7 Days Tanzania Safari and Zanzibar

After arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you’ll be met and transferred to Serengeti National Park, via the high-lying farmlands of Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Karatu. Leaving the highlands behind, you will descend into the iconic “endless plains” that roll into the distance and head to the wildlife-rich Seronera Area in the heart of the park. Arrive in time for lunch and enjoy an afternoon game drive.

Wake up early for a pre-breakfast, and be fortunate to glide in a hot air balloon flight that offers a unique perspective of the spectacular landscape. You will float silently above the plains while watching wildlife, local villages, and meandering rivers beneath you as the sun casts a bright pink-orange haze over the expansive savannah. After disembarking from the balloon basket, a champagne breakfast is served under the sweeping canopy of an acacia tree in the middle of the Serengeti plains.

Later, embark on scintillating game drives, following the famous Sogore River Circuit to the Kopjes Circuit to spot the big cats, particularly lions, leopards, and cheetahs. Throughout your explorations, you’ll spot all manner of wildlife, from migrating wildebeest and zebra to prowling leopards, majestic elephants, grazing giraffes, and mischievous monkeys. Enjoy a relaxed picnic lunch at the Visitors’ Center under the shade of the acacia trees, and continue your safari until sundown.

After a sumptuous breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest, unbroken, intact volcanic caldera, featuring a thriving ecosystem cradled within the 600-meter-high walls. This ancient bowl boasts one of the highest wildlife densities in Africa and offers the easiest Big Five viewing, allowing visitors to tick off elephants, lions, buffalo, leopards, and critically endangered black rhinos in a single day. You will descend onto the crater floor to spot astonishing wildlife, including elands, warthogs, wildebeest, zebras, jackals, hyenas and many bird species.

After three nights in the wilderness, it’s time to go to your blissful beachfront base in Zanzibar. Enjoy a delightful breakfast and transfer to Lake Manyara Airstrip for your flight to Zanzibar (ZNZ). The archipelago is considered one of East Africa’s most beautiful island destinations. After arriving, unpack and feel free to kick back on the sand amid the tall palms while enjoying the fantastic views of the turquoise Indian Ocean. Depending on your choice of hotel, take advantage of the modern conveniences and creature comforts at your disposal, including a private butler or chef, a rooftop deck, and a plunge pool overlooking the stunning coastline.

Zanzibar is an oasis of white-sand beaches and coral atolls nestled amid a sea of sapphire and crystalline waters, perfect for a relaxed beach experience after your inland adventures. Spend two nights unwinding on its inviting and captivating beaches. There is a wide range of optional activities to keep you occupied.

You can simply relax on one of the prized stretches of sand. Or, if you’re feeling social, there’s no shortage of beach clubs and party vibes in the coastal village of Nungwi. If calm and relaxation are your goals, head to Michamvi Kae for some isolation. Explore the charming alleys in Stone Town, enjoy a tour around the historical town—strolling and admiring its unique mix of Arabic architecture and Indian influences—or visit Darajani Market.

If snorkeling or diving is your thing, Matemwe on the northeast coast is the best place to go, offering access to the coral reefs around the Mnemba Atoll. Or head out to Jozani Forest, Zanzibar’s only national park and home to the rare red colobus monkey. For further nature exploration, visit the Kuumbi Caves in Jambiani on the southeast coast.

After a delightful breakfast, it’s time to leave the tropical paradise. You can lazily pack up, transfer to Zanzibar’s Airport in the morning and fly to Arusha for your connecting flight home.