Wildlife Safari
12-Day Bush to Beach Safari (Northern Circuit + Zanzibar)
Bush and beach is the most requested combination in Tanzania and for good reason. Safari days start before dawn and involve long hours in a vehicle on rough tracks. By day six most travellers are ready to stop moving, and Zanzibar is 90 minutes away by air.
The order is not negotiable in practice. Safari first, beach second. Doing it the other way round means arriving on the plains already relaxed and then submitting to 05:30 alarms, which nobody enjoys, and it ends the holiday with the tiring half.
The safari portion is the full northern circuit: Tarangire, two nights in the central Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater floor. The island portion splits between Stone Town, where the Swahili trading history and the UNESCO listed old quarter deserve two nights, and the coast, where the remaining nights are pure rest with optional excursions.
Coast choice matters. The north around Nungwi and Kendwa has minimal tidal variation and allows swimming throughout the day. The east coast at Paje and Jambiani has dramatic tides, wide sand flats at low water and the better kitesurfing. We will ask which you want rather than assume.
Planning your trip
Practical planning. The itinerary runs over 12 days, which sets the pace: each additional day reduces transfer pressure and gives the guide room to respond to conditions rather than follow a fixed schedule. We quote fees at the tariff period current at the time of booking, since park, conservation and crater charges are revised periodically and are a significant share of the total cost. Yellow fever certification is required if you are arriving from or transiting a country with risk of transmission, and travel insurance covering medical evacuation is a condition of travel on all our programmes.
Season. June to October is the classic dry season, when vegetation thins, water sources concentrate wildlife and roads are at their most reliable. December to March brings green landscapes, calving on the southern plains and lower rates. April and May are the long rains, when some tracks become difficult and a number of seasonal camps close.
In the parks. Stay in the vehicle unless your guide confirms a stop is authorised, keep noise low near wildlife, never feed animals and take all rubbish out with you. Off-road driving, drones and unsupervised walking are prohibited or restricted across the national parks and conservation areas. These rules exist because visitor pressure is the main long-term threat to the places you have come to see.
Where this trip goes
Read the full destination guides for every protected area covered by this itinerary before you travel. Each one sets out habitat, seasonality, access and the managing authority in detail.
- Serengeti National Park
- Ngorongoro Conservation Area
- Tarangire National Park
- Zanzibar Archipelago
- Stone Town, Zanzibar
Compare similar packages
If the length, pace or budget of this itinerary is not quite right, these alternatives cover comparable ground:
- 4-Day Classic Northern Circuit (Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro)
- 5-Day Best of Tanzania Wildlife Safari
- 6-Day Northern Circuit Wildlife & Cultural Safari
- 6-Day Mid-Range Serengeti Migration Adventure
You can also browse the full package catalogue or the destination directory to build a custom itinerary with us.
Highlights
- Full northern circuit followed by five nights on the coast
- Two nights in Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Internal flight from the safari circuit directly to Zanzibar
- Jozani forest and the endemic red colobus monkey
- Choice of north coast swimming or east coast tidal flats
Trip itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Arusha
Collection from Kilimanjaro International Airport, transfer to an Arusha lodge, and an evening briefing on the twelve days ahead.
Day 2: Arusha to Tarangire
Morning departure and a full day in Tarangire on the river circuit, then overnight in Karatu.
Day 3: Karatu to the central Serengeti
Through Lodoare Gate and the Ngorongoro highlands, down past Oldupai Gorge and into the Serengeti at Naabi Hill, game driving to camp in the Seronera valley.
Day 4: Full day central Serengeti
A full day on the Seronera circuits with a picnic lunch, covering the kopjes, the river course and the open ground between.
Day 5: Serengeti to the crater highlands
A morning game drive exiting east, then across the plains to a Karatu or crater rim lodge for the night.
Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater, transfer to Arusha
First light descent for the crater floor game drive, ascending in the early afternoon and transferring to Arusha for the final safari night.
Day 7: Fly to Zanzibar, Stone Town
Morning flight to Zanzibar, roughly 90 minutes, and transfer into Stone Town.
An afternoon guided heritage walk through the old quarter, taking in the former slave market memorial, the Old Fort and the carved doors, finishing at Forodhani Gardens for sunset.
Day 8: Stone Town and spice farm
A morning spice farm excursion inland from the town, seeing clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla in cultivation and tasting through them.
Afternoon free in Stone Town, with an optional sunset dhow from the harbour.
Day 9: Transfer to the coast via Jozani
Depart Stone Town with a stop at Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park for the forest walk and mangrove boardwalk, where the endemic Zanzibar red colobus is reliably seen.
Continue to your coastal hotel and check in for four nights.
Day 10: Coast at leisure
No fixed programme. Optional excursions include the Safari Blue sailing and snorkelling day, a Mnemba Atoll dolphin and snorkelling trip, or simply the beach.
Day 11: Coast at leisure
A second free day. Diving, kitesurfing lessons, a village walk or a boat trip can all be arranged locally, or nothing at all.
Day 12: Departure
A final morning on the coast, then the transfer to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, roughly 60 to 90 minutes from the north and east coasts, for your onward flight.
Included
- Private 4x4 with driver-guide for the safari portion
- Internal flight from Arusha or the Serengeti to Zanzibar
- Eleven nights accommodation, full board on safari and bed and breakfast on the coast
- All mainland park and conservation area entry fees
- Crater service and vehicle descent fees
- Stone Town guided heritage walk and Zanzibar airport transfers
Excluded
- International flights and Tanzania visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance, mandatory for Zanzibar
- Lunches and dinners on the coast unless specified
- Optional Zanzibar excursions such as Safari Blue or Mnemba
- Drinks, laundry and tips
Accommodation
Eleven nights: six on the mainland safari circuit on full board, two in a Stone Town heritage hotel and three or four on the coast on a bed and breakfast basis.
Stone Town properties are converted merchant houses with rooftop terraces, character and, frequently, steep stairs. Coastal properties are chosen according to whether you prioritise all-tide swimming in the north or the wide tidal beaches and kitesurfing of the east.
FAQs
Should the beach come before or after the safari?
After, without exception in our experience. Safari days are physically demanding and start early. Finishing on the coast gives a genuine recovery phase and sends you home rested rather than tired.
North coast or east coast?
North, at Nungwi or Kendwa, for reliable swimming at any tide. East, at Paje or Jambiani, for dramatic tidal flats, kitesurfing and a quieter feel. Both are excellent; they simply suit different holidays.
Do I need a separate visa for Zanzibar?
No, Zanzibar is part of the United Republic of Tanzania. However it operates its own immigration control, so carry your passport on the internal flight. Travel insurance has been a mandatory entry requirement in recent years.
Is five nights on the island enough?
It is a good balance: two nights for Stone Town and three or four on the coast. Seven nights on the island would allow a more thorough exploration, and we can extend the beach portion easily.
Will I see the big five on this trip?
Lion, elephant, buffalo and leopard are all realistically possible on the northern circuit, and rhino are seen in the Ngorongoro Crater with reasonable frequency though usually at distance. No operator can guarantee sightings of wild animals and we will not pretend otherwise.
Is a private vehicle included?
Road-based itineraries use a private 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof, exclusively for your party, with a guaranteed window seat. Fly-in itineraries use camp-based vehicles shared with a small number of other guests, and a private vehicle can be added at extra cost.
What should I pack for a safari?
Neutral coloured layers, a warm fleece for early morning game drives, sun protection, binoculars and a camera with more storage than you expect to need. Soft-sided bags are required on any itinerary involving light aircraft, where the limit is typically 15 kilograms.
How much should I budget for tips?
Guidance rather than obligation: around 20 to 30 US dollars per vehicle per day for the driver-guide, and 5 to 10 dollars per guest per day for camp staff, pooled. We will give you a specific breakdown for your itinerary before departure.
How far in advance should I book 12-Day Bush to Beach Safari (Northern Circuit + Zanzibar)?
For peak months, meaning July to October and the Christmas and New Year period, six to twelve months ahead. Camps and mountain permits in those windows genuinely sell out. For green season travel, two to three months is usually sufficient.
Can this itinerary be customised?
Yes. Every itinerary we publish is a starting point. Days can be added or removed, accommodation tiers changed, internal flights substituted for road transfers, and extensions to Zanzibar or the southern parks attached. Tell us the constraint and we will build around it.
