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Enjoy an 8-day mid-range Tanzania safari and Zanzibar beach holiday covering Arusha, Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Zanzibar’s white-sand beaches.
Duration
8 days
Country
Tanzania
Type
Beach & Safari
Rates are per person and exclude the international flight from/to your home country.
This tour accepts children of all ages. Age-based rates apply as set for this tour:
Prices are shown in USD and are confirmed at the time of booking.
Per person sharing in USD.
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Tanzania
8-Day Mid-Range Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Beach Holiday
Group Size
1–100
Best Months
All year round
This 8-day mid-range Tanzania safari and Zanzibar beach holiday is a perfect choice for travelers who want to combine Tanzania’s northern safari circuit with relaxing time on the Indian Ocean coast. Starting in Arusha and ending in Zanzibar, the itinerary takes you through Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and Zanzibar’s white-sand beaches.
Your journey begins with a relaxed arrival in Arusha before heading to Tarangire National Park, famous for giant baobab trees, large elephant herds, lions, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, and rich birdlife. From Tarangire, travel through the scenic Ngorongoro Highlands to Serengeti National Park, one of Africa’s most iconic wildlife destinations. The Serengeti is known for its endless plains, big cats, large wildlife populations, and seasonal Great Migration movement. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but you may see lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, wildebeests, zebras, hyenas, and many other species.
The safari continues to the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater, where you descend into a dramatic natural amphitheater for a game drive and picnic lunch. The crater offers excellent opportunities to search for the Big Five, including the endangered black rhino.
After the safari circuit, fly to Zanzibar for three nights of beach relaxation. Spend your days swimming, walking along the beach, enjoying the ocean views, or adding optional excursions such as snorkeling, diving, spice farm visits, Stone Town tours, dolphin trips, or sunset dhow cruises.
With Imara Africa Safaris, this itinerary is ideal for couples, families, honeymooners, small groups, first-time Tanzania travelers, and travel agents seeking a balanced safari and beach experience.
This route also works well for guests who prefer a smooth travel flow, varied landscapes, strong wildlife highlights, and a soft beach ending without rushing the safari experience. It gives travelers a clear taste of Tanzania’s wilderness and Zanzibar’s coastal charm in one comfortable, memorable journey overall.
Related: Zanzibar beach holiday.
4x4 Safari Land CruiserDay by Day
| Day | Destination | Travel | Key Sightings | Overnight | Meals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arusha CityArrival in Arusha | Drive | relaxation, City Tour | Mvuli Arusha Lodge | BLD |
| 2 |
Arusha City
Arrival in Arusha
Tarangire National Park
Arusha to Tarangire National Park
8 days · 8 of 8 expanded
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by an Imara Africa Safaris representative and transferred to your accommodation in Arusha. Arusha is the main gateway to Tanzania’s northern safari circuit and offers a convenient starting point before heading into the national parks.
After arrival, take time to relax after your journey. Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy the quiet atmosphere of Arusha, prepare your safari bags, and settle in before the adventure begins. Later, you will receive a safari briefing, where your guide or representative will go through the route, travel flow, park highlights, and important details for the coming days.
This first day is intentionally relaxed, allowing you to recover from your flight and prepare for your Tanzania safari experience.
Accommodation
Accommodation is subject to availability. We can suggest similar-level alternatives or tailor options to suit your budget.
After breakfast, depart Arusha and drive to Tarangire National Park, one of Tanzania’s most beautiful and rewarding wildlife destinations. Tarangire is renowned for its giant baobab trees, seasonal river system, open woodland, and some of the largest elephant herds in East Africa.
Enjoy a full-day game drive in the park with your professional English-speaking safari guide. As you explore the landscapes, you may spot elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, buffaloes, impalas, warthogs, and a wide variety of birdlife. Wildlife movement changes with the seasons, but Tarangire is especially impressive during the dry season when animals gather around water sources.
Your guide will help you understand the park’s ecosystem, animal behavior, and scenic highlights. After the game drive, proceed toward the Karatu area for dinner and overnight, positioning you well for the next day’s journey toward the Serengeti.
Accommodation
Accommodation is subject to availability. We can suggest similar-level alternatives or tailor options to suit your budget.
After an early breakfast, depart Karatu and drive through the scenic Ngorongoro Highlands toward Serengeti National Park. This is one of the most beautiful travel routes on Tanzania’s northern circuit, with highland views, rural landscapes, and changing scenery as you approach the famous Serengeti plains.
Arrive in Serengeti in time for lunch, depending on road and park conditions. After lunch, continue with an afternoon game drive as you begin exploring one of Africa’s most celebrated wildlife destinations. The name Serengeti is often associated with endless plains, big cats, and remarkable wildlife movement.
During the game drive, you may see lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, gazelles, hyenas, buffaloes, and many bird species. Sightings depend on the season, location, and natural movement of animals, but the Serengeti offers rewarding safari experiences throughout the year.
Return for dinner and overnight in the Serengeti area.
Accommodation
Accommodation is subject to availability. We can suggest similar-level alternatives or tailor options to suit your budget.
Optional Extras
Spend a full day exploring the world-famous Serengeti ecosystem. This day gives you more time to follow wildlife movement, explore different areas of the park, and enjoy the vast landscapes that make Serengeti one of the most famous safari destinations in Africa.
Morning and afternoon game drives provide excellent opportunities to observe wildlife activity. The Serengeti is known for lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, gazelles, hyenas, jackals, hippos in selected areas, and rich birdlife. Your guide will use local knowledge to position you in areas with good wildlife activity based on the season and conditions.
Depending on the time of year and the location of the herds, you may also encounter part of the Great Migration, one of Africa’s most spectacular natural events. Migration movement is seasonal and cannot be guaranteed, but the Serengeti remains a strong wildlife destination throughout the year.
After a full day in the park, return for dinner and overnight in the Serengeti area.
Accommodation
Accommodation is subject to availability. We can suggest similar-level alternatives or tailor options to suit your budget.
After an early breakfast, enjoy a final game drive as you depart the Serengeti area and continue toward the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater. This journey combines scenic travel with more wildlife viewing opportunities along the way.
Upon arrival at Ngorongoro, descend into the crater for a game drive and picnic lunch. The Ngorongoro Crater is one of Tanzania’s most remarkable safari landscapes, known for its dramatic scenery, open grasslands, acacia woodland, wetlands, and high concentration of wildlife. You may see lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeests, hyenas, hippos, gazelles, and, with luck, the endangered black rhino.
After the crater safari, transfer to Arusha Airport for your scheduled flight to Zanzibar. Flight timing will depend on the confirmed schedule. Upon arrival in Zanzibar, you will be met by your driver and transferred to your beach resort area for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation
Accommodation is subject to availability. We can suggest similar-level alternatives or tailor options to suit your budget.
Enjoy a full day at leisure on Zanzibar’s beautiful white-sand beaches. After several days of safari travel, this is your time to slow down, relax, and enjoy the warm atmosphere of the Indian Ocean coast.
You may choose to spend the day swimming, walking along the beach, relaxing by the ocean, enjoying the resort atmosphere, or simply resting after your safari adventure. Zanzibar is known for its turquoise waters, palm-fringed beaches, Swahili culture, spice heritage, and relaxed island rhythm.
Optional activities can be arranged at an additional cost, including snorkeling, diving, dolphin tours, spice farm visits, Stone Town tours, sunset dhow cruises, or other island experiences depending on your interests, weather, tides, and availability.
Accommodation
Accommodation is subject to availability. We can suggest similar-level alternatives or tailor options to suit your budget.
Spend another day enjoying the tropical paradise of Zanzibar at your own pace. This day can be as relaxed or as active as you prefer. You may choose to unwind by the ocean, enjoy the beach, swim, read, take photos, or explore the coastline.
For travelers interested in culture and island history, optional excursions such as Stone Town, a spice farm visit, or a dhow cruise can be arranged. For ocean lovers, snorkeling, diving, or dolphin excursions may also be available depending on local conditions and confirmed schedules.
This extra day in Zanzibar helps balance the safari adventure with a peaceful beach ending, making the itinerary suitable for honeymooners, couples, families, and travelers who want both wildlife and relaxation in one Tanzania holiday.
Accommodation
Accommodation is subject to availability. We can suggest similar-level alternatives or tailor options to suit your budget.
After breakfast, enjoy your final moments at the beach depending on your flight schedule. You may take a last walk along the white sand, relax by the ocean, enjoy a final swim if time allows, or simply take in the peaceful island atmosphere before departure.
At the agreed time, you will be transferred to Zanzibar Airport for your onward flight home. This marks the end of your 8-day mid-range Tanzania safari and Zanzibar beach holiday with Imara Africa Safaris.
You leave with memories of Tarangire’s elephants and baobabs, the endless plains of the Serengeti, the dramatic beauty of Ngorongoro Crater, and the relaxing beaches of Zanzibar.
Covered in your safari price
Arranged separately or at your own cost
Need something specific added? Our team can customise any itinerary to include additional services, upgrades, or special arrangements. Get in touch
Best Value
Verified reviews from travellers across our East African safaris
A honeymoon of our dreams, Kenya you’ve blown us away. The wildlife, scenery, food and people are all as amazing as each other. A big thank you to Imara africa safaris and Simon our guide for such an exceptional week long adventure around this beautiful county. The highlight for us was the sunrise hot air balloon ride across the Masai Mara- WOW. 🫶
Chris Pendleton
October 2026
Kate Amy Rankin/October 2026
More Than a Safari – An Unforgettable Honeymoon Our Kenya Safari with Imara Africa Safaris 11th–20th September 2026. We couldn’t recommend Imara Africa Safaris enough. From the moment we first spoke to Wendy, the owner, we knew we’d found the right company for our honeymoon. We had previously received quotes from UK travel companies, but they didn’t seem to understand the itinerary we wanted and the prices were ridiculously high. I then found Imara through Tripadvisor and SafariBookings. Wendy completely understood what we wanted from the start and, after so many WhatsApp conversations, genuinely became more of a friend than just the person organising our trip. Wendy created our perfect itinerary: 2 nights at The Glee Hotel in Nairobi, 3 nights at Soroi Samburu Lodge and 4 nights at Neptune Mara Rianta Luxury Tented Camp in the Maasai Mara. She organised all our accommodation, bush flights, transfers and activities, and everything ran seamlessly. She even arranged a VIP chauffeur at Nairobi Airport at customs to take us through arrivals seamlessly and personally met us when we arrived. The following day, Wendy came to see us again with her husband to introduce us properly to our guide, Simon. They also brought us some beautiful gifts and keepsakes to take home, which was such a thoughtful personal touch and something we’ll be able to keep forever. Simon was fantastic throughout the safari. We had our own private Toyota Land Cruiser and his knowledge of the wildlife was incredible. We saw elephants, cheetahs, Grevy’s zebras, Nile crocodiles, huge numbers of wildebeest and some unforgettable lion sightings, including a lion dragging a kill and lion cubs with their mum. Simon also collected our larger suitcases the day before we flew by bush plane and drove them ahead to our next camp. With the luggage restrictions on the bush flights, this was a massive help, especially as we were travelling for three weeks. We could simply pack an overnight bag and take that with us. Wendy also arranged our hot air balloon safari, bush breakfast, picnic lunches and private sundowners. One was a complete surprise, with Kenyan snacks and drinks while we watched the sunset. Our safari vehicle was also stocked with soft drinks and beers - all the little details were so thoughtful. Everything ran perfectly from 11th–20th September. We never had to worry about the logistics and could simply enjoy the experience. A huge thank you to Wendy, Simon and the whole Imara team for giving us such an incredible honeymoon. The service was genuinely 5-star, and we’re already talking about when we can return to Kenya and explore more of Africa. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Imara to anyone planning a safari.
vipin das/September 2026
Trip was fantastic and memorable, whole crew very supportive
Anna/September 2026
Thank you for a great safari experience! The organisation process was excellent and professional. Vehicle safari is our huge recommendation. It’s an opportunity to see all the local animals and to hear their stories from the driver! Massai Mara and Nakuru are the top parks here. P. S. The only note is that walking safari doesn’t make any sense when you’re living in the hotel with the animals walking through the territory freely.
Dana Siciliano di Rende/September 2026
The safari fulfilled every safari dream. We loved our guide and driver. We cannot praise IMARA Africa Safari enough!! We highly recommend this wonderful safari to everyone
Jeff Bauer/September 2026
We had a blast and were well taken care of. Multiple days and locations with the great Patrick of Imara Safari Tours!
Craig McClelland/September 2026
We had a fantastic safari with Imara. Right from the start the team was easy and straight-forward to deal with. Our guide/driver was excellent (thanks so much Tony!), managed to find every animal on our wishlist, and made sure we enjoyed the whole trip. We were a group of 3 and did a private safari. This gave us a lot more flexibility about where to go, which animals to search for etc, and our guide (Tony) was always adjusting the plan make sure we had the best experience. Covering our 'spotting wishlist' was fantastic, but Tony was always working to ensure we got better views and up-close experience with our favourites. That made all the difference to how much we enjoyed the safari. I'd definitely recommend Imara, and we would happily book our next safari through them.
Rotsen Alitao/September 2026
This trip is really one for the books! We started planning for a Safari Tour a year ago so that we will have an ample time to look for a good itinerary and tour provider that will our needs. We have inquired to several local travel agencies from our country, the Philippines and as well as thru online to Kenyan agencies. Most Kenyan agencies either disregarded our inquiries, too presistent that we book instantly or presented unreasonably priced agencies. We came across IMARA AFRICA SAFARIES thru Instagram and Wendy was very accommodating to our request. She patiently presented to us different options for our safari tours. And most welcomingly answered our never ending queries. She also gave us tips as to securing our travel documents down to our safari outfits. From then on, we knew IMARA is the right choice for us. So here we go! We booked and we eagerly anticipated for our much awaited safari experience! But I guess as the time came and no matter how prepared you were, there were some bumps along the way such as flight delays and missing our connecting flights. Yet, it never deterred our excitement. Good thing, Wendy was always in contact since day 1. And she was flexible as always readjusting our itinerary. We were met and greeted by the whole staff and even gave us souvenirs already. We met Wendy in person and of course Lewis who eagerly explained our itinerary. We also gotten to know Simon, our guide/driver in Kenya. He was very enthusiastic in touring us to different national parks in Kenya and made us witness the amazing wildlife it has to offer. We even driven into the deep areas of Maasai Mara just to find a whole pride of 20 lions! Next stop was Tanzania and there we met Dallas, our guide and driver and Mr Plan B guy. Without him, we could have never witnessed the Great Migration and completed the Big 5 of Africa. All in all, our safari experience was more than what we expected and way too amazing! It was way too difficult to part ways with our two big guides who made this experience memorable! Thank you Imara Africa Safaries! We would definitely recommend you to everyone for their safari experience! Five stars!!!
Gianpiero Siciliano di Rende/August 2026
Exceptional people, fantastic service, the best. Don't book anywhere else. Edward, our guide and driver was the best. I will request him again at the next adventure. Edward, you are the best!
Itinerary designed and kept current by Imara Africa Safaris’ Nairobi-based safari specialists, who run this route year-round. Park fees, road conditions and lodge availability are verified against official park authorities and our partner camps. .
Most Popular
| Tarangire National ParkArusha to Tarangire National Park |
| Drive |
| African ElephantAfrican LionCape Buffalo+14 |
| Mvuli Ngorongoro Lodge |
| BLD |
| 3 | Serengeti National ParkKaratu to Serengeti National Park | Drive | African ElephantAfrican LeopardAfrican Lion+14 | Kontiki Serengeti | BLD |
| 4 | Serengeti National ParkFull-Day Serengeti National Park | Drive | African ElephantAfrican LeopardAfrican Lion+13 | Kontiki Serengeti | BLD |
| 5 | Ngorongoro CraterSerengeti to Ngorongoro Crater and Flight to Zanzibar | Fly | Black RhinocerosAfrican LionCape Buffalo+8 | Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort | BLD |
| 6 | Zanzibar Zanzibar Beach Relaxation | Other | Snorkeling, diving | Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort | BLD |
| 7 | ZanzibarZanzibar Beach Relaxation | — | Snorkeling, diving | Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort | BLD |
| 8 | Zanzibar Zanzibar Departure | Drive | — | — | BLD |
Serengeti National Park
Karatu to Serengeti National Park
Serengeti National Park
Full-Day Serengeti National Park
Ngorongoro Crater
Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater and Flight to Zanzibar
Zanzibar
Zanzibar Beach Relaxation
Zanzibar
Zanzibar Beach Relaxation
Zanzibar
Zanzibar Departure
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