7 days Mahale Chimpanzees & Ruaha
Chimpanzees in the forest on Lake Tanganyika, then lions in the miombo at Ruaha. Two of Tanzania’s most remote parks in one week.
Chimpanzees & Wildlife
Northern Safari & Zanzibar — Honeymoon
Six days through the northern parks, then five on the coast. Built for two, with the pace slowed at both ends and the flight between them arranged.
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At a glance
- Destinations
- Lake Manyara · Serengeti · Ngorongoro · Tarangire · Zanzibar
- Best for
- Honeymoon, Wildlife safari, Beach & marine
- Travel style
- Luxury · Drive, Fly-in
- Activity level
- Easy — most of the day is spent in a vehicle or on a boat
- Best time to travel
- June to October and January to February generally combine northern game viewing with drier Zanzibar beach days. Serengeti wildlife lives here year-round, but herd location changes; the island boat excursions depend on local sea conditions.
- Start and end
- Starts in Arusha, ends in Zanzibar
Why this journey
- Four northern parks without a day of back-to-back transfers
- A flight from the safari straight to the island
- Stone Town and Prison Island on the first coast day
- A free day on the coast to do nothing or to book something
- Jozani forest and a spice farm before the flight home
Day by day
The classic honeymoon shape: safari first, ocean second, with a flight from Arusha to Zanzibar so no day is lost to the road. The safari half runs at a slower rhythm than our other northern routes — fewer moves, longer stays.
Day 0 — Arrival at Arusha
Meet and greet at Kilimanjaro Airport or another agreed point on evening arrival, with transfer to the accommodation.
Stay Legendary Lodge Meals Dinner
Day 1 — Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park
Depart after breakfast (or from the airport if arriving early) with lunch boxes. Afternoon and evening game drive inside the park, then back to the accommodation for dinner.
Stay Lake Manyara Tree Top Lodge Meals Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 2 — Lake Manyara to Serengeti National Park
Early departure toward the Serengeti via Olduvai Gorge, visiting the museum for lectures on the exhibits and archaeological discoveries. Drive on to the Serengeti with game viewing en route and inside the park until evening.
Stay Sametu Luxury Tented Camp Meals Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3 — Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater
An early morning game drive before a late breakfast, then depart with lunch boxes to the crater rim with game viewing on the way.
Stay Lion's Paw Meals Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4 — Full day Ngorongoro Crater tour
Early breakfast, then descend into the crater for a full-day game drive. The caldera contains approximately 25,000 animals including the Big Five. Lunch break at a picnic site; game drive continues until late evening.
Stay Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge Meals Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5 — Culture tour and leisure break to Tarangire
A morning walk with a local guide in Mto wa Mbu visiting rice fields, banana plantations, the local market, a primary school and an orphanage, with a meal prepared by a local family at their home. After lunch, a visit to a Maasai boma hosted by the community, with dance and chanting.
Stay Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge Meals Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6 — Full day game drive in Tarangire National Park
An early start after breakfast to catch animal movements. Tarangire's dry, undulating savanna is dotted with acacias in open spaces, with chances to see elephants, gazelles, antelope and other wildlife. Picnic lunch at a viewpoint overlooking the Tarangire River.
Stay Elephant Spring Luxury Tented Camp Meals Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 7 — Tarangire to Zanzibar by flight
After breakfast, a half-day game drive with picnic lunch in Tarangire. The park's Tarangire River...winds its way through the game sanctuary, drawing herds in the dry season, and the park has the highest recorded number of breeding bird species. Afternoon drive to Arusha airport for the 15:20 flight to Zanzibar, arriving 16:35. Evening visit to Forodhani Gardens for Zanzibar spice food.
Stay as listed on the page — Elephant Spring Luxury Tented Camp Meals Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 8 — Zanzibar Stone Town and Prison Island
A guided town safari through the narrow streets of Old Stone Town, visiting the House of Wonders, the Palace Museum, Dr Livingstone's House and the Arab Fort, plus the bustling market, winding alleyways, ornately carved doors, two cathedrals and mosques. Afternoon free time and lunch at a town restaurant, then a boat trip to Prison Island to see the 100-year-old tortoises and bird species. Late afternoon transfer to Uroa Beach.
Stay The Residence Zanzibar Hotel Meals Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 9 — Beach relaxation in Zanzibar
Rest at the hotel's beach — ocean breeze, white sand and clear water at your own pace.
Stay The Residence Zanzibar Hotel Meals Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 10 — Choice day: rest or optional activities
The final full day offers activities at extra cost — dolphin tour, full-day Safari Blue tour, snorkelling, scuba diving, or beach relaxation.
Stay The Residence Zanzibar Hotel Meals Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 11 — Zanzibar spice tour and Jozani Forest, then departure
Rest at the hotel beach; morning activities before heading home.
Meals Breakfast
Stay and travel
Premium camps and lodges, chosen for where they sit rather than how many rooms they have.
Light aircraft on the routed sectors, with a road vehicle and guide waiting at each strip.
Camps fill and light aircraft schedules move. Where something changes we substitute at the same level and tell you before you travel, not after.
Included and excluded
What is included
- Every activity named in the day-by-day
- Accommodation as listed, or a similar alternative if a camp is full
- Meals as noted against each day
- Transfers between the agreed pick-up and drop-off points
- Park, reserve and conservation area fees
- An English-speaking Tanzanian driver-guide
- A 4×4 with a roof hatch, or the vehicle the route calls for
- Drinking water through the day
- Government taxes
- Boat safari and transfers
- TANAPA armed ranger where the park requires one
- Ngorongoro crater service fee
Not included
- International flights, airport taxes and visa fees
- Travel, medical and baggage insurance
- Personal spending — drinks, laundry, telephone
- Tips for your guide and crew
- Anything not listed as included
Practical information
- Luggage on light aircraft
- Bush flights cap baggage at around 15 kg in a soft bag. Anything else can wait at your first hotel.
- Visas, insurance and tipping
- A visa is arranged before travel or on arrival. Travel and medical insurance is a condition of booking. Tipping is customary and we will suggest a range rather than set one.
Related journeys
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13 days Honeymoon — Northern Tanzania & Zanzibar
Six days of safari and six on the island, with a rest day at the start — built for people who have just done a wedding and need the pace easy.
Honeymoon & Wildlife
8 days Eight Days Camping in Northern Tanzania
Public campsites, a cook travelling with you, and three nights in the Serengeti. The cheapest way to spend real time in the northern parks.
Wildlife & Culture
Every route here can be changed
Tell us what you would keep, what you would drop and how long you have. We will send back a version that is yours.