Featured Serengeti and Zanzibar Packages to Consider
Compare our primary bush-to-beach travel combinations to find the schedule that matches your timeline and travel style.
7-Day Express Serengeti & Zanzibar Package
This fast-paced itinerary splits your time into 3 days of northern safari and 4 days on the coast. You visit the Ngorongoro Crater floor and Central Serengeti before boarding a bush plane at Seronera Airstrip directly to Zanzibar. It eliminates long return road drives back to Arusha.
On Zanzibar, you stay on the northern beaches of Nungwi, where ocean tides do not disrupt swimming. This route suits travelers with limited vacation time who want to spot the Big Five and swim in the ocean within one week.
9-Day Serengeti and Zanzibar Package
This classic plan features 5 days on safari followed by 4 days on Zanzibar. You explore Tarangire National Park, Central Serengeti, and the Ngorongoro Crater. Spending two full nights in the Seronera Valley gives your naturalist guide enough time to track resident leopard and cheetah populations.
A scheduled coastal flight takes you to Stone Town for a guided historical walking tour. You then transfer north to Kendwa beach for three nights of ocean rest. This package offers a reliable balance between daily game drives and coastal downtime.
10-Day Serengeti and Zanzibar Package (Bush & Beach Package)
This route provides an equal split of 5 days in national parks and 5 days on Zanzibar Island. The safari leg covers Lake Manyara, Central Serengeti, and the 600-meter-deep Ngorongoro Crater. You travel in a private 4x4 Land Cruiser with an open roof hatch for clean wildlife photography.
Your five days on Zanzibar include a boat trip to Prison Island to see giant Aldabra tortoises, followed by four full resort days along Matemwe beach. Matemwe sits directly opposite the coral reefs of Mnemba Atoll, making this option great for snorkelers and scuba divers.
12-Day Serengeti and Zanzibar Package (Migration & Spice Island)
This 12-day journey dedicates 7 full days to northern Tanzania's wilderness and 5 days to Zanzibar. You follow the seasonal paths of the Great Migration, spending three nights in either Northern Serengeti (July to October) or Southern Ndutu (January to March).
After completing your safari, you fly from an open bush airstrip straight to Zanzibar. You tour organic spice plantations near Kizimbani before resting on the white sand beaches of Paje. This extended trip fits wildlife enthusiasts who want migration tracking without missing out on the sea.
14-Day Serengeti and Zanzibar Package (Grand Safari & Beach Holiday)
This two-week vacation includes 8 days across Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Central Serengeti, North Serengeti, and Ngorongoro, followed by 6 days in Zanzibar. The longer safari pace avoids long, tiring drives by staying two nights at each safari lodge or tented camp.
On Zanzibar, you stay in two different locations: two nights in historic Stone Town to explore coastal Swahili culture, and four nights at a quiet beachfront resort in Michamvi. This trip is designed for families and couples who want a slow, comprehensive holiday without rushing between destinations.
15-Day Serengeti and Zanzibar Package (Bush, Crater & Island Expedition)
Our most complete package features 8 days of wildlife tracking in northern Tanzania and 7 days around the Zanzibar archipelago. You spend extended time observing predators across the Serengeti savannah and tracking rare black rhinos on the Ngorongoro Crater floor.
A short bush flight delivers you to the coast for a full week of relaxation. You can sail on traditional wooden dhow boats, snorkel at Mnemba Atoll, and walk through Jozani Forest to see endangered red colobus monkeys. This schedule offers maximum rest and complete wilderness immersion.
Bush Flight Luggage Rules and Island Flight Connections
- Strict Duffel Bag Limits: Domestic bush flights between the Serengeti, Arusha, and Zanzibar use small aircraft like the Cessna Grand Caravan. Airlines enforce a strict luggage limit of 15 kilograms (33 pounds) per traveler, including your camera gear and hand luggage.
- Soft Bags Only: You must pack your gear into soft canvas or fabric duffel bags. Small aircraft cargo pods have curved walls and narrow hatch openings, so airport staff reject hard-shell plastic suitcases.
- Airstrip Departures: Flying directly from bush airstrips such as Seronera (SEU), Kogatende (KOT), or Ndutu saves 8 to 10 hours of rough road driving back to Arusha. These flights take 1.5 to 2.5 hours to reach Zanzibar Airport.
- Luggage Storage in Arusha: If you carry excess luggage for international travel, our safari office in Arusha stores your extra hard bags securely and transfers them to meet you after your bush flights.
Seasonal Timing for Bush and Beach Combinations
- June to October (Dry Season): This period brings dry weather across northern Tanzania and clear sunny skies to Zanzibar. Wildlife gathers around permanent rivers in Tarangire and the Serengeti, while ocean waters remain calm for diving and boat tours.
- July to October (River Crossings): Millions of wildebeests and zebras cross the Mara River in Northern Serengeti. Pair this natural migration event with coastal beach stays in Nungwi or Kendwa.
- January to March (Calving Season): Over 8,000 wildebeest calves are born daily on the short-grass plains of Southern Serengeti and Ndutu. Ocean waters around Zanzibar stay warm, flat, and clear during these months.
- April and May (Long Rains): Heavy rainfall occurs across northern Tanzania and Zanzibar. Many safari camps and island beach lodges close down for annual maintenance during this wet period.
- November and December (Short Rains): Short afternoon rain showers clean the bush dust and turn the landscape green. Wildlife viewing remains strong, and hotel rates are often lower than during the dry peak season.
Budget Factors and Package Price Structures
- National Park Entry Fees: Entry fees for Serengeti National Park run at $70 to $80 per adult per 24 hours, plus 18% VAT. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area charges an entry fee of $70.80 per adult, plus a vehicle crater descent permit of $295 per vehicle per trip.
- Domestic Bush Flights: One-way flights from Serengeti airstrips to Zanzibar range between $350 and $550 per person, depending on ticket class and travel dates. Flying from Arusha to Zanzibar is less expensive, typically costing $80 to $180 per ticket.
- Zanzibar Infrastructure Tax: All visitors to Zanzibar pay an infrastructure tax directly at their hotel checkout desk, costing between $2 and $5 per person per night, depending on the hotel category.
- Realistic Total Price Ranges: Mid-range packages combining northern safaris and beach hotels run from $350 to $500 per person per day. High-end fly-in packages with private 4x4 vehicles and upscale tented camps range from $700 to $1,200 per person per day.
