Tanzania Safari and Zanzibar: 9 Best Packages and Day Trips

You want to see lions on the Serengeti plains and then lie on a white-sand beach with nothing on your schedule. That is exactly why a safari in Zanzibar Tanzania is one of the most popular ways to split a trip. The hard part is sorting through itineraries that look alike but differ in flights, pace, and price.

Here is the short answer. For the best experience, spend 4 to 6 days on safari first, then fly to Zanzibar to recover. Short on time? A safari day trip from Zanzibar is possible, but it means a flight to the mainland, so it works best as a quick taste of one park.

Below, you'll find nine packages and day trips, from compact escapes to longer bush and beach combinations. For each, we explain what the trip covers, who it suits, and what to expect on budget. Since 2007, Extra Miles Unique Adventures has designed private East Africa safaris, so we know which routes, seasons, and lodges fit together well. Use this list to compare options and shape your own plan.

1. Extra Miles custom Tanzania safari and Zanzibar combo

What the trip includes

Our combo is built from scratch, not pulled off a shelf. You share your dates, group size, and style, and we design a private Tanzania safari and Zanzibar itinerary around them. Most clients choose 8 to 10 days in total with a safari first, beach last sequence. A typical build from Extra Miles Unique Adventures looks like this:

• Days 1 to 2: Arrive in Arusha, then drive to Tarangire or Lake Manyara.
• Days 3 to 4: Serengeti game drives, timed to where the herds are that month.
• Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater descent, then a flight-ready night in Karatu or Arusha.
• Day 6: Scheduled flight from Arusha to Zanzibar.
• Days 7 to 9: Beach stay in Nungwi, Paje, or Stone Town, with transfers arranged.

The price covers a private vehicle, a driver-guide, park fees, lodging, and airport pickups. We also handle the domestic flight, so you never sort out baggage limits alone.

Do the safari first, then fly to the sand, so the beach is your reward and not a rushed afterthought.

Who it suits best

Couples and honeymooners get the most from it, because we can add a private sundowner or a spa day without forcing the whole group to join. Families like it too. We can shorten drive days for young children and pick Zanzibar resorts with calm, shallow water.

Skip it if you want a fixed-date group tour at the lowest possible rate. This is a tailor-made trip with human support, and you can reach our team on WhatsApp before and during travel. Photographers and birders also use it to add extra hours in the field.

Typical price and what affects it

Prices depend on your choices, so treat the figures below as indicative per-person totals for 8 to 10 days, sharing a room, with the domestic flight included. Your final quote comes after we confirm dates and lodging.

Four things move the number most: travel season, lodge tier, group size, and the number of beach nights. July to October and the December holidays cost the most. Green season in April and May is cheaper, though rains can slow some roads.

2. Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Zanzibar 10-day safari

What the trip includes

This is the classic Tanzania safari and Zanzibar pairing, and the 10-day format works because it gives the two famous parks enough time before a proper beach stay. A common split looks like this:

• Days 1 to 2: Arrive in Arusha, then drive to Tarangire or Lake Manyara for a warm-up game drive.
• Days 3 to 5: Three nights in the Serengeti, with full-day drives on the central plains or in the north.
• Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater floor drive, then back to Arusha.
• Days 7 to 10: Fly to Zanzibar for four nights on the north or east coast.

Packages usually bundle a 4x4 with a pop-up roof, a driver-guide, park fees, and the domestic flight to the island.

Three nights in the Serengeti is the minimum that makes the long drive worth it.

Who it suits best

First-time visitors get the most from it, since it hits the headline sights without rushing. Couples and friends traveling together also like the clear rhythm of bush first, sand second.

Timing matters here. Northern Serengeti river crossings peak from July to October, while calving season around Ndutu runs from January to March. Pick your month with that in mind.

Typical price and what affects it

Expect these indicative per-person totals for 10 days, sharing a room, with the flight included. Treat them as planning ranges, not quotes.

Prices swing with travel season, lodge location inside the Serengeti, and beach hotel category. Solo travelers pay a single supplement, while larger groups split vehicle costs and pay less each.

3. Tarangire, Manyara, Ngorongoro and Zanzibar combo

What the trip includes

This route skips the Serengeti and keeps the drives short. You cover three parks in about five days, then fly to the coast. It is the most compact Tanzania Zanzibar safari on this list, usually 7 to 8 days in total, and it suits a safari in Zanzibar Tanzania plan built around a tighter calendar.

• Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire for an afternoon drive among elephant herds and baobab trees.
• Day 2: Lake Manyara for hippos, flamingos in some months, and the chance of tree-climbing lions.
• Days 3 to 4: Overnight on the Ngorongoro rim, then a morning drive on the crater floor.
• Day 5: Return to Arusha and fly to Zanzibar.
• Days 6 to 8: Beach stay in Nungwi or on the east coast.

Three parks in five days give you variety without the long Serengeti drives.

Who it suits best

First-time visitors with only a week or so will like it most. Drives between parks are short, so children and older travelers stay comfortable. Budget-minded couples also do well here, since you skip the Serengeti's higher fees and lodge rates.

Be realistic about what you will not see. There are no mass migration herds on this route, and Tarangire is best from June to October, when animals gather along the river. If a river crossing is your dream, choose the 10-day Serengeti trip above.

Typical price and what affects it

Plan on these indicative per-person totals for 8 days, sharing a room, with the Arusha to Zanzibar flight included. They are planning ranges, not quotes.

Prices move with travel season, the Ngorongoro lodge you pick, and your beach hotel category. A private vehicle costs less per person as your group grows.

4. Fly-in Serengeti safari with a Zanzibar beach finish

What the trip includes

Flying replaces a 6 to 8 hour drive to the central Serengeti with a flight of about 90 minutes in a light aircraft. You get more time in the park and less time in the car. Most Tanzania safari and Zanzibar tours built this way run 6 to 7 days.

• Day 1: Arrive in Arusha or Kilimanjaro and overnight nearby.
• Day 2: Morning flight to a Serengeti airstrip, then an afternoon game drive.
• Days 3 to 4: Full-day drives from a lodge or camp inside the park.
• Day 5: Early drive, then fly out via Arusha to Zanzibar.
• Days 6 to 7: Beach finish in Nungwi, Kendwa, or Matemwe.

Packages cover both internal flights, a park-based guide, and park fees. Light aircraft limit you to soft bags under about 33 lb (15 kg), so pack lean and leave hard suitcases at your Arusha hotel or ship them ahead.

Fly in, and you trade road hours for extra game drives.

Who it suits best

Short-on-time travelers get the most from this plan. If you have a week and want a real safari in Zanzibar Tanzania style trip, flying gives you two full Serengeti days plus a proper beach stay.

Honeymooners and photographers like it too, because the aerial views and extra field hours are hard to match. Travelers with a lot of luggage or a tight budget should look at the road-based trips above instead.

Typical price and what affects it

Expect a premium over road itineraries. Each scheduled flight to the Serengeti usually runs $300 to $450 per person, one way. These are indicative per-person totals for 7 days, sharing a room, with all flights included.

Prices shift with travel season, flight availability, and where your Serengeti camp sits. Peak migration months book out early, so lock in flights first.

5. Budget Tanzania camping safari and Zanzibar stay

What the trip includes

Budget here means basic camping, not a cheaper copy of the lodge trip. You sleep in dome tents at public campsites in or near the parks, and a camp cook prepares your meals. Among Tanzania safari and Zanzibar packages, this is the cheapest way to see the big parks and still end on a beach. Most plans run 7 to 8 days.

• Days 1 to 4: Drive from Arusha through Tarangire, the Serengeti, and Ngorongoro, camping each night.
• Day 5: Return to Arusha and fly to Zanzibar.
• Days 6 to 8: Three nights in a budget guesthouse in Paje or Stone Town.

Expect shared toilets, cold showers at some sites, and early starts before sunrise. Tents, mattresses, and a mess tent are normally included, but confirm whether sleeping bags are too.

Camping saves money on beds, so spend it on the Serengeti days, not on a fancier tent.

Who it suits best

Backpackers, students, and friends splitting costs get the most from this trip. You trade comfort for more nights in the wild, and the camp fires and night sounds are part of the appeal.

Choose another plan if you want private bathrooms, hot water on demand, or a quiet honeymoon. Cold nights on the Ngorongoro rim and in the Serengeti also catch people out, so bring a warm layer.

Typical price and what affects it

Costs fall quickly when you share a vehicle. These are indicative per-person totals for 8 days, with the domestic flight included. Treat them as planning ranges, not quotes.

Prices shift with group size, travel season, and the number of beach nights. Park fees are fixed, so the savings come from lodging, not from cutting parks.

6. Luxury lodge safari and Zanzibar villa escape

What the trip includes

This is the high-comfort version of a Tanzania safari and Zanzibar trip, usually 9 to 10 days. You sleep in small luxury lodges or tented camps with plunge pools or private decks. You finish in a private villa with staff on Zanzibar's north or east coast.

• Days 1 to 2: Arrive in Arusha, then settle into a boutique lodge near Tarangire.
• Days 3 to 5: Fly to the Serengeti and stay at one or two camps, with an optional hot-air balloon flight at dawn.
• Day 6: Overnight on the Ngorongoro rim and descend into the crater.
• Day 7: Fly from Arusha to Zanzibar.
• Days 8 to 10: Villa stay with a cook, housekeeper, and pool.

Most itineraries use private vehicles and internal flights throughout.

On a luxury safari, where your bed sits matters more than how many thread count you get.

Who it suits best

Honeymooners and anniversary couples get the most from it. Privacy is the whole point, and nobody rushes you at breakfast or on a game drive.

Extended families also do well. A villa often sleeps four to eight, so multi-generational groups share one house with their own chef. Skip this plan if you travel on a tight budget or only want a short, simple safari. It shines when comfort is the priority.

Typical price and what affects it

Villa and lodge pricing is steeper and less uniform than the other trips here. These are indicative per-person totals for 10 days, sharing a room, with all flights included. They are planning ranges, not quotes.

Prices follow travel season, camp exclusivity, and how many people share the villa. A villa is priced per night, so splitting it among four to six guests cuts the per-person cost sharply.

7. Mikumi day trip safari from Zanzibar

What the trip includes

Mikumi is the nearest mainland park with workable air access, but it sits about 190 miles (300 km) from Dar es Salaam. That is a 4 to 5 hour drive each way. So a Tanzania safari from Zanzibar in one day only works by air. You take an early charter or connecting light-aircraft flight to the Mikumi airstrip, then spend about four hours on game drives across the Mkata floodplain. Expect elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, and hippos, with lions as a bonus.

• Early morning: Hotel pickup in Zanzibar and flight to Mikumi.
• Midday: Game drive with a driver-guide, plus a picnic lunch.
• Late afternoon: Flight back to the island before dark.

A Mikumi day trip only works if you fly, because the road eats the whole day.

Who it suits best

Beach travelers who want a taste of the bush get the most from it. If your Zanzibar week is already booked and you have one spare day, this is a practical add-on. It also suits couples who want a wildlife story without changing hotels.

Be honest about the limits. You will not see migration herds or Serengeti-scale numbers, and the day is long. Dry season, June to October, gives the best sightings, since animals gather near water. Families with small children may prefer a lodge stay on the mainland instead.

Typical price and what affects it

These are indicative per-person totals for a private or small-group day trip, with flights, park fees, and lunch included. Treat them as planning ranges, not quotes.

Prices swing with group size, since the charter plane is the biggest cost. Park fees are small by comparison, roughly $30 per adult plus VAT, but check current rates before you book.

8. Selous (Nyerere) day trip safari from Zanzibar

What the trip includes

Nyerere National Park, the northern part of the old Selous Game Reserve, is the most scenic safari from Zanzibar to Tanzania's mainland you can do in a day. A charter flight takes about 45 to 60 minutes each way. The big draw is water. The Rufiji River adds a boat safari that Mikumi cannot match.

• Early morning: Hotel pickup in Zanzibar and flight to a Nyerere airstrip.
• Morning: Game drive for elephants, giraffes, buffalo, and, with luck, wild dogs.
• Midday: Lunch at a riverside lodge.
• Afternoon: Boat safari past hippos and crocodiles, then the flight back before dark.

Choose Nyerere over Mikumi if you want a boat safari and a game drive in the same day.

Who it suits best

Travelers who want river scenery and variety get the most from it. Birders like the herons, kingfishers, and fish eagles along the banks. Couples and friends with one free beach day also do well, since you never change hotels.

The day is long, often 10 to 11 hours door to door. Go in the dry season, June to October, when animals crowd the river. In the March to May rains, some camps close and flights get rescheduled, so confirm before you pay.

Typical price and what affects it

These are indicative per-person totals for a day trip with flights, park fees, boat safari, and lunch included. Treat them as planning ranges, not quotes.

Prices swing with group size, because the aircraft is your biggest cost. Park and boat fees add up too, so ask whether they are in the quote. Wondering if one day is enough? If you want more time, the 3-day option next gives you a night in the bush.

9. 3-day safari from Zanzibar

What the trip includes

Two nights on the mainland is the minimum for a real safari in Tanzania from Zanzibar, and it fixes the main flaw of the day trips above. You fly to Arusha, spend two days in the parks, and fly back on day three. Most operators pair Tarangire with Ngorongoro Crater, since both sit within a few hours of Arusha.

• Day 1: Morning flight from Zanzibar to Arusha, about 1.5 hours. Drive to Tarangire for an afternoon game drive, then sleep at a lodge near Karatu.
• Day 2: Early descent into Ngorongoro Crater for rhino, lions, and hippos. Drive back to Arusha for the night.
• Day 3: Morning flight to Zanzibar and an afternoon on the beach.

Two nights on the mainland is what turns a day trip into a real safari.

Who it suits best

Beach travelers who want real park time without giving up their island stay get the most from this plan. It works well for couples and small families who can handle one early start and one long crater day.

Photographers should look elsewhere. Three days leave little room for waiting on a perfect light or a kill. If a Serengeti drive is your goal, the fly-in option earlier in this list is the better fit, though it costs more.

Typical price and what affects it

Prices below are indicative per-person totals for three days, sharing a room, with return flights from Zanzibar, park fees, and lodging included. Treat them as planning ranges, not quotes.

The return flight and the Ngorongoro crater fee, charged per vehicle, set the floor. After that, group size and lodge category move the number most. Ask whether flights are in your quote, since some Tanzania safari and Zanzibar tours list them separately.

Choosing the right safari and beach combo

The best plan comes down to three choices: how many days you have, how much comfort you want, and which animals matter most. With a week or more, go safari first and beach last, and choose the Serengeti if the migration is your goal. With less time, the compact park circuit or the 3-day option gives you more than a single day flight will. Day trips suit travelers who already have a Zanzibar week booked.

Whatever you pick, a safari in Zanzibar Tanzania works best when flights, lodges, and season are planned together. Check what each quote includes, especially domestic flights and park fees, before you pay.

If you want help shaping the trip, request a custom Tanzania safari and Zanzibar quote from Extra Miles Unique Adventures. Share your dates, group size, and style, and our team will build a private itinerary around you.