Tanzania travel landscape
10 DAYS / 9 NIGHTS · SAMPLE ITINERARY

10-Day Serengeti to Zanzibar

Two full Serengeti days, Stone Town’s lanes and slow days on the Indian Ocean.

Overview

Two full Serengeti days, Stone Town’s lanes and slow days on the Indian Ocean. 10-day route through Arusha, Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Stone Town, 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.

Duration
10 days / 9 nights
Destinations
Arusha, Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Stone Town, Zanzibar coast
Ideal for
Travelers who want proper time on safari and on the island.
When to travel
Safari works year-round. On Zanzibar, June to October and December to February are usually the driest beach months; March to May brings the long rains. We help balance both halves of the trip.
DAY BY DAY

The journey.

Wildlife sightings, migration movements and river crossings depend on nature and are never guaranteed.

  1. Day1
    Arusha

    Arrival in Tanzania

    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.

    The afternoon is yours to rest. In the evening your guide meets you for a short briefing on the journey ahead.

    Stay: Comfortable garden lodge near ArushaMeals: Dinner
  2. Day2
    Tarangire

    Tarangire National Park

    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.

    Your guide balances time between sightings so the day feels full but never rushed. Picnic lunch is taken in the park, and you continue exploring until late afternoon before reaching your accommodation.

    Stay: Comfortable mid-range lodge or tented campMeals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  3. Day3
    Ngorongoro

    Ngorongoro Crater

    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.

    Your guide balances time between sightings so the day feels full but never rushed. A picnic lunch is enjoyed in the crater before you ascend in the afternoon.

    Stay: Comfortable mid-range lodge or tented campMeals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  4. Day4
    Serengeti

    Into the Serengeti

    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.

    Stay: Comfortable mid-range lodge or tented campMeals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  5. Day5
    Central Serengeti

    Serengeti Plains

    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.

    Your guide balances time between sightings so the day feels full but never rushed. Choose between a full day out with a picnic lunch or returning to camp for a midday rest.

    Stay: Comfortable mid-range lodge or tented campMeals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  6. Day6
    Serengeti – Zanzibar

    Fly to Zanzibar

    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 free to settle in.

    Stay: Relaxed beachfront hotelMeals: Breakfast, dinner
  7. Day7
    Stone Town

    Stone Town

    Explore Stone Town on foot with a local guide: carved doorways, busy markets, the Old Fort and the waterfront. The tour gives thoughtful context to Zanzibar’s layered and complex history.

    Watch the sunset from a rooftop before dinner in the old town.

    Stay: Characterful hotel in Stone TownMeals: Breakfast
  8. Day8
    Zanzibar

    Beach Day

    A day to slow right down. Swim, walk the shoreline as the tides shift, or simply rest in the shade.

    Optional excursions can be arranged locally if you feel like exploring.

    Stay: Relaxed beachfront hotelMeals: Breakfast, dinner
  9. Day9
    Zanzibar

    Mnemba Snorkeling

    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.

    Stay: Relaxed beachfront hotelMeals: Breakfast, dinner
  10. Day10
    Zanzibar

    Departure from Zanzibar

    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.

    Meals: Breakfast

Included

  • Private safari vehicle with pop-up roof and professional guide
  • Accommodation as described
  • Meals as indicated and drinking water on safari
  • Park entrance, crater and conservation fees
  • Airport transfers
  • 24/7 in-country support

Not included

  • International flights
  • Tanzania visa
  • Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
  • Optional activities such as balloon flights unless agreed
  • Gratuities for guides and lodge staff
  • Personal expenses and premium drinks

Customization note

Change the length, swap a park or upgrade a stay. We will shape this journey around you.

Explore the places on this route
TarangireNgorongoro CraterSerengetiZanzibarMigration by Month
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LET'S MAKE IT YOURS

Every remarkable journey begins somewhere.

Tell us what you have in mind. We’ll take it from there.

Plan Your Safari
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Starts Here.

Tell us what moves you. We’ll help shape the journey around it.