Tanzania · Tarangire, Serengeti & Zanzibar, Tanzania

Tanzania & Zanzibar Bush to Beach

12 Days / 11 Nights·Exclusive Africa SafarisVerified Operator

Overview

A 12-day luxury journey from Tarangire's elephants through Serengeti's big cats to Zanzibar's pristine beaches and spice islands.

The bush-to-beach combination is East Africa's ultimate luxury pairing — and nowhere does it better than Tanzania. This twelve-day journey begins in the elephant-rich wilderness of Tarangire, where massive herds gather around ancient baobab trees. Continue through the Ngorongoro Crater for Big Five encounters in a volcanic amphitheatre, then spend four extraordinary days in the Serengeti tracking the Great Migration, lion prides, and cheetah coalitions. When your safari soul is full, fly east to Zanzibar — the Spice Island — for four nights of Indian Ocean indulgence at Kilindi, a hillside retreat of white-pavilion villas overlooking turquoise waters. Snorkel pristine coral reefs, explore the UNESCO-listed Stone Town with its carved doors and spice markets, cruise on a traditional dhow at sunset, and dine on fresh lobster with your feet in the sand. The contrast between wild bush and tropical beach creates a rhythm that defines the perfect holiday — adventure fills you up, and the ocean lets you breathe. Every lodge has been chosen for location, intimacy, and the kind of service that anticipates your needs before you know them yourself.

Safari Highlights

  • Tarangire — massive elephant herds among ancient baobabs
  • Ngorongoro Crater — Big Five in a volcanic amphitheatre
  • 4 days in the Serengeti with migration tracking
  • Fly to Zanzibar for 4 nights of beach luxury
  • Kilindi — white-pavilion villas on a hillside above the ocean
  • Stone Town UNESCO World Heritage walking tour
  • Dhow sunset cruise and coral reef snorkelling

Day-by-Day Itinerary

1

Arrive Arusha — Gateway to Safari

Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport. Transfer to a luxury Arusha hotel set in lush gardens with Mount Meru views. Welcome dinner with your safari guide who briefs you on the week ahead and the current wildlife conditions across the northern circuit.

Accommodation: Arusha Coffee Lodge

Meals: Dinner

Airport transferWelcome dinner and safari briefing
2

Tarangire — Elephant Herds & Baobabs

Drive south to Tarangire National Park. The park's ancient baobab trees — some over 1,000 years old — create a dramatic landscape unlike anywhere else in Tanzania. During dry season, the Tarangire River draws massive elephant herds of 50 or more, along with buffalo, wildebeest, and zebra. Afternoon game drive along the river, watching elephants drink and bathe while lion prides rest in the shade.

Accommodation: Chem Chem Lodge, Tarangire

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Drive to TarangireElephant herd viewingBaobab forest game drive
3

Tarangire to Ngorongoro

Morning walking safari in Chem Chem's private concession — a rare chance to explore the bush on foot with armed Maasai guides. After lunch, transfer to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, ascending through Maasai country to the crater rim at 2,350 metres. Check into Ngorongoro Crater Lodge on the rim. Evening sundowners watching mist roll across the caldera floor 600 metres below.

Accommodation: &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Walking safariTransfer to NgorongoroCrater rim sundowners
4

Ngorongoro Crater Descent

Descend into the crater for a full day of game driving. The 260-square-kilometre floor supports 25,000 animals — lion prides, black rhino, elephant, buffalo, and flamingo-lined Lake Magadi. Big Five sightings in a single day are common. Gourmet picnic lunch beside a hippo pool. Ascend in golden afternoon light for dinner on the crater rim.

Accommodation: &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Picnic lunch, Dinner

Full-day crater game driveBig Five trackingHippo pool lunch
5

Enter the Serengeti

Drive into the Serengeti through the southern gate. Game drive en route, watching for cheetah on the open plains. Arrive at Singita Grumeti in the western corridor — a private concession covering 350,000 acres with some of the Serengeti's lowest vehicle densities. Check into your luxury tent and enjoy an afternoon game drive as herds of wildebeest and zebra move across the golden grasslands.

Accommodation: Singita Grumeti, Serengeti

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Serengeti transfer with game drivingAfternoon game drive
6

Serengeti — Full Day Game Drives

A full day in the Serengeti's western corridor. Dawn drive targets predator activity — lion prides returning from hunts, cheetah coalitions beginning their morning stalk. Explore rocky kopjes where leopards rest and hyena dens where cubs play. Return for a poolside lunch, then afternoon drive focused on the migration herds. Sundowners overlooking the vast Serengeti plains as the sky ignites.

Accommodation: Singita Grumeti, Serengeti

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Dawn game driveKopje explorationAfternoon migration trackingSundowners
7

Serengeti — Predators & Plains

Dawn game drive in a new area of the concession. Singita Grumeti's private 350,000 acres ensure exclusive sightings with minimal other vehicles. Focus on the Serengeti's legendary predator action — track resident lion prides, search for elusive wild dogs, and watch hyena clan dynamics at their dens. Afternoon at leisure at the lodge or optional walking safari. Farewell bush dinner under the Serengeti stars.

Accommodation: Singita Grumeti, Serengeti

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Bush dinner

Morning game drivePredator trackingOptional walking safariBush dinner
8

Serengeti Final Drive — Fly to Zanzibar

A final dawn game drive before breakfast. Transfer to the Serengeti airstrip for your flight east to Zanzibar — the transition from golden savannah to turquoise Indian Ocean is dramatic and beautiful. Arrive at Kilindi, a hillside retreat of domed white pavilions overlooking the ocean. The rest of the day is yours — swim, sleep, breathe.

Accommodation: Kilindi Zanzibar

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Final game driveFlight to ZanzibarBeach arrival and relaxation
9

Zanzibar — Stone Town & Spices

Morning guided walking tour of Stone Town — a UNESCO World Heritage Site where narrow alleyways open into bustling bazaars, ornate carved doors guard centuries-old merchant houses, and the scent of cloves drifts from rooftop spice markets. Visit the House of Wonders, the Old Fort, and the Old Slave Market memorial. After a Swahili lunch in town, tour a working spice plantation — tasting vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves fresh from the plant.

Accommodation: Kilindi Zanzibar

Meals: Breakfast, Swahili lunch, Dinner

Stone Town walking tourSpice plantation visitLocal market browsing
10

Zanzibar — Ocean Adventures

Full day of Indian Ocean experiences. Morning snorkelling trip to Mnemba Atoll — a pristine coral reef teeming with tropical fish, sea turtles, and dolphins. Return to Kilindi for a beachside lunch. Afternoon at leisure — kayak, paddleboard, or simply lie in a hammock under the palms. Late afternoon dhow sunset cruise with champagne and canapés as the sun sinks into the Indian Ocean.

Accommodation: Kilindi Zanzibar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Mnemba Atoll snorkellingDhow sunset cruiseBeach relaxation
11

Zanzibar — Beach Day at Leisure

A free day to design your own Zanzibar experience. Optional activities include scuba diving on the reef, a cooking class learning Zanzibari cuisine, a visit to Jozani Forest to see the rare Red Colobus monkey, or simply a day of pure beach indulgence at Kilindi's pavilion pool. Farewell dinner at the lodge with fresh seafood and ocean views.

Accommodation: Kilindi Zanzibar

Meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner

Free day — optional activitiesFarewell dinner
12

Departure — Zanzibar Airport

Final morning on the Indian Ocean. Leisurely breakfast with ocean views, then transfer to Zanzibar International Airport for your departure. You leave Tanzania having experienced both its wild heart and its tropical soul — bush and beach in perfect harmony.

Meals: Breakfast

Airport transfer

What's Included

  • All airport transfers and internal flights
  • All park and conservation area fees
  • Full-board safari lodges (7 nights) + half-board Zanzibar (4 nights)
  • Private safari vehicle with guide
  • Stone Town guided walking tour
  • Dhow sunset cruise
  • Snorkelling equipment and boat trip
  • Zanzibar airport transfers

What's Excluded

  • International flights
  • Tanzania visa ($50)
  • Travel insurance (mandatory)
  • Tips & gratuities ($25–40/day)
  • Balloon safari ($550 pp)
  • Scuba diving and water sports
  • Spa treatments
  • Alcoholic beverages
From

$9,200

per person sharing

Duration12 Days
CountryTanzania
DestinationTarangire, Serengeti & Zanzibar, Tanzania
Difficultyeasy
Group Size18
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