The plains, then the ocean: safari mornings followed by barefoot days on Zanzibar.
The plains, then the ocean: safari mornings followed by barefoot days on Zanzibar. 12-day route through Arusha, Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Zanzibar coast, with your own guide and vehicle and accommodation chosen for location and atmosphere.
This is an inspirational sample itinerary. Every journey is tailor-made — route, pace and accommodation can all be adjusted to suit you.
Wildlife sightings, migration movements and river crossings depend on nature and are never guaranteed.
You are met at Kilimanjaro International Airport by a Bush Guides Safaris representative and transferred to your accommodation on the outskirts of Arusha, set among gardens with views toward Mount Meru on a clear day.
There is nothing to do but settle in. A quiet dinner and an early night set the tone for the days ahead.
After breakfast, drive west to Tarangire, a landscape of ancient baobabs and the seasonal Tarangire River. The park is known for large elephant herds, especially in the drier months, along with giraffe, zebra and a rich variety of birdlife.
The day is paced for two: quiet stops, unhurried views and plenty of time together. Picnic lunch is taken in the park, and you continue exploring until late afternoon before reaching your accommodation.
Descend early into Ngorongoro Crater, a vast caldera with grassland, swamp and a seasonal soda lake. Its permanent water supports buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, hippo and lion, and black rhino are occasionally seen, though no sighting is ever guaranteed.
The day is paced for two: quiet stops, unhurried views and plenty of time together. A picnic lunch is enjoyed in the crater before you ascend in the afternoon.
Cross the Ngorongoro highlands and descend to the plains, with an optional stop at Olduvai Gorge, one of the world’s most significant paleoanthropological sites. The landscape opens out as you enter the Serengeti.
Game drive on the way to your camp, arriving in time for sundowners.
Spend the day exploring the central Serengeti around the Seronera River, an area with resident wildlife year-round. Rocky kopjes, river woodland and open grassland support lion, leopard, cheetah and great herds of plains game.
The day is paced for two: quiet stops, unhurried views and plenty of time together. Choose between a full day out with a picnic lunch or returning to camp for a midday rest.
Head out early to explore further afield: granite kopjes such as the Moru or Gol areas, and the river valleys where predators often rest in the heat of the day.
The day is paced for two: quiet stops, unhurried views and plenty of time together. An afternoon drive brings you back as the light softens across the plains.
A final morning game drive, then a light-aircraft flight from the nearest airstrip to Zanzibar, connecting via Arusha where needed. The plains give way to the turquoise Indian Ocean.
You are met on arrival and transferred to your coastal stay. The evening is yours: a barefoot dinner by the sea.
A day to slow right down. Swim, walk the shoreline as the tides shift, or simply rest in the shade.
Perhaps a spa treatment, or a sunset dhow cruise just for two.
An optional boat trip to the waters around the Mnemba area for snorkeling over the reef. Marine life varies and trips depend on sea conditions.
Return for a long lunch and a lazy afternoon by the water.
Spend the morning at a working spice farm, tasting cloves, nutmeg, cardamom and fresh fruit straight from the tree. In the afternoon, join a local host for a Swahili cooking experience and share the meal you helped prepare.
An easy evening back at the coast.
A slow morning with nothing planned: a swim before breakfast, a book, a walk at low tide.
In the late afternoon, board a traditional wooden dhow for a private sunset sail, just the two of you.
A final morning by the ocean before your transfer to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport.
Fly home or onward, carrying the plains and the coast with you.
Change the length, swap a park or upgrade a stay. We will shape this journey around you.
7 days / 6 nightsArusha · Tarangire · Ngorongoro · Serengeti
Intimate camps, quiet sundowners and the great landscapes of the north, just for two.
Best for: Couples who want a private safari within a week.
9 days / 8 nightsArusha · Ngorongoro · Central Serengeti · Northern or Southern Serengeti
Most of your time on the Serengeti plains, moving between two characterful camps.
Best for: Couples who love wildlife and wide open spaces.
10 days / 9 nightsArusha · Tarangire · Karatu · Ngorongoro · Serengeti
A slow, beautifully paced northern circuit with time to rest between adventures.
Best for: Couples who want romance, comfort and unhurried days.
Tell us what you have in mind. We’ll take it from there.
Tell us what moves you. We’ll help shape the journey around it.
