8 Days Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Zanzibar

53016852079_5323b3914f_b — 8 Days Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Zanzibar

Overview

Experience the perfect combination of wildlife adventure and tropical beach relaxation on this 8 Days Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Zanzibar Safari. This journey takes you through two of Tanzania’s most iconic wildlife destinations before ending on the beautiful beaches of Zanzibar.

Explore the endless plains of Serengeti National Park, home to the Big Five and the Great Migration, descend into the wildlife-rich Ngorongoro Crater, and unwind on the white sandy beaches of Zanzibar. From thrilling game drives and breathtaking landscapes to crystal-clear waters and rich Swahili culture, this safari offers an unforgettable East African experience.

Safari Highlights

Nature walks
Game drive
Boat cruise

Detailed Itinerary(Zanzibar Safari)

Day 1: Arrival in Arusha

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be welcomed by your safari guide and transferred to your hotel in Arusha.

Relax after your journey and receive a briefing about your upcoming safari adventure. Depending on your arrival time, you may explore the town or enjoy the hotel facilities.

Accommodation Options

Budget: Arusha Planet Lodge

Mid-range: Four Points by Sheraton Arusha

Luxury: Gran Meliá Arusha

Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Arusha to Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, depart for Serengeti National Park through the scenic Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Arrive in Serengeti in time for lunch before enjoying an afternoon game drive across the famous plains. Search for lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, cheetahs, leopards, and many other wildlife species.

The Serengeti offers some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in Africa.

Accommodation Options

Budget: Seronera Public Campsite

Mid-range: Serengeti Heritage Camp

Luxury: Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Full Day Safari in Serengeti National Park

Spend the entire day exploring different regions of Serengeti National Park.

Your guide will take you to the best wildlife viewing areas based on seasonal animal movements. Depending on the time of year, you may witness the Great Migration as thousands of wildebeests and zebras move across the plains.

The Serengeti is also home to large populations of lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, hyenas, jackals, and numerous bird species.

Accommodation Options

As Above

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

After breakfast, enjoy a final morning game drive in Serengeti before travelling towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Along the way, enjoy beautiful landscapes and wildlife sightings. Stop at the Ngorongoro Crater viewpoint for spectacular panoramic views before continuing to your lodge.

Spend the evening relaxing and preparing for the crater safari the following day.

Accommodation Options

Budget: Simba Campsite

Mid-range: Rhino Lodge

Luxury: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater Safari and Flight to Zanzibar

After an early breakfast, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a memorable wildlife safari.

The crater is home to one of Africa’s highest concentrations of wildlife, including lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeests, hippos, hyenas, and the endangered black rhino.

After your game drive and picnic lunch, transfer to Arusha Airport for your scheduled flight to Zanzibar.

Upon arrival in Zanzibar, transfer to your beach resort for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Options

Budget: Amaan Beach Bungalows

Mid-range: My Blue Hotel Zanzibar

Luxury: Zuri Zanzibar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: Stone Town and Spice Farm Tour

After breakfast, visit the historic Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Explore its narrow streets, bustling markets, historical buildings, and cultural landmarks while learning about Zanzibar’s fascinating history.

In the afternoon, continue to a spice plantation where you will discover why Zanzibar became known as the Spice Island. Learn about cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, and other spices grown on the island.

Return to your beach resort in the evening.

Accommodation Options

As Above

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 7: Beach Relaxation and Sunset Dhow Cruise

Enjoy a full day relaxing on Zanzibar’s beautiful beaches.

Spend your time swimming, sunbathing, snorkelling, or enjoying the resort’s facilities. The crystal-clear waters and white sandy beaches provide the perfect setting for relaxation.

In the evening, board a traditional dhow for a sunset cruise along the coast while enjoying spectacular views of the Indian Ocean.

Accommodation Options

As Above

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 8: Departure

After breakfast, enjoy your final moments on the island before checking out.

Depending on your flight schedule, transfer to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport for your departure flight.

Meals: Breakfast

Optional Activities

Prison Island excursion.
Nakupenda Sandbank experience.
Mnemba Atoll snorkelling trip.
Scuba diving in Zanzibar.
Swimming with sea turtles at Nungwi.
Dolphin watching at Kizimkazi.
Hot air balloon safari in Serengeti.
Champagne bush breakfast.
Visit to a Maasai village.
Olduvai Gorge excursion.
Deep sea fishing.
Jozani Forest National Park tour.
Swahili cooking class.
Quad biking adventure.
Spa and wellness treatments.

Best Time to Visit

This safari can be enjoyed throughout the year. The Serengeti and Ngorongoro offer excellent wildlife viewing in every season, while Zanzibar enjoys warm tropical weather year-round. The dry seasons from June to October and December to February are particularly ideal for game viewing, beach activities, snorkelling, and diving. The Great Migration can be experienced at different locations in the Serengeti depending on the month of travel, making every season unique and rewarding.

Tour Includes(Zanzibar Safari)

Travel in a 4×4 car
Professional guide
Park fees
Accommodation
Meals
All Activities In Itinerary

Tour Excludes

Alcoholic drinks
Laundry
Tips
Shopping
Insurance
Anything not included per itinerary

Wildlife and Beach in One Trip

This eight-day itinerary combines Tanzania’s northern circuit, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, with a closing stay on Zanzibar, giving genuine range between classic savannah wildlife viewing and coastal relaxation within a single well-paced trip.

This pairing is one of Tanzania’s most popular itinerary combinations, letting travelers close out an active wildlife-focused safari with several days of genuine rest on Zanzibar’s beaches before departure.

Practical Notes

Most nationalities can apply for a Tanzania e-visa online before travel. A yellow fever certificate is required for entry if arriving from a country with risk of transmission. Travel insurance covering wildlife or trekking activities and medical evacuation is strongly recommended, and malaria prevention is worth discussing with a travel health clinic ahead of your trip.

Tanzanian shillings are useful for everyday purchases, tips and markets, while US dollars printed after 2009 are widely accepted for park fees, conservation fees and lodge bills. Most lodges also accept card payments for incidentals.

Because lodge and permit availability tightens considerably during the June to October peak season, we recommend booking this itinerary at least three to four months in advance for travel during that window.

Tipping is customary though not compulsory. Your driver-guide is typically tipped at the end of the full trip, scaled to group size and length of stay, and we’re glad to advise on typical ranges when you book.

A private 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof and an experienced English-speaking driver-guide accompanies you throughout this itinerary.

Balancing Wildlife and Beach Time

This itinerary typically allocates the first several days to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, giving genuine time for multiple game drives and the crater’s exceptionally dense wildlife, before a short flight to Zanzibar for the closing beach portion of the trip.

The contrast between these two halves, active early mornings chasing wildlife sightings versus unstructured beach time, is part of what makes this combination so consistently popular among our clients.

Wildlife and the Great Migration in the Serengeti

The Serengeti’s vast, open plains support one of the last great terrestrial wildlife migrations on earth, as roughly two million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle move in a broadly circular pattern through the ecosystem each year, following the rains in search of fresh grass. Depending on the season, this can mean vast herds spread across the southern plains during calving season, dramatic river crossings in the west and north, or smaller, more dispersed groups elsewhere in the park — so the exact experience varies considerably by month. Beyond the migration, the Serengeti’s year-round resident wildlife, including some of Africa’s largest lion prides and healthy cheetah and leopard populations, makes it a rewarding destination regardless of when the herds themselves are present.

Wildlife Density in the Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, contains an estimated 25,000 large mammals within its roughly 260-square-kilometre floor, a natural enclosure formed when a volcano larger than Kilimanjaro collapsed in on itself some two to three million years ago. Because the crater walls largely confine the resident wildlife year-round, sighting rates for lion, elephant, buffalo, hippo and the crater’s small but present population of black rhino are exceptionally high regardless of season, making it one of the most reliable single-day game drives in Africa. The descent into the crater floor along a steep access road, followed by a full day exploring the grassland, swamp and forest habitats within, is typically treated as its own dedicated day on a Tanzania itinerary.

Climbing Routes on Mount Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak at 5,895 metres, can be climbed via several established routes that vary in scenery, traffic and acclimatisation profile. The Marangu route, the only one with hut-based rather than tented accommodation, is the shortest but also has one of the lower summit success rates due to its fast ascent profile; Machame, nicknamed the Whiskey Route, is more scenic and allows better acclimatisation over a longer itinerary; and Lemosho, the longest of the popular routes, offers the most gradual ascent and correspondingly higher success rates. Regardless of route, the climb passes through five distinct ecological zones, from cultivated farmland through rainforest, moorland and alpine desert to the arctic summit zone, a transition unlike almost any other trek in the world.

Zanzibar’s Beaches and Marine Life

Beyond its historical centre, Zanzibar’s coastline is ringed with white-sand beaches and warm, turquoise water, with the northern and eastern shores around Nungwi and Paje generally favoured for swimming due to less dramatic tidal swings than elsewhere on the island. Offshore, the reefs around Mnemba Atoll are considered among the best snorkelling and diving sites in East Africa, with regular sightings of green sea turtles, reef fish and, seasonally, dolphins. A traditional dhow sunset cruise, sailing on the same style of wooden boat that has carried traders along this coast for centuries, is a popular way to end a day on the island.

Flights and Arrival Logistics

Most international itineraries route through one of the region’s main hub airports — Entebbe for Uganda, Kigali for Rwanda, Nairobi or Mombasa for Kenya, and Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar for Tanzania — with connecting flights or road transfers arranged from there to the specific parks on your itinerary. Visa requirements vary by nationality and by country, though several East African nations now offer e-visas processed online in advance, and Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda participate in an East Africa Tourist Visa that allows single-entry travel across all three countries on one visa, which is useful for itineraries that cross borders. Arrival airports typically operate best in daylight hours, so overnight arrivals are usually followed by a night near the airport before heading out to the parks the next morning.