12 Days Tanzania Expedition Safari & Beach Holiday

Starts: Arusha | End: Zanzibar
Style: Luxury to High-End Luxury | Private Guided Tour

Day 1: Arrival in Arusha – Gateway to Your Adventure

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your safari guide and transferred to your lodge in Arusha. This day is for rest and recovery from your journey. You can enjoy the lush gardens, a swim, or optional short activities like a local market tour if time permits.

Accommodation: Arusha Planet Lodge / Four Points by Sheraton Arusha
Highlights: Warm welcome, cultural feel of Arusha
What to Expect: Relaxed start, Tanzanian hospitality

Day 2: Arusha to Tarangire National Park – Elephant Paradise

After breakfast, set off to Tarangire National Park, famous for its large elephant herds and iconic baobab trees. You’ll enjoy a game drive in this unique landscape with lunch served inside the park. Watch out for lions, giraffes, and hundreds of bird species. Arrive at your lodge in time for sunset.

Accommodation: Tarangire Simba Lodge / Maramboi Tented Lodge
Highlights: Elephants, baobabs, diverse wildlife
What to Expect: Excellent photography, fewer crowds, stunning terrain

Day 3: Journey to Central Serengeti – Land of Endless Plains

Today’s journey takes you through the Ngorongoro Highlands and into the world-famous Serengeti National Park. You’ll enjoy an en-route game drive and pass by scenic escarpments and plains. Arrive in Central Serengeti in time for a late afternoon safari.

Accommodation: Into Wild Africa Camp / Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
Highlights: Road trip through highlands, first Serengeti wildlife encounters
What to Expect: Classic savannah, increasing wildlife activity

Day 4: Full-Day Game Drive in Serengeti – Heart of the Wild

Spend the day exploring the Serengeti’s endless plains, tracking big cats, elephants, and possibly the Great Migration (depending on the season). Enjoy your picnic lunch in the wild, surrounded by stunning views and roaming wildlife. Return to your camp in the evening.

Accommodation: Into Wild Africa Camp / Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
Highlights: Big cats, migration herds (seasonal), untouched nature
What to Expect: Authentic safari experience, raw wilderness

Day 5: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Cultural Journey

Enjoy a final game drive in the Serengeti at sunrise, then travel towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. En route, visit a Maasai village to experience traditional customs and dance. Reach your lodge located on the rim of the crater for breathtaking sunset views.

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge / Ngorongoro Serena Lodge
Highlights: Cultural interaction, crater views
What to Expect: Maasai culture, cool temperatures, scenic beauty

Day 6: Explore Ngorongoro Crater – Nature’s Masterpiece

Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site teeming with wildlife including lions, elephants, buffaloes, hippos, and possibly the rare black rhino. Enjoy a full day game drive with lunch by the hippo pool before ascending to the crater rim and heading to Karatu.

Accommodation: Marera Valley Lodge / Acacia Farm Lodge
Highlights: Big Five sightings, breathtaking scenery
What to Expect: Dense wildlife in a dramatic setting

Day 7: Lake Manyara National Park – Return to Arusha

After breakfast, drive to Lake Manyara National Park, a compact park known for its flamingos, tree-climbing lions, and lush groundwater forest. After a half-day game drive and picnic lunch, return to Arusha for an overnight stay in preparation for your beach escape.

Accommodation: Arusha Planet Lodge / Gran Melia Arusha
Highlights: Birdwatching, lions in trees, tropical forest
What to Expect: Easy wildlife viewing, relaxed pace

Day 8: Flight to Zanzibar – Stone Town Discovery

Transfer to Arusha Airport and board a flight to Zanzibar. Upon arrival, you’ll be met and taken to your hotel in Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spend the afternoon exploring historic alleys, markets, the Old Fort, and Forodhani Gardens with a local guide.

Accommodation: Tembo House Hotel / Park Hyatt Zanzibar
Highlights: Swahili culture, historic architecture, vibrant markets
What to Expect: Cultural immersion, coastal charm

Day 9: Spice Tour & Transfer to Zanzibar Beach

Start the day with a visit to a nearby spice plantation, where you’ll learn about Zanzibar’s famed spices—cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and more. After the tour, head to the East Coast beaches and check into your resort on the white sands of the Indian Ocean.

Accommodation: Next Paradise Boutique Resort / Zuri Zanzibar
Highlights: Spice farm, coastal village life, ocean breeze
What to Expect: Culinary aromas, palm-fringed coastline

Day 10: Relax at the Beach – Indian Ocean Bliss

Enjoy a full day of relaxation. Lounge on the beach, swim in turquoise waters, or take part in optional activities like snorkeling, scuba diving, or a dhow cruise. The pace slows down as you soak in the island’s beauty.

Accommodation: Next Paradise Boutique Resort / Zuri Zanzibar
Highlights: Soft sands, coral reefs, optional sea adventures
What to Expect: Serene atmosphere, barefoot luxury

Day 11: More Leisure – Sunset Dhow Cruise

Continue enjoying the island paradise. Later in the day, head out on a sunset dhow cruise, gliding along the ocean as the sun paints the sky orange and pink. Enjoy fresh fruit and drinks on board as you take in your last full evening in Zanzibar.

Accommodation: Next Paradise Boutique Resort / Zuri Zanzibar
Highlights: Sunset sailing, romantic views, beachside dinner
What to Expect: Magical evening, lasting memories

Day 12: Departure from Zanzibar – Farewell Tanzania

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before transferring to Zanzibar International Airport for your flight home or onward destination. You leave with unforgettable memories of Tanzania’s wilderness and island charm.

Highlights: Farewell views, optional last swim
What to Expect: Well-rounded adventure, deep connection to nature and culture