Day 1: Arusha, Tanzania
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Arrival Airport: Nairobi International Airport (NBO)

Welcome to Tanzania! The northern tourism circuit is by far the most popular safari destination in the country, comprising most of the must-see locales in the nation. This area contains Tanzania’s most ecologically diverse national parks, making the region a top tourist area that is famous for its big game. If you're a first-time visitor to Tanzania, this is where you want to be.

You'll arrive in Nairobi, then transfer to Arusha by air-conditioned vehicle. Upon arriving in Arusha, you’ll enjoy some time to rest up from your flight and freshen up at the hotel.

Accommodation: Green Mountain Hotel or similar

Day 2: Arusha - Tarangire National Park, Tanzania
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Your driver and expert guide will meet you bright and early at the hotel. From here, you’ll embark on your safari excursion!

Your opening adventure will be in Tarangire National Park, where you’ll head out on a game drive, spotting a diverse range of animals and big baobab trees scattered all over the park. You’ll have your first wildlife experience in Tanzania and encounter lions, elephants, giraffes, and more — this park is known for its large elephant population and world-famous tree-climbing lions.

Accommodation: Classic Safari Tent | Tarangire National Park Campsite or similar

Day 3: Tarangire National Park - Lake Manyara, Tanzania
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Today, your drive will take you deep into the Great Rift Valley, where you’ll see wildlife roaming the African Savanna as far as the eye can see. This park is known for its large flamingo flocks (depending on the season) and a variety of other bird and animal life, so keep your camera at the ready!

During the day, you’ll pass through Mto wa Mbu village and meet the local Maasai people — the most famous East African tribe, originally inhabiting the East African Rift Valley. The Maasai people are nomadic herders, known for their fierce warfare and traditional adumu, or “jumping dance.”

Accommodation: Mobile Camping Tent | Mto wa Mbu, near Lake Manyara Park or similar

Day 4: Mto wa Mbu - Serengeti National Park,Tanzania
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Today, you’ll journey to Serengeti through the Ngorongoro Highlands, passing through rural villages and observing the “Big Five”: the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and buffalo.

You will continue our journey to Serengeti National Park, enjoying wildlife viewing along the way before arriving to your camp in the afternoon.

Accommodation: Mobile Camping Tent | Serengeti National Park or similar

Day 5: Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
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In the morning, you will set out again to see the wildlife and might get a chance to experience the renowned Great Migration, where masses of wildebeest and other game animals migrate across the rivers and plains of the Serengeti (seasonal).

Enjoy a relaxing evening at the campsite, or choose to add on an afternoon game drive. If you choose to do another game drive, you will set out on at sunset, when the animals are extremely active after the heat of the day has passed. We will all meet up again at the camp site and continue onward to the Ngorongoro Crater for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Mobile Camping Tent| Ngorongoro Crater or similar

Day 6: Serengeti National Park - Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
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The final day of your Serengeti adventure will take you deep into the Ngorongoro Crater, which holds some of the world's most famous safari land. This crater, an unbroken and unflooded caldera, formed when a giant volcano exploded and collapsed some three million years ago.

Enjoy a relaxing evening at the campsite, or choose to add on an afternoon game drive. On the optional drive, you'll catch sight of abundant wildlife as it roams the safari land under the fiery fingers of the setting sun.

Accommodation: Arusha Homestay or similar

Day 7: Arusha, Tanzania
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This morning, your guide will pick you up and you will travel a short distance from Arusha, where you'll visit a coffee and banana plantation. Here, you will learn all about how they produce these goods and may even get to sample some of these delicious items.

In the afternoon, you will be able to continue your exploration of the area around Arusha at your leisure. If you would like to have a relaxing afternoon, you may add on a visit to the secluded, sparkling Chemka hot springs, a favorite location of weary hikers who have just conquered Kilimanjaro.

Accommodation: Arusha Homestay or similar

Day 8: Arusha, Tanzania / USA
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Today, you will fly to Dar Es Salaam to either catch your flight home or continue your adventure in Zanzibar.

Tanzania has treated you well, and it's never easy to say good-bye, so we hope you'll return to this incredible country someday!

Departure Airport: Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR)

Day 8: Arusha, Tanzania - Zanzibar, Tanzania
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Today, you will fly to Dar Es Salaam to continue your adventure in Zanzibar. After arriving in Dar Es Salaam, you'll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then set forth for Zanzibar.

On the island, we'll take you to your hotel. You can either spend the day relaxing or begin exploring on your own. Welcome to Zanzibar!

Accommodation: Balcony House or similar

Day 9: Zanzibar, Tanzania
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Today, you will visit Stone Town on an in-depth walking tour. This locale is a melting pot of cultures, and its labyrinthine streets will take you on a historical and cultural journey through the 19th and 20th century. As you continue your tour, you'll see the old slave market, the House of Wonders, and the Old Fort, to name a few.

After lunch, you'll explore Zanzibar on your own or add on a snorkeling tour of so-called Prison Island. You'll see giant tortoises, then put on your (provided) snorkeling gear to enjoy the incredible corals and fish just a few yards from the beach.

You'll enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, then spend the evening exploring on your own.

Accommodation: Balcony House or similar

Day 10: Zanzibar, Tanzania
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After breakfast, prepare to sail to the magnificent Pange Sandbank. Here, you’ll find beautiful white sand, surrounded by clear turquoise waters. You may relax under the shade of tents or swim in the warm Indian Ocean waters. This is a magical break from the hustle and bustle of the town, and it will feel like you’ve discovered your own oasis. Snorkel with clownfish in the bright waters (fins and mask provided), or simply take a walk around the sandbank to see the different birdlife.

You'll enjoy a delicious barbecue seafood lunch (served with refreshing beverages), then spend your afternoon enjoying more time on Pange Sandbank. In the evening, you'll eat dinner at a local restauarnt of your choosing.

Accommodation: Balcony House or similar

Day 11: Zanzibar, Tanzania
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After eating another delicious breakfast at your hotel, you will go on one of the most popular tours of Zanzibar: the Zanzibar Spice Plantation! Zanzibar was one of the world’s leading producers of spices such as clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon, and on this tour, you will see how the spices were cultivated and used. You'll taste and smell different spices during this half-day journey through history, even eating a traditional, tropical Swahili lunch on the plantation (own expense).

In the afternoon and evening, you'll have the freedom to spend your last full day in Zanzibar exactly as you please. Remember to refuel over a delicious dinner at the local restaurant of your choice!

Accommodation: Balcony House or similar

Day 12: Zanzibar, Tanzania / USA
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After you've eaten your breakfast, you will fly from Dar Es Salaam to your home airport. It’s been a wonderful journey through Tanzania — one that has allowed you to get to know the country’s diverse landscapes, wildlife, and people — but it’s time to go home!

Departure Airport: Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR)

+ What vaccinations should I get before my trip?

It's important that you receive the most accurate and up-to-date travel health information before departing for Africa. The only one qualified to provide you with this advice is your family physician or a specialist from a Travel Health clinic. We can provide some general guidance on what websites to check, but these websites are no substitute for a personal consultation with a qualified medical professional.

+ When is the best time to visit the Serengeti?

For an optimal safari experience, we recommend visiting the Serengeti during the dry season (late June to October). To increase your chances of seeing the great wildebeest migration, you might wish to visit in June or July.

+ Can you help arrange my Africa travel visas?

If you are an American traveler, you will need a visa to visit Tanzania. We strongly recommend purchasing an eVisa online before you arrive in country.

If you are a citizen of another country, or if you would like more information, please use VisaHQ to verify the visa requirements for your travel plans.

+ Do your tours include international airfare?

Travelers arrive from all over the world to begin our tours, and it is not possible to include international airfare in our prices. We would be happy to help you arrange flights. Just ask for an air quote when making your booking.

+ I'm a solo traveler — will I be charged a single supplement?

We are happy to accommodate single travelers! Please note that we will add a single supplement charge to your trip cost. We look forward to putting together your dream trip!