11-Day Tanzania & Zanzibar
Six nights on safari, four nights at the coast. The northern circuit first, then a flight east to Zanzibar. The combination works because the two halves are genuinely different: bush versus beach, cold mornings and elephant dust versus warm water and coral sand. Most people who do one want the other. This route gives you both without feeling rushed in either.
Safari Overview
The safari leg covers Tarangire (one night), the central Serengeti (two nights), and two nights at Ngorongoro: one evening on the rim watching the sun set over the caldera, then a full day on the crater floor before driving to Arusha and flying to Zanzibar on Day 8. Four nights on the island, with the coast matched to your travel dates. The safari is tighter than the 8-day classic but every park is properly included: an afternoon in Tarangire for the baobabs and elephants, two Serengeti days for big cats and scale, a full crater day with 120 lions and 50 black rhino on the floor. Zanzibar adds Stone Town, four days at the Indian Ocean, and the transition that most Tanzania trips skip entirely.
Your Itinerary
- Day1
Arrive Arusha
Transfer from Kilimanjaro International Airport to your Arusha hotel, about 45 minutes on a clear day. Rest, early dinner, briefing on the route. First game drive is in the morning.
OvernightOnsea House or similar (Arusha)MealsDinner - Day2
Arusha to Tarangire
Arusha to Tarangire · about 2 hrs, tarmacPickup at 7:00am. Two-hour drive southeast to Tarangire's main gate. The Tarangire River is the dry-season anchor for wildlife across the region. Enter and head directly for it. Elephant herds of 150 or more are common along the riverbanks in the dry months. The baobabs here are a different scale from anything in the Serengeti, some of them over a thousand years old. Afternoon game drive before sunset check-in.
OvernightTarangire Safari Lodge or similarMealsLunch, Dinner - Day3
Tarangire to Central Serengeti via Olduvai Gorge
Tarangire to Central Serengeti · 6.5 to 8 hrs with stops at Olduvai GorgeEarly breakfast, then the six-hour drive to the Serengeti. You climb through the Ngorongoro highlands, pass through the Conservation Area, and stop at Olduvai Gorge before Naabi Hill Gate. In 1959, Mary Leakey found the skull of Paranthropus boisei here, a hominid who walked these plains 1.8 million years ago. The resident guide does a 20-minute talk at the excavation site. Arrive in the Seronera area in late afternoon for a first game drive on the central plains.
OvernightKati Kati Tented Camp or similar (Seronera area)MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner - Day4
Full Day Serengeti
Full day in the Seronera Valley, the most consistent big-cat zone in the Serengeti year-round. Leopards in the sausage trees above the river. Lions on the kopjes, granite outcrops 600 million years old. Cheetahs on the short-grass plains to the south. The prey density in the valley is what keeps predators here regardless of where the migration herds are.
OvernightKati Kati Tented Camp or similarMealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner - Day5
Full Day Serengeti
Second full day. Your guide tracks current sightings from the field network and positions accordingly. Optional: hot air balloon departure at 5:30am, one hour over the plains, champagne bush breakfast on landing. $599 per person, booked in advance. The afternoon is best spent in a different area from the morning. Your guide will suggest where based on what is active.
OvernightKati Kati Tented Camp or similarMealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner - Day6
Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater Rim
Central Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater · 3 to 4 hrs, gravel then tarmac near the rimMorning game drive in the Serengeti, then depart through Naabi Hill Gate. Three-and-a-half-hour drive to the crater rim, climbing through montane forest thick with olive trees and giant heather. Arrive in time for lunch. The crater floor is 600 metres below you. On a clear afternoon you can see the animal herds from the lodge terrace. Early dinner. The descent begins at 6:00am.
OvernightNgorongoro Serena Safari Lodge or similar rim lodgeMealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner - Day7
Ngorongoro Crater: Full Day on the Floor
Descent at 6:00am before the tourist vehicles arrive. The track drops 600 metres through cloud forest over 30 minutes of switchbacks. On the crater floor: approximately 120 lions, 50 black rhino at the densest population in East Africa, 15,000 wildebeest, 400 spotted hyenas, 9,000 zebra, all inside 260 square kilometres of enclosed caldera the animals rarely leave. Lake Magadi draws flamingos and hippos on the western floor. Picnic lunch at Ngoitokitok Springs, where the hippo pool is close enough to require no binoculars. All vehicles ascend by 6:00pm. Tonight is the last night in Tanzania's bush.
OvernightNgorongoro Serena Safari Lodge or similar rim lodgeMealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner - Day8
Ngorongoro to Arusha, then Fly to Zanzibar
Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha · 3.5 to 4 hrs, mostly tarmacArusha to Zanzibar · about 1 hr 15 min flight from ArushaLeave the rim by 8:00am. The drive to Arusha takes about three hours, arriving by 11:00am. The scheduled flight from Arusha Airport (ARK) to Zanzibar takes about one and a half hours, often with an intermediate stop at a Serengeti or Manyara airstrip on the way. Transfer to your beach property on arrival. The rest of the day is yours.
OvernightBeach property, north or east coast ZanzibarMealsBreakfast - Day9
Zanzibar: Stone Town
Morning on the beach. Afternoon in Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (listed 2000) about 20 minutes from most north coast properties. The old town is a compact Arab trading city: two styles of carved wooden doors (Omani rectangular, Indian round-topped), narrow alleyways, and the history of the East African spice trade. The last open slave market closed here in 1873 under the Frere Treaty. Christ Church Cathedral was built directly on the site, opened on Christmas Day 1879. The East Africa Slave Trade Exhibit and underground slave cells are both accessible on site. The Freddie Mercury family home is on Shangani Road, open daily 10am to 6pm. Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara on 5 September 1946) grew up in this building. Spice tours depart from Kizimbani village, about 25 minutes from Stone Town, not from the city itself. Forodhani Gardens night market operates daily from about 6pm: Zanzibar pizza, urojo soup, grilled lobster and octopus, sugar cane juice, coconut water. This is dinner.
OvernightBeach property, north or east coast ZanzibarMealsBreakfast - Day10
Zanzibar: Reef Snorkelling and Last Full Day
The main excursion option today is the Mnemba Atoll reef. The atoll is roughly 3 km offshore from the northeast coast (Matemwe), about 10 to 20 minutes by boat. Important distinction: the island itself is private (&Beyond holds the lease) with a 200-metre exclusion zone. Non-guests access the surrounding reef, not the island. The reef holds approximately 600 fish species, green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas, nesting February through September), and spinner and Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins typically encountered on the channel crossing. Entry fees apply: $10 adult for general reef access, $25 adult for the inner Marine Special Area (both enforced since 2023-24). Day trip through a local operator typically costs $60 to $85 per person. Best visibility is June through October and December through February. Alternatively: a spice tour at Kizimbani plantation (three hours, approximately $30 per person), or the beach. Last evening in Tanzania.
OvernightBeach property, north or east coast ZanzibarMealsBreakfast, Dinner - Day11
Departure from Zanzibar
Breakfast, checkout, transfer to Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ). Most international connections go via Nairobi, Doha, Dubai, or Addis Ababa. Allow at least three hours for a Nairobi connection; the domestic-to-international transfer is slow. Note: Zanzibar requires a mandatory ZIC insurance payment of $44 on arrival (enforced since October 2024). This is collected at the port or airport and is separate from your Tanzania eVisa.
OvernightEnd of tripMealsBreakfast
Prices
Green season (April–May)
| Tier | 2 guestsper person | 4 guestsper person | 6 guestsper person |
|---|---|---|---|
Comfort Comfortable tented camps on safari and a beach hotel on Zanzibar, fully private. Tortilis camps, Mawe Karatu, Tembo Kiwengwa (Zanzibar) | $4,040 | $3,255 | $2,990 |
Premium Built safari lodges and an all-inclusive beachfront resort on Zanzibar. Ang'ata Camps, Turaco Ngorongoro, Meliá Zanzibar | $5,285 | $4,495 | $4,230 |
Comfortable tented camps on safari and a beach hotel on Zanzibar, fully private.
Tortilis camps, Mawe Karatu, Tembo Kiwengwa (Zanzibar)
- 2 guests (pp)
- $4,040
- 4 guests (pp)
- $3,255
- 6 guests (pp)
- $2,990
Built safari lodges and an all-inclusive beachfront resort on Zanzibar.
Ang'ata Camps, Turaco Ngorongoro, Meliá Zanzibar
- 2 guests (pp)
- $5,285
- 4 guests (pp)
- $4,495
- 6 guests (pp)
- $4,230
Peak season (June–October)
| Tier | 2 guestsper person | 4 guestsper person | 6 guestsper person |
|---|---|---|---|
Comfort Comfortable tented camps on safari and a beach hotel on Zanzibar, fully private. Tortilis camps, Mawe Karatu, Tembo Kiwengwa (Zanzibar) | $4,610 | $3,825 | $3,560 |
Premium Built safari lodges and an all-inclusive beachfront resort on Zanzibar. Ang'ata Camps, Turaco Ngorongoro, Meliá Zanzibar | $6,700 | $5,910 | $5,645 |
Comfortable tented camps on safari and a beach hotel on Zanzibar, fully private.
Tortilis camps, Mawe Karatu, Tembo Kiwengwa (Zanzibar)
- 2 guests (pp)
- $4,610
- 4 guests (pp)
- $3,825
- 6 guests (pp)
- $3,560
Built safari lodges and an all-inclusive beachfront resort on Zanzibar.
Ang'ata Camps, Turaco Ngorongoro, Meliá Zanzibar
- 2 guests (pp)
- $6,700
- 4 guests (pp)
- $5,910
- 6 guests (pp)
- $5,645
Per person sharing, US dollars. The 'from' price is the Comfort tier with six guests sharing in green season. Includes the scheduled flight to Zanzibar. Price drops as your group grows because the private vehicle and guide are shared. Built from real lodge rates, our own vehicle, and current park fees, not marked-up reseller prices.
Where Your Money Goes
Typical split for a mid-range private safari for two. The exact split shifts with season, lodges, and group size, and your written quote itemises every line. See the government park fees
Zanzibar Coasts: Which One and When
Most itineraries say 'Zanzibar' without explaining that the island's coasts behave differently depending on when you travel.
The north coast (Nungwi, Kendwa) works year-round. There is no offshore reef to create a tidal flat, so deep water reaches the beach at all tides. The northeast monsoon (Kaskazi, November through March) produces livelier conditions in open water but does not make the north coast rough for swimming. This is the default coast for June through October travel.
The east coast (Paje, Jambiani, Bwejuu) requires more thought. The tidal range reaches 4.3 metres at Jambiani, and the sea recedes 200 to 500 metres at low tide for six to eight hours per day. Swimming is possible in roughly two-hour windows either side of high tide. Most east coast hotels publish tide charts for this reason. June through October, the southeast trade winds (Kusi) hit the east coast directly and the beach becomes a world-class kitesurf destination. If kitesurfing is not the plan, the east coast in those months is the wrong choice.
Best east coast window: October through March, when the Indian Ocean is calm and snorkelling visibility at Mnemba is clearest. Avoid April (385mm of rain, 18 rain days, about 6 hours of sun per day). December is wetter than most operator websites suggest, around 185mm, but manageable.
We book the right coast based on your travel dates. We do not default to one location.
Mnemba Atoll: What the Reef Access Actually Means
&Beyond holds the long-term lease on Mnemba Island under the Government of Zanzibar. The island has 12 bandas and a 200-metre marine exclusion zone around the shoreline. Non-guests cannot land on the island or enter that zone.
The surrounding reef is different. The Mnemba Atoll reef is publicly accessible under the Mnemba Island Marine Conservation Area (MIMCA) designation. A more restricted inner zone (Mnemba Island Marine Special Area, proclaimed December 2023) operates with a maximum of 8 boats per day, no anchoring, and defined access hours.
Entry fees as of mid-2025: $10 adult for general reef access, $25 adult for the inner Marine Special Area. Fees are collected by MIMCA on the water and are often bundled into day-trip pricing.
The reef holds approximately 600 fish species including Napoleon wrasse, regal angelfish, and blue-spotted rays. Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) nest at Mnemba from February through September. Spinner dolphins and Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins are regularly encountered on the channel crossing from Matemwe, roughly 3 km and 10 to 20 minutes by boat. Humpback whales pass through July through September. Best visibility is June through October and December through February, up to 20 to 30 metres in optimal conditions.
Day trips from the northeast coast run $60 to $85 per person through local operators. The trip is worth booking through your resort rather than independently to avoid overloaded boats.
Visas and Entry: Updated for 2025
Tanzania eVisa is the required entry method for all nationalities. Visa-on-arrival was suspended on 30 January 2025; multiple foreign ministries (France, Canada, UK) have updated their advisories accordingly. Apply online at visa.immigration.go.tz (not evisa.go.tz, which is no longer the correct address).
Fees: most nationalities (UK, EU, Australia, Canada) pay $50 for a single-entry visa valid 90 days. US citizens pay $100 for a mandatory Multiple Entry visa valid 12 months. They cannot choose the $50 single-entry option. Irish passport holders also pay $100. Apply at least two weeks before departure. Official processing time is 10 working days; in practice this ranges from 3 days to 3 weeks.
Your Tanzania eVisa covers both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. You fill in a short second immigration form on the flight to Zanzibar. It takes about three minutes.
Zanzibar mandatory insurance: since October 2024, all foreign visitors arriving in Zanzibar must pay $44 for the ZIC (Zanzibar Insurance Certificate) on arrival. This covers 92 days of medical care, repatriation, and emergency evacuation. It is collected at Zanzibar airport or the ferry terminal and is fully enforced. As of June 2025 over $20 million had been collected. It is not optional and it is not included in your safari package price.
Yellow fever vaccination: not required if you are travelling directly from the US, UK, EU, Canada, or Australia. It is required if you have spent 12 or more hours in transit through Nairobi, or if you leave the transit zone at any point during a layover, even briefly. Under 12 hours airside-only at Nairobi: not required. Confirm your specific itinerary with a travel medicine clinic before departure.
What's Included
Included
- All Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro park and conservation fees
- Ngorongoro crater vehicle descent fee ($295 per vehicle)
- Private 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser with pop-up roof for the safari leg
- Professional English-speaking guide, Arusha-based
- 7 nights safari accommodation (1 Arusha, 1 Tarangire, 2 Serengeti, 2 Ngorongoro) + 4 nights Zanzibar
- Full-board on safari (Days 1-7), breakfast on Day 8, breakfast and dinner in Zanzibar (Days 9-11)
- Bottled water and soft drinks on game drives
- All road transfers on the safari circuit
- Scheduled flight Arusha to Zanzibar (one-way per person)
- AMREF Flying Doctors emergency evacuation insurance
Not Included
- International flights
- Tanzania eVisa (US citizens: $100; most other nationalities: $50; apply at visa.immigration.go.tz)
- Zanzibar mandatory ZIC insurance ($44 per person, collected on arrival)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Guide gratuity (suggested $25 per day for 6 safari days)
- Lodge staff gratuity (suggested $5-7 per day)
- Hot air balloon safari ($599 per person, optional, see Day 5)
- Mnemba reef entry fees ($10-$25 per person)
- Zanzibar snorkelling excursions and optional activities
- Alcoholic beverages
- Personal expenses
Common Questions
How many days do you need for Tanzania and Zanzibar?
Eleven days covers the combination well: six safari days across three parks plus four nights at the coast. You do not feel rushed in either half. If your priority is the Serengeti specifically, the 8-day classic safari plus a four-night Zanzibar extension gives you more time in the bush. Fourteen days total is the version where nothing feels tight. Anything under nine days means choosing between a proper safari and a proper beach stay.
Which coast of Zanzibar will we stay on?
We book the coast that matches your travel dates. The north coast (Nungwi, Kendwa) has no offshore reef barrier, so deep water reaches the beach regardless of tide. Swimming is viable year-round, and the northeast monsoon from November through March does not create rough conditions on this coast. The east coast (Paje, Jambiani) is a different situation. The spring tidal range at Jambiani reaches 4.3 metres, and the sea recedes 200 to 500 metres at low tide for roughly six to eight hours per day. Swimming is viable in about two-hour windows either side of high tide. June through October, southeast trade winds turn the east coast into a world-class kitesurf destination and a poor beach for casual swimming. We put June-to-October travellers on the north coast by default unless kitesurfing is the point.
Is the safari leg rushed at six nights?
Compared to the 8-day classic, Tarangire is one afternoon rather than two days, and the Serengeti is two full days rather than three. Every park is covered properly: you see elephants in Tarangire, big cats in the Seronera Valley, and a full crater day at Ngorongoro with 120 lions and 50 black rhino in 260 square kilometres. What you lose is the third Serengeti morning when the routine settles and you stop counting. If the Serengeti is the priority, the 8-day classic is the better route. If the combination of safari and beach matters equally, this itinerary is the right balance.
How do we get from the safari to Zanzibar?
A scheduled service connects Arusha Airport (ARK) with Zanzibar in about one and a half hours, typically with an intermediate stop at a Serengeti or Manyara airstrip on the circuit. On this itinerary, you leave the Ngorongoro rim at 8:00am, arrive in Arusha by 11:00am, and connect to the flight the same day. We book the flight and the airport transfers on both ends.
Do we need a separate visa for Zanzibar?
No. Zanzibar is part of Tanzania. Your Tanzania eVisa covers the island. Apply at visa.immigration.go.tz before departure (not evisa.go.tz, which is no longer the correct address). Processing is officially 10 working days but in practice ranges from 3 days to 3 weeks. Apply at least two weeks before travel. Visa-on-arrival was suspended on 30 January 2025. The eVisa is now the required method for all nationalities. Fees: $50 for most nationalities (UK, EU, Australia, Canada). US citizens pay $100 for a mandatory Multiple Entry visa. Irish passport holders also pay $100.
What is the Zanzibar mandatory insurance?
Since October 2024, all foreign visitors entering Zanzibar must pay $44 for ZIC (Zanzibar Insurance Certificate) insurance on arrival. It provides 92 days of medical, repatriation, and evacuation coverage. The fee is collected at Zanzibar airport or the ferry terminal and is fully enforced. Most safari operator websites do not mention this. It is not included in our package price.
Is Zanzibar worth adding after a Tanzania safari?
Yes. The contrast is the point. Safari mornings start at 6:00am, cold, in a Land Cruiser. Zanzibar mornings start when you wake up, warm, with the Indian Ocean 30 metres from your room. They are different enough that one genuinely resets you from the other. The flight connection from Arusha is straightforward. One Tanzania eVisa covers both. The coast adds a genuinely different second act to the trip rather than just extending the safari.
How does this compare to the honeymoon safari?
The honeymoon safari has one more safari night (seven versus six) and includes couples-specific additions: champagne on arrival at each lodge, private sundowners, a crater-floor picnic at Ngorongoro, and a sunset dhow cruise in Zanzibar. It is priced from $5,245 per person for a couple versus $4,040 per person for this route. The 11-day Tanzania and Zanzibar itinerary is the same core circuit without the honeymoon-specific setup. Both routes are entirely private.
From $2,990 pp
Park fees included
