that seeing the Great Migration cannot be guaranteed.

The wildebeest and other wild herbivores migrate between the Masai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti in Tanzania. These herds move in a massive circular route covering some 1200 miles (1931km). It is a continuous movement of wildlife that can be seen in different areas at different times of the year. During certain phases of this annual trek, the animals disperse or slow down, whilst at other times the migration picks up speed, with the herds becoming larger and denser. Not only does the Wildebeest Great Migration vary from place to place and season to season, but the movement of these large wildlife herds varies from year to year.

Please talk to a travel expert from African Budget Safaris about seeing the Wildebeest Great Migration on your safari to find out more. Also, check out our detailed article about the Great Migration in Serengeti and Masai Mara.