Key 2 Tanzania

10-Day Luxury Safari: Tanzania and Zanzibar

Duration

10 Days

Trip season

High Season

Safari Type

Mid-Range

Meal Plan

Full Board

Tour overview

Experience a one-of-a-kind 10-day luxury safari in Tanzania’s Northern Circuit, together with the elegant beaches of Zanzibar, tailored with soothing bays, to achieve the perfect combination of thrilling wildlife experiences, rich cultural immersion, and relaxing beach time. This planned journey visits Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and Zanzibar, showcasing the Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino—set or partially set against stunning backdrops of baobab dotted savannahs, lush forests, vast plains, volcanic calderas, and turquoise shores. Tailored for high-end travelers with a taste for luxury and privacy, this package includes private 4x4 game drives, lavish five-star lodges and tented camps, a beachfront resort, and an English-speaking guide ensuring an effortless and unforgettable experience.

The Northern Circuit is one of the best areas in Tanzania for safaris due to its remarkable diversity and beautiful topography. Tarangire National Park is known for its great herds of elephants, immense baobab trees, and rich birdlife within its 2,850 km² area, offering a peaceful introduction as well as a wildlife spectacle. Lake Manyara National Park, although small at 330 km², houses a soda lake populated by flamingos as well as unique groundwater forests that give rise to tree-climbing lions. The Serengeti is famous for its Great Migration as well as large populations of lions, leopards, and cheetahs able to be found within its 14,763 km² stretch. Another UNESCO site, the Ngorongoro Crater, is a 19 km-wide caldera housing 25,000 animals, including endangered black rhinos, which makes it great for a compact wildlife experience. The pristine waters, historical attractions of Stone Town, and beaches of Zanzibar provide a culturally rich area for relaxation along Tanzania's coast. This luxurious safari provides 4x4 vehicles with pop-up roofs, 5-star lodges, and gourmet foods to ensure comfort.

This itinerary is specially designed for solo travelers, couples, or small groups looking for a luxurious experience. It focuses on the dry season from June to October for the best wildlife viewing, but can be adjusted for any time of year. The beaches of Zanzibar are especially beautiful from January to February due to the rich landscapes and lower tourist traffic. During the safari part of the trip, expect to spend 2-5 hours driving each day in combination with game drives, cultural excursions, and relaxation at luxurious lodges, tented camps, or a beachfront resort. Sustainability is at the core of this context, with eco-friendly practices and support for local communities through responsible employment and conservation efforts. Private cultural visits to Maasai villages and optional cultural tours in Zanzibar add depth to the experience, while hot-air balloon safaris add a touch of excitement. This mobile safari provides private game drives, exquisite meals, and guiding, giving an all-encompassing Tanzanian experience that balances wilderness and culture with coastal sophistication for luxury travelers.

Included / Excluded

  • Private 4x4 game drives with pop-up roof vehicles
  • Luxury accommodations (5-star lodges, tented camps, and beachfront resort)
  • All meals during the safari and Zanzibar stay (10 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 9 dinners), including gourmet dining
  • Park entrance and conservation fees
  • Domestic flight from Arusha to Zanzibar
  • Airport transfers to/from Kilimanjaro International Airport and Zanzibar
  • Private Maasai village visit
  • Services of an experienced English-speaking guide
  • Bottled water, soft drinks, and select wines during game drives and meals
  • AMREF Flying Doctors emergency evacuation cover
  • International flights to/from Tanzania
  • Tanzania and Zanzibar visa fees
  • Travel insurance
  • Optional activities (e.g., hot-air balloon safari, Stone Town tour, snorkeling)
  • Premium alcoholic beverages
  • Personal expenses (e.g., souvenirs, laundry, gratuities)
  • Meals not specified (e.g., dinner on Day 1 in Arusha)
  • Additional accommodation before/after the itinerary

Day to day itinerary

Welcome to Arusha. Experience the wonders of Tanzania like never before. Receive a private luxury transfer while basking in the views from Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha, the safari capital of Tanzania. Check in to stunning 5-star lodges that offer unforgettable accommodations with floral gardens, a calming atmosphere, and a prime location to Arusha’s cultural heart. Your private, expert guide will greet you as you sip on a refreshing welcome cocktail and give an interesting overview of the places you will be exploring in Zanzibar and the Northern Circuit. Wrap the day by enjoying an optional, extravagant Tanzanian-International cuisine dinner at a local fine dining restaurant, and get ready for the rest of your safari holiday., Adventures await!

Accommodation: Arusha lodge, 5-star.

Meals: None included.

Activities: Transfer airport, itinerary briefing, VIP

Travel Time: 2 hours

After enjoying an exquisite breakfast, leave Arusha in a private, luxury 4×4 vehicle for Tarangire National Park, which is 2 2-hour drive through the Maasai plains. Tarangire is 2,850 km² and is famous for its herds of elephants, ancient baobab trees, and variety of wildlife. Set off on a private full-day game drive with a lavish picnic lunch served in the bush. You will drive through narrow forests, marshlands, and open plains that are wildlife attractions during the dry season. See giraffes, zebras, lions, and over 550 species of birds, such as the ashy starling, while your guide provides fascinating ecological explanations. Check into an upscale tented camp bordering the park featuring large en-suite tents with terraces and stylish soft furnishings. Under the stars, relish in a multi-course dinner with carefully selected wines while recounting the day’s wildlife encounters in an elegant setting.

Accommodation: Luxury tented camp close to Tarangire.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Activities: Private full-day game drive in Tarangire, gourmet picnic lunch.

Drive Time: 1.5 hours.

After a delightful breakfast, drive for an hour and a half to Lake Manyara National Park, a 330 km² park recognized for the tree-climbing lions, a soda lake crowded with flamingoes, and lush groundwater forests. Start with a private morning game drive and cut through acacia woodlands where, with the help of your guide, you will spot hippos, giraffes, and over 400 bird species such as pelicans and hornbills, all whilst highlighting the park’s biodiversity. Afterward, enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch at a picturesque location, followed by an afternoon game drive for additional sightseeing. Check into a 5-star lodge at Karatu, which has beautifully elegant en-suite suites with Panoramic views and refined amenities. Indulge in a multi-course farm-to-table dinner with fine wines while preparing for the luxurious Serengeti adventure.

Accommodation: 5-star lodge in Karatu
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Activities: Private morning and afternoon game drives in Lake Manyara, gourmet picnic lunch

Drive Time: 4-5 hours
After a gourmet breakfast, drive to Serengeti National Park, a UNESCO site spanning 14,763 km² and hosting over 3 million animals. En route, stop at a significant archaeological site for a private guided tour exploring early human history. Arrive at a 5-star lodge in the wildlife-rich Seronera region, offering opulent en-suite suites with panoramic views and refined amenities. After a gourmet lunch, embark on a private afternoon game drive, searching for lions, leopards, and the Great Wildebeest Migration (July-September). Your guide’s expertise enhances sightings, sharing insights into the Serengeti’s ecosystems. Return to the lodge for a multi-course dinner in an elegant dining room, paired with select wines, immersed in the Serengeti’s wild beauty.
Accommodation: 5-star lodge in Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Activities: Archaeological site visit, private afternoon game drive in Serengeti

Drive Time: Flexible (game drives)

Devote this day to the private dawn game drive, focusing on big cats and other nocturnal animals. Prepare yourself for a sumptuous bush breakfast. During the golden hours of sunrise, lions and cheetahs lead afternoon migration drives that your guide navigates expertly to maximize viewing opportunities while sharing evolving tales of the terrain’s ecology. sophisticated wines on elaborate table settings alongside pastoral masterpieces from local farms, garnished the five-star lodge, waiting after the wildlife ballet. It blends effortlessly with meticulous service and lavish smoke-tinged retreats.

Accommodation: Serengeti five-star lodge,
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner,
Activities: Gourmet bush breakfast, private full-day set game drive in Serengeti,

Drivetime: 3-4 Hours

In Serengeti, after a gourmet breakfast, a private game drive, tracking big cats, and migratory herds is in the offing. A private visit to a Maasai village comes en route to Ngorongoro Crater, which highlights their traditional dances, beadwork, and additionally allows for the purchase of local crafts. The visit will then see tourists descend into the caldera, which boasts UNESCO's world heritage site tag, alongside game drives where black rhinos, lions, and flamingos are waiting to be spotted. Your guide will later educate you about hippo pool ecosystems, where you will likely feast on exquisite picnic lunches. Check-in to the ultra-expensive crater rim lodge that was previously dubbed as the world's most expensive lodge after they taste the suite's and dine of uncontested views of the noble rage reserve complemented ivory tower full mid wall windows, Besides having multi award winning bathrooms, Enjoy multi course dinners sipped beside premier wines while recalling the wildlife and culture explored on the gracious day spent showcasing their treasures.
Accommodation: Luxury lodge on Ngorongoro Crater rim,
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner,
Activities: Private morning game drive in Serengeti, Maasai village visit, private full day game drive in Ngorongoro crater, gourmet picnic lunch.

Drive Time: 2 hours; Flight Time: ~1 hour

With a hearty breakfast behind us, we'll set off to Arusha Airport for our private domestic flight to Zanzibar. The aerial views promise to be nothing short of spectacular. Upon arrival, we will check into a 5-star beachfront resort which boasts sumptuous suites with ocean-view balconies and other unparalleled services. Then, we could spend the rest of the day lounging at the resort's private beach, taking a dip in the resort’s pool, or unwinding at the spa. Other optional excursions, such as snorkeling or Stone Town tours, are available at an additional charge. In the evening, we will relish a sumptuous seafood dinner at the hotel’s finest restaurant, which specializes in Swahili cuisine, where the elegant Zanzibar coastline is paired with world-class wines.

Accommodation: 5-star beachfront resort in Zanzibar
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Activities: Drive to Arusha Airport, private flight to Zanzibar, beach relaxation

Drive Time: Flexible (optional tours)

After a gourmet breakfast, enjoy a leisurely morning soaking in the sun on the pristine Zanzibar beaches or swimming in the crystal clear waters. If you prefer, embark on a private tour of the UNESCO capital’s famed spice markets, historic palaces, or vibrant town squares with the option for a spice plantation visit to learn more about Zanzibar’s agricultural heritage, all available at an extra cost. If not, partake in a private snorkeling adventure to coral reefs or a sunset dhow cruise, all at an additional cost. Savor a luxurious dinner of international food with a touch of Swahili cuisine, served in the elegant setting of the oceanfront porch. The resort’s lavish suites and attentive service complement the day's coastal and cultural explorations.

Accommodation: 5-star beachfront resort in Zanzibar
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Activities: Beach relaxation, optional Stone Town tour, spice plantation visit, snorkeling, or dhow cruise

Drive Time: Flexible (optional tours)
Following a lavish breakfast, dedicate the day to Zanzibar’s coastal allure. Choose a private full-day excursion, such as a snorkeling or scuba diving trip to Mnemba Atoll’s coral reefs, a guided tour to Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park to spot red colobus monkeys, or a private dhow cruise to explore nearby islands, all available at an additional fee. Alternatively, relax at the resort’s infinity pool, enjoy a spa treatment, or stroll along the beach. Return to the 5-star beachfront resort for a gourmet dinner, featuring fresh seafood and international dishes, served in a refined oceanfront setting. The resort’s luxurious amenities and serene ambiance elevate the day’s coastal adventures, offering a perfect balance of exploration and relaxation.
Accommodation: 5-star beachfront resort in Zanzibar
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Activities: Beach relaxation, optional snorkeling, scuba diving, Jozani Forest tour, or dhow cruise

Drive Time: 1 hour

Indulge in an exquisite breakfast, then proceed with an unhurried stroll while swimming in the water or lounging on the beach; in case any time is left, shopping for unique Stone Town souvenirs can also be done. As you make your way to the airport, your guide ensures everything runs smoothly, so Zanzibar International Airport takes off in ultimate comfort through a private VIP transfer. Tanzania’s wildlife, along with Zanzibar’s coastline and culturally rich settlements, stay engraved in your memory as luxurious safaris full of thrilling adventures, relaxation, and elegant warm settings.

Accommodation: None

Meals: Breakfast

Activities: Beach relaxation, private airport transfer

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