This nine-day Tanzania safari and beach holiday is crafted for travellers who want to experience the very best the country has to offer, from the wildlife-rich savannah to the turquoise shores of the Indian Ocean. You will explore the elephant kingdoms of Tarangire National Park, descend into the extraordinary Ngorongoro Crater, and spend two full days on game drives across the iconic Serengeti. A scenic flight then whisks you away to Zanzibar, where historic Stone Town and the powder-white beaches of the East African coast complete one of the continent's most memorable journeys. Africompass arranges every detail of this private safari, giving you seamless, personal service from the moment you land in Arusha to your final morning on the beach.
On Day 1 your Africompass journey will begin with a warm welcome at Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport, where your private driver-guide will meet you and transfer you to your lodge in Arusha. The rest of the afternoon will be yours to settle in, refresh, and enjoy a briefing on the exciting days ahead, before sitting down to a delicious dinner at the lodge.
On Day 2 you will depart Arusha after an early breakfast for Tarangire National Park, one of Tanzania's most atmospheric wildlife areas, celebrated for its enormous elephant families and ancient baobab trees. Your pop-up roof 4x4 will give you excellent vantage points for full-day game drives, where you may also encounter lions, leopards, zebra, and migrating wildebeest. In the late afternoon you will continue to your lodge near Karatu, arriving in time for dinner.
On Day 3 you will make your way northward through the dramatic Ngorongoro highlands and descend into the vast Serengeti plains, entering the world-famous Central Serengeti National Park. Afternoon game drives in the Seronera valley will offer superb Big Five opportunities, as this region is renowned for resident lion prides, leopards, cheetah, and enormous concentrations of game year-round. You will spend the night at an intimate tented camp set right inside the park, falling asleep to the sounds of the African wilderness.
On Day 4 you will have a full day dedicated to exploring the Serengeti, often regarded as the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth. Early morning and late afternoon game drives will be the highlights, with the golden hours offering the best light for photography and the most active predator behaviour. Between drives you will return to camp for a leisurely bush lunch and a rest in the shade before heading out again in search of the celebrated Serengeti wildlife.
On Day 5 you will depart the Serengeti and travel south to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, descending into the caldera of the Ngorongoro Crater for a full day of game viewing in one of the most spectacular natural amphitheatres on the planet. The crater floor supports dense populations of lion, black rhino, elephant, buffalo, hippo, and flamingo, giving you an exceptional chance to complete your Big Five sightings in a single day. By late afternoon you will ascend the crater rim and transfer to your lodge on the crater's edge, where panoramic views and a hot meal will round off a remarkable day.
On Day 6 you will travel from the Ngorongoro highlands down to the scenic Lake Manyara National Park, a compact yet wildlife-rich park stretching along the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment. Game drives through the park's diverse habitats will reveal tree-climbing lions, large elephant herds, flamingo-fringed shores, and an extraordinary variety of birdlife. You will spend your final safari night at a tented camp near the park, under a sky full of stars.
On Day 7 you will transfer to the airstrip for your scenic internal flight from the safari circuit to Zanzibar Island, trading the savannah for the shimmering waters of the Indian Ocean. On arrival in Zanzibar you will be transferred to your boutique hotel in the labyrinthine lanes of historic Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where Arab, Persian, Indian, and African cultures converge in extraordinary architecture and cuisine. The afternoon will be perfect for a gentle stroll through the spice-scented alleyways, visiting the famous Old Fort or the colourful Darajani market.
On Day 8 you will transfer from Stone Town to the white-sand beaches of Zanzibar's coast, where you will check in to the relaxed Casa Del Mar and settle into pure island bliss. Long stretches of powder-soft sand, warm turquoise waters, and swaying palms will provide the perfect backdrop for a leisurely beach day after the exhilarating days on safari. Optional snorkelling, dolphin tours, spice farm excursions, or a sunset dhow cruise will be available at an additional cost for guests seeking more adventure.
On Day 9 you will wake to your last Indian Ocean sunrise and enjoy a final breakfast at Casa Del Mar before checking out and transferring to Zanzibar Airport for your onward or homeward international flight. Your Africompass team will be on hand to ensure a smooth, comfortable departure, bringing a memorable nine-day Tanzanian adventure to a close.
Tell us your dates and dream, and a local specialist will craft your trip.
It depends on what you want to see. For the Great Migration river crossings in the Maasai Mara, visit between July and October, when the herds cross the Mara River in search of fresh grazing. For calving season and dense predator activity, January to March is excellent, particularly around the southern Serengeti. Kenya's two dry seasons (June to October and January to February) generally offer the clearest skies and easiest game viewing across Amboseli, Tsavo, and Samburu, since animals gather around limited water sources. The 'green season' (November and April to May) brings lush scenery, migratory birdlife, and lower rates, though some rural roads can be muddy. Tell us your travel dates and priorities, and we will recommend the destinations that fit best.
Most nationalities need a Kenya eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation), applied for online before you fly; Tanzania and Zanzibar require their own separate visa, available online or on arrival depending on your nationality. Entry requirements change from time to time, so confirm the current rules for your passport a few weeks before departure. A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is mandatory if you are arriving from, or have transited through, a Yellow Fever risk country, and we recommend it in general along with being up to date on routine vaccinations (MMR, tetanus, hepatitis A and B). Most safari areas are malaria zones, so antimalarial medication is strongly advised. Always check final requirements with your doctor or a travel health clinic, and ask us for the latest entry rules when you book.
Every itinerary we build is private and tailor-made by default: your own vehicle, driver-guide, and schedule, with no strangers added to your trip. That means you can linger an extra morning at a favourite lodge, adjust the route on the go, or add a visit to the Emmanuel New Hope Rescue Centre we support. If you would rather share costs or travel as a solo guest, we can also arrange a scheduled group departure and match you with other travellers on similar dates. Either way, your safari is planned by our Nairobi-based specialists around your budget, dates, and interests, not a fixed package.
Safari costs vary widely depending on where you stay and how you travel. Budget camping safaris in parks like Amboseli or Lake Nakuru can start from around USD 150 to 250 per person per day, mid-range lodge safaris typically run USD 250 to 450 per day, and luxury tented camps in the Maasai Mara or Serengeti can exceed USD 750 per day. Your quote always includes a private vehicle, driver-guide, park fees, and accommodation as specified in your itinerary. Since every trip we build is tailor-made, tell us your budget and travel dates and we'll show you exactly what it buys, with no hidden extras.
Pack light, neutral-coloured clothing (khaki, olive, beige) for game drives, since bright colours and dark blue can attract tsetse flies in some regions. Bring layers for early morning drives, which can be cold even near the equator, plus a hat, sunglasses, and high-SPF sunscreen. A good pair of binoculars, a camera with a zoom lens, and a portable charger make a real difference to the experience. Comfortable closed shoes are more useful than sandals, and most lodges offer laundry service, so you rarely need more than a week's worth of clothing even on a longer trip. We send a full packing checklist tailored to your specific itinerary and season once you book.
Yes. Alongside our guided safaris, we offer both self-drive car hire and chauffeur-driven vehicles for clients who want more flexibility around Nairobi, the coast, or shorter road trips. Self-drive suits experienced drivers comfortable with Kenyan road conditions, while a chauffeur-driven car is the better choice for game-viewing routes, night driving, or if you'd simply rather relax and let a local expert handle the roads. All our vehicles are well-maintained 4x4s suited to both tarmac and rougher safari tracks. Let us know your route and dates and we'll recommend the right option.
Millions of visitors travel safely to Kenya and Tanzania every year, and the main tourist circuits, national parks, and coastal resorts are well-established and closely monitored. As with any international travel, sensible precautions apply: use a reputable operator (we're KATO-verified), avoid displaying valuables in cities, and follow your guide's advice in wildlife areas, where the real risk is animals, not crime. We stay in regular contact with our clients throughout their trip, and our drivers know the routes and current conditions well. If you have specific safety questions about your itinerary, we're happy to talk them through before you book.
Absolutely, it's one of our most popular combinations. A typical itinerary pairs 4 to 7 days on safari in the Maasai Mara, Amboseli, or Serengeti with 3 to 5 days unwinding on the beach in Zanzibar or Diani Beach, taking advantage of short connecting flights between the two. We handle all the logistics, including domestic flight bookings and airport transfers, so you go straight from game drives to the Indian Ocean without the stress of planning it yourself. Tell us how many days you have and we'll suggest a balance between wildlife and beach time that fits your trip.
