11 Day Tanzania Safari and Beach (Explore Zanzibar Island)
Duration
6 Days
Country
Tanzania
Service Level
Mid-Range
Price
From US $2900 PP
About this tour
Discover the perfect combination of thrilling wildlife adventures and tropical island relaxation on this unforgettable 11 Days Tanzania Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday. Designed for travelers who want to experience the very best of Tanzania, this carefully crafted itinerary takes you through the country’s world-famous safari destinations before ending your journey on the breathtaking island of Zanzibar.
Your adventure begins in Arusha, Tanzania’s safari capital, where you’ll prepare for an incredible journey through the legendary Northern Safari Circuit. During the safari portion of your trip, you’ll visit three of Africa’s most iconic national parks—Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, and the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater. Each destination offers unique landscapes, diverse wildlife, and unforgettable game-viewing experiences.
The first stop is Tarangire National Park, famous for its giant baobab trees, seasonal river, and one of the largest elephant populations in East Africa. Massive elephant herds roam freely across the park alongside giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, wildebeests, impalas, and countless bird species. Lions, leopards, and cheetahs are frequently seen, making Tarangire an excellent destination for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers alike.
From Tarangire, you’ll continue to the world-renowned Serengeti National Park, one of Africa’s greatest wildlife sanctuaries. Covering more than 14,000 square kilometers of open grasslands, river valleys, and rocky kopjes, the Serengeti is home to an extraordinary variety of wildlife throughout the year. Depending on the season, you may witness the spectacular Great Wildebeest Migration, where more than two million wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles move across the plains in search of fresh grazing land. Even outside the migration period, the Serengeti provides exceptional opportunities to observe lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, hyenas, hippos, crocodiles, and hundreds of bird species.
Highlights
Arrival & Departure
Price
Destinations
Price includes
- Park fees
- All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinking water(On all days)
Price excludes
- International flights (From/to home)
- Tips
- Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
Trip gallery
Day by day itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport – Welcome to Tanzania
Your unforgettable Tanzanian safari begins the moment you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport, where a friendly representative from Inno Africa Safaris will be waiting to welcome you. After a warm greeting, you’ll be transferred to your hotel in Arusha, a vibrant city nestled at the foot of Mount Meru and widely known as the gateway to Tanzania’s famous Northern Safari Circuit.
Depending on your arrival time, you can spend the rest of the day relaxing after your journey or exploring some of Arusha’s attractions. The city offers a fascinating blend of local culture, bustling markets, coffee shops, and scenic surroundings. If time permits, you may choose to visit a local Maasai market, stroll through the city center, or simply unwind in the peaceful atmosphere of your lodge.
In the evening, you’ll meet your professional safari guide for a comprehensive tour briefing. During this session, your guide will explain the itinerary, answer any questions, and provide useful tips to help you prepare for the exciting days ahead. This is also a great opportunity to learn about Tanzania’s incredible wildlife, national parks, and conservation efforts.
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Day 2: Lake Manyara – Serengeti Plains
After an early breakfast, your safari officially begins as you depart Arusha in a specially designed 4×4 safari vehicle heading toward Tarangire National Park, approximately two and a half hours away.
The drive itself offers wonderful views of rural Tanzania, Maasai villages, agricultural landscapes, and distant mountain ranges. Upon entering Tarangire National Park, you’ll immediately notice the towering baobab trees that dominate the landscape. These ancient trees, some hundreds of years old, create one of the park’s most recognizable and photogenic features.
Tarangire is famous for having one of East Africa’s largest elephant populations. During your game drive, you’ll often encounter large elephant families walking peacefully across the plains, gathering around the Tarangire River, or feeding beneath the giant baobab trees.
As you continue exploring the park, your experienced guide will help you search for an incredible variety of wildlife. Common sightings include giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, impalas, waterbucks, buffaloes, warthogs, ostriches, and graceful antelopes. Predators such as lions, leopards, and occasionally cheetahs also inhabit the park, offering exciting opportunities for unforgettable wildlife encounters.
Tarangire is equally famous among birdwatchers, with more than 550 bird species recorded throughout the park. Colorful lilac-breasted rollers, hornbills, fish eagles, yellow-collared lovebirds, secretary birds, and Kori bustards are just a few of the remarkable species you may observe during your visit.
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Day 3: Tarangire to Central Serengeti National ParkDay 3: Tarangire to Serengeti National Park – Journey to Africa’s Most Famous Wilderness
Following breakfast, you’ll depart Tarangire and begin one of the most scenic drives of your safari as you travel toward the world-famous Serengeti National Park.
The journey takes you through the fertile farmlands of Karatu before entering the spectacular Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Along the way, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of rolling highlands, volcanic landscapes, and traditional Maasai communities where herders continue their centuries-old way of life alongside wildlife.
As you continue westward, the landscape gradually transforms into the endless grasslands that have made the Serengeti one of the world’s most celebrated safari destinations. The name “Serengeti” comes from the Maasai word Siringet, meaning “the place where the land runs forever,” and the vast plains stretching to the horizon perfectly reflect this description.
After entering the national park, your first Serengeti game drive begins immediately. Every moment presents an opportunity to witness incredible wildlife in its natural habitat. Large herds of zebras and wildebeests roam the plains, often accompanied by Thomson’s gazelles and Grant’s gazelles grazing peacefully together.
The Serengeti is renowned for its exceptional predator population. Your guide will search for lions resting beneath acacia trees, cheetahs scanning the grasslands for prey, and elusive leopards hidden among the riverine forests. Hyenas, jackals, serval cats, and numerous bird species further enrich this extraordinary ecosystem.
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Day 4: Full-Day Game Drive in Serengeti National Park
Rise early to experience the Serengeti at its most active. As the sun begins to illuminate the endless plains, enjoy breakfast before setting off on a full-day game drive through one of the world’s most celebrated wildlife destinations. The cool morning hours are ideal for spotting predators before they retreat into the shade, making this one of the best times of day for unforgettable wildlife encounters.
Today’s adventure takes you through the diverse habitats of the Central Serengeti, where open savannahs, acacia woodlands, seasonal rivers, and rocky kopjes support an extraordinary concentration of wildlife throughout the year. Every game drive offers something different, and your professional safari guide will use their knowledge and recent wildlife sightings to maximize your chances of seeing Tanzania’s most iconic animals.
Large prides of lions often rest beneath acacia trees after a night of hunting, while cheetahs use termite mounds and open grasslands to scan for prey. Leopards, although naturally elusive, are frequently found resting in sausage trees or hidden within the riverine forests. Watching these magnificent predators in their natural habitat is one of the highlights of any Serengeti safari.
The Serengeti is equally impressive for its vast herds of herbivores. Throughout the day, you may encounter elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeests, topis, hartebeests, elands, impalas, and several species of gazelles. Hippos gather in pools along the rivers, while crocodiles wait patiently beneath the water’s surface.
If your visit coincides with the Great Wildebeest Migration, you’ll witness one of nature’s greatest spectacles. Thousands of wildebeests, accompanied by zebras and gazelles, move across the plains in search of fresh grazing while predators closely follow the migration. Even outside migration season, the Serengeti offers exceptional wildlife viewing thanks to its large resident animal population.
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Day 5: Another Full Day Exploring the Serengeti National Park
Today offers another incredible opportunity to discover the endless beauty of the Serengeti. Since wildlife movements constantly change, every game drive presents completely different experiences. After breakfast, depart for another full-day safari, exploring new areas of the park based on recent wildlife sightings and seasonal animal movements.
Your guide may take you toward open plains where large herbivores gather, river systems that attract predators, or rocky outcrops known as kopjes, which serve as resting places for lions and lookout points for cheetahs. These granite formations are among the Serengeti’s most iconic features and provide excellent opportunities for memorable wildlife photography.
As you travel through the vast landscapes, you’ll witness the delicate balance of life within the Serengeti ecosystem. Herds of elephants move peacefully through acacia woodlands while giraffes browse high among the treetops. Warthogs dash across the plains with their tails held high, and graceful antelopes remain alert for nearby predators.
One of the highlights of spending multiple days in the Serengeti is having enough time to observe animal behavior rather than simply spotting wildlife. You may witness lions teaching cubs to hunt, elephants protecting their young, hippos interacting in waterholes, or playful baboons entertaining visitors with their social behavior. These natural moments create unforgettable safari memories.
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Day 5: Serengeti National Park to Ngorongoro Conservation AreaDayÂ
After breakfast, enjoy one final morning game drive as you slowly leave the Serengeti behind. The early hours provide another excellent opportunity to spot predators returning from their nightly hunts, as well as elephants, giraffes, zebras, and countless other animals beginning their day across the endless plains.
As you travel toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the scenery gradually changes from open savannah to lush highlands and volcanic landscapes. Along the way, you’ll pass traditional Maasai settlements where local communities continue their centuries-old pastoral lifestyle while living in harmony with the surrounding wildlife.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of Africa’s most unique conservation regions. Unlike national parks, it allows wildlife and the Maasai people to coexist, preserving both the area’s exceptional biodiversity and its rich cultural heritage.
During the journey, you’ll stop at the famous Ngorongoro Crater Viewpoint, where spectacular panoramic views stretch across the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera. Standing on the crater rim offers an unforgettable glimpse of the wildlife-rich landscape that awaits below.
Enjoy a picnic lunch before continuing to your comfortable lodge located near the crater rim or in the Karatu Highlands. The cooler climate and beautiful scenery provide the perfect setting to relax after several exciting days in the Serengeti.
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Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater Safari – Flight to Zanzibar
Today combines one of Africa’s greatest wildlife experiences with the beginning of your tropical island escape.
After an early breakfast, descend approximately 600 meters into the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater for an unforgettable game drive. Often referred to as Africa’s “Garden of Eden,” the crater supports one of the highest concentrations of wildlife on the continent. The fertile crater floor, permanent water sources, and rich grasslands provide ideal conditions for a remarkable variety of animals throughout the year.
Your guide will help you search for the famous Big Five. The crater offers one of the best chances in Tanzania to see the endangered black rhinoceros, alongside lions, elephants, Cape buffaloes, and the elusive leopard. You’ll also encounter large numbers of zebras, wildebeests, gazelles, hyenas, jackals, warthogs, hippos, and many other fascinating species.
The crater’s varied habitats include open plains, freshwater springs, acacia forests, marshes, and Lake Magadi, where flamingos and other waterbirds gather depending on seasonal conditions. Every corner of the crater presents outstanding opportunities for wildlife photography and close-up animal encounters.
Around midday, enjoy a picnic lunch at the famous Hippo Pool Picnic Site, where hippos relax in the water while birds and other wildlife gather nearby
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Day 7: Explore Stone Town and Discover Zanzibar’s Rich History
After enjoying a leisurely breakfast at your beach resort, begin your exploration of Stone Town, the cultural and historical heart of Zanzibar. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Stone Town is a fascinating blend of African, Arab, Persian, Indian, and European influences that have shaped the island for centuries.
Accompanied by a knowledgeable local guide, wander through the narrow streets lined with historic coral stone buildings, beautifully carved wooden doors, colorful markets, and charming cafés. Along the way, you’ll learn about Zanzibar’s role in the Indian Ocean trade routes, its spice industry, and the diverse cultures that have influenced the island’s traditions and architecture.
Visit some of Stone Town’s most famous landmarks, including the Old Fort, the House of Wonders (viewed from the outside if under restoration), the former Slave Market Memorial, the Anglican Cathedral, and the lively Darajani Market, where locals shop for spices, seafood, tropical fruits, and handcrafted souvenirs.
For lunch, enjoy authentic Swahili cuisine at a local restaurant, where you can sample traditional dishes prepared with Zanzibar’s famous spices.
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Day 8: Prison Island and Nakupenda Sandbank Excursion
After breakfast, head to the waterfront and board a traditional wooden boat for a memorable excursion to Prison Island (Changuu Island). Although originally intended to serve as a prison, the island is now famous for its population of giant Aldabra tortoises, some of which are over 100 years old.
Take time to learn about the history of the island while observing these gentle giants up close. The island also offers beautiful beaches, clear waters, and excellent opportunities for photography.
From Prison Island, continue by boat to the breathtaking Nakupenda Sandbank, one of Zanzibar’s most spectacular natural attractions. Surrounded by crystal-clear turquoise waters, this pristine sandbank appears and disappears with the changing tides, creating a truly unique tropical paradise.
Spend several hours swimming, snorkeling among colorful coral reefs, relaxing on the soft white sand, or simply enjoying the peaceful surroundings.
A freshly prepared seafood barbecue lunch is served on the sandbank, featuring grilled fish, lobster (seasonal), prawns, tropical fruits, and refreshing beverages. Vegetarian options are also available upon request.
After an unforgettable day on the Indian Ocean, return to Stone Town before transferring back to your beach resort for another relaxing evening.
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Day 9: Relax at Nungwi Beach – Optional Water Adventures
Day 9: Relax at Nungwi Beach – Optional Water Adventures
Today is dedicated to relaxation and enjoying the natural beauty of Zanzibar’s northern coastline. After breakfast, spend the day at Nungwi Beach, one of the island’s most famous beaches, known for its powder-soft white sand, crystal-clear waters, and breathtaking sunsets.
Unlike many other beaches on the island, Nungwi is less affected by dramatic tides, making it ideal for swimming throughout the day.
You can simply relax beneath swaying palm trees, take a refreshing swim in the warm Indian Ocean, or choose from a variety of optional activities, including:
- Snorkeling over vibrant coral reefs
- Scuba diving with experienced instructors
- Sunset dhow cruise
- Kayaking or paddleboarding
- Deep-sea fishing excursions
- Dolphin watching tours (seasonal)
- Jet skiing and other water sports
For those interested in local culture, nearby fishing villages offer opportunities to observe traditional wooden dhow construction and daily life along the coast.
In the evening, enjoy fresh seafood at your resort while watching one of Zanzibar’s famous sunsets over the Indian Ocean.
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Day 10: Leisure Day in Zanzibar
After several exciting days of safari adventures and sightseeing, today is yours to enjoy at your own pace.
Wake up slowly and savor breakfast overlooking the ocean before deciding how you’d like to spend your final full day in paradise.
Many travelers choose to relax on the beach, enjoy a spa treatment, swim in the warm turquoise waters, or simply unwind by the resort’s swimming pool.
If you’re interested in exploring more of Zanzibar, optional excursions can be arranged, including:
- Guided Spice Farm Tour
- Jozani Forest National Park to see the rare Red Colobus Monkeys
- Blue Lagoon snorkeling
- Mnemba Atoll boat excursion
- Village cultural experiences
- Kite surfing lessons
- Sunset sailing cruise
Your guide or hotel staff can assist in arranging any optional activities based on your interests.
As your unforgettable holiday draws to a close, enjoy a farewell dinner featuring delicious Swahili and international cuisine while reflecting on the incredible memories you’ve created—from Tanzania’s spectacular wildlife to Zanzibar’s tropical beaches.
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Day 11: Departure from Zanzibar
After breakfast, enjoy your final moments on the beautiful island of Zanzibar.
Depending on your flight schedule, you may have time for a leisurely walk along the beach, some last-minute shopping, or simply relaxing at your resort before check-out.
At the appropriate time, an Inno Africa Safaris representative will transfer you to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport for your onward flight.
As your 11-day journey comes to an end, you’ll leave Tanzania with unforgettable memories of extraordinary wildlife encounters, breathtaking landscapes, fascinating cultures, and the peaceful beauty of Zanzibar’s white-sand beaches.
Whether it was watching elephants beneath ancient baobab trees in Tarangire, witnessing lions on the Serengeti plains, exploring the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater, or relaxing beside the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, this journey offers experiences that will stay with you forever.
The entire team at Inno Africa Safaris thanks you for traveling with us and looks forward to welcoming you back for another unforgettable African adventure.
Meals: Breakfast
End of Tour
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