Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Tarangire - Ngorongoro - Serengeti - Zanzibar
100% customisable for you
Passports at the ready: your Tanzanian adventure begins today. After whizzing through security and enjoying some nibbles in the airport lounge, you’ll board your overnight flight to Dar es Salaam. You will likely fly via Kenya or the Gulf, so you’ll arrive in Tanzania bright and early the next morning.
After touching down in Dar es Salaam, it’s time for another one-hour-and-20-minute flight to Kilimanjaro (last one, we promise). Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, you'll be welcomed by a friendly local representative, who will assist you through the security process. You'll then be privately transferred to your hotel in nearby Arusha, your home for the night, where you can (finally) set down your bags and enjoy a well-deserved afternoon of rest.
After a tasty hotel breakfast this morning, you’ll be privately transferred by 4x4 to Tarangire National Park, a two-hour drive away. Chock-full of magnificent landscapes and wonderful wildlife, this enormous national park is one of Tanzania’s hidden gems, attracting fewer visitors than some of its more famous national parks.
Once you arrive, drop your bags at your home for the next two nights: a traditional safari lodge on stilts. Each room boasts large bay windows and a balcony, perfect for viewing wildlife in their natural habitat (and, if you’re lucky, elephants and warthogs might come to drink at the watering hole outside).
Spend the rest of the afternoon settling in before enjoying a tasty dinner under the stars, ready for the safari excitement to begin tomorrow.
Today marks the beginning of the safari leg of your Tanzanian adventure. Alongside an expert guide, head out in an open-top vehicle to witness thriving wildlife traverse the wooded savannah.
As you drive, keep your eyes peeled for lions, African bush elephants, plains zebras, Maasai giraffes, impalas, blue wildebeest, buffaloes, wild bush pigs, eland antelopes and waterbucks. Several species of birds nest on the wet banks of the Tarangire River, so look out for rainbow-coloured parakeets (affectionately known as lovebirds) as they flit about in mated pairs.
Back in the bush, you might also see impressive ochre termite mounds along the side of the dirt roads. Although termites build these mounds, abandoned mounds are often used for shelter by dwarf mongooses, so you might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of these cute critters as they scurry in and out.
Next up on your Tanzanian tour is Ngorongoro Conservation Area, about three and a half hours north of Tarangire. This morning, you’ll be privately transferred to this pretty natural reserve for an overnight stay on the edge of the iconic Ngorongoro Crater.
Once you’ve dropped your bags, it’s time to head out on safari. Ngorongoro, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is home to the vast crater, an extinct volcano caldera. With a diameter of over 12 miles, this natural wonder is home to a remarkable array of flora and fauna, from steppe grasslands and marshes to hyenas and hippos. Ngorongoro is also one of the few places in Tanzania where you can spot rhinos in the wild, as it’s home to both the white and black African rhinoceroses. Cameras at the ready…
After a brief stay in Ngorongoro, it’s time to travel to Serengeti National Park. Set just under two hours to the north-east, the Serengeti is one of the most famous national parks in Tanzania, and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1981.
You’ll be staying in the Serengeti for two nights, so once you arrive, spend some time relaxing in your comfortable safari lodge, keeping your eyes peeled for any rogue zebras or wildebeest roaming outside. Come evening, enjoy a traditional Tanzanian meal made with fresh local produce before flopping into bed for a good night’s sleep.
Another day, another safari – and where better to go than the giant park famous for the Great Migration? The impressive wildebeest and zebra migrations take place across the Tanzanian and Kenyan plains in November and from July to August, respectively, and visitors from around the world flock to witness the spectacle.
This morning, you’ll head out in a 4x4 with an expert guide to spot some of the park’s myriad wildlife. The Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo) can all be found in the Serengeti, and despite their elusive nature, the park is one of the best places to observe leopards and cheetahs in their natural habitat.
Aside from these iconic safari animals, keep your eyes peeled for graceful antelopes darting across the plains, or hyenas, vultures and marabou storks cleaning up what's left of any predators’ kills.
Today, it’s time to say goodbye to mainland Tanzania and hello to Zanzibar Island, set just off Tanzania’s east coast. After one last look over the savannah, you’ll be transferred to the nearest airstrip for the three-and-a-half-hour flight to Zanzibar.
Upon arrival in Stone Town, you’ll be welcomed by one of our local representatives and assisted through immigration and customs at the airport. You’ll then be privately transferred to the east of the island, where you’ll spend the next four nights in a beachfront hotel. Spend the rest of the afternoon soaking up the sun – what better way to kick off the beach leg of your Tanzanian adventure?
The next two days are yours for the taking, whether you want to relax after your safari escapades or you’re still raring to go. If you’re after some sea adventures, head out on pedalos, kayaks and small catamarans, or try your hand at kitesurfing and snorkelling. Travelling with a keen diver? Make the journey to Changu Island for its vibrant coral reef, or head out on a boat to see dolphins swimming and playing in the water.
If you’d prefer to stay on land, don’t worry: bikes are a great way to explore the island itself, so cycle along its beautiful beaches, serene gardens and clay buildings. If you fancy a little more nature, head to the Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park, Zanzibar’s only national park and home to multiple species of monkey. While here, look out for the Zanzibar Red Colobus monkey, a cute, leaf-eating primate that represents the importance of environmental protection in the archipelago.
Today, you’ll be heading out to explore the Menai Bay Conservation Area on a private dhow (traditional wooden boat), accompanied by a local guide.
Set on the south-western coast of Zanzibar, Menai Bay Conservation Area boasts 180 square miles of crystal clear waters, tangled mangroves and white sandy beaches. If you’re lucky, you’ll be treated to sights of bottlenose and humpback dolphins along the way, as well as cute turtles and bumbling dugongs.
With the help of your knowledgeable guide, don your snorkel and mask and dive into the shimmering waters, before exploring the mangrove forests in a traditional ngalawa (canoe). Once you’re suitably shattered, round off the day relaxing on the beach, soaking in the memories of this tropical paradise.
Sadly, it’s time for your Tanzanian holiday to end. After one last tasty breakfast, transfer to Zanzibar Airport to board your return flight, which will likely include a stopover in the Gulf.
You’ll touch down in the UK the next day, complete with glowing tans and a camera roll full of safari memories.
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
ENQUIRE NOW
Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
