9-Day Tanzania Northern Circuit Safari + Zanzibar Leisure
Uncover the unparalleled beauty and abundant wildlife of Tanzania with this extensive 9-day, 8-night journey, combining an immersive safari with a relaxing beach escape in Zanzibar. This carefully designed itinerary takes you through the highlights of the Northern Safari Circuit, including Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, the vast Serengeti National Park, and the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater.
Starting from Arusha, the safari portion offers a rich exploration of diverse ecosystems, from the iconic baobab landscapes and large elephant herds of Tarangire to the lush scenery and tree-climbing lions of Lake Manyara. You will then spend quality time in the Serengeti, maximizing your chances of witnessing dramatic wildlife encounters and, seasonally, the Great Migration. The adventure continues with a descent into the Ngorongoro Crater, a natural wonder renowned for its high concentration of wildlife, including the Big Five.
After your safari, fly to Zanzibar for a 3-day tropical retreat along the Indian Ocean. Here, you can unwind on pristine white-sand beaches, explore the historic charm of Stone Town, or enjoy optional ocean activities such as snorkeling and dhow cruises. With options for both camping and lodge accommodations during the safari, followed by a relaxing beach stay, this itinerary offers the perfect balance of adventure and leisure, creating a truly unforgettable East African experience.
When is the best time to go on a Tanzania safari?
The best time depends on what you want to experience.
- June to October (dry season) is ideal for wildlife viewing, as animals gather around water sources and vegetation is thinner.
- January to March is perfect for the Great Migration calving season in the southern Serengeti National Park.
- April and May are the rainy months, offering fewer crowds and lower prices, but more challenging travel conditions.
Overall, Tanzania offers excellent safari experiences year-round.
What animals can I expect to see?
Tanzania is one of the best wildlife destinations in the world.
You can expect to see:
- Lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and rhinos (the Big Five)
- Giraffes, zebras, wildebeest
- Hippos and crocodiles
Top parks include:
- Serengeti National Park
- Ngorongoro Crater
- Tarangire National Park
Each park offers a different landscape and wildlife experience.
How many days do I need for a safari?
A typical safari lasts:
- 5–7 days → ideal for first-time visitors
- 7–10 days → more relaxed and covers multiple parks
- 10+ days → includes remote areas or beach extensions (e.g., Zanzibar)
Shorter safaris are possible, but longer trips provide a richer experience.
Is a Tanzania safari safe?
Yes — Tanzania is considered a safe and well-established safari destination.
- Lodges and camps follow strict safety standards
- Professional guides are trained and experienced
- Wildlife encounters are managed carefully
As with any travel, it’s important to follow your guide’s instructions and basic travel precautions.
How much does a Tanzania safari cost?
Safari costs vary widely depending on:
- Level of accommodation (budget, mid-range, luxury)
- Number of days
- Season
- Included services (flights, private guide, etc.)
Typical ranges:
- Budget: $200–400 per person/day
- Mid-range: $400–800 per person/day
- Luxury: $800–1500+ per person/day
The Safari Calculator you’re building helps generate accurate pricing based on all these factors.
| Group Size | Per Person |
| 2 Pax | $3.600,00 |
| 4 Pax | $2.500,00 |
| 6 Pax | $2.200,00 |
| 8 Pax | $2.550,00 |
| 10 Pax | $2.350,00 |
| 11–12 Pax | $2.200,00 |
Highlights
- Tarangire: Iconic baobabs & large elephant concentrations.
- Lake Manyara: Unique tree-climbing lions & diverse birdlife.
- Serengeti (2 Full Days): Maximized game drives for vast plains, Big Cats & migration.
- Ngorongoro Crater: Unmatched “Big Five” viewing in a spectacular caldera.
- Zanzibar: Perfect blend of pristine beaches, rich Swahili culture, and unforgettable Indian Ocean experiences.
- Comprehensive: Covers all 4 major Northern Circuit parks.
- Flexible Stays: Choose between Public Campsites or Comfortable Lodges.
- Convenient: Starts and ends in Arusha.
Turn your dream safari into reality with Wanyama African Safaris.
Customize every detail of your journey to match your preferences, using flexible sample itineraries as your starting point. Our experienced safari specialists work closely with you to design a personalized adventure that reflects your vision and delivers an unforgettable travel experience.
Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire National Park – Elephant Kingdom
Your thrilling Tanzania safari adventure begins with a convenient pick-up from your hotel in Arusha around 08:00 AM. You will then embark on a scenic drive to Tarangire National Park, renowned for its magnificent baobab trees and the largest concentration of elephants in Tanzania.
- Full-Day Game Drive: Upon arrival, immerse yourself in a captivating full-day game drive through Tarangire’s diverse landscapes. Beyond the huge elephant herds, look out for lions, leopards, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and various antelope species. The Tarangire River, a permanent water source, draws abundant wildlife, especially during the dry season.
- Picnic Lunch: Enjoy a delicious picnic lunch amidst the wild, taking in the sights and sounds of the African bush.
- Dinner & Overnight: As dusk settles, you will proceed to your chosen accommodation for a relaxing evening, shower, dinner, and overnight stay.
Jua Public Campsite: For an authentic, immersive camping experience under the vast African sky.
Bougainvillea Safari Lodge: For comfortable rooms, modern amenities, and a relaxing lodge atmosphere.
Day 2: Tarangire Area to Lake Manyara National Park – Unique Wildlife & Birdlife
After a hearty breakfast, your journey continues to the stunning Lake Manyara National Park. This relatively compact park, set against the backdrop of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, offers incredible biodiversity.
- Full-Day Game Viewing: Spend your day on an exciting game drive in Lake Manyara. The park is world-famous for its tree-climbing lions, a rare behavior often observed here. You’ll also encounter large troops of inquisitive baboons, graceful giraffes, sturdy buffalo, and hippos in the lake. The alkaline lake itself is a spectacle, often painted pink by thousands of flamingos (seasonal) and other water birds.
- Picnic Lunch: A delightful picnic lunch will be served at a scenic spot within the park.
- Dinner & Overnight: In the late afternoon, you will drive back to the same accommodation as Day 1, allowing for a relaxed evening.
Jua Public Campsite: For an authentic, immersive camping experience under the vast African sky.
Bougainvillea Safari Lodge: For comfortable rooms, modern amenities, and a relaxing lodge atmosphere.
Day 3: Lake Manyara Area to Serengeti National Park – Journey to the Endless Plains
After your breakfast, you will embark on a momentous journey to the iconic Serengeti National Park, a name that evokes images of vast savannahs and incredible wildlife spectacles. The drive itself is part of the adventure, offering changing landscapes as you head deeper into the heart of Tanzania’s wild.
- Scenic Drive to Serengeti: Enjoy the panoramic views as you traverse through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, potentially spotting Maasai villages and wildlife en route, towards the Serengeti’s expansive plains.
- Afternoon Game Drive: Upon entering the park, immediately begin your thrilling game viewing across the Serengeti’s endless plains. Your skilled guide will navigate through prime wildlife areas, seeking out prides of lions, solitary leopards, swift cheetahs, and vast herds of wildebeest and zebras.
- Picnic Lunch: A convenient picnic lunch will be served in a suitable location within the park.
- Dinner & Overnight: In the late afternoon, you will proceed to your chosen accommodation within the Serengeti for dinner and overnight.
Seronera Public Campsite: For a truly immersive camping experience, falling asleep to the sounds of the African wilderness.
EMBALAKAI LUXURY TENTED CAMP: For an upscale, intimate tented camp experience offering comfort and close proximity to nature.
Day 4: Full Day Serengeti National Park Exploration – Wildlife Spectacle
Today is dedicated to a full day of game viewing in the Serengeti National Park. With both morning and afternoon game drives, you’ll have ample opportunity to delve deeper into this incredible ecosystem, maximizing your chances for extraordinary wildlife encounters.
- Morning Game Drive: Begin early to witness predators on the hunt as the day cools. Explore different zones of the Serengeti, depending on wildlife movements and seasonal variations (e.g., the Great Wildebeest Migration).
- Afternoon Game Drive: Continue your exploration, focusing on elusive species or areas of high animal concentration. Look for the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo), giraffes, hippos, and countless bird species.
- All Meals Inclusive: Enjoy breakfast, picnic lunch, and dinner, ensuring you are well-fueled for your extensive safari experience.
- Dinner & Overnight: Return to your chosen accommodation within the Serengeti.
Seronera Public Campsite: For a truly immersive camping experience, falling asleep to the sounds of the African wilderness.
EMBALAKAI LUXURY TENTED CAMP: For an upscale, intimate tented camp experience offering comfort and close proximity to nature.
Day 5: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Last Plains & Crater Views
After your breakfast, you’ll enjoy your final morning game viewing in Serengeti National Park. This is your last chance to capture those iconic photos or spot any wildlife you may have missed.
- Final Serengeti Game Drive: Focus on areas known for high predator activity or specific animal sightings before departing the plains.
- Lunch: A satisfying lunch will be served.
- Drive to Ngorongoro: In the afternoon, you will drive towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, ascending to the rim of the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater. The views from the rim are truly breathtaking and set the stage for tomorrow’s grand finale.
- Dinner & Overnight: Settle in for dinner and overnight at your chosen lodge or campsite, with potentially stunning views of the crater or surrounding highlands.
Simba Public Campsite: For an authentic camping experience on the cool crater rim.
Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge: For luxurious comfort and often direct, magnificent views into the Ngorongoro Crater.
Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive & Departure to Arusha
Your safari culminates with an unforgettable experience in the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater. After an early breakfast around 06:00 AM, you will descend approximately 600 meters into the crater floor for your final day of game viewing.
- Crater Floor Exploration: Spend a significant part of the morning on an exhilarating game drive inside the Ngorongoro Crater. This natural wonder is a densely packed wildlife haven, offering the best chance to spot all of the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, the critically endangered black rhino, and buffalo) in a single day. You’ll also encounter vast herds of wildebeest, zebras, hippos, diverse birdlife, and potentially cheetahs and hyenas.
- Picnic Lunch: A convenient picnic lunch will be served on the crater floor, allowing you to maximize your time in this extraordinary natural amphitheater.
- Return to Arusha: In the early afternoon, after an awe-inspiring experience, you will return to Arusha for your flight to Zanzibar
Day 7: Stone Town Experience
After breakfast, explore Stone Town with a guided tour, visiting key sites such as the former slave market and historic buildings. After the tour, transfer to your beach resort along the coast. Upon arrival, enjoy lunch and spend the afternoon relaxing by the ocean or pool. Take a sunset walk along the beach and enjoy a peaceful evening at your resort.
Day 8: Beach Leisure
Enjoy a relaxed day at the beach, with time to swim or simply unwind.
Day 9: Departure
Enjoy a relaxed morning at the beach, with time to swim or simply unwind.
What is included:
- Safari Vehicle: Private 4×4 Land Cruiser safari jeep with a pop-up roof, ensuring optimal game viewing and comfort.
- Fuel/Gasoline: All fuel costs for the safari vehicle.
- Professional Guide: Services of a courteous, experienced, and professional English-speaking Driver/Guide(s) throughout your journey.
- Drinking Water: Bottled mineral water (1.5 liters per person per day) in the vehicle.
- Accommodation: 3 nights accommodation at specified luxury lodges/tented camps (Bougainvillea Safari Lodge, Embalakai Luxury Tented Camp, Ngorongoro Serena Lodge / Embalakai Ngorongoro Lounge or similar high-end properties).
- Meals: All gourmet meals as shown (B-Breakfast; L-Lunch; D-Dinner), starting with picnic lunch on Day 1 and ending with lunch on Day 4.
- Park Fees: All applicable National Park entrance fees for Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
- Local flight to Zanzibar from Arusha
- Game Viewing Activities: All scheduled game drives as per the itinerary.
- Medical Emergency Evacuation Cover: To Arusha (does not include hospitalization).
- Government Taxes & Levies: All applicable government taxes.
- Airport Transfers: Seamless airport transfers (from Kilimanjaro International Airport – JRO or Arusha Airport – ARK) to your Arusha hotel on arrival, and transfer back to Arusha town/JRO at the end of the safari.
What is excluded:
International flights
Travel insurance
- Zanzibar Accommodation
- Any Zanzibar activity mentioned in the itinerary
Visa fees for Tanzania
Tips for guides and staff
Personal expenses (laundry, souvenirs, drinks)
Optional activities (balloon safaris, village visits, night drives)
Vaccinations or medical preparations (e.g. malaria tablets, yellow fever shots)
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Custom safari itinerary for you.
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